Question: Can I bury my dead pet in our yard?
Answer: Yes, as long as you are not governed by a covenant that forbids the practice, such as potentially in the rules of a homeowner’s association or a lease agreement with a landlord.
Hawaii Administrative Rules say that disposal of an animal carcass is the responsibility of the land owner or occupant on whose land the carcass is found. Immediate on-site burial under at least 2 feet of compacted earth is allowed. You can read the rule, which is part of the state Department of Health’s solid-waste management controls, at 808ne.ws/petburial; scroll down to HAR 11-58.1-61(c).
Q: I am trying to get rid of an old television. A lot of places won’t take them. Do you know someone who will?
A: The regular “Going Green” drive-thru community recycling events are one possibility. They accept one TV per car. The next event is 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Kaimuki High School, 2705 Kaimuki Ave. Once you enter the parking lot, volunteers will unload your recyclable materials for donation to a variety of organizations. Along with the one television, “Going Green” accepts an unlimited number of computers, monitors, printers, scanners, cellphones and other electronic waste per vehicle.
Q: Will they also have free document shredding there?
A: No, not at that event. The next free shredding event we know of runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Oct. 21 at Access Information Management, 98-736 Moanalua Loop in Aiea. You may drop off two boxes or bags of documents for secure shredding.
Q: What’s the most I can get from the city home loan?
A: $40,000, if you’re talking about the HOME program, which the city administers for the federal government. The interest-free, down-payment loan would go through your mortgage lender, after you have qualified to purchase a home. For information call the city’s Department of Community Services’ Loan Branch at 768-7076.
Q: Can you give more information on tax volunteers? Do I have to be an accountant?
A: No, you don’t have to be a tax expert to help with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. The Internal Revenue Service emphasizes that adults of all backgrounds are welcome and that bilingual and multilingual volunteers are in especially high demand. Volunteers may serve as greeters, return-preparers or site coordinators. The IRS and others have put the call out now so that volunteers can be trained before tax season.
Hundreds of volunteers are needed. If you’d like to help, email any one of the following: aboyd@higood will.org, info@hawaiitaxhelp.org, taxvolunteer@irs.gov, kamida@hawaii.edu or wayne.keawe@legalaid hawaii.org. Or you may sign up at aarp.org/taxvolunteer.
The free tax-preparation programs serve elderly and low-to-moderate income residents.
Auwe
Auwe to the person who ran over my mailbox post on Kaaipu Avenue in Manoa the other week. At least you could have left a note or something to apologize! Now I have to fix it on top of my other expenses. Where’s the aloha? — Mr. L
Mahalo
A big shout-out to Darren, Bev, David and Kieran, whom I came across in Kapahulu cleaning up graffiti in their free time (even paying for the paint themselves)! This happened on the weekend of Aug. 19-20. It’s so inspiring to come across people who see a need — in this instance, a large eyesore in Kapahulu — and simply step up to deal with it (while well aware that the graffiti artists could return the very next day to undo their efforts). A huge mahalo to you folks for caring so much about your local community! — Mahalo, Walt
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.
