Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Kokua Line
Question: This is Sunday afternoon, July 16 -- the third Sunday in a row that we haven't had power. I live on Pono Street in Waimalu. I can't get a straight answer from Hawaiian Electric and I want to know why this is happening. It is ridiculous to have a power outage three weekends in a row. Three power outages
hit WaimaluAnswer: Although "we have a strong maintenance and inspection program for our equipment," a series of equipment malfunctions resulted in the outages on July 2, 9 and 16, said Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Fred Kobashikawa.
You should be receiving letters soon, if not already, explaining what happened, describing corrective measures taken and apologizing for the inconvenience, he said.
Problems with underground cables and a protective device (circuit breaker) apparently caused the outages on July 2 and 9, Kobashikawa said. About 5,700 customers were affected for at least 52 minutes -- 1,200 of them up to 12 hours, 43 minutes. On July 9, 2,500 customers were without power between 43 minutes and 4-1/2 hours.
In an unrelated incident, a fuse on a pole for an overhead line apparently malfunctioned, resulting in a 2-hour-47-minute outage for 150 customers on Pono Street and Ponohana Street and Loop.
Since then, Heco crews and contractors have been inspecting, testing and replacing underground cables and circuit breakers in the area, Kobashikawa said.
Customers have a right to file a claim for compensation for any losses caused by the outages. If so, you need to keep all receipts for repairs or replacement items if it is determined "that the cause of the outage was within (Heco's) control through the exercise of reasonable diligence and care," Kobashikawa said.
Call 543-4624 if you want to file a claim. Details on how to do so were included in recent electric bills, he said.
Q: I heard it is now illegal for someone to sit in the bed of a truck on the freeway. True?
A: The state law that took effect 2 years ago, on Jan. 1, 1998, made it illegal for anyone 13 years old or younger to ride in the bed of a pickup truck -- no matter where the truck is driving. It does not affect passengers over age 13, although Honolulu police have lobbied for a ban on all passengers riding in truck beds.
Free piano
Upright piano, good condition, free to a church group, retirement home, or any nonprofit that can take it away. Call 235-1864.
More on school records
Regarding anyone seeking graduation records from long ago, the files are not available to the public at the State Archives. People should contact the Department of Education, specifically the appropriate district office, and work through them, clarified state archivist Jolyn Tamura. Each district is provided microfilmed copies of available records, she said.
Auwe
Two signs at the Ewa-facing side of traffic lights at Kaheka and Kanunu streets read "No turn on red." What's pathetic is how many motorists ignore these signs. Even scarier is how many near misses with pedestrians I've witnessed -- more times than I care to count. The neighborhood is abundant with keiki and kupuna. A citation by HPD should be the least of these drivers' worries. I hope it doesn't take a tragic accident for all to realize there's a good reason why traffic signs are put where they are. -- D. Tanaka
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