Question: Kamehameha Highway, southbound, is now closed for construction at Kamananui Road. The lighted traffic sign there says only, “;10/15-19, 7 pm-5 am.”; This same sign said the week before, “;Kam Hwy Wah bnd closed 830 am to 3 pm, use detour”; with no dates. On Dec. 5 this same sign said, “;12/8, 830 am-3 pm.”; I called the state Department of Transportation and told them this sign as it reads is in error. This has happened several times in the last two months: one time for paving in Wahiawa that caused severe chaos for all the cross streets, and another time for a partial lane closure at Karsten Thot Bridge. Why is this happening?

Answer: The Department of Transportation apologized for the confusion the signs caused drivers.

The sign on Monday should have read, “;Roadwork Ahead Kam Hwy - Wahiawa Closed Mon-Fri 8:30 A-3P Detour.”;

The message board was corrected as soon as DOT was made aware of the problem, said spokeswoman Tammy Mori.

The contractor told her there was a “;technical glitch with the sign which caused it to default to an old message,”; she said.

According to the contractor, a similar problem happened a few weeks ago on a previous project. The electronic message board in that case was replaced.

This time an additional special-duty police officer has been requested - bringing the total to three - to direct traffic through the detours and constructions areas, Mori said. “;Safety continues to be our top priority as we continue our work.”;

One lane of Kamehameha Highway, between Kilani and Whitmore avenues, will be closed and traffic contra-flowed during work on “;grouted rubble paving”; to protect the slope near Karsten Thot Bridge.

Mori said the slope on the Wahiawa side of the bridge has been eroding since Oct. 12, and the current project is to prevent further erosion.

The work is scheduled to be completed the second week of January, weather permitting, she said.

Motorists can report any further problems to the DOT's complaint line, 831-6714.

Mahalo

To a stranger named Lon, who lives in Pauoa, who showed us what the true spirit of Christmas is all about. We have put up Christmas decorations outside our house at 2672 Lowrey Ave. in Manoa for about 30 years. A few years ago a group of girls damaged and stole some of the characters. That was the first and only time something like that has happened. On Saturday, Lon showed up at our house and gave my son about nine to 10 Christmas characters, including a Nativity scene, Santa, North Pole signs and candy canes. He said he used to live in Manoa and remembered our decorations and remembered when some were stolen. He said he was at a garage sale in Kaneohe, saw the decorations for sale and bought them for us. He refused to take any money in payment. Lon has made such an impression on our family, for going out of his way to do something nice for people he didn't know. Lon, we wish you and your family the very best. - Richard Allen and Family