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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Routine checks track
stream’s silt buildupQuestion: After the December 2003 flooding of the lower parts of the Mapunapuna industrial area, a friend who owns a business there noticed that the high-tide water level was noticeably lower. He surmised that it was due to the previous flood washing away much of the silt in the drainage canal. All was well for a while, but we have noticed that at high tide now, the saltwater level is again quite high. I am afraid that my friend's shop and all the other businesses there may experience another catastrophic flood again. Who is responsible for maintaining the canal and can anyone check on the silt buildup? I'm sure no one wants to go through that flooding again.
Answer: The drainage canal you refer to is Moanalua Stream.
Depending on what part of the stream is involved, jurisdiction is split among the city, the state and Robert's Hawaii, according to city and state officials.
You indicated the area of concern is around 669 Ahua St., near Nimitz Highway.
The section of Moanalua Stream above Nimitz Highway is owned by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said spokeswoman Deborah Ward. It's near the Hawaii Foodbank, which is a state tenant.
Ward said site inspections of the stream are done routinely in February and August.
After the last flooding, a site visit also was made on Dec. 10, 2003, and no silt buildup was found, she said. "In fact, the water was moving freely through Nimitz Highway" and there were no signs that water overflowed the embankment.
However, based on your concerns, "we will send someone out there again to see if there is silt buildup in our portion of the stream," Ward said.
If you still have concerns, call the Land Division's Oahu District Office, 587-0433.
Q: We went to exchange our propane cylinder at the Home Depot store on Alakawa Street on July 3, based on an ad placed in the Star-Bulletin. But we were told that that was a mainland ad. Isn't this false advertising?
A: You were given some misinformation, according to Chris Sanehira, an assistant manager at the Alakawa Street store.
Some items in the ad are meant for Home Depot stores nationwide, but the propane cylinder exchange program hadn't yet been set up here when the ad appeared.
"We have to get approval first through the City and County (of Honolulu) and the Fire Department," Sanehira said. Home Depot officials are "in the process of doing that right now."
The program should be set up soon, Sanehira said, but he couldn't say exactly when. An announcement will be made when it's up and running, he said.
Auwe
To a woman who said she was "saving" a disabled parking space for her friend about 5 p.m. Sunday, June 27, at the Pagoda. I was going to my granddaughter's graduation party and was just about to pull into the space when she said I couldn't park there because it was reserved for a friend. We all know you can't do that, but some people have no consideration for others. I had to park across the street. -- No Name
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