|
Kokua Line
June Watanabe
|
Pali Highway tree will get DOT inspection
Question: Inasmuch as several trees have fallen on our highways recently, I would like to report a tree on the Pali Highway that seems to be leaning quite a bit. The tree is on the right as you head toward town, about 14-mile on the town side of the tunnels, near signs that say "Buckle Up" and "Click it or Ticket." Can it be removed before there is another accident?
Answer: Call the state Department of Transportation's Highways hot line, 831-6714, to report these kinds of concerns
We passed your concern onto the Transportation Department and were told an inspector will take a look at the tree.
Since we're on the topic of trees, spokesman Scott Ishikawa said workers began removing or trimming back about 200 trees this month along the Kalihi Valley side of Likelike Highway, working with the Outdoor Circle and private arborists. About a half-dozen trees fell along Likelike Highway last year.
Once that work is completed later this year, and if funding is available, the Transportation Department wants to look at trimming or removing potentially hazardous trees along Pali Highway, Ishikawa said.
As for the controversial trimming of albizia trees last year along H-2 freeway, he pointed out that there were no fallen branches or trees along the freeway during last month's windstorm.
He credited that to the removal of tall or rotted trees and the trimming back of wide branches of trees along the upper slopes.
Q: I am a platinum member of the Hawaiian Airlines mileage club. I called to get some information about my account and was told I needed to give my date of birth and Social Security number for security reasons. With consumer fraud and credit card fraud, those two pieces of information are the worst to give out to anybody. Why are they asking for my Social Security number and date of birth? I said I'd give them my mother's name, but the gentleman was upset that I wouldn't give them the information.
A: Hawaiian Air's computer system uses three data fields to identify members, said spokesman Keoni Wagner.
They are the last four digits of a Social Security number, mother's maiden name and date of birth.
To protect personal information and depending on what is stored in a customer's file, an agent "typically" will ask for more than one piece of ID information, he said.
"If an agent is not comfortable that they are speaking to the named member, they may ask more questions that relate to the address or activity," he said.
Having said all this, Wagner said customers may provide their own four-digit code in place of a Social Security number or date of birth, and a secret password in place of a mother's maiden name.
To update any information in your account, call (877) 426-4537.
However, Wagner warned that, "for the sake of security," customers will be asked to provide current information before the requested changes.
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