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QUESTION: It was reported recently that a hunter was rescued after he fell several feet down an embankment of Konahuanui Stream in the Whitmore Village area of Wahiawa. He was hunting at night with two other men. Will the three be investigated for hunting at night?
ANSWER: The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement says it has opened an investigation "to verify the facts" of the incident.
Under Chapter 13-123-6 of DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife rules, "Hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. No person shall hunt from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, except where specified differently."
According to DLNR’s hunting coordinator, hunters occasionally find themselves in the field after dark for one reason or another, such as lost dogs, lost partners, bad estimates of time and distance, etc.: "This does not necessarily mean that any hunting was taking place."
However, we’re told the facts still were to be determined.
DLNR does allow night shooting of "nuisance animals," under animal control permits specifying highly controlled and restricted conditions. This is not considered hunting.
QUESTION: The number of neighborhood mail drop boxes has dwindled to nearly zero. Because of pilferage of mail from resident mailboxes, we have to make the trip to Ala Moana Center for mailings. Why can’t a busy post office like Ala Moana have drive-by mailboxes as they do at most post offices? There are two short streets inside the center headed to the post office that would be appropriate for driver-side mailboxes.
ANSWER: Drive-by collection boxes at Ala Moana Center would not be feasible nor be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Lynne Moore, consumer affairs manager for the U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii.
"Drive-by collection boxes have the snorkel deposit slot which have space and safety requirements," Moore explained. "Locating the boxes on the thoroughfare at Ala Moana would not be feasible, as there is insufficient room to install the boxes on the sidewalk that would be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act."
Regarding the removal of collection boxes in general: The Postal Service has removed boxes that generate fewer than 25 pieces of mail per day, on average.
"It is not economically practical to maintain boxes or expend the man-hours to collect mail from boxes that generate such a low volume," Moore said.
QUESTION: I have been told that people who reach age 80 are exempt from jury duty. Is this true?
ANSWER: Yes, but only if you ask to be excused.
If you are 80 or older, you can request exemption from state jury duty; for federal juries you can be excused if you are 70 or older.
However, in both court systems the exemptions are not automatic. You have to request exemption based on your age.
You have to be at least 18 years old to serve on any jury, but there is no upper age limit.
CORRECTION
The last name of Suzanne Frazer, spokeswoman for Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (B.E.A.C.H.), was misspelled in last Friday’s "Kokua Line."
