---

Kalani High is improving
lunch lines

Question: I've been told that at lunch time, cafeteria lines are so long at Kalani High School that some students are not able to purchase lunch in the time allotted and that there is only one lunch break scheduled. Since there are no alternate places to purchase lunch close to the campus, some students either have to bring their own lunches or go without. Would it be possible for the school to stagger two to three lunch shifts to allow all students who wish to purchase lunches to do so?

Answer: Kalani has addressed the problem since school began more than three weeks ago, and believes the situation has improved significantly.

Vice Principal Marcus Dacanay, who has been monitoring the cafeteria lines, invites you and any concerned parent to observe the lunch hour with him.

He acknowledged receiving "several complaints" about the long lines and the fact that it might have taken 20 minutes to get lunch.

To address the problem, he said four lunch lines were opened up last week, instead of three.

Last Thursday, for example, he said, the lunch hour started at 11:28 a.m. and ended at 12:04 p.m. Even before 11:45 a.m., "there was no line."

It now takes 15 minutes at the most for a student to get lunch, he said, although, "depending on if it's a great lunch or not," it might sometimes take longer.

Fifteen minutes is "not bad," considering that a "good 800" of Kalani's 1,000 students buy lunch.

Dacanay pointed out that it also takes longer for the lines to move because of the state-mandated "offer vs. serve" program that school cafeterias must now follow. In the past, students basically were given one set lunch.

"Now, you have choices," Dacanay said, with students given a main dish but able to pick side dishes.

"Now, there is decision-making and that holds up the line," he said.

Meanwhile, to address complaints about overcrowding in the cafeteria, students are now allowed to take their lunches outside to eat, as long as they properly dispose of their rubbish, he said.

Q: When is the house at 1214 Matlock Ave. that burned on May 26 going to be demolished and the lot cleaned up? Since the fire there is more junk on the property. It is an eyesore as well as a safety hazard.

A: A notice of violation was issued on June 29, ordering the demolition and removal of all fire debris and fire-damaged vehicles on the property, according to city building officials.

The homeowner has 90 days from the date of the notice to comply.

Periodic inspections show that the "tenant is coming and going to the property site to remove and protect his belongings on the site," the city said.

Kapaa station hours

Normal operating hours for the Kapaa Transfer Station are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. A "Kokua Line" item yesterday gave different hours, based on times posted on the city Web site, opala.org.

|

---

---