Question: Renovation of the tennis courts at Kalaheo High School was begun well more than a year ago and seems to have stalled several times. The Kalaheo tennis team hasn’t been able to use these courts in years. When is the renovation going to be completed?
Answer: The project has been delayed by unacceptable work by the contractor, as well as change orders, according to the state Department of Education’s Facilities Branch.
Because of that, the completion date now is sometime at the end of summer, DOE spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz said Monday.
The initial completion date was Oct. 22, 2011, for the $700,500 project, which includes structural work on two buildings.
Potential increases in costs because of the delays, “if any,” aren’t yet known, Dela Cruz said.
A February school newsletter referred to the “long-term goal” of rebuilding the courts but said the work “had ceased for now” and that the Facilities Branch “is communicating with the contractor.”
We left phone and email messages asking about the status of the project with the Kalaheo principal and athletic director, but neither responded. Instead, Dela Cruz provided this information from the Facilities Branch:
The project remains “under construction,” but change orders were pending — widening maintenance sidewalks to 4 from 3 feet, and changing the court’s surface to an acrylic coating, per the school’s request, as well as changing the height and materials of the tennis court fencing.
The change orders were completed last week and the new completion date set.
The contractor, Integrated Construction Inc., “had proceeded without approval” on the installation of the tennis court poles and top rail, Dela Cruz said. Subsequently, the poles and top rails were rejected and will be replaced, she said.
The Facilities Branch also reported that an “inspector issued non-conformance for irrigation of hydro-mulch areas and graffiti on unprotected walls” on April 9.
Asked what that meant, Dela Cruz said, “This means that the contractor installed something that did not comply with the requirements of the plans and specifications. In this case, it was not up to required standards and was rejected.”
Question: Is it legal to buy/remove and sell colored sand from Big Island beaches? Over the years, I have observed different colors sold on eBay. Right now green sand from Papakolea Beach is being sold for $50 a pound.
Answer: Chapter 171.58.5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes prohibits mining or taking sand, dead coral, coral rubble, rocks, soil or other marine deposits seaward of the shoreline, with four exceptions.
People are allowed to take a maximum of 1 gallon per person per day of such materials “for reasonable, personal, noncommercial use”; as part of a project to replenish or protect public shoreline areas; to clear stream mouths; or to clean areas seaward of the shoreline as part of maintenance by state or city crews.
In the past, a spokeswoman with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources told Kokua Line, “Taking of sand on a regular basis for use as a product for sale would be considered constituting a commercial use, which is not permissible.”
We found three instances of green olivine sand from Hawaii island being offered for sale on eBay recently for prices ranging from $7.99 for 2 ounces to $37.50 for 1 pound.
You can report suspected illegal sales to DLNR. Randy Awo, administrator of the Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement, said he would contact his Hawaii island branch chief to investigate.
Mahalo
To the maintenance worker who helped bandage me up after I tripped and fell Monday morning, April 8, while walking on Lehiwa Drive in Mililani Mauka. I so appreciated his kindness. — Anne
———
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.
