Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
Question: We live in a cul-de-sac in Makakilo, and more than once our trash has not been picked up because cars block the entrance into the cul-de-sac. This is the reason the Refuse Division gave me.
What would be the appropriate step to prevent this from happening? Our pickup schedule is normally Saturday between 5:30 and 6 a.m. The Refuse Division said there’s not much they can do about it except try again the next pickup.
Answer: Even though the situation you describe is not an emergency, when it happens it is “in progress,” so you are advised to call 911 and an officer will be sent, said Michelle Yu, spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department.
“We know that a lot of residents hesitate to call 911 for nonemergencies,” she said.
But the reality is that the 911 line in Honolulu is meant for both emergencies and nonemergencies. Yu assures you that calls are prioritized according to their seriousness and whether they are emergencies.
You can also report the problem as an ongoing one on HPD’s website, policereport.honolulu.gov.
“Earlier this year we introduced online reporting for certain types of noncriminal activity” and nonemergencies, Yu said. She cautioned that you likely won’t get an immediate response by going online and that the better option is to call 911.
The website says that there will be no contact by an officer and that all online reports are classified for record purposes only.
Question: Our neighbors at the end of our street in Kailua park their cars in the turnaround area. Isn’t that illegal? There used to be a sign indicating that it was a no-parking zone, but it is gone now. We have problems when trash trucks sometimes will refuse to pick up our trash because they cannot turn around and will not back to pick up trash bins on the other side of the street. Is there someone we can request to have the no-parking zone enforced and have the “No Parking” sign reinstalled? I don’t want to tie up the 911 line, but police seem to look the other way when they turn around in the turnaround.
We also have other issues with those neighbors running a business out of their home.
Answer: See above about calling 911.
There are certain areas under Section 15-14.1 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu where parking is prohibited, “no signs required.”
No. 27 on the list is “within the turnaround area of any dead-end street.”
You can report the problem directly to the city online at www1.honolulu .gov/csd/publiccom/fixit.htm.
At that time you also can request that a “no parking” sign be reposted. The Department of Transportation Services has specific procedures in determining where signs are posted.
Regarding other issues with your neighbors, contact the Housing Code Section at 768-8159 or via the online problem report.
AUWE
To a man who took donations made to Goodwill in Waipio Gentry. After I unloaded boxes on the porch of the Goodwill building after hours, I saw a small blue car with a political bumper sticker drive up. To my shock and disgust, a man stepped out, opened his trunk and proceeded to load up his car with the boxes I left. I have gone back some nights to see that same car parked near the Goodwill building, probably waiting to steal more stuff. My advice to others who want to support Goodwill: Do not leave your donations there after hours. Donate directly to Goodwill. Shame on that man. Bachi! — Rene from Mililani
MAHALO
To the deputy sheriff who found and returned my membership card to the Nuuanu YMCA. May good things come back to him tenfold. — Rachel
———
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.
81