Question: I’ve been noticing a higher than normal frequency of helicopters flying over our place in Aiea lately, going toward Wheeler and somewhere in East Oahu. Any ideas why?
Answer: It’s part of Hawaiian Electric Co.’s “massive pre-emptive maintenance program” to replace aging equipment and structures before they fail, said spokesman Peter Rosegg.
HECO crews are working on transmission structures in Aiea, flying from an area above Kaahumanu Road. The flights will continue through the weekend, Rosegg said.
Meanwhile, we’ve received several queries and complaints about noisy helicopter flights over Manoa and Palolo.
In August the Star-Advertiser reported that HECO was going to replace six aluminum transmission structures with steel ones in the Koolau Mountains behind Manoa, St. Louis Heights and Palolo. See is.gd/L89RGp.
That work will continue Mondays through Saturdays through October.
In compliance with federal regulations, the helicopters are not to fly over populated areas while carrying loads.
Question: Why are Board of Water Supply vehicles parked in metered spaces on Alapai Street when they have a giant parking lot dedicated to their vehicles between Lauhala and Alapai streets? They are taking up valuable public parking spaces without paying for them.
Answer: They weren’t supposed to be parking there.
A notice has been issued to all Board of Water Supply employees “to refrain from parking in metered parking stalls along Alapai Street going forward,” said BWS spokeswoman Tracy Burgo.
City vehicles, including BWS vehicles, are permitted to park in metered parking stalls to conduct government business, she said.
However, in this case, the metered stalls along Alapai Street should be reserved for public use because of their proximity to the BWS Beretania property, Burgo said.
Question: Are city buses allowed to make left turns from the Zipper Lane? On Monday, Sept. 10, two city buses traveling on the Zipper Lane on Nimitz Highway at about 7 a.m. brought Zipper Lane traffic to a stop as they turned onto Kalihi Street. I thought no turns were allowed from a Zipper Lane.
Answer: The state Department of Transportation confirmed that no left turns are allowed from the Zipper Lane.
At 7 a.m. Sept. 10, there were two Route 7-Kalihi Valley buses in the area, according to Oahu Transit Services.
One bus driver, who was not familiar with the route, made an “error” in turning left, said OTS spokeswoman Michelle Kennedy. OTS records show the other operator, who drives the route regularly, “drove the route correctly,” she said.
Kennedy explained that Route 7 buses turn left onto the eastbound lanes of Nimitz Highway from Mokauea Street, then left from Nimitz onto Kalihi Street.
“The bus does not turn left from the Zipper Lane,” she said.
For those not familiar with the area, buses turning from Mokauea onto Nimitz do so “on the proper side of the median, town-bound,” Kennedy said. They then enter the left-turn pocket lane to turn left onto Kalihi Street mauka-bound.
“At this time the contra-flow lane is on the left side of the bus, on the other side of the median,” she explained. “The traffic signal then allows the left turn onto Kalihi while giving the contra-flow a red light, allowing all vehicles to proceed with the left turn safely.”
She said OTS apologizes for the error and will remind drivers to better familiarize themselves with their routes.
Mahalo
To Asa R. Chun for helping a senior who fell at Alii Beach on Sept. 5. He was so quick to come to our aid that I didn’t even see him approaching us as I looked around for help. May he always have a great day! —
C & 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.
