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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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Mahogany trees along Kalakaua listed as ‘exceptional’
Question: What is the name of the beautiful trees in the median area between 1500 and 1600 Kalakaua Ave.?
Answer: They are mahogany trees, according to the city Department of Parks and Recreation.
The trees, Swietenia mahagoni, planted along Kalakaua Avenue between Beretania Street and Kapiolani Boulevard, are on the city's list of exceptional trees.
Other Swietenia mahagoni trees on the list include one at 2616 Pali Highway and two in Moanalua Gardens.
These trees are commonly used as ornamentals and are native to the West Indies.
Under Section 41-13.8 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, it is unlawful for anyone to remove or destroy any trees on the exceptional-trees list without approval from the City Council or, in an emergency situation, from the director of parks and recreation.
Violators face a maximum fine of $1,000.
Q: Will we get to vote for all the candidates in each political party on primary election day next September? What is the address and telephone number of the state Office of Elections?
A: Under state law, you can vote for only one party ballot or nonpartisan ballot in the primary election, which will be held Sept. 20 (the general election will be Nov. 4).
The primary election allows voters to choose candidates who will represent the political parties in the general election.
You are allowed to choose the candidates of the party of your choice -- not for every party.
When you show up to vote, you will be given a set of color-coded party ballots on a ballot card but must choose only one ballot and vote on only one party or nonpartisan ballot, according to the state Elections Office.
If you vote on more than one ballot, your vote will be invalidated.
Hawaii has an open primary system, meaning voters can choose any party ballot to vote on.
Some local Democratic officials say the open primary is unconstitutional and are demanding a closed primary, which would require voters to declare a party affiliation in order to vote on a particular party ballot.
The Office of Elections is at 802 Lehua Ave. in Pearl City. Call 453-8683; from the neighbor islands, (800) 442-8683; or TTY 453-6150 or (800) 345-5915.
Q: I live in an apartment on Kinau Street (mauka side about a block past Ward Avenue). The H-1 freeway is alongside, which means constant traffic noise. But almost every weekend, between 1 and 3 a.m., I hear cars racing at obviously high speeds. Do police patrol that area at that time?
A: The district commander "has been made aware" of your complaint, Capt. Frank Fujii, spokesman for the Honolulu Police Department, said last month.
Officers have been monitoring that stretch of freeway and will continue to do so, he said, but added that no speed demons had been caught during the time of your complaint.
Got a question or complaint? Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to
kokualine@starbulletin.com.
See also: Useful phone numbers