Question: Due to the construction of Target and Whole Foods in Kailua, two mail collection boxes have been removed from Kailua town. For those of us living on the west side of Kailua, the only drops are the post office itself or outside the abandoned contract post office in Enchanted Lake. The post office drop often presents a traffic nightmare, while the other box is not in the main Enchanted Lake Shopping Center, but by the old movie theater. Why can’t the post office provide some convenient drops, perhaps outside of Safeway in both downtown Kailua and in Enchanted Lake Shopping Center?

Answer: When Whole Foods is completed, a collection box will be reinstated, according to the Kailua postmaster.

A satellite city hall is located at what used to be a "Contract Postal Unit," at 1040 Keolu Drive, next to the old movie theater.

After doing a survey, the Postal Service determined the collection box there could not be relocated.

While the parking lot at the Safeway in Enchanted Lake is busy, it was pointed out that it is "only a driveway away" from where a collection box sits, in a less congested business area.

At this point no new collection boxes will be installed.

But the Postal Service says there is a contract postal unit at Nook & Cranny, 270 Kuulei Road, directly across the street from the Kailua Public Library. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays.

Also, there are collection boxes at 30 Aulike St., in front of the Kailua Medical Professional Center; 112 Oneawa St., corner of Oneawa and Uluniu streets, near Jack in the Box; 1066 Maunawili Road, west of the Kailua post office; 970 N. Kalaheo Ave., in the Pali Palms Business Center; 25 Kaneohe Bay Drive; and in the Aikahi Park Shopping Center. In addition, there are two collection boxes on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The Postal Service also said mail can be picked up from your residential mailbox (put up the red flag).

However, you’re advised to be cautious what you leave in your mailbox, especially if you live in an area where there is criminal activity.

Pet Cremations

We noted that the bodies or cremated remains of pets can be buried on residential property as an option to a pet cemetery (www.staradvertiser.com/news/kokualine/20110401_Residential_yards_permissible_as_burial_spots_for_family_pets.html).

Several readers contacted us to say that cremation, then either placing the ashes in a canister or urn or scattering them, is also a less expensive option than a cemetery.

Check with your veterinarian about cremation services or contact Oahu Pet Crematory (371-7531).

Hawaii Ash Scatterings says it will scatter a pet’s ashes at sea, alone or with a family member’s ashes (800-829-4899).

Another option is communal cremation by the Hawaiian Humane Society (946-2187), but the ashes will not be released to the owner.

Mahalo

To the paving company that has been working on our street here in Kaimuki. I know we complain about the potholes, but now it’s time to recognize the excellent work this company and it employees are doing. It is quality work, smooth road surface and planned not to interrupt our oh-so-busy schedules. — Alan Streicher, Kaimuki

Credit should go to the city Department of Design and Construction and its paving contractor, Grace Pacific Corp.

The department’s "Civil Division’s designers and construction managers/inspectors also deserve kudos for doing an outstanding job in the area," said Collins Lam, director of Design and Construction.

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.