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Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Thursday, November 18, 1999

Signs must meet
strict standards

Question: Why is there a very large billboard-like cloth sign attached to both sides of a parked trailer advertising a "teak" sale on Ward Avenue at Blaisdell Center? Isn't that a violation?

Answer: The signs were gone by the time an inspector went to check on your complaint, Melvin Lee, chief of the city Building Division, said yesterday.

In general, such "temporary signs" are allowed if they meet the standards of the city Land Use Ordinance, he said. They include:

"Announcing signs," which announce "the character of a building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended," including names of architects, engineers, contractors, developers, financiers, etc.
Real estate signs, which advertise the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which the sign is displayed.
Special event display signs, which are erected on the premises of an establishment having a grand opening or special event. They are not meant to advertise an establishment, service, price, product or commodity.
Subdivision construction signs, which are placed at the entrance of a subdivision and located on the property to be subdivided.

There also are restrictions as to how many signs can be erected and how big the signs can be.

If you have any questions or complaints about temporary signs, call 527-6341.

Lee said based on your description, he doesn't think the signs you cite would have met the land-use standards.

Q: Can you please reprint your item about trash and how it should be packaged for pickup?

A: You can get information on how to prepare your trash for pickup by calling the city refuse division at 527-5358.

Patients beware

Recently, my son had to be taken to the emergency room of a hospital. He's OK, but it wasn't until we got home that we realized the identification bracelet on his wrist wasn't his. It was that of a 72-year-old man! Thank God, nothing went wrong, but that scared me. I just want to warn people not to take anything for granted and to double-check things like that. -- Concerned mother

Mahalo

To Matt and his friend who changed my tire when I got a flat on the H-1, by the Likelike Highway overpass, on Halloween night. My two daughters, their friend and I were heading to Mililani after attending a trick-or-treat party at Ala Moana Center. I could not find my jack and was extremely thankful when they showed up in a small pickup truck (license No. GPZ 742) and quickly offered assistance.

-- Janine Wiehl and my girls

More on retreads

In the Nov. 10 Kokua Line, we quoted a state Department of Transportation official as saying that school buses and big vehicles can use tire retreads only on the back of the vehicles. However, he said he has since found out that only school buses are not allowed to use them on the front.

Auwe

I go to Chinatown because of low prices on produce, etc. However, I recently had two bad experiences on the same day! At one location, apple bananas were 69 cents a pound. But after the lady put the bananas on the scale, she pressed in 79 cents. At another location, the lady shortchanged me a few cents.

Readers: Be watchful. -- S.C.

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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