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Kokua Line
Question: I was crossing Pensacola Street at the intersection with Kapiolani Boulevard about 3:08 p.m. May 31. Halfway across the crosswalk, a trolley made a left turn from Kapiolani onto Pensacola, forcing me to stop in mid-crosswalk despite my having the walk signal. Can I report such driving to HPD and would they do anything about it? If so, what kind of information would I need to provide? I thought about complaining to the company, but figured a company that employs such drivers probably doesn't take pedestrian safety too seriously. Call police or
911 to report
bad driversAnswer: You can report the incident to police and you should provide the following information: date, time and location of the incident; license number and description of the vehicle involved; description of the driver; the nature of the dangerous behavior.
If the driver is "posing an immediate threat, call 911," said HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu.
In the case you cited of a possibly illegal left turn, you should call the nearest police station and ask for the desk sergeant, she said.
"Depending on the seriousness of the behavior, the district will send an officer to talk to the driver or mail a warning letter," she said.
Even though you don't think the company will take any action, I'd contact the company first anyway, to at least give them a chance to respond.
Q: I live near Iolani School and traffic is always bad when school gets out, but for some reason, when summer session ends around 12:30 p.m., traffic is intolerable. On Tuesday, cars were backed up from Iolani past Ala Wai School, all the way back to the Kapiolani/University intersection. No one moved for 5-10 minutes because parents simply park in the street and wait for their children. Can't HPD ticket these people for obstructing traffic?
A: An officer regularly patrols that area and, except for yours, HPD did not receive any complaint, said spokeswoman Michelle Yu. However, she said an officer would monitor the area when school lets out around 12:30 p.m.
More on ants
In addition to homemade remedies suggested by Kokua Line readers, as well as the commercial product Terro, Bill Johnson says readers plagued by black ants can also try Orange Guard. Johnson is president of Sunglo Distributors, which is the Hawaii distributor for Orange Guard, which contains only natural ingredients.The active ingredient is d-Limonene, "which is basically steam-distilled orange peel oil," he said.
Call 487-0019 to find out where you can purchase the pump-spray product, which "may be used around food, humans and pets" to get rid of ants, roaches and fleas.
(Kokua Line vouches for no product. Also, readers who complained about carpenter and red ants, please be patient. We'll answer your questions soon.)
Mahalo
To Philip Wong, environmental health specialist of the state Department of Health's noise control branch, and Roy Higa, my landlord. A few weeks ago, when I complained about a nearby noise problem, Kokua Line directed me to contact the noise branch. Mr. Wong and Mr. Higa contacted the landlord of the adjacent apartment building when it appeared that a faulty coin-operated washer was the source of the problem. It produced a tremendously loud noise, like a freight train roaring through your apartment. The landlord replaced the noisy washer. The two men deserve a big mahalo. -- F.L.
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