Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: The litter at the bus stop on the makai, Diamond Head corner of Kapiolani and Ward, across from Jack in the Box, is the worst I have ever seen. There is a trash receptacle there, but there is litter all up and down the area. It's disgraceful and needs attention. Who's responsible? Let city know about
trash at bus stopsQ: The leaves are cluttering the Punahou Park bus shelter, between Wilder and Punahou streets, across from the Fernhurst YWCA. The groundskeepers sweep all the leaves in the park regularly, but not the leaves in the shelter. Who has this responsibility? Also, there are three concrete benches in the shelter that are badly chipped and cracked. Can they be replaced?
Q: Who is responsible for an overflowing trash receptacle at the bus stop on Kaua Street near Moanalua Gardens?
Answer: We've received several complaints about litter at city bus stops in recent weeks, the above three among them.
Several city departments are involved. The short answer is that the city Department of Facility Maintenance generally is responsible for maintenance, but because of limited resources, the public is asked to call the Department of Customer Service, 523-4381, to report problem areas.
Bus stops and shelters are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation Services, but Facility Maintenance staff install and service trash containers and maintain the shelters.
They don't have the resources to inspect and clean all the bus shelters islandwide every day, so they depend on the public to inform them when cleaning is needed, said DTS director Cheryl Soon.
Regarding the bus stop on Kapiolani Boulevard, Soon said litter is picked up regularly when crews service the litter container there. The problem is with litter strewn along the front of the long vacant property on the corner, she said.
That litter, plus weed control, are the responsibility of the abutting property owner, who "has neglected maintenance," she said.
The matter was to be referred to the Department of Planning and Permitting "for enforcement action against the property owner."
Regarding the Punahou/Wilder shelter, Soon said she would ask the parks department, which maintains the adjoining park, to sweep up the leaves in the shelter when they clean the park.
The benches are chipped, she acknowledged. But staff concluded that they are safe for continued public use.
Regarding the Kaua Street stop, Soon said the litter container was not a city container and thus, removed. New containers are being purchased and one was to be installed at that bus stop, she said.
'Senior Gym' off the air
A lack of funding has forced "Senior Gym," an exercise program for senior citizens, off the air. But Beverly Csordas, director of Child and Family Service's Gerontology Program, which produced the show, is hoping a new sponsor will revive the program on KFVE.The station has "been flooded" by calls, including from the neighbor islands, she said.
Csordas hopes a major sponsor will come through, or that individual donations can be pooled. She said it costs $5,400 to produce three half-hour shows a week for three months. Call 543-8497 if you can help.
If you would like to buy a videotape of the show, call 543-8490, Ext. 320. The tapes cost $12.75 each, or $14.75 for mail orders.
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