Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: The lanes on the H-2 freeway from Waipahu to Wahiawa need to be restriped because, when it rains, the lines are hardly visible. Can you pass the word on? Work order issued
for H-2 restripingAnswer: A work order was issued to replace any missing or faded markings, said Kelly Lee Sato, Oahu District maintenance engineer for the state Department of Transportation.
Sato noted there are two crews of two workers each (down from the normal level of three workers each) that handle restriping and placing pavement markers on state roads on Oahu. The department is looking for general laborers to round out each crew.
They are responsible for about 2,345 lane miles, he said.
If there are no construction projects in the area and markings need to be redone, "these crews will schedule and complete the work," he said. Normally, jobs are completed within two weeks of the issuance of a work order, unless it's a task beyond the maintenance crew's capabilities, he said. In that case, the job would be contracted out.
Q: Do you have any information on Erwin Jaskulski, the 96-year-old who set an age-group record in the 200-meter dash?
A: Jaskulski, who turns 97 on Sept. 24, ran a time of 57.58 seconds in the 200-meter dash on July 17 at the USA Track and Field Hawaii championship meet at Kaiser High School. Since there's no recognized time for the 95-99 age group in that event, his sprint stands as a world record.
Jaskulski, a native of Austria who moved to Hawaii in 1954, already had set the 100-meter dash record for his age group -- 24.01 seconds -- last May during the Punahou Relays. He bettered the existing record for his age group by more than 14 seconds. His times have been submitted to the World Association of Veteran Athletes for official confirmation. He is not eligible to break American records because he is a resident alien.
Although he was featured in Sports Illustrated's July 12 issue (home edition), Jaskulski is reluctant to give interviews. In fact, his friend Jack Karbens, president of the Hawaii Masters Track Club, said Jaskulski turned down offers to appear on the Jay Leno and David Letterman talk shows.
"Erwin is a legitimate, trained athlete," who goes to the track to run repeat intervals of 100 and 200 meters with his friend, 71-year-old Chuck Gopek, Karbens said.
"He hikes the mountains of Oahu regularly with Chuck and Gil Janklowitz of 'Bodies in Motion' (an aerobic exercise show)," Karbens added. Other days he does chin-ups, sit-ups and squats.
"Erwin does not care about world records. He is most concerned that the message is sent to younger people that his 'lifestyle is vindicated,' " Karbens said.
Jaskulski hopes to improve his times at meets in October and at the Hawaii Senior Olympics on Nov. 28 at Kaiser High.
Auwe
One morning, I sat inside a McDonald's to relax and have breakfast. A family sat at the table next to me and the mother proceeded to brush her daughter's hair. It is just as inappropriate to brush your hair in McDonald's as it is in Nicholas Nikolas. No one wants to eat dandruff with their hamburger! -- No name
Auwe
The speed limit on the streets between King and Kapiolani is 25 mph. Drivers are speeding, going 40-45 mph, tailgating me, trying to force me to go faster. -- Concerned driver
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