Question: Is there any way for the public to find out who owns the roads in Kakaako? There are some hazardous areas in some of them. There are no sidewalks in parts, and you have to walk in the street. … The government can tell us if they own a part, but if they do not they can’t say who does.
Answer: Disputes over ownership and maintenance of roads and sidewalks in central Kakaako have gone unresolved for years, as have disagreements over parking and towing; some streets are privately owned, as you noted. In 2015 the Hawaii Community Development Authority posted maps identifying known owners as of that time, as well as background about the disputes. You can find this information at 808ne.ws/maproads and 808ne.ws/hcdainfo, respectively. Kokua Line receives many complaints about the poor condition of Kakaako’s streets and the lack of parking in the ever-more populous urban neighborhood.
Q: Wouldn’t “dog parks” on private property be subject to current animal nuisance laws? For example, if dogs are constantly barking (there are time and duration requirements) and creating a disturbance, people can register a complaint with the Hawaiian Humane Society.
A: Yes. Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Sec. 7-2.2 defines an animal nuisance, in part, as any animal, farm animal or poultry that “makes noise continuously and/or incessantly for a period of 10 minutes or intermittently for one-half hour or more to the disturbance of any person at any time of day or night and regardless of whether the animal, farm animal or poultry is physically situated in or upon private property.” The Hawaiian Humane Society investigates and enforces barking-dog reports under this ordinance. Call 356-2250 to make a complaint.
Q: How long do they think the baby seal will be in Waikiki?
A: About five to seven weeks, which is how long it will take the Hawaiian monk seal born last week on Kaimana Beach to wean from its mother and learn to forage for food on its own, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. (See story on Page A1.) Volunteers from the Hawaii Marine Mammals Alliance Oahu group are there for the duration, keeping watch in shifts to ensure that beachgoers stay beyond a safety perimeter and steer clear of the pup and its mother, the DLNR said in a news release.
Mahalo
I called Kokua Line a couple of weeks about my lost lanyard (808ne.ws/615kline), which I left in the car of two young women who had been kind enough to give me a ride to the bottom of my hill in Lanikai. The lanyard had my bus pass, YMCA card and other personal items, but nothing with my address or phone number. I have some good news to report! When I went to get a new bus pass, there was all my stuff in the lost-and-found! I want to thank the good Samaritans for turning it in and remind readers to check TheBus lost-and-found if they lose belongings that include a bus pass. — Grateful reader
Mahalo
In these days of spiraling costs and cutbacks to services to the public, my family has been blessed with the stellar services provided by the city’s bulky-item pickup service in Aina Haina. The death of parents left the family with the dilemma of disposing of an unbelievable amount of unusable items (i.e., junk). We left what we feared might be considered an excessive amount for bulky-item pickup in May and again in June. Much to our surprise — and delight! — the Aina Haina bulky-item crew picked up everything and on the first day prescribed for pickup! Our only regret is that we were not there to thank them personally for their extraordinary service or to leave a thank-you gift. So, instead, here’s a Kokua Line shout-out to the Aina Haina bulky-item crew! You da bes’! — A More-Than-Satisfied Customer
Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
