Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: Usually there are two to three weeks between the 50th State Fair and the Hawaii State Farm Fair at Aloha Stadium. E.K. Fernandez usually leaves its carnival equipment in place between the two events. But this year, there are about six weeks between events. Does E.K. Fernandez, or anyone else, have to pay to store carnival equipment between the two events? If so, how much? Carnival storage
not costing stateAnswer: No one is paying any storage fees for the carnival equipment, according to Aloha Stadium manager Edwin Hayashi.
The 50th State Fair, which ended June 20, had until July 2 to move out, he said. The Farm Fair, which runs July 30-Aug. 8, began moving in today.
Officials from E.K. Fernandez, 50th State Fair and the Farm Fair asked if the equipment could remain in place for the 12-day period between fairs, Hayashi said.
Equipment left at the lower Halawa lot "does not cost the state a cent," he said. The parties involved pay for their own security.
"After reviewing the circumstances, Aloha Stadium felt it was in the best interests of all parties involved to allow them to leave the equipment," Hayashi said.
Also, "there was no major event scheduled for that specific time and the Aloha Flea Market has ample parking for their event," he said.
Q: The Hawaii State Public Library System invited children to sign up for its Children's Summer Reading Program June 14 to July 17, but trying to sign up was another story! For instance, you cannot sign up in Manoa unless you are a Manoa resident. Some children were told this is because merchants in Manoa paid for the weekly incentives and they should go to their own libraries. The same thing happened at the Kaimuki Library, where another child who did not live in the district was treated rudely and refused. The family signed up at Kaimuki because their child attends school in Kaimuki, grandparents live there and the library's hours are convenient. What is the reason for this policy?
A: There is no such policy, said Paul H. Mark, spokesman for the Hawaii State Public Library System. He apologized for the "misinformation."
After checking with managers of both libraries, "We believe that this misinformation may have been inadvertently provided by library volunteers," he said.
Library officials do understand that parents sometimes arrange to have their children stay with grandparents, other relatives or friends during the summer, Mark said. Children thus are allowed to sign up at a library not in their geographical district.
The annual Children's Summer Reading Program, now in its 32nd year, encourages children to read for enjoyment over their school vacations. It also encourages adults to read aloud to young children.
"We highly recommend that each child select one particular branch library that they plan to visit regularly," Mark said. This allows the staff to get to know the child's interests and encourages the child to take advantage of special summer programs and story hours.
Auwe
On June 6, we were taking a leisurely drive to Kaneohe via Nuuanu Pali Drive when a motorcycle club started zooming past, town-bound, at excessive speed. One recklessly crossed the center line and headed straight toward us. Thank goodness for my husband's reflexes. -- Mrs. O.
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