Question: The city owns Mauna Lahilahi Botanical Garden in Makaha. So why is there a large white wooden cross placed at the top of the hill? It should be removed as not appropriate due to the numerous religions in Hawaii.
Answer: The city Department of Parks and Recreation apparently was not aware of the cross until we asked about it.
“It appears to be on (parks department) property,” an official said. “They are just checking to see how we can get it down.”
We asked him if anyone knew who might have placed the cross there without authorization, but did not get a response.
If any reader has an explanation, please let us know (call 529-4773 or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com).
Some people familiar with the cross said sometimes it’s there, sometimes it’s not and that sometimes there’s an American flag flying there instead.
Mauna Lahilahi (“thin mountain”) is a 230-foot-high mountain at one end of Mauna Lahilahi Beach Park.
Question: In Kailua, people at the police station began parking their cars in parking stalls along Kuulei Road, like it’s their space as a matter of course. Now, they are putting cones out and blocking the right-turn lane on Kuulei Road to double-park. Do they have a right to take up that space on a public street? What gives them the right to divert traffic for their parking convenience?
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department has a permit from the city to cone off that right-turn lane 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The cones are put out during the afternoon shift change, according to Maj. Susan Ballard, commander of HPD’s District 4 (Windward Oahu).
Use of that lane is necessary because there is insufficient parking in the Kailua police substation lot, Ballard said.
Meanwhile, a sign along the curb fronting the station says parking there is reserved for police vehicles.
Mahalo
To neighbors and passersby on Aloha Oe Drive in Maunawili for coming to our rescue last month, when my toddler and I were locked out of our home on the first day of moving in. A most sincere thanks to the Hawaii Kai couple driving by who stopped and tried to help us for 45 minutes. You shared your snacks with my hungry son and were patient even though you had some place to be and a long way to drive. You loaned me your cellphone to call my husband, who called a locksmith. Mahalo to our neighbors who gave us several hangers; the little lost dog that kept my son giggling for over an hour; Karen and “Tinkerbelle” and all the other dog walkers offering to help; and especially to George, who insisted on staying with us until someone arrived. Countless blessings came from what at first seemed like a costly mistake. Meeting all our neighbors at once, forging new friendships, helping a lost puppy find his way home and seeing the joy on his guardian’s face, all priceless. — The McCarthy family
———
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.
