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Kokua Line
Question: I live near Leeward Community College in Pearl City. Heading Diamond Head on Kamehameha Highway about 6:50-7 a.m., as soon as the sun comes up, it's almost impossible to see the traffic signals above the highway. I make a U-turn in front of the post office at the intersection of Acacia Road, where the traffic light is very difficult to see in the sunlight, causing confusion for drivers. Why don't they put a small metal plate as a back shield behind the lights so that the lights are more visible? Sunlight causes
glaring sign problemAnswer: State traffic engineers will take a look at the intersection to see what an appropriate solution might be.
You're describing the "sun phantom" effect, said Tom Gabrielli, an engineer with the state Department of Transportation's Highways Division.
"Some signals may lose their contrast value and conspicuity when viewed against a bright sky or other background lighting," he said. The problem is usually resolved by the use of visors, shields, louvers or back plates, which Gabrielli said are used on traffic light signals all over town.
Q: Last June, you said people aged 65 and older would be able to renew their state ID cards by mail. My mother, who renewed hers in October 1999, has since lost her card. She is unable to stand very long so I am not able to take her to get a replacement. Can you obtain the address and guidelines for mailing?
A: At this point, you're advised to call the state Justice Criminal Data Center's ID card office. Call 587-3112 and ask for Virtta Hite.
The office is working on procedures to handle mail renewals. Right now, people who can renew by mail are those aged 65 and older who have no change in name and citizenship and who have cards that were issued after Nov. 1, 1998.
Those with cards issued after that date have photos and fingerprints already on file, a spokeswoman for the office said.
She said the expectation is that the majority of people who will seek renewals by mail will do so in the next couple of years.
For now, "we will be happy to renew by mail on a case-by-case basis," she said.
Mahalo
To the honest person for turning in a bag of rice left in a shopping cart at Daiei Kailua on Feb. 20. I really appreciate your honesty. - B.F.
Auwe
To the person(s) responsible for breaking into all the cars on Kahala Avenue on Sunday evening, Feb. 18. I hope you enjoyed stealing all the property and money, but why do you have to take medication and personal items, which mean nothing to you. The medication may mean life or death if not taken. I know you don't care, but what if it was your parent, sister, brother, etc., who needed it and is now in the hospital thanks to your greed? I hope you get a taste of your own medicine. You know the saying, what goes around, comes around - twice as hard. - Very concerned child
Mahalo
To the person who found my wallet at the Salt Lake Shopping Center. Not only was the wallet returned without anything missing, but also the person mailed it to my home address, costing them over a dollar. There was a very nice note in the envelop and it was signed "just a Samaritan." It is really great to know there are honest people willing to go out of their way to help others, even to pay out of their own pocket and not expect a reward or anything in return. -- Chris Takeno
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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