Question: I was wondering who is responsible for clearing Manoa-Palolo Stream and when it will be done, specifically the area near Kaimuki High. I live in an apartment adjacent to Kaimuki High School, and the brush and growth on both stream banks are in some areas nearly 8 feet from covering the whole stream. It’s also an eyesore for the school.
Answer: The city’s Department of Facility Maintenance is responsible for this work and has applied for a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers so that it can be completed, said Ross Sasamura, DFM’s director and chief engineer.
The application seeks permission “to perform the work necessary to remove debris, and clear the brush and trees in the Manoa-Palolo Stream at the area of concern. The work will be scheduled soon after applicable permits for the work are issued in approximately 60 to 90 days,” he said.
Q: Do I have to get a permit to have a small sports tournament in a city park?
A: Yes. Use of city parks for organized activities such as sports tournaments requires a permit, according to the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. You should contact your preferred park to see whether the location is available. If it is, fill out an Application for Use of Park Facilities and submit it at least three weeks ahead of your planned event. The directions are on the form, which you can pick up at any staffed city park, the Parks Permit Office at 650 S. King St., or download at 808ne.ws/prkapp.
Q: I am over 65 and use Medicare. Thankfully, I am pretty healthy, but I do need to visit the doctor from time to time. I carry my Medicare card in my wallet because it’s my health card (“proof of insurance”). With all the news about identity theft, they always say not to carry your Social Security card around with you because that’s risky if your purse gets stolen or you lose it. But my Social Security number is on my Medicare card! This is so upsetting!
A: You are not alone in your outrage. Lobbying from senior citizens and advocates across the country helped spur coming changes. A federal law passed in 2015 compels the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to stop using Social Security numbers on Medicare account cards. The federal agency says it will begin mailing new cards in April and plans to replace all the old Medicare cards by the following year (April 2019).
The new cards “will use a unique, randomly-assigned number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, to replace the Social Security- based Health Insurance Claim Number currently used on the Medicare card,” CMS said in a May news release.
In the meantime, display your Medicare card only for those who truly need to see it. Even after you receive your new card, you should be careful with it, as Medicare fraud also is a big problem.
Auwe
Auwe to all the people who ignore shark warning signs posted at the beach. You are not only endangering yourselves by entering the water, but also the lives of the lifeguards who would have to come rescue you should you be attacked! This auwe is inspired by the recent shark warnings at Waimea Bay on Oahu but is true anywhere warnings are posted and ignored. — K.I.
Mahalo
I would like to thank the three strangers who stopped to help me when my car broke down on Opaekaa Street in Hawaii Kai on Sept. 15. Chris, Derek and James helped me navigate a difficult situation by redirecting traffic, changing my tire and making sure that I arrived home safely. My angels are living proof that the aloha spirit is alive and well in Honolulu. Mahalo nunui! — Caroline
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.
