Question: I live in Pauoa Valley with Pacific Heights on one side and Papakolea/Tantalus on the other side. On most nights, sometimes late in the night, cars can be heard traveling at high speeds, tires screeching and most likely burning rubber. One would guess that residents in the affected areas along those streets would report it to the police and it would stop. I realize that unless a patrol car is posted in those areas, unseen, they wouldn’t be caught. What can be done before someone gets hurt or killed? At times I can also hear it during the day. I would appreciate if you could look into this for everyone concerned as I’m sure others hear it, too. Could it be that this has already been reported, but the police don’t get there in time before they disappear in the dark?
Answer: Kokua Line has received a couple of queries recently about street racing on Tantalus and nearby, but it seems that police are not being alerted to the problem as often as you and other readers have assumed.
The last formal complaint that the Honolulu Police Department received about street racing in that area was about a year ago, and officers have been checking the Tantalus area at different times of the day and night since then, Michelle Yu, an HPD spokeswoman, told Kokua Line.
“Catching the offenders can be difficult, but HPD encourages residents to call 911 to report racing and other dangerous activity when it occurs,” she said.
Q: Every Mother’s Day I wonder what happened to that mother who was never found. I can’t remember her last name, but I think her first name was Loida. Any information about this case would be greatly appreciated.
A: We checked with CrimeStoppers Honolulu Inc., which said there’s been no update in the case of Loida Gabon Wideman, who disappeared May 13, 2012, which was Mother’s Day.
Wideman, then 39 and the mother of three young sons, was last seen at about 9:30 that night leaving her Waipahu home for work in Kapolei. Her car was found a few days later in Pearl City, according to news reports at the time.
“We have no further information on her, nor have we received any tip recently,” said Sgt. Kim Buffett, coordinator of the nonprofit organization that helps HPD resolve missing-persons cases and solve crimes.
Anyone who has information about this case is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME (on a cellphone) or to leave a tip at honolulucrimestoppers.org. CrimeStoppers guarantees anonymity and offers rewards to tipsters who provide information that leads to an indictment or arrest, according to its website.
Q: Does that frozen-food recall affect Hawaii?
A: Yes. Frozen fruits and vegetables recalled by CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, Wash., due to potential listeria contamination were distributed in all 50 U.S. states and parts of Canada, according to the company. The recall includes about 358 consumer products sold under 42 separate brands and accounts for all the frozen fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in its Pasco facility since May 1, 2014. All the recalled products have “best by” or “sell by” dates between April 26, 2016, and April 26, 2018. For a complete list of products, go to 808ne.ws/ 1UG7jKK, which is the recall notice on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website.
Mahalo
A big mahalo to Ryan and all who helped me when I fell on Hekili Street on April 27. I am sorry I did not get everyone’s names, but I am very thankful for your help and thoughtfulness. A special mahalo to Ryan, who stayed with me until my help arrived. — Gerry
Mahalo
Mahalo to my post office downtown. My friend sent me an important letter over three weeks ago. On May 1 she called me. … The last digit of my house number is eight, but she had written a six there. On Monday I went to the post office on Merchant Street and explained my situation. Well, yesterday — Tuesday — the letter was in my mail. Mahalo for the great service! — Hanna
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.
