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Oahu to have 23 sites
taking bottles

Question: We are a group of senior citizens wondering about the redemption law for empty bottles of juice and soda, etc. What about people who do not have transportation and would have to use the bus to go anywhere? Transportation and mobility are problems. Do we just have to dispose of our bottles because we can't get them redeemed?

Answer: The hope is that you don't just toss your bottles and other containers subject to the 5-cent bottle deposit.

But there will be no special provisions to help people who might have transportation problems, said Genevieve Salmonson, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health.

However, she said there will be at least 23 redemption centers on Oahu alone.

"Sites are being set up now," but they're not being publicized yet because nothing can be redeemed until Jan. 1, she said.

Some recyclers also are considering the possibility of taking their trucks to certain events, such as a farmer's market, to accommodate redemption, she said. But, again, nothing definite has been arranged.

While some shopping centers in California, for example, have "reverse vending machines," where you can redeem your containers, "We're not sure if retailers would do that" here, Salmonson said. "As long as there is a redemption site within two miles of the store, (retailers are) not required to" redeem the containers themselves.

The containers subject to the 5-cent deposit will be marked "Hawaii 5&CENT" or "HI 5&CENT" and contain soft drinks, beer, juices, water, teas and sports drinks. Beverage containers not affected by the deposit are those that contain wine, milk or hard liquor.

Q: Years ago my family lived in Hawaii. When we moved to Florida, I had a terrible mishap: My Christmas tape of the Honolulu Boy Choir was destroyed (my then-3-year-old took it and a Bing Crosby Christmas tape and gave her 1-year-old sister a Lion King mane. It was a pretty amazing sight, but I had to cut through the tapes to get them off my 1-year-old "lion"). For years now I've been trying to find a new tape, to no avail. Does the Boy Choir even exist anymore? Could you please let me know how or if I could get another copy? I still sing some of the songs, but you know how memory is, especially if you're not using that particular bit of it regularly.

A: The Honolulu Boy Choir is 30 years old this year and in rehearsal for its annual Christmas concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Central Union Church.

Unfortunately, there is no stock of old Christmas tapes available, said Kane Kanetani, executive director of the choir.

The only cassette tape/CD in stock is called "We Are Young Men of This Country," recorded in 1992. However, Kanetani said the plan is to have the choir record something more current next spring or summer.

For more information about the choir, check the Web site www.honoluluboychoir.org.

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