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State holiday overlap
offers flexibility

Question: In 2005 we have Kuhio Day and Good Friday falling on the same date. Chapter 8 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes says the state will observe the holidays on the same day unless the governor designates another day as observance for one of the days. Has Gov. Lingle indicated what she will do?

Answer: Kuhio Day falls on a Saturday this year, which means, by state law, it is observed the preceding Friday. Hence, Kuhio Day will be observed on Friday, March 25, which is Good Friday this year.

(If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a holiday.)

By "observance," we assume you mean whether state workers will be able to get more than one day off as a holiday.

In this case it's not just a matter of the governor deciding to designate another day as a holiday, said Russell Pang, Lingle's chief of media relations.

State law designates 13 state holidays: Jan. 1, New Year's Day; third Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr. Day; third Monday in February, Presidents Day; March 26, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day; Friday preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday; last Monday in May, Memorial Day; June 11, King Kamehameha I Day; July 4, Independence Day; third Friday in August, Statehood Day; first Monday in September, Labor Day; Nov. 11, Veterans Day; fourth Thursday in November, Thanksgiving; Dec. 25, Christmas.

Additionally, a state holiday is observed on any election day, except primary and special election days, in the county where an election is held, and any day designated a holiday by proclamation of the president or governor.

With this year's "overlap" of Kuhio Day and Good Friday, the number of holidays off for state workers would be down to 12, Pang said.

State officials had met with various labor unions to amend existing contracts "to make sure that the workers get the 13 days due to them," he said. Agreements that workers would be able to take a "floating" holiday of their choosing this year were finalized last week.

Similar agreements were being worked out in the county governments.

In Honolulu, agreements with UPW and HGEA were recently finalized, said Dennis Neufeld, the city's labor relations branch chief. Workers would have to work with department officials to make sure there would be no scheduling conflicts as to when a "flexible" holiday is observed, he said.

Agreements with the police and fire unions were expected to be forthcoming.

Senior Scam Hotline

The Better Business Bureau of Hawaii has announced a Senior Scam Hotline to help protect the elderly from being victimized.

Seniors and caregivers can call 536-8609 (neighbor islands, toll-free at 888-333-1593) 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday to get free information on fraudulent propositions. Callers can remain anonymous.

Calls will be taken by trained volunteers. Automated information will be available after hours.

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