Kokua Line June Watanabe

H-1 offramp will undergo 8-hour cleanup Sunday night

Question: When does the Department of Transportation plan to clean up the sand and folding barricades left over from the April 23 paint spill and cleanup at the H-1 West Waipahu exit (see starbulletin.com/2008/04/24/news/wild.html)? The materials continue to clutter the right shoulder of the offramp.

Answer: The cleanup is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday until about 4 a.m. the next day.

The offramp will be closed during that time.

It's taking three months to complete the cleanup because the spill also involved toxic chemicals, DOT spokeswoman Tammy Mori said.

Because of environmental concerns, the work had to be put out for bids.

The cleanup involved sealing storm drains, while the barricades were there to be used "as a safety measure" whenever rainy weather caused slippery conditions, Mori said. "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Q: There is an abandoned house on Kapili Street in Waikiki that has a horrendous bee's nest. I tried to call the Board of Health, but there are so many phone numbers and not one of them talked about bees. I left a message but no one called back. Who do I call to get rid of bees?

A: The state Department of Health does not consider this a public health threat, so will not get involved.

The Health Department "does not provide pest control services that are available from private companies unless there is a public health issue," said spokeswoman Janice Okubo.

One example: The beehive "poses an imminent threat to children at a nearby school, and the school was unable to hire pest control or beekeeper services."

When the department's Vector Control Branch (483-2535) receives an occasional call about bees, it refers callers to private pest control services or beekeepers.

"A beekeeper will remove the bees and not harm them," Okubo said. However, there is a cost for the service.

The Health Department recommends you call the city complaints number, 768-4381, to determine who the owner of the abandoned property is.

"The property owner is responsible for taking care of their lot," Okubo said.

We asked whether city inspectors would cite a property owner for a bee problem and were told the Department of Planning and Permitting does not get involved with pest problems on vacant or abandoned properties.

"This would include bees," said Art Challacombe, manager of customer services for the department.

Meanwhile, Okubo explained that the aim of the Vector Control Branch is to control and prevent the spread of insects, rodents or other organisms that are able to transmit infectious agents of disease.

The Vector Control Branch can provide information and referral, and conduct an inspection if there appears to be a public health issue, she said.