Question: Who do we call to report broken streetlights? It’s a safety and security concern.
Answer: For city streets, call the Traffic Electrical Maintenance Services Branch at 768-5300.
If the situation is related to ongoing electrical utility work, you should have received a letter in advance from the Hawaiian Electric Co. warning of planned power outages. Such a letter generally includes a name and number to contact with any questions or concerns.
Q: I saw a driver zoom right past a police car that was stopped on the shoulder with its lights flashing. Isn’t that illegal?
A: Yes, if the car you saw neither decelerated nor changed lanes for safety’s sake.
Hawaii Revised Statutes 291C-27, commonly referred to as “the move over law,” requires that a motorist approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped and has its lights flashing shall “(1) slow down to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe under the circumstances of an emergency road situation ahead. Reasonableness and prudence shall take into account weather conditions, road conditions, and vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the immediate area … and (2) make a lane change into the adjacent lane if necessary and if it is safe to do so, or if possible to two lanes over, which leaves one lane between the driver and the emergency vehicle.”
If necessary, “the driver shall come to a complete stop before making a lane change,” according to the law.
The definition of emergency vehicles includes tow trucks, as well as emergency vehicles operated by numerous state or county agencies, including police, fire, EMS, sheriffs, ocean safety, freeway service patrol, emergency management and others.
Q: Does the state keep statistics on how many military personnel live off base?
A: No, the state government does not collect data on how many military personnel rent or buy in the local Hawaii housing market, as opposed to living on base, said Eugene Tian, an administrator in the Research and Economic Analysis Division of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
State researchers have tried to gather such information, via surveys sent to military branch headquarters, he said, but discontinued the effort due to low survey response.
Apply for Lei Court
The deadline to apply for this year’s Lei Court has been extended to Friday. Applicants must be between 31 and 45 years of age by March 5, which is when the court selections will be announced. The age requirement is in keeping with the Lei Court’s rotation among four age groups; this year is Na Makua (the adults). Download an application packet at 808ne.ws/ 1mRsxb4 or call 768-3032.
The Lei Court “must be knowledgeable in the art of lei making, hula and be able to convey the spirit of lei aloha with warmth and dignity,” according to the application packet on the city Department of Parks and Recreation website.
One lei king or lei queen and up to two lei princes and/or princesses will be selected.
The theme of the 2016 Lei Day Celebration is “Lei Hinahina, silver lei — maturing glint of silver,” according to the website.
Auwe
Auwe to people who sit cross-legged in seats at restaurants and other public places. Don’t they realize how dirty their shoes or feet might be, as they place them on chairs that others will occupy? It’s not only children doing this, but also teenagers and young adults, that I’ve seen. — Disgusted diner
Mahalo
A very belated mahalo to the person who found my purse on the bus (No. 17, Makiki) on Dec. 27 at about noon. You gave it to the bus driver, and he turned it in to the bus company’s lost-and-found department. Everything was accounted for. May the Lord bless all who were involved in this incident for being honest and caring about other people. — A grateful senior citizen
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.
