Question: My girlfriend told me it’s not legal for her dog to ride in the back of my pickup truck. Can that be true? She said it’s dangerous and against the law. I think she just wants to keep the dog on her lap. Is she right?
Answer: Yes, if you live on Oahu and were talking about having the dog loose in the open bed of your pickup while driving down the road. Dogs must be enclosed in the vehicle, or within a carrier secured to the vehicle, or safely cross-tethered in the bed, per municipal law.
We talked to the Hawaiian Humane Society about your question as part of wide-ranging conversation a few weeks ago and were reminded to publish the answer and recount a harrowing scene on the H-1 freeway near Kahala Mall. As a pickup with a medium-size dog in the back traveled east, the dog was buffeted from side to side, clinging precariously over the side as the driver changed lanes. At first we had thought the dog was running back and forth on its own, but it became clear that it had little control as the truck maneuvered. Our passengers gasped at what they feared was about to happen, but thankfully the dog righted itself and did not fall out of the truck at that point, which was the last we saw of it. The pickup driver seemed oblivious to the dog’s predicament; other motorists were aware and gave the truck wide berth.
It’s that kind of scenario that the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Section 15.24-22(a) seeks to avoid, mandating that “no dog or any other animal shall be transported on any public street or highway in any vehicle unless such animal is totally enclosed within such vehicle, within a secured container carried upon such vehicle, or securely cross-tethered to such vehicle in such a way as to prevent the animal from falling out of or off such vehicle, and to prevent injury to the animal.”
Harold Han, director of operations for the Hawaiian Humane Society, said the Honolulu Police Department, not the Humane Society, would be the enforcing authority because this is a moving violation under Honolulu’s Traffic Code (Chapter 15 of the ROH).
Q: Did they ever figure out the Lanikai pillbox closure? I had looked forward to relief from all the hikers tromping by.
A: No, the planned two-month closure of the Kaiwa Ridge hiking trail has not been rescheduled, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Work to repair World War II-era observation stations on what is popularly known as the Lanikai pillbox trail was to have begun March 28. The project was indefinitely postponed because the contractor failed to gain Federal Aviation Administration approval of a flight plan to airlift equipment and materials to the work site, according to the DLNR.
DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife is expected to issue an announcement when a new construction date is set.
Q: Some time back, before I needed to pay attention, you mentioned a college comparison site. Do you remember?
A: Sure. I bet it was the College Scorecard (collegescorecard.ed.gov), a helpful tool on the Federal Student Aid website (fafsa.ed.gov).
Mahalo
On Wednesday I had an appointment at Kaiser Honolulu Clinic in the Diagnostic Imaging Department and witnessed an interaction with an elderly man with a cane, who had some difficulty walking. He sat next to me and said he was very early for his appointment. The receptionist heard him and helped him check in and was able to do it without having him get up. She told him they would fit him in as early as possible. Sure enough they did, and I was so happy for him. He was a fine gentleman, and the receptionist was so kind, caring and accommodating. It made my day! — M.K.
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.
