Question: Several weeks ago there was an apparent road-rage murder in Aiea by the shopping center. The man who was shot and run over had two very young daughters in his car. What kind of aid or assistance is provided to underage occupants in a vehicle when this kind of situation occurs? We live nearby, and I can’t help thinking about what happened and how traumatizing it must have been for them.
Answer: We checked with the Honolulu Police Department and the state Department of Human Services. Without addressing specifics of the case to which you referred, spokeswomen explained the general response in the aftermath of crimes or accidents.
“Child Welfare Services works closely with first responders, like police, fire and ambulance, to ensure the safety and well-being of children,” said Ke‘opu Reelitz, DHS spokeswoman.
“When a situation leaves a child without a legal parent or caretaker immediately available, law enforcement will contact CWS. We make every effort to locate a parent or relative and assess that the child can be safely released to that family member. If we’re unable to release a child to a parent or relative, a child will enter foster care, and we will arrange for services to address trauma the child may have experienced.”
Sarah Yoro, an HPD spokeswoman, relayed similar information, saying, “Normally, we would try to contact a relative. If there are safety issues or we cannot get in touch with family, then CWS is notified.”
If another parent or family member is available to care for the children, as is usually the case, it would be up to them to seek counseling or other services for the traumatized child.
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Q: Can civilians use the new vehicle registration office at Hickam?
A: Yes, but only if they have base access. The satellite vehicle registration office near the O’Malley Gate at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is available, by appointment only, to military personnel, their family members and civilian personnel who have base access, according to the city.
The SVR office at 1705 O’Malley Blvd., to the right of Hickam’s main gate, was formerly the Hickam pass and ID office. It was relocated from the Club Pearl Complex, which closed for renovations in November.
The office will handle initial vehicle registration; out-of-state permits; transfer of ownership; replacement of Hawaii plates and/or registration emblems; duplicate Honolulu titles and registrations; the ordering of special plates, veteran’s plates and organizational plates; and paperwork related to junking and storage.
Appointments must be scheduled online, at 808ne.ws/JBPHSVR.
Q: How long will they be working on Diamond Head?
A: Rockfall mitigation work is expected to last through Friday in the area where Beach Road meets Diamond Head, on the crater’s makai side. Intermittent closures of the mauka lane of Diamond Head Road are possible from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. A second phase of work, above the Kahala Tunnel entrance, is set for Monday through April 14; it will be done after hours and therefore should not affect public access much. A third phase is expected to begin this fall, which might limit access to the Diamond Head summit trail.
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.
