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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Kalihi parking mess
needs DTS attentionQuestion: There are two lanes on Kalihi Street coming out of Kalihi Valley, with the right lane supposed to be "no parking 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m." But every morning, from Kalihi-Uka Elementary School all the way down to the right turn onto Likelike Highway, cars are parked in that lane, causing a traffic jam. This has been going on since the bus strike and is such a pain. You've advised readers in the past to call 911 and report something like this to police. But for us already stuck in traffic, it doesn't help to call 911. It's always different cars and different areas of that stretch of Kalihi Street. Is there any way that HPD can make a run around 6:30-6:45 a.m. and ticket the cars that are parked illegally?
Answer: Apparently, if the signs indicated a tow-away zone, the problem might be alleviated, according to the Honolulu Police Department.
Patrol officers have gone to the area and cited vehicles found in violation, said HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu. However, because the signs don't specifically say "tow-away zone," they could not have the illegally parked vehicles towed.
The city Department of Transportation Services is responsible for putting up tow-away signs on city streets. You can make your case to the Traffic Engineering Division by calling 523-4735.
Q: Could you please tell me where I would find information about regulations regarding bringing pets into a classroom at a public school?
A: There are no specific regulations dealing with pets in public schools, and nothing that "absolutely" prohibits bringing pets on campus, according to Greg Knudsen, spokesman for the state Department of Education.
However, there are many related matters that allow a school to decide whether an animal should be allowed on campus because of health and safety issues.
Department of Education regulations state that the principal is responsible for establishing "necessary rules of conduct to govern behavior and safety on campus," Knudsen explained. Based on a principal's assessment regarding health and safety, specific rules could therefore be made for that campus.
Knudsen noted there have been situations in which people have brought dogs on campus and, even when leashed, the animals have bitten someone because of the unfamiliar setting.
The animals could also pose a nuisance (barking) or health issues (relieving themselves where they shouldn't).
Looking at the situation from a broader perspective -- considering other "pets," such as rabbits and even bees -- "what may seem harmless to others can be a real danger to some," Knudsen said.
He acknowledged this is a gray area because the safety policies are "kind of general." Much of it relies on common sense, so, "There's some hesitation going the full route of a specific prohibition" against pets, he said.
"It's hard to have a real specific rule or regulation against it. ... (The feeling is that) it just needs to be left general," Knudsen said. "But if it does interfere with the learning environment, it falls within the school's authority to prohibit" pets.
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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
