|
Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Kuhio work to run
through DecemberQuestion: I'm a travel agent who's concerned about the construction along Kuhio Avenue. Could you please let me know how long the construction will be going on? Or could you please let me know whom I may contact to find out this information?
Answer: The city has set up a Web site -- www.oahutrans2k. com/kuhio.htm -- by which you can track the progress of the Kuhio Avenue improvement project.
It says to contact Chris Jarrett at 864-1914 with any questions or concerns.
According to the Web site, construction along Kuhio Avenue, which began in February, will involve three phases:
» Phase One: Work on Kuhio constructing the median landscaping between Kealohilani and Kapahulu avenues; to be completed this month.
» Phase Two: Work on the median landscaping between Kalakaua Avenue and Olohana Street; widening the mauka sidewalk between Kalakaua and Kealohilani avenues; reconstructing drainage structure systems, the existing sidewalk and pavement; building concrete curbs, gutters, and wheelchair ramps; installing ornamental traffic signals and street lights; planting trees and other landscaping treatments; and placing flagstone tiles; to be completed in July.
Concrete bus pads and pullouts and loading-zone work also are included in this phase.
» Phase Three: Widening the makai sidewalk from just Diamond Head of Namahana Street to Kealohilani Avenue and other work similar to the mauka sidewalk work; to take place between June and Dec. 1.
The Kuhio project is part of the city's Oahu Trans 2K program to involve the community in creating "an integrated transportation system."
Other projects include the proposed Bus Rapid Transit Project and Hub-and-Spoke, aimed an improving bus transit facilities and operations.
Q: The area behind my workplace seems to be a popular place for people to dump/abandon their cars. While this is normally a bad thing, for the past three or four months, there has been a car sitting there that my friends and I would like to get our hands on for parts. Is there any way to legally take that car away ourselves?
A: No. You cannot legally take the vehicle, nor parts from the vehicle, even if it is apparently abandoned, said Lt. Owen Harada, of the Honolulu Police Department's District 1.
Without permission from the owner, the legal way to get to the vehicle is via city auction, once the vehicle is towed, according to both Harada and Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Division of Motor Vehicle & Licensing.
The city publishes notices of auctions in the legal ad sections of newspapers of general circulation after vehicles are towed away as abandoned and not claimed.
"I would recommend that (you) wait until the abandoned vehicle is auctioned so (you) do not get into any legal/criminal problems," Kamimura said.
If no one bids on a vehicle at an auction, the city may either sell it by negotiation, dispose of it, sell it as junk or donate it to any government agency.
|
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
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