Question: How long will Waianae District Park gym be closed this time?
Answer: To be clear, it’s the gym’s second floor — not the whole facility — that is closed; it should reopen this summer, according to the city.
The current project requires the closure of the second floor because it includes reroofing, repairing water damage, and replacing certain light fixtures and roof ventilators at the gym, located in the park at 85-601 Farrington Highway.
The gym’s ground floor is expected to remain open for the project’s duration, according to a news release from the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
As you noted, this is the second recent closure. The leaking roof caused water damage that closed the gym’s second level three years ago. The floor was found to have asbestos, so the city had to address that before making repairs. An asbestos-abatement project wrapped up in July, at which point the second floor reopened to the public for about six months, until the current construction began and it closed anew.
Q: Do you have to have a license to ride a moped?
A: “Yes, at a minimum a valid Class 1 driver license or permit is required to legally operate a moped,” according to the city. “Drivers with other classes of driver license or permit may legally operate a moped.”
Q: Auwe! I am tired of a few bad apples ruining things for everyone. The latest example is the destruction at Waialae Beach Park. Catch these guys!
A: Honolulu police are investigating vandalism last week that destroyed the sinks in both the men’s and women’s restrooms at Waialae Beach Park, 4925 Kahala Ave. Anyone who has information is urged to call the police. The destruction occurred in at least two separate acts of vandalism, according to the city. Officials are considering increased security at the park, such as gates and security cameras.
Repairing damage caused by vandals at Oahu parks cost taxpayers nearly $900,000 from 2014 to 2017, according to the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. As you note, such destruction also disrupts use of facilities by the public.
Mahalo
I want to thank the terrific guy who shared some water and a large energy cookie with my teen daughter, who was dehydrated and hungry at the top of Kuliouou Ridge Trail on Saturday. Upon descending the trail, he also gave an ascending hiker his remaining jug of water to give to us, as he was concerned about us. What a truly wonderful act of kindness and concern from a total stranger. I wish I had gotten his name. He has motivated me to pass on the kindness! — Grateful in paradise
Mahalo
It was raining heavily Thursday morning as I made my way down Waialae Avenue toward Kaimuki Auto Repair to get a new battery. When I pulled away from the stoplight, my weak battery finally gave up the ghost — I couldn’t even get the hazard light to flash! Morning traffic whizzed around me, and I knew there was no way that this 76-year-old was going to get his car to the curb without help. In a near-panic, I spent a few minutes trying to figure out my next move. Then a black truck suddenly stopped in front of me and backed up with hazard lights blinking. A woman appeared at my window and calmly asked if I needed help pushing the car out of traffic. After a few questions, she gave me some instructions, then zipped to the back of my car. Before I knew it, she had, all by herself, waved traffic off and proceeded to push my car off to the side, as if she had done this dozens of times before. Wow, I said to myself, that was awesome! But all I could do was blurt out a mahalo to this good Samaritan. She was gone as quickly as she appeared. Yeah, lucky we live Hawaii! — Ted in Kaimuki
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