Heavy storms responsible for damaged H-3 callboxes

Question: Why are most of the roadside emergency phones out of order on the H-3 freeway? I am assuming the H-3 phones are out of order because they are either covered with a trash bag and/or the signs have been turned into each other so that they are no longer visible.

Answer: Twenty-six of 98 emergency phone callboxes on the H-3 freeway are out of service and not expected to be repaired until next year.

Thirty callboxes were knocked out in late May, when they suffered electrical damage during heavy thunderstorms, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation said.

"Power surges damaged circuit boards within these phones that control cellular signal transmissions," he said.

Repair crews used an existing supply of replacement boards, but that took care of only four of the damaged callboxes.

"Due to the technical nature of these repairs, replacement boards could only be ordered through a single mainland vendor," the DOT spokesman said. "This caused a delay as state procurement laws required a sole-source exemption."

Replacement boards have since been ordered and are being prepared by the vendor at an approximate cost of $25,000.

"All 26 phones are anticipated to be repaired by March," the spokesman said.

He said the absence of those callboxes does not compromise public safety.

Operators at the H-3 Tunnel Operations Center monitor nearly two dozen traffic cameras spanning the H-3 24 hours a day, seven days a week, he said. If stranded vehicles are in obvious need of assistance, operators will contact police to respond to motorists.

In addition to the 98 callboxes on the H-3, there are 59 on the H-1 and 25 on the H-2 freeways. All callboxes provide a cellular connection to the H-3 operations center.

Question: I live on Kilinoe Street in Newtown. Recently I witnessed an older man in a white van drop a double-door refrigerator on the street and drive away. I honked and chased him down to get the license number, then stopped and called 911 to report it. The dispatch operator said they would send an officer out. What should we do when we see people dumping on the city streets? What can the officer do?

Answer: According to the city Department of Environmental Services, you did the right thing,

If you see someone in the process of illegally dumping materials, you are asked to call 911, noting the vehicle’s license plate number, description and location of the dumping.

However, we’re told an officer who responded to your call was unable to locate the van.

If you see an existing illegal dump site, you are asked to call 768-3300 and provide details such as exact location, type of debris and a name and contact information for follow-up. For more information, go to www.opala.org/solid_waste/Stop_Illegal_Dumping.html.

MAHALO

Belatedly to two Costco employees for their kindness and willingness to help a stranded customer. Late Sunday afternoon, July 3, my daughter and I stopped by the Kapolei Costco. When we tried to leave, my car wouldn’t start — the battery was dead. It was near closing and no one was nearby, so I decided to roll the car out of the parking stall and pop the clutch. Rik rushed to offer his assistance. Unfortunately, popping the clutch failed. He then called his relative Shawn (Sean? not sure of the spelling), also a Costco employee, who was about to leave for the day, to bring his truck over to jump-start my car. I pulled out my jumper cables, and they went to work. They were absolute angels. I hope the Kapolei Costco managers know that their customer service extends far beyond the walls of their store. — Jan Fried

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