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Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Waikiki library hibiscus
are OK after trimming

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Question: Yellow hibiscus are planted in the fountain area by the Kapahulu library, across from the fire station. They haven't been watered and they're all dying. I called Office of Information and Complaint and parks department and no one does anything. Can you help?

Answer: The hibiscus are regularly watered, but they may look distressed because they were "severely trimmed" by the city Department of Parks and Recreation recently.

"That's why they look so ragged, but give them a few weeks and they will greatly improve," says Carol Costa, director of the Department of Customer Services (the old Office of Information and Complaint).

Q: Can anything be done to spruce up the courtyard at the Airport Post Office? Two plumeria trees are infested with aphids. They look like snowflakes. Help!

A: The courtyard, in general, looks "very good," but the plumeria trees in two planters in the middle "do look a little worse for wear," conceded Lynne Moore, manager of consumer affairs for the U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii.

Upkeep of the trees is ongoing, but no one's a landscaping expert, according to the maintenance manager. Therefore, he will look at getting a consultant to advise them on keeping the trees healthy, Moore said.

Auwe

To the city bus driver who, about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, dropped off a blind woman and her seeing-eye dog on Pali Highway and Beretania -- not at the bus stop. She was left standing in the middle of the sidewalk, disoriented. The driver told her the stop was 25 feet away, but failed to show her which direction that was. Would it have been too difficult to take a moment to help this woman? -- A "Seeing" Pedestrian

All bus operators receive specific training on dealing with and being sensitive to the needs of the blind, with representatives from Ho'opono (a state agency for the visually impaired) brought to every class of new drivers, said Roger Morton, vice president of operations for Oahu Transit Services.

He also noted the company's policy manual says: "If you accidentally pass the stop where a blind or visually impaired person wanted off, you should inform him/her immediately. In some cases, the passenger may not be able to maneuver back to the proper location without assistance from you. If not, you should make every attempt to flag down a bus going in the opposite direction or tell the person that you will take him back on the return trip."

The company was not able to identify the driver in question because so many different routes pass that point in the afternoon, Morton said. But a reminder was sent to all drivers to be sensitive to the needs of the blind, he said.

If anyone sees something "that does not look right," Morton said to contact Oahu Transit Services with as much information as possible, including the bus number, route number, time, location and direction of travel. If a driver is identifiable, he or she will generally be referred to a special refresher class. "Intentional noncompliance is not tolerated," Morton said.

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Useful phone numbers

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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