Question: More than a year ago, thousands of tax dollars were spent to install a large net at the pavilion at Stadium Park, at Isenberg and King streets in Moiliili, to prevent the pigeons from roosting on the narrow ledges inside. This was done after a crew of painters, carpenters, masons, electricians and cleaners had repaired, repainted, scrubbed and restored the pavilion to its original beauty. The netting, however, was sloppily and incorrectly secured, and the pigeons knew it. They can still find roosting perches on top of the electrical light covers. They can easily slip through the gaps along the netting to roost on the ledges. They can freely excrete droppings, an occasional egg or nesting materials on the heads of unwary taxpayer-users below, while smearing the freshly painted walls, the light covers and the floors below. Several of us who do tai chi exercises three mornings a week there have called Stadium Park administrators numerous times, but to no avail. What else can we do to get them to correct the defective installation and protect the city property from further deterioration and possible lawsuits and citizen complaints?

Answer: The poop problem should be resolved by mid-July, said Lester Chang, director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

The netting has been up since April 2007 and “;had been working, because we never got the complaints until now,”; he said. “;The netting either got damaged or destroyed, and now (the contractor is) going to go back and repair it.”;

Repairs are expected to be completed by July 15, Chang said.

The black netting was installed at a cost of $2,000. It is used to prevent birds from perching and nesting in the eaves and rafters.

If it isn't doing the job it was meant to do because of an “;error”; on the contractor's part, then the city will not be charged, Chang said. However, “;It could just be wear and tear,”; he said.

“;At this point we will ask them if there are any additional bird-deflection measures that can come into play, because it is a challenge for people there,”; he acknowledged.

The netting also is used to keep away birds at Kapiolani Park Bandstand, where there also are areas where the net can be connected, Chang said.

Question: Some 30 years ago, I got a piggy bank from American Savings Bank. It's about 5 inches round in size, with a knob on the side with a slot. If you put a coin in the slot and crank it, it will register the amount and tell you the total you've saved. After $20 it will accept a coin but will not register the amount. You then had to take it to American Savings, and they would open the bank and empty the coins so you could start saving all over again. I went recently to American Savings and was very disappointed that they don't have the key to open the piggy bank. I went to see a locksmith, but they couldn't help me. They told me I would have to crack open the bank, which I don't want to do. Can you help me find someone who has a key?

Answer: Good news!

American Savings Bank was able to track down some keys after checking with all its branches.

Just contact Tammy Freedman at 544-1569 to work out the details of unlocking your keepsake.

We're told several keys have been located, but not every branch has one.

Write to “;Kokua Line”; at Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).