Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Thursday, February 4, 1999
Kokua Line
We have a problem with employees of a business on Ualena Street who act like they own the public street. Several people called or have gone in person to talk to management, but nothing is done. We're frustrated and angry about our cars being hit when they're parked legally on the street near the business; about nails being flung out into the street; about drinking after hours, etc. One person is pursuing assault charges against one worker. We've called police and they seem to have stepped up patrols, but the problems persist. Can you help? Police can help with
neighborhood disputeWe asked the Honolulu Police Department if it might act as an intermediary between you and your co-workers and the business.
"We're more than willing to work on (your) problem," said Maj. Stephen Watarai, commander of District 5, which includes Kalihi and the airport area.
"Generally speaking, the (police) districts' community policing teams would try to work with a community to solve problems," said HPD spokeswoman Jean Motoyama. "District 5 has something different -- a Community Area of Responsibility (CAR), in which each officer is responsible for a geographic location and would help the community resolve problems."
"The concept behind CAR is that every officer is a community policing officer -- not just a handful of people," Watarai added. "Everyone out there is a problem solver."
He said an officer would be assigned to your case.
The battleship Missouri belongs to the American people and I think that charging $10 for admission is way too much. Three dollars would be reasonable and maybe $1 for children. Who's making money off of it?
No one's making money off it, according to retired Vice Adm. Robert Kihune, president of the USS Missouri Memorial Association.
The nonprofit association is relying on fund-raising, sale of ship memorabilia and admission fees to help pay for maintaining the historic ship, as well as making it available for public viewing, he said. Currently, expenses run about $7 million a year.
"The Navy basically has turned the ship over to us with the proviso that we maintain the ship and keep it in good condition," Kihune said. That means maintained at a level where it can report for active duty, if it is ever recalled.
Normally, a ship the size of the Missouri would be maintained by 1,500 people, Kihune said. He has a staff of 40, plus volunteers helping to renovate the interior of the ship.
In addition to operating expenses (including pier rental fees, electricity, salaries, and marketing and advertising), there also is the cost of hiring trolleys to bring people to the ship.
That's necessary, Kihune said, to keep track of visitors, who are not supposed to be wandering around the Navy's Ford Island, where the Missouri is berthed.
Trolley costs are included in the admission fee (self-guided tours: $10 adults, $6 children 4-12; guided tours: $14 adults, $10 children).
Kihune also said the admission fees were set after a marketing survey. "The feedback was that $10 was acceptable." As it is, he said, "we are operating close to the margin" with current fees.
The Mighty Mo is open for public viewing 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (last tickets sold at 4 p.m.), seven days a week. Tickets can be bought at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum.
Mahalo
To Mr. Russell of J-R Taxi Service of Honolulu for making our trip Dec. 24-28 a memorable one. To our group, he was God sent. He was a real person besides being a taxi driver. We wish him all the success and happiness in 1999. -- Alnoor Versi, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
