Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Thursday, September 17, 1998
Kokua Line
In August, there was a grease fire behind the BFI Dumpster in the Market City Shopping Center (lower level). Someone seems to be dumping cooking fat and other flammable products behind the Dumpster. Luckily, I was home, and with the help of a neighbor and a Market City security guard, we extinguished the fire. The Honolulu Fire Department said thanks for putting the fire out, but said it wasn't their problem. A woman at BFI said as long as the flammable items are not inside the Dumpster, it also was not their problem. She suggested calling Market City management and filing a complaint, but I haven't gotten in touch yet. Do you have any ideas on where I should go with this? Meanwhile, flammable items are mounting behind the Dumpster. Illegal dumping at mall
sparked grease fireCenter officials last week installed a night light, with hopes it will discourage outsiders from illegally dumping everything from grease to appliances there.
If that doesn't work, the next step may be installing a security camera, said Market City Shopping Center vice president Marvin Fong.
"It's really bad how people disregard other people's property," he said. Fong said he has an idea of who is dumping the cooking oil, but proving it is another matter.
There also is a sign that says "No dumping/violators will be prosecuted," but no one heeds it, he said.
Fong said the appliances and other junk will be removed and he will have an environmental company take care of the grease.
If you have any more concerns or if you see someone actually dumping something, Fong said to call him at 734-0282.
There are no double yellow lines around both curves on Palaole Place and Panalea Place. Cars are allowed to park near curves, and it's impossible to view oncoming traffic. Cars are allowed to park on both sides of upper Poola Street, so a three-lane street becomes a one-way street for two cars going opposite ways. Lower Poola Street allows parking only on one side. The same restrictions should apply the entire length of the street. The city will have a lawsuit on its hands if it does not take immediate action and remedy a very serious situation!
The lines should be there by now. The new center lines were to be installed in conjunction with the existing "curve warning" signs with "15 mph" advisory plates.
City Department of Transportation Services records indicate that parking restrictions along lower Poola Street were implemented with the consensus of abutting property owners because of accidents, said director Cheryl Soon.
However, she said there was no accident problem on upper Poola Street to warrant restricting parking on one side, between Puahia Place and the dead end. Soon also said that experience has shown that removing parking generally results in increased speeding.
There is a high demand for on-street parking in the area. But if you wish to pursue the matter, Soon suggested you survey affected residents, getting at least 90 percent to agree to a parking ban.
Present the survey to the DTS through your neighborhood board. However, board support does not guarantee the restriction will be implemented, Soon said.
To Reggie, who helped my husband and John Aug. 14 when our car broke down on Kalanianaole Highway. He called a tow truck on his cellular phone and went out of his way to drive me to work. It's people like him who make a difference. -- Lisette and John Mahalo
Nanaikapono Elementary School could use an IBM or IBM-compatible computer to assess student data and to prepare student profiles. Call Debbie Mahi, 668-5811. Computers wanted
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
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