Kokua Line: Young scientists honored in recent state competition

Question: Where can I find out about the science fair?

Answer: We presume you are asking about the Hawaii State Science & Engineering Fair, sponsored by the Hawaii Academy of Science. It was held April 8-10 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center and prompted recent letters to the editor saying that participating students deserved more publicity.

You can find a list of all the winners, and descriptions of their projects, at https://808ne.ws/sciencefair. View the awards ceremony at https://808ne.ws/awardsvideo.

Here are the grand-award winners, according to the website:

Senior division

>> First place: Ka‘eo Kekumano, Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama

>> Second place: Cindy Tsou, Mililani High School

>> Third place: Stephanie Yoshida, Punahou School

Junior division

>> First place: Nolan Haisler, Washington Middle School

>> Second place: Natalie Kuo, Niu Valley Middle School

>> Third place: Mira Tsunoda, Kaimuki Middle School

Q: Are “passport” and “passport card” the same thing?

A: No. When people say “passport,” they generally mean a passport book, which is distinct from a passport card.

A U.S. passport book is blue with gold cover markings. It measures 5 by 3-1/2 inches and has multiple blank pages for visa stamps. A passport card is a wallet-size photo ID. An eligible person may hold both credentials simultaneously.

Both prove the holder’s U.S. citizenship and identity. Both are REAL ID-compliant and can be used for domestic air travel.

But when it comes to international travel, use of the passport card is limited, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs explains on its website.

“The passport card can only be used to re-enter the United States at land border-crossings and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. It cannot be used for international travel by air,” it says.

The passport book can be used for international travel by air, sea or land.

For more information, go to https://passports.state.gov.

Q: How many holidays do state workers get?

A: Hawaii’s government observes 13 holidays in 2019. You can see the list on the website of the Department of Human Resources Development, dhrd.hawaii.gov.

Q: When did the police stop doing house checks? That was a good service.

A: The Honolulu Police Department discontinued its house check service more than six months ago, on Oct. 1. Increasing use of home-security systems by homeowners made it feasible for HPD to discontinue the service, department officials said then. The service had provided peace of mind to residents whose homes were empty while they were away on vacation or other trips.

Auwe

I drive on Ala Napunani Street in Salt Lake every morning while it’s still somewhat dark, and I witness a dangerous practice daily. A couple of years ago when the street was repaved, it went from four lanes with parking to two lanes with a bike lane on either side and parking. The bike lane was dedicated to a former student at Moanalua High School who was an avid cyclist but was killed in an accident with a vehicle. The thing is, I rarely see bicyclists using that lane, at least not in the morning. Instead, there are joggers, walkers, and I even occasionally see a woman with a baby stroller. Keep in mind there is vehicular traffic only a few feet away. Meanwhile there is a perfectly good sidewalk separated from the street by parked vehicles. This is an accident waiting to happen. — S.P.

Mahalo

A big mahalo to all the people who helped my brother navigate my wheelchair while attending the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine memorial at Magic Island on April 13. — J.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.