Question: There are several coconut trees in the median along Kailua Road (in the area of Koolau Farmers) that appear to be dead or dying. The trees are bald, and one of them looks as though it is ready to fall. Who is responsible for the trees? They should be removed before one of them falls on a passing vehicle.
Question: The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle spent thousands of dollars planting trees along the median of Kailua Road from Castle Medical Center to Kailua town. Several groups of trees have never looked healthy and always look to be on the verge of dying, and several groups of long-established palm trees have already died. What is the reason for this?
Answer: The trees in question were not donated by the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle.
However, “The Outdoor Circle is very concerned about the loss of these trees,” said Bob Loy, the group’s director of environmental programs. “It should be determined why they did not survive when others nearby live on.”
The state Department of Transportation has determined that seven of the coconut trees on Kailua Road “are in bad shape and need to be replaced,” said spokeswoman Caroline Sluyter.
The palms had been hand-watered but “didn’t thrive in this location,” she said. On top of that, “their health also deteriorated due to a bug infestation.”
The department plans to replace them with the hardier Pritchardia palm.
“Most of Kailua Road has Pritchardia palms, and they are doing well,” Sluyter said.
Loy said The Outdoor Circle hopes new trees will be planted as soon as possible “to remove this scar on the scenic entry to Kailua.”
The trees are scheduled to be replaced next summer.
“In the meantime our crews will be working to remove the dead and badly diseased coconut trees,” Sluyter said.
Loy said the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle has had several separate projects over the years planting trees along the Kailua Road median. The area starts at Hamakua Drive and ends near the Kawainui Marsh dam and walking trail.
“The money for the efforts was generated by the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle’s annual I Love Kailua Town Party,” he said. “So in a greater sense those beautiful plantings represent an investment by the people of Kailua, through their support of the Town Party.”
Question: What does “VLS” stand for on the extra $1 charge on my driver’s license renewal?
Answer: VLS stands for verification of lawful status.
The $1 fee affects only people who are not U.S. citizens, said Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division.
Under the federal REAL ID Act and state Department of Transportation rules, the counties are required to electronically check the lawful status and expiration date of legal stay of any noncitizen, he said.
The Department of Homeland Security sends the bill for this verification to the state DOT, he said, and the counties send the fees they collect to the DOT.
Question: The absentee ballots were misprinted. When I received mine, I found the listing of presidential candidates in incorrect order. I called the city clerk’s office to inquire if I needed a replacement, and the clerk didn’t know. What’s going on?
Answer: The state Office of Elections says the general election ballots were misprinted, with the names of the presidential candidates in the order their political parties were listed in the August primary election.
State law calls for candidates to be listed alphabetically on general election ballots.
Office of Elections spokesman Rex Quidilla acknowledged the error earlier this month but said “there
is little we can do at this point because the ballots are printed.” (See is.gd/ Dw6a5x.)
He told us the error occurred because the “random template” of candidates used in the primary election was forwarded for use in the general election. But the incorrect order “does not invalidate the ballot,” he said.
MAHALO
To Pearl, who helped me when I went to renew my driver’s license at the Pearlridge Satellite City Hall. She really went the extra mile and saved me a lot of time. — Rod
KOKUA LINE
The next column will be on Nov. 2.
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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.
