Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: Regarding organ donations, can I specify whom my organs or the organs of a family member go to after death? I want to make sure that it goes to someone in Hawaii or to no one at all. Is this a reasonable request? Some donors want
organs used locallyAnswer: Yes and no.
For example, if you have a loved one on a waiting list for an organ transplant, you could say you want your organ to go to that person. "And, if it was a match, it would," said Robyn Kaufman, executive director of the Organ Donor Center of Hawaii.
"We do everything we can to honor a family's wishes," she said. "But we wouldn't be able to accept a donation where they said it's only for Hawaii."
Consider if there was no local match, then the organ would be wasted, she said.
Kaufman said if families do have such requests, they are told the center will do everything possible to find a local recipient. They are then asked, "Are you willing to go to the next level (helping someone on the mainland) if that's not possible?"
"We've never had a family who had a problem with that," Kaufman said. "Typically, what people have said to us was, 'As long as Hawaii has first dibs.' "
In 1998, more than 80 percent of the organs donated in Hawaii were received by local residents, she said.
For more information, call the Organ Donor Center at 599-7630.
Q: Does anybody know the source of all the flies at Sandy Beach? The guys who clean the park seem to do a good job and the place is kept nice and clean. But in the last month or so, it seems like there are a lot of flies that come swarming around cars. I've been going there 30 years and never seen anything like this.
A: A state vector control inspector found the flies "basically were coming from trash cans" at the beach park, said vector control supervisor Norman Sato.
The trash supposedly was picked up daily. But Sato said he spoke to the manager in charge "to make sure that they follow up and pick up the trash bags every day."
It was suggested that lids would help the problem, but that would be too costly, Sato said.
He was told there are more than 2,000 such containers at city parks.
But even with lids, if the garbage is not removed in a timely manner, you'd still have a problem with flies, Sato said.
Auwe
To the people who broke into my brother's truck while parked in our garage on Loaa Street in Waipahu. His books needed for his midterms, his hard-earned money, and his credit card were all stolen. The credit card was used illegally at three different gas stations. You people need to seriously get a life and a job instead of stealing from people who honestly work and deserve their possessions. My brother has worked hard his whole life and never complains. Just remember, what goes around, comes around, and I hope it comes around twice as bad for you. -- Blaine's sister
Mahalo
To a gentleman who took the time to help me into my daughter's car on Sunday, Oct. 24, at Ala Moana Center's parking lot. I fell and injured my eye, but I'm recuperating now after surgery. I'm sorry I didn't get his name or phone number, but would like to thank him again. May he always be blessed by many good things. -- Anna
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
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