Question: Without a special date to celebrate, a neighbor continues to fire off huge aerial bombs almost every night. I know the house location. What recourse do I have to silence this group that makes the dogs bark, the cats hide and us flinch and jump!?
Answer: The Honolulu Police Department has been receiving a large number of fireworks-related calls to 911 this year, and encourages people who have information about suspicious or illegal fireworks activity to contact police, said HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu.
Residents may call 911, meet with an officer or send an email via the contact form on the department’s website (honolulupd.org). Be sure to include the address where the offense is occurring, the names of those involved, and dates and times of fireworks activity, she said.
People reporting the activity will be asked but not required to provide their own contact information for the investigators, who might have follow-up questions, Yu said.
Kokua Line has received several other queries similar to yours, from different neighborhoods, citing disruptive and sometimes dangerous fireworks activity.
Q: Is there any group or organization that will accept used loose-leaf folders, stenographic tablets, practically new notebooks, clips, sticky notepads, pens, etc.? Will gladly donate free.
A: We’re sure that there are a number of educational groups, social service organizations or other nonprofits that would welcome your donation of school or office supplies, as long as the materials are in truly excellent condition.
Two that come to mind, and with which we checked in advance, are Community Helping Schools, a nonprofit group that funnels donations to Oahu public schools, and the statewide Department of Education’s Homeless Concerns Office.
To reach the former, email founder and president Kathie Wells at kathiewells@hawaii.rr.com or call 263-6703. The group’s website is communityhelpingschools.org.
To reach the latter, call 305-9869.
We’ll also put the call out here for Kokua Line readers to inform us of worthy groups that would appreciate such donations in the future. Email us at kokualine@staradvertiser.com, or make the suggestion in the comments section of this story online.
Q: When is the last time the U.S. State Department issued a Worldwide Travel Alert like the one now in effect?
A: Dec. 19, in the wake of a “lone wolf” terrorist attack in Sydney that left two of 17 hostages dead. The attacker also died. That rare global alert expired March 19, according to news reports.
The alert issued Monday expires Feb. 24 and follows the Nov. 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people, as well as attacks over the past year in France, Nigeria, Denmark, Turkey, Mali and Egypt. It warns American citizens of heightened terrorism risks worldwide but cites no specific threat during the alert period.
“Current information suggests that ISIL (aka Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions. These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. … Additionally, there is a continuing threat from unaffiliated persons planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations but conducted on an individual basis,” according to the alert from the State Department, the full text of which can be read at 808ne.ws/1PNhwDl .
The alert doesn’t tell Americans not to travel, but does urge them to be vigilant and cautious wherever they go.
Auwe
Auwe to the person or people who are popping fireworks in Wahiawa and have been doing so since before Halloween. You are not only scaring the animals, but the people as well. Please stop popping them.
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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.
