QUESTION: When will the six tennis courts at Koko Head District Park be ready for play? They were in a deplorable state of disrepair for years, then underwent reconstruction in January. The contractor told me the courts should be done by the end of September, but it had to go through a punch list with the Parks Department. I’ve called the Parks Department several times and every time they say they are waiting for the contractor to say the courts are completed. For more than two months, they’ve looked completed except for the nets not being put in. Shouldn’t the department be more proactive to get the courts into play instead of waiting on the contractor? When will the courts open? (Combination of four questions).

ANSWER: The work on the tennis courts is complete, but the city Department of Design and Construction, which is overseeing the $977,000 project, wants the contractor to correct what it says are "extensive problems."

A reopening date has not been set.

The major cause of the delay is the chain-link fencing, "which has extensive problems" relating to premature corrosion of the pipe rails, gate hinges, hog ties, fence fabric and incorrect fencing ties, said Collins Lam, acting director of Design and Construction.

"They must be addressed and corrected by the contractor before we can schedule a prefinal inspection," he said.

The contractor was told of the city’s concerns in August/September, but disputed some of the problems cited, Lam said. City officials recently met with both the contractor and fencing subcontractor.

Meanwhile, the contractor’s material supplier is scheduled to review the "premature corrosion" concern this week, Lam said.

"The contractor has been informed that the city will not accept defective construction and that a complete replacement of the defective material is required," Lam said.

He says the city is hopeful that a resolution can be reached by mid-December, but couldn’t say yet when the courts would be reopened.

"We apologize for the delay, but we want to assure that the city and the public gets what it paid for," he said.

QUESTION: Did they ever salvage that Hawaii Air National Guard F-15D fighter jet that crashed into the ocean two years ago?

ANSWER: The plane that crashed Feb. 1, 2008, about 60 miles south of Honolulu Airport was destroyed upon impact, according to a report issued by the Pacific Air Forces Accident Investigation Board.

The investigation could not determine the cause of the crash, although evidence pointed to failures of both rudders.

The pilot was able to eject safely, escaping with minor injuries.

The Air Force said the loss of the plane amounted to $43.8 million.

MAHALO

To a gentleman who bought our family breakfast on Veterans Day at Big City Diner in Kaimuki. He spotted my father-in-law wearing his USMC cap, with ribbons from his service in the Korean War. He told the waitress not to say who picked up our tab, saying he wanted to show appreciation to a veteran on Veterans Day. My father-in-law was amazed and my husband, a Vietnam-era Navy veteran, was actually a little choked up about it. He said that’s the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him as a vet. Mahalo, sir, your act of kindness meant the world to my family! — Teresa Wong