Question: Will there be any free community document shredding event in the near future on Oahu?
Answer: Yes, AARP Hawaii’s annual Shred Fest is scheduled for April 28 (a Saturday) from 8 a.m. to noon on Oahu (Aiea), Maui (Wailuku) and the island of Hawaii (Kailua-Kona).
AARP is partnering with Access Information Protected to provide free, confidential document shredding at secure Access facilities. You don’t have to be a member of AARP to participate. The events also will serve as food drives, accepting donations that will stay on the island where they are collected.
Here are the locations:
>> Aiea: 98-736 Moanalua Loop
>> Wailuku: 821 Eha St.
>> Kailua-Kona: 73-4164 Huli Koa Drive
These events will be drive-thru only; unloading assistance will be available. “Due to safety concerns and to ensure that we are able to serve as many people as possible, we are unable to accept people on foot this year or allow people to get out of their vehicle to watch their paper shredded,” according to AARP’s news release.
Honolulu police officers will direct traffic at the Aiea location. Drivers will have to make a right turn into and out of the destruction plant.
At all locations each participant will be limited to dropping off two business-size boxes or bags full of paperwork, which will be destroyed on-site. The containers won’t be returned, so use ones you won’t miss. Staples and paper clips don’t need to be removed from the documents.
Access Information Protected requires a signed release form before shredding documents. You can speed up the process the day of the shredding by printing and signing the form ahead of time, according to the AARP. You can download the form at 808ne.ws/shredform. Release forms also will be available at the events.
The AARP co-sponsors Shred Fest annually, after tax season. You are among numerous readers asking about this year’s event.
Q: Do they take paperwork for shredding at those Going Green events?
A: No, shredding is not a standard feature of the regular Going Green community recycling events. It has been provided occasionally in the past, but not every time.
Q: Since Going Green does not accept microwaves (808ne.ws/38kline), where should they be disposed of? Does bulky pickup take microwaves?
A: Yes, if you mean to throw the microwave oven away, you can put it in your regular trash bin, if it fits, or leave it out for bulky pickup, according to the Department of Environmental Services’ website. However, if it’s is in good working condition, you might wish to find it a new home. Going Green doesn’t accept microwaves but other groups might. Check 808ne.ws/donate for possibilities, then call your preferred choice to confirm.
Auwe
My auwe goes out to the kids and parents of baseball teams whose game ended Saturday afternoon at Wilson park. You ended up leaving your bowls of chili rice and forks and jelly all over the jungle gym. This is setting a bad example for the young keiki, and I had to explain to my young daughter why I had to take care of someone else’s messes. There are two trash cans not even 20 feet away that the kids had to pass by in order to leave the park. — A Concerned Dad
Auwe
While watching the Honolulu Festival parade Sunday, I observed two participants trip in potholes on Kalakaua Avenue just past the Lewers Street intersection. With all the parades held, shouldn’t someone check the road for hazards before someone injures themselves? — G.W.
Mahalo
I would like to thank the kind person who turned my lost keys in to the Honolulu Zoo on March 3. I am beyond grateful to have them back and learned a valuable lesson. — Mahalo, Monica
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.
