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Kokua Line
Question: Is there any place where we would make a complaint about a halfway house? It is located on Palolo Avenue. At first, it was OK, but now there is a lot of noise -- laughing, traffic, people visiting late at night with music blasting from cars. Are they supposed to be under some kind of supervision? Sure doesn't look like it! We live in a quiet neighborhood. At least it was before they moved in. Is the state or some organization responsible for monitoring them or should we just call the police? Group-living home
seems unsupervisedAnswer: At this point, just call police at 911 if your complaint is about noise or disorderly conduct.
You can also call the city Housing Code Section, 527-6308.
Inspectors actually did check out the address in June, in response to a complaint, said housing code chief William Deering. But it was vacant at the time, he said.
Other than our query, he had not received any other complaints about the property.
Deering's office would determine if whatever is going on there is permitted under the city zoning ordinance and whether the owner or occupant has all the necessary clearances.
Since you described it as a halfway house, we initially asked the state Department of Public Safety about your complaint but were told it is not a facility under its jurisdiction.
Neither does it appear to fall under the state Department of Health, which oversees "special treatment facilities."
If the home is being operated as a special treatment facility, in which people are being provided 24-hour residential treatment, it must be licensed by the Health Department, explained Shirley Souza, supervisor of the Office of Health Assurance's state licensing unit.
"The Department of Health would not license it unless it was a 24-hour residential care facility of some sort," she said.
At this point, "If there are concerns from the community, then they need to contact HPD," Souza said.
The city, meanwhile, licenses lodging houses, boarding houses and group homes in which five or more unrelated persons are living in the same household, through the Department of Finance's licensing division.
However, licensing Administrator Dennis Kamimura said he doesn't have investigators to follow up on complaints such as yours. His advice was to call police for immediate problems. He said they could also help determine if the living arrangements there require some kind of licensing.
Mahalo
To the kind couple who stopped to help when I fell after getting off the bus at Sierra Drive and Wilhelmina Rise. Thanks to your help, I'm now fine, other than for a few stitches, bruises and scratches. You did not leave your names, but I will always remember your kindness. -- R. Matsuzaki
Auwe
To the manager and chief engineer of the Board of Water Supply. I would like to see my water bill reduced, but how can you do that when you are paying the fantastic sum of $800,000 for a consultant for the Windward Project? Why don't you save money, reduce our bills and use someone already on your staff instead of hiring a consultant. -- No name
Mahalo
To the person who found my bus pass, which I lost on Wednesday, Nov. 1. The next day, I received a call from the TheBus's Lost & Found Department telling me that someone had turned it in. I don't know who you are but I want to express my thanks. -- Grateful Senior Citizen
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