Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: I'm concerned about University Avenue, where there is road construction going on. Just mauka of Maile Way on the Diamond Head side, along the Mid-Pacific Institute campus, the road is collapsing. Stones are popping out of the retaining wall; the cement is cracked and the sidewalk is sinking. It's probably just a matter of time before a heavy truck goes through there and the whole wall collapses and half the street is lost. Can't something be done? University Avenue wall
not endangering roadwayAnswer: The Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which is installing a new 12-inch water line from Seaview to Oahu avenues, along University Avenue, says the road is not in danger of collapsing or in a hazardous condition.
The conditions described existed prior to the current work starting in the area, according to the agency's deputy manager, Donna Kiyosaki. Regarding the rock wall "popping out," the owner of the wall was going to be notified, she said.
The waterline being installed by the Board of Water Supply affects only the makai-bound lanes on University Avenue between Seaview Avenue and Maile Way. The semiautonomous city agency plans to resurface the entire width of the mauka-bound lane from Seaview to Oahu avenues. Meanwhile, another city agency is planning to reconstruct the road in that area.
"We are coordinating our water main construction project with the city's planned repaving of portions of University Avenue," Kiyosaki said. "After we install our water main, the city's road reconstruction project should address the road concerns."
The estimated date of completion of the agency's $803,400 pipeline project, barring any unexpected delays, is February.
Q: What is the penalty for a store that gets caught selling cigarettes without a tax stamp? If I buy cigarettes without a tax stamp, will I get in trouble, too?
A: There is no penalty assessed the purchaser of cigarettes without a tax stamp, which is proof that the 5-cents-a-cigarette tax has been paid to the state.
For those found guilty of the Class C felony for selling cigarettes without the tax stamp, the penalty is a maximum $10,000 fine and/or five years in jail, according to a spokeswoman from the state Attorney General's Office.
Beginning April 1, the stamps had to be on all cigarette packages sold in the state, except at military bases.
Q: Can you please find out what year Pearl City Tavern closed down, and did it burn down?
A: Pearl City Tavern, a longtime landmark known for its live monkeys kept behind a glass enclosure behind the bar area, closed in 1993.
The property was bought by an auto dealership, which used the restaurant building for storage until razing it in 1998.
Mahalo
To the Ben Franklin Store owners for their service of long ago. In 1963 I moved to Texas and that winter experienced the cold of this state. My mom sent me children's knitted gloves and hats purchased from this wonderful store in Kaimuki (since closed). I could not buy them in the area I was located for it wasn't that cold for the natives (I suppose). The store in Hawaii rescued a Hawaiian transplant and children from winter that year! -- Arlene Napualikeole Naumu Edwards
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com