Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: A potentially dangerous condition may exist on the H-1 freeway heading Ewa near the Middle Street overpass. The embankment rising from the roadway on the right is embedded with boulders, some of which appear to be on the verge of tumbling down onto the freeway. A sudden stop by a car could easily result in multiple rear-end collisions. Has the state Department of Transportation inspected this condition recently? Boulders near freeway
worry driverAnswer: That area is part of the Department of Transportation's rock-fall protection study/program, said Kelly Lee Sato, the department's Oahu district maintenance engineer.
A work order to remove the broken portion of a boulder on the bottom of the slope has been issued, he said. "We need to be very careful when removing it so we don't disturb the existing slope."
Call 831-6714, the Oahu Highways Division hot line, to report anything unusual on the highways.
"We really appreciate the public's eyes and accept any reports they want to share with us," Sato said.
Q: Is there an ordinance prohibiting employees from sweeping the dining area of restaurants or fast-food establishments while customers are dining? I don't mean just picking up pieces of food, but actually sweeping the premises with a broom and kicking around dust. Can the Department of Health do anything? A restaurant employee once actually vacuumed near our feet as we were eating. Too many restaurants are guilty of this.
A: Yes, there are restrictions on the cleaning of walls and floors of eating establishments, said Brian Choy, chief of the Department of Health's sanitation branch.
With the exception of "emergency cleaning," cleaning is supposed to be done during periods when the least amount of food is exposed, he said, such as after closing or between meals.
The law also specifies that "only dustless methods of cleaning floors and walls shall be used, such as vacuum cleaning, wet cleaning, the use of treated mops, or the use of dust-arresting compounds with brooms," Choy said.
If you have a complaint, call Choy's office at 586-8000.
Auwe
To the driver of the Meadow Gold Dairies truck who was driving into Manoa Valley on Monday, Nov. 8, on Oahu Avenue near the Waioli Tea Room intersection. I was being attacked by a black dog and saw him slow down when I was knocked down, but he did not stop to help me. -- Gail T.(The driver said he sympathizes with what happened to you. However, "I would like to clarify that I did not see this incident occur. I am the type of person who would have no hesitation in helping those in need.")
Mahalo
To TheBus drivers. On my ride to work Tuesday morning last week, the driver of the No. 9 bus stopped on Kapiolani Boulevard, got out and helped a man in a wheelchair get from the street to the sidewalk. On the way home, my wife, daughter and I just missed the No. 9 bus, but a No. 3 came shortly after it. When we caught up to the No. 9 in McCully, the driver beeped for that driver's attention and he waited while we changed buses. I've used bus systems in New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. I have only been here on Oahu a couple of months and, more than any other group of people, TheBus drivers have shown me the aloha spirit. -- Dan/Palolo Valley
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