Few fruits can be
brought to mainland

Answer: While the state is concerned about what is brought into the islands, it is the federal government that prohibits airline passengers from taking back fresh fruits, even apples and oranges, because of possible fruit fly infestations that could endanger mainland crops.

"We're concerned with the fruit fly host material," explained an official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Office, in Honolulu.

Even though the fruits might have originated on the mainland, they are "quarantined from going back" unless they have been safeguarded in some way, he said.

His advice is to process the fruits in some way or to freeze them.

APHIS is working on a video for passengers flying to Hawaii, like the one shown by the state Department of Agriculture, to let them know what they can and cannot take back.

Among the items you cannot take to the mainland from Hawaii are berries of any kind, including coffee berries and sea grapes; cactus plants or parts; cotton and cotton bolls; fresh gardenia, jade vine or Mauna Loa; fresh pulpy fruits and vegetables (except pineapple); kikania plant and fresh pandanus; live insects and snails; plants in soil; seeds with pulp and fresh seed pods; soil; sugar cane; swamp cabbage (ung choy); and raw sweet potato.

Items you are allowed to take from Hawaii to the mainland and Guam, after passing inspection, are beach sand, coconuts, cooked foods, dried seeds, dried decorative arrangements, fresh flowers (except gardenia, jade vine and Mauna Loa), hinahina (Spanish moss), "Irish" or white potatoes, pineapples, rocks or stones, seashells (except land snail shells) and wood (including driftwood and sticks).

Papayas have to be treated before they can be shipped to the mainland.

You are allowed to take beets, rutabagas and turnips (without tops) to Guam.

If you are uncertain about an item, call an APHIS office: Honolulu, 861-8490; Hilo, 933-6931; Kailua-Kona, 326-1252; Lihue, 245-2831; and Maui, 877-5261; or check the Web site www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/notice_hawaii.html.

Q: The state Department of Transportation said late last year that work would begin to resurface Kalanianaole Highway after the hillside grading was completed. Nothing happened. Then I read that work would definitely begin in August. Nothing happened. What's going on?

A: Work began Tuesday to resurface Kalanianaole Highway from Castle Junction to Castle Medical Center, Kailua-bound. One Kailua-bound lane in the work area will be closed 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. The $3.3 million repaving project will eventually create two left-turn lanes from Kapaa Quarry Road onto Kalanianaole Highway.

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