Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Bright lights, big tunnel
on the LikelikeQuestion: Can you ask the Department of Transportation or whoever is responsible to turn the lights off in the Kaneohe-bound Wilson Tunnel at night? They did it before because someone complained, but after the cleaning, they turned them back on again. It is just a shock to drive through there at quarter to midnight, coming home from work, and hit these bright, bright lights. It is not necessary.
Answer: Officials are aware of the situation and "are currently working to resolve this problem" with the electrical system, according to Martin Okabe, of the Transportation Department's Highways Division Oahu District Office.
He explained that there are two levels of lighting in the tunnels.
"High-level lighting is used during the day and a lower intensity lighting at night," he said. "This allows motorists to make an easier transition from ambient lighting conditions outside the tunnel to lighting levels in the tunnel."
However, a recent problem with the electrical system is preventing the switch to the night-time mode, Okabe said. It wasn't known when the problem would be fixed.
Q: Hawaiian Cement gave sand to replenish Kuhio Beach on July 2. Where did they mine the sand from -- inland or from the ocean? They don't want to reveal where they hauled it from -- is it legal or illegal?
A: The nearly 100 tons of sand came from private land -- not along the shoreline -- and all the necessary permits were first obtained, said George Stewart, sales and marketing manager for Hawaiian Cement's Cement Division.
He did decline to specify the location, but said the company worked with the city for six to eight months to obtain the permits.
"We're really not mining it because, as we remove the sand, we're putting topsoil back into the ground and restoring the area to pastureland," Stewart said.
Because it is not in the shoreline management area, Hawaiian Cement was not required to do a lot of environmental studies that would have otherwise been mandated by the federal government, he added.
The company worked with the Waikiki Improvement Association and the city on the replenishment project.
Auwe
To thieves who stole my wife's handbag from our car on Thursday, July 11, as we were putting flowers on a grave at Mililani Cemetery. There was no warning in the news about something like this happening, abut thieves preying on old people like us. We lost practically everything. -- No Name(This should serve as a warning to people visiting any cemetery not to leave valuables in vehicles or anywhere unattended. The Star-Bulletin reported in June about the rash of car break-ins at cemeteries in the Nuuanu area. There was also a report of a woman leaving her purse at a grave while she went to fill a vase with water. When she returned the purse was gone.)
Wrong sponsor
KCCN is sponsoring the Birthday Bash at the Waikiki Shell. Kokua Line erroneously reported yesterday the event was sponsored by KSSK.
Useful phone numbers
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.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com