Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I am a Hawaiian refugee in Colorado. I was planning to take a job assignment back home for 13 weeks and to look for permanent employment during that time. My concern is my two cats. I live alone and they've been with me for 12 years. They're like my kids. If the proposed rate increases for quarantine go through, the expense will simply be too great. I wonder how many more of us will be precluded from returning home, adding to the "brain drain." Has a final decision been made? Quarantine fee
increases still pendingAnswer: The earliest the new fees for cats and dogs at the state quarantine station are expected to take effect is July 10, said acting state veterinarian James Foppoli.
"It's almost ready to come out of the A.G.'s (attorney general's) office," where it is being reviewed for form and wording, he said earlier this week. After that, it will go to the head of the state Department of Agriculture, then on to the governor.
"If and when the governor signs it, it will go into effect 10 days later." There is no deadline for approval, Foppoli said.
If your cats meet the criteria for the shortened 30-day quarantine, it will cost $555 each for the first 45 days after the new fees take effect; $655 for two years after that; then up to $675 and, finally, $695 at the end of six years.
For a four-month quarantine, the quarantine cost for dogs and cats would be $1,080.
Q: A compact car -- HPD 305 -- continually parks in a handicap stall at the Harbor Square parking garage, 700 Richards St. I thought the HPD license was reserved only for police cars. I asked a sergeant about it and was told the driver was an outreach worker who had special parking privileges when working. Why can't police provide a laminated parking pass like everybody else has instead of giving her a police plate? Also, she doesn't look disabled.
A: The driver of the vehicle is an HPD outreach worker who qualifies for a handicap parking pass, said spokeswoman Michelle Yu. She was reminded to display the pass at all times.
She is assigned an HPD vehicle because she is on call, Yu said.
Q: Is it a joke or is it true that plumeria is a fly repellent?
A: "Anything is possible," said Heidi Bornhorst, director of Honolulu Botanical Gardens. "The fragrance might be (a repellent) and it's certainly not an attractant."
Bornhorst said if anyone has more information about this, "We'd love to hear it. The Botanical Gardens would like to know because we have an extensive collection" of plumeria.
She noted that "probably the best collection (of plumeria), for sure in the islands, and maybe in the world," is in the city's Koko Crater Botanical Garden. With more than 200 varieties, "the plumerias are beautiful this year," she said.
Update on Kuwili Center
Since we ran the item on the Kuwili Technology Center on May 12, there's been some changes. Danielle Tucker is the new manager and the cost of the "PC Seniors" computer class has gone up from $56 to $60. The class is held twice a week for one month. Call Tucker at 521-7422.
Mahalo
To everyone who helped on Sunday, May 16, after we got into a bad accident on the H-1. It was pouring that night, yet people stopped and got out of their cars to help. Paramedics and officers also came quickly. -- Owners of the 4Runner
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