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Question: I walk the grounds of Iolani Palace daily and am very concerned about the banyan trees, which were, according to O.A. Bushnell’s “A Walking Tour of the Iolani Palace Grounds,” planted by Queen Kapiolani between 1882 and 1886. Unfortunately, apparently to accommodate a few parking spaces and a paved road, the banyans are not allowed to drop roots. The same book says, “As such a tree grows larger, and the great boughs in its crown become heavier, they send out tufts of fine aerial rootlets. … When, eventually, they enter the ground to perform their proper function, they develop into sturdy vertical supports for the boughs above.” These trees are the only living entity that survive today on the palace grounds from the monarchy days, yet they are being destroyed by a lack of care and respect. Who can be contacted about this?
Answer: Maintenance of the grounds of Iolani Palace is handled by the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
“We enlist a certified arborist qualified to perform inspections of the trees,” said James Hisano, Central Services manager for DAGS. Inspections are done routinely, generally every year.
The arborist “makes recommendations for trimming and any other cultural practices that ensure the tree will be of safe structure and robust health,” he said.
Because the banyans are designated “Exceptional Trees” by the city, trimming is largely determined by the city, Hisano said.
He said allowing the aerial roots to drop and anchor in grade is a good suggestion, providing structural stability to lateral branches and improving on water and nutrient intake.
“But, we are in an urban environment where many people work and visit,” Hisano said. Because parking is at a premium in the Civic Center and alternative parking is not available, “We have had to balance good tree cultural practices with the need for parking.
“Even so, we have not neglected the structural stability of the trees.”
Hisano said some aerial roots are allowed to anchor into planting areas and that cables have been used to connect long lateral branches with main trunks of the trees. Workers also have thinned and trimmed the trees to lighten loads in the canopy and contain the crown where appropriate.
Question: Does my electric timer for a table lamp need to be readjusted if the electricity goes off for any amount of time? I am temporarily on the mainland but have a home in Honolulu. I left a light timer to go on in the evening and off at dawn.
Answer: It depends on whether your timer is mechanical or digital, according to a Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman.
A mechanical timer usually has pins on a 24-hour clock dial, and setting the pins determines when power goes on and off. This timer must be reset after an outage, he said. A digital timer takes power from an outlet and has battery backup to maintain settings if power goes out.
The HECO official noted that an inexpensive digital timer doesn’t cost much more than a typical mechanical timer, so it would be a good investment if you don’t have one now.
DUKE FOUND
Duke the dog, mentioned in the Feb. 3 “Kokua Line,” has been reunited with his owners. Jennifer Story said Duke was found and turned in to Joey’s Feline Friends, which contacted her. He was in good condition.
MAHALO
To Marlene Montiho. I didn’t know my small bag, containing valuable jewelry and an endorsed check, had fallen out of my purse in the parking lot of Kmart in Iwilei. Kmart said Marlene returned it. They took her name and I got hold of her. God bless this girl. I hope the company she works for, ProPark, recognizes how valuable she is. You have to meet her to see how genuinely nice and humble she is. — Mrs. L.
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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.
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