Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: On June 13 or 14, city crews went down the length of Haloa Street, which is the main street of Foster Village, cutting down trees between the street and sidewalk on the city green strip. They cut down at least four trees and at least one of which provided a nice shade for people waiting for buses. It was my understanding that developers of new subdivisions, which Foster Village was in the 1960s, were required to put trees in the green strip. It looks like a bad waste of trees that have been around for decades providing shade and beautifying the neighborhood. There are still remnants of these trees. Why did the city cut down trees that the city required the developers to put in in the first place? There is a tree near us that the city doesn't trim but once a year if we're lucky, but it's one of those flowering trees that drops pods all over the place. If the city is going to cut down trees I'd like to cut down one of those. Foster Village trees cut
due to their ill healthAnswer: Five Orchid trees on Haloa Street were removed on June 15 after the city Division of Forestry discovered they had "significant defects which compromised their structural integrity," said city parks director William Balfour.
It was determined that no corrective pruning could lessen their decline, he said.
Balfour says the rest of the trees on Haloa Street are in healthy condition, so they aren't candidates for removal. The city will only remove a tree if it is dead, dying, diseased or damaged, he said.
"It is natural for trees to drop their leaves, flowers, seeds, etc., due to prevailing winds and seasonal cycles," Balfour said.
He points out that property owners are responsible for keeping the public walk areas abutting their property free of litter.
As for replacing the five Orchid trees, trees can be replanted at the request of the abutting resident owner by calling the urban forestry division at 971-7151. However, the property owner has to agree to water the trees regularly, Balfour said.
Q: We are frequent users of Cartwright Field. Recently, it has been noted that people have been taking up residency under the Keeaumoku bridge. As a user of the park for baseball, we are concerned for the safety of the kids. In addition, more and more junk seems to be accumulating with them. As such, what city or state agency could we call to try to get this matter resolved?
A: We called the Honolulu Police Department. Unfortunately, the problems of the homeless aren't easily solved and the people you've seen probably will find another inappropriate spot to call home.
But regarding the Cartwright Field area, officers have warned the people found sleeping under the bridge to move on, said police Sgt. Thomas Reyes, of District I. Officers will make periodic checks, he said.
As for the "junk," the only accumulation noticed by officers was at Lunalilo and Keeaumoku streets, Reyes said, and that was a neat pile awaiting pickup by city bulky item crews.
Mahalo
To Beth Baker for being the best art teaching assistant at Punahou Summer School. --M.B.
Mahalo
To all the citizens in Honolulu who are diligently raking up the leaves and blossoms that have fallen from our shower trees. I appreciate it because the shower trees do make a lot of rubbish but they are so beautiful and I just enjoy walking among them and under them. Thank you to all the homeowners who have to sweep up after the trees. -- No name
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Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
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