Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I live on Luakaha St. in Kaimuki. The power went off Aug. 16 in the middle of the "Jeopardy" TV show and didn't come on until about 45 minutes later. That was the third time in about two weeks that the power went off. My brother lives about a mile from me and his power never goes off. When the power is off here, I can see lights on along 22nd Avenue and Hunakai Street. What is the problem with Luakaha Street's power? Cable-eating termites
cause power outageAnswer: The problem was termites munching on a 12,000-volt electrical distribution cable near Longs Drugs in Kahala Mall.
The damage to that underground cable resulted in the three outages you cited, said Hawaiian Electric spokesman Fred Kobashikawa.
Such 12,000-volt cable circuits typically serve 1,000 to 1,500 customers. So, there may be cases where some homes will be hit with a power outage, while nearby neighbors, on a different circuit, will not.
"This is the nature of the design we have in a neighborhood," Kobashikawa said. "We have several 12,000-electrical volt feeders going into an area."
Back to the termites: It's actually not an uncommon problem. Termites earlier attacked Heco cables in the downtown area, Kobashikawa said. The cable is made out of synthetic material, but termites manage to get through in search of moisture or warmth, he said.
The likelihood of another outage for the same reason on your street is now "minimized," since the damaged cable was replaced and a termite treatment company was hired to treat the entire area, Kobashikawa said.
Trash cans, bulky items
We've received a number of queries or complaints regarding the city's new automated trash containers, ranging from their size to their replacement. We've also received complaints about bulky items not being picked up as scheduled.We've been trying to get answers, in some cases, for weeks, but inexplicably, no one from the city has been able to provide them. We hope to get some answers soon.
Beware the panhandler
Please warn your readers about a slender, young Asian man who rides a bike and panhandles in the downtown area. He approached me in January 1998 and again this summer, saying he needed money for gas. When I told him he had approached me before, he rode away on his bike. -- No name(This scammer apparently has been around for a while, judging from calls from other Kokua Line readers.)
Mahalo
I was stopped about 1:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 near Kamiloiki Elementary School in Hawaii Kai by an HPD officer for going 35 mph in a 20 mph zone. My kids complain because I drive too slow. Not slow enough. I erred and knew it. The officer warned me of the danger and asked that I slow down. I promised. He was courteous, explanative and all business. Surely one of HPD's finest. Thank you, officer, for watching after my daughter and her friends (who go to Kamiloiki) when I lapsed. I should have been, and will be, more attentive. I hope Chief Donohue commends the officer, whose name I did not get, on my behalf. -- Michael R. Darnall
Auwe
To the group of young men sitting on the UH bench before last Saturday's football game. During the national anthem, you were laughing and joking and not showing any respect. Whoever is responsible for you should be embarrassed.-- No name
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