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Kokua Line
June Watanabe
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National Guard signs will be removed
Question:
Who is responsible for the "Go National Guard" signs along the Ala Wai Canal? I think they're billboards, even though they are small.
Answer: The signs were posted by an "overzealous recruiter" and were to be removed today, said Lt. Col. Charles Anthony, spokesman for the state Department of Defense.
The signs were "not officially done by Army Guard," Anthony said. The person responsible was told to remove the signs.
The city Department of Planning and Permitting had not received any complaints about the signs, but the Outdoor Circle, which was responsible for Hawaii's anti-billboard law, did receive several.
"We have seen these signs with our own eyes on Kalanianaole Highway near Kailua and Waimanalo," as well as in Kahala and along the Ala Wai, said Bob Loy, the organization's director of environmental programs.
All the signs he saw were on public property.
"Posting signs in the public rights of way is not only illegal, but also a slap in the face of the people of Hawaii," Loy said.
Under Section 29-14.3 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, it is unlawful to "erect, establish, construct, maintain, keep or operate a sign, including but not limited to a portable sign, on, above or below ... any street right-of-way, including any sidewalk area or medial strip; or any public mall," unless specifically permitted.
"The Outdoor Circle very much appreciates the Army's sensitivity to protecting the beauty of Hawaii from inappropriate and illegally posted signs," Loy said after hearing from Anthony.
Q: Why was traffic from Waianae backed up on Tuesday, July 15? I left Waianae at 5:30 p.m. and finally passed Makakilo at 8:30 p.m.! I heard there was an overturned truck but that traffic was only "slowed down." Slowed down doesn't do our predicament any justice. From 5:45 to 7 p.m., I inched along. But, the worst was from 7 to 8:15 p.m., when we didn't move AT ALL. I can understand if the truck was too big to move without heavy equipment. What I can't understand is why it took SO LONG for the truck to be moved out of the way.
A: According to the Honolulu Police Department, the large garbage truck rolled over, blocking two lanes, leaving only the far-right lane open near the new bypass road, where the lanes begin to narrow.
Because the garbage truck was so large, a special tow truck was needed. After the truck was moved, fluids that spilled from the truck had to be cleaned up.
On top of this, a sudden downpour left a lot of ponding on the road. It didn't help that there was a lot of "rubber-necking" in both directions of the freeway, and that slowed the process.
HPD did send out traffic advisories asking drivers to go through Kapolei to Farrington Highway to get around the scene. "Unfortunately, drivers who were past Makakilo didn't have that option," HPD acknowledged.
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