Question: On Nov. 18, 2011, you responded to an inquiry about broken water heaters at city pools.
You quoted city officials who said there was good news — “money is now available to install new water heaters” — and bad news — “it will be February before the work is completed.” It’s been more than one year since this promise was made, and the shower water heaters still have not been repaired at the Kailua District Park pool. This continues to be a big problem, especially during the winter months, for our kupuna and others who would like to use the pool. When will the water heaters be repaired?
Question: The hot water heater at the city’s Manoa pool is broken, and has been for some time.
Needless to say, that discourages showers, which affects both comfort and safety, since pool rules require a shower before pool use. What is their timeline for getting these repairs done?
Answer: It looks like many pool users will be shivering through at least another winter season, with no heat coming any time soon.
We had been waiting for an answer from the city Department of Parks and Recreation since mid-January about the status of heating at several public pools.
The response last week: The department is still waiting for money to be released for pool heater projects. The only other detail we could get was that the Manoa pool shower heaters have been down since August.
In November 2011 the Parks Department said repairing broken heaters would not be cost-effective, so it was looking to buy new heaters. But each would cost $30,000 to $40,000.
In 2011, heat pumps were needed at the Kailua, Kalihi Valley, Palolo, Salt Lake and Wahiawa pools. Parks officials did not say whether any of those pools ever got heat or whether other pools, such as Manoa, have since lost heat.
Question: Since moving to Hawaii Kai a year ago, no one can tell me when Kalanianaole Highway’s HOV lane marked with diamonds is restricted to cars with two or more occupants. There is not one posted sign and no information on the Hawaii DMV website. I have asked more than half a dozen police officers, and answers range from “I have no idea” to “about 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and about 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.” to “whenever the traffic looks busy.” Exactly what are the hours and why aren’t they posted?
Answer: Kalanianaole Highway is contra-flowed for High Occupancy Vehicle use during mornings only — 5 to 8:30 a.m. weekdays, excluding holidays. One lane normally heading Koko Head is coned off to allow traffic to head toward downtown.
The contra-flow lane runs 2.65 miles between West Halemaumau Street and Ainakoa Avenue.
The contra-flow is only in operation when coned off, said Caroline Sluyter, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation.
There are no signs noting the hours of coning, she acknowledged, although there are three signs marking the beginning of the contra-flow lane between East and West Halemaumau streets and directional signs.
Sluyter said the Highways Division will review plans to see whether signs are needed to clarify requirements.
Vehicles in the contra-flow lane are required to have two or more occupants, except for residents living mauka of Kalanianaole, between West Halemaumau and Ainakoa, who may drive single-occupant vehicles with a permit from the DOT.
That’s because the contra-flow lane restricts their access to travel toward town through a signalized intersection, Sluyter said. Makai residents who have access to Kalanianaole through a signalized intersection are not eligible for the permits.
No afternoon contra-flow is planned for Kalanianaole or Nimitz highways because of “significant traffic volumes” headed in the opposite direction during that period, she said.
MAHALO
To the three or four people who came to my aid and called 911 after I fell along Kilauea Avenue in Kaimuki. Mahalo also to the excellent staff at the Queen’s Medical Center emergency room. My deepest gratitude to all of you. — Edward Kim
