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Question: I have been trying to talk to whoever is in charge at Sunset Memorial Cemetery at 848 Fourth St. in Pearl City. Someone told me a church had taken it over, but I haven’t been able to find out which church. The whole place has been running down for years. But now, the crypt my parents are in is falling apart and caving in. With no one taking care of the cemetery, I think we should move my parents to another cemetery. Can you help us?
Answer: We first wrote about the cemetery in 2000, when someone complained about the “horrible” conditions there (see http://archives.starbulletin.com/2000 /05/30/news/kokualine.html).
Owner Ginichi Iwaoka, then 78 years old, said he was doing the best he could, but that there was not a lot of money available for maintenance. He said he often hired homeless people to help out.
The name of the company changed in 2005 to Hawaiian Cemetery Association Ltd.
Business registration records with the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs show the last filing for the cemetery was in 2007, with Iwaoka listed as director and Lagofa’atasi Dozinn as president/director.
Currently, the cemetery’s file states, “No standing — Entity Inv. Dissolved.” The cemetery filed for “involuntary dissolution” on Dec. 3, 2010.
However, the phone number for the cemetery (455-8713) is still active. We left a message, but did not receive a response.
We asked the state Regulatory Industries Complaints Office what recourse families have.
Complaints and Enforcement Officer Jo Ann Uchida recommended that you and “similarly situated people” contact the office at 587-3222.
Despite the “involuntary dissolution” of the cemetery, she said the operator is still around.
“We can help facilitate discussions with the operator to get these issues resolved,” Uchida said.
Mahalo
To whoever takes care of the Pearl Harbor Bike Path behind Leeward Community College. They quickly and efficiently laid down a beautiful stretch of new pavement after a large section collapsed. As this path is the only connection between Pearl City and Waipahu that does not involve riding through the H-1, H-2, Farrington and Kamehameha interchange, it is a vital link. — 20-year Bicycle Commuter
Credit should go to the city Department of Environmental Services’ Division of Collection System Maintenance and the Department of Design and Construction’s Wastewater Division.
The bike path was damaged by equipment when workers responded to a sewer main leak. Afterward, the path was resurfaced and native plants were replanted.
In the end, we’re told the area was left in a “better” condition.
Mahalo
To the city Department of Facility Maintenance’s Pearl City-Ewa District Road Maintenance crew. “Collision Alley” along the Pearl Harbor Bike Path is much safer because of their quick response to remove overgrown foliage that created a dangerous blind spot. It’s now a more pleasant commute. — Harley
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or e-mail kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
