Question: Who’s responsible for maintaining the new municipal parking garage on South King Street where buses transfer? It’s not being used, but the plants are dying or starting to die. Weeds are growing. This is a terrific waste of taxpayer dollars and typical of the way buildings are not maintained in this town.

Answer: The plants are dying because someone maliciously turned off the valves of the watering system.

The city Department of Facility Maintenance is responsible for maintaining the building and grounds of the new $20 million Alapai Transit Center, including the five-story parking garage above it.

About a month ago, crews discovered that someone had tampered with the water valves of the facility’s irrigation system, said Westley Chun, director of facility maintenance.

"In general, the plants have recovered, except for the bougainvillea in the planters," he said. Some plants "are not recovering and may in fact be dying."

The cost for landscaping the grounds, as well as for the plants in planters along the floors of the parking garage, was about $180,000.

Chun said his department "is in the process of consulting with the landscape architect and contractor to find a remedy."

The problem was traced to valves in valve boxes and at backflow preventers that were "turned off on more than one occasion," he said. The valves weren’t damaged, but one valve box cover is missing and will need to be replaced.

Since the problem was discovered, crews have been checking the valves and hand-watering the plants, Chun said.

There are no suspects.

The Honolulu Police Department has not been contacted but that remains a possibility, Chun said. "We continue to monitor the situation and may do so if warranted in the future," he said.

As we explained on July 30 (is.gd/lsCNRw) the transit center opened May 25, but the garage is reserved for employees who will work in the not-yet-built Joint Traffic Management Center.

The City Council last month passed a bill, subsequently signed by the mayor, to designate the garage for employee parking. That allows certain employees to begin parking there since the traffic management center is not scheduled to open before 2015. The list of eligible employees is being finalized.

MORE HECO FLIGHTS

Hawaiian Electric Co. will use helicopters to conduct inspections and move crews and equipment in the Aiea area Dec. 6 through 9, weather permitting. Flights will take place between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. from behind the Board of Water Supply facility at the end of Kaahumanu Street to a ridge-top structure above Halawa Valley, HECO said.

Crews and equipment also were to be flown into Palolo Valley between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, from an area off Dole Street, for work on a transmission structure, weather permitting.

MAHALO

To two kind strangers. My wife and I attended the Cirque du Soleil performance at Blaisdell Center on Oct. 14. It was a gift from our daughter. She chose seats in the balcony so we could enjoy the trapeze and acrobat acts at eye level. Climbing up the steps, my wife had to bend down to hang on to the back of the seats. Out of nowhere, a young lady got up to assist her. During intermission, she came and asked my wife if she needed to go to the restroom. After the show, she again came to help my wife walk down the stairs. Then, as I was walking down, another young lady took me under her arms to help me. I attempted to give her an appreciation "tip" but she declined. These unsolicited acts of kokua by two unrelated strangers demonstrate the aloha, kindness and thoughtful people we have in this island paradise. Mahalo nui loa. — Kiki and Jimmy

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.