State workers responsible for cleaning palace sidewalk

QUESTION: Who is responsible for cleaning the leaves/trash on the outside fence of Iolani Palace from the first gate on Richards Street to the Hawaii State Library facing South King Street? Since June 2012, every afternoon after work, I walk from downtown to the Alapai bus station. I pass the palace, and it is not appealing to see old leaves, papers, twigs, etc. I do not know when was the last time this long stretch got cleaned. This is a busy area with locals and tourists. I’m assuming Iolani Palace is not responsible, otherwise that area would be cleaned.

ANSWER: The state Department of Accounting and General Services is responsible for maintaining the sidewalk area fronting Iolani Palace and Hawaii State Library.

It may not appear so, but a crew is assigned to regularly collect and dispose of debris, including leaves and rubbish, along the sidewalk.

"It’s done every (week)day, the policing, and it’s done in the morning," said DAGS spokesman R.J. Yahiku.

However, he acknowledged that plants cropping up in several spots along the sidewalk were "unacceptable." A crew that went out Monday was instructed to remove the plants, Yahiku said.

He pointed out that an accumulation of leafy debris tends to be "a seasonal thing," especially on windy days.

"Some of the rubbish comes from across the street, when the winds blow they way they do," from the busy bus stop area on South King and the King Kamehameha Statue, a popular tourist stop.

"But our supervisor said they’ll try to monitor the areas more often and take appropriate action," Yahiku said.

For complaints like this involving state properties, he said to call DAGS’ Central Services Division directly at 831-6734.

We first contacted the city Department of Facility Maintenance, thinking it was the city’s responsibility to keep the sidewalk clean.

As with owners of residential properties, "The responsibility for collecting debris and litter and removing weeds and other growth on sidewalks lies with the abutting property owner," in this case, the state, said Ross Sasamura, director of facility maintenance.

The department has crews assigned to the Civic Center — Honolulu Hale, Mission Memorial Complex and the Fasi Municipal Building — that regularly clean and clear the sidewalks along Punchbowl, King, Alapai and Beretania streets abutting the city facilities, he said. "Similarly, the state of Hawaii has responsibility for the sidewalks around Iolani Palace and the Hawaii State Library."

QUESTION: Last August, I wrote you about the lack of electric vehicle charging stations at Windward Mall. In Kokua Line you said that Windward Mall expected to have two charging stations installed before the December holidays (is.gd/tLWoZw). There still are no charging stations at Windward Mall. Maybe Windward Mall meant the Easter holidays instead of the Christmas holidays. Can you follow up?

ANSWER: Windward Mall had expected the EV charging stations to have been installed by now, said General Manager Richard Chang.

There is a contract with a vendor, who "had some changes to the agreement," resulting in the delay.

The vendor was "going over some last bit of detail before install," Chang told us last week.

Although he expects the charging stations to be installed soon, "we are still waiting on a schedule for install."

The charging stations will be located under the parking deck.

MAHALO

To a very nice young lady a while back at the Market City parking lot, who saw me looking for my car keys. She went out of her way to inquire at the Foodland office whether someone, by chance, had found my keys. Someone actually did and turned them into the office. She came to my car to give me my keys while I was still looking for them in my handbag. Bless her for the kindness and thoughtfulness shown to a stranger.

— Very Grateful Senior Citizen

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.