Question: There hasn’t been one of those drug take-back events in a while, that I have heard about. Do you have any information? …
Answer: Yes, the 12th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations throughout the country, including about a dozen in Hawaii, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s website.
Anyone with unused or expired prescription medication is encouraged to drop it off anonymously for safe disposal. However, please note that needles and syringes won’t be accepted, regardless of whether they are new or used.
A flier from the state attorney general’s office provides the specifics on Hawaii drop-off locations:
Oahu
>> State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St.; drive-thru drop-off from Beretania Street
>> Kahala Mall, 4211 Waialae Ave; inside the mall, near the Kilauea Avenue end
>> Pearl City station of Honolulu Police Department, 1100 Waimano Home Road; parking lot
>> Town Center of Mililani, 95-1249 Meheula Parkway
>> Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Highway; inside mall on second floor, near mauka entrance
>> Marine Corps Exchange, Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe; must have base access
>> Schofield Barracks Army and Air Force Exchange Service Post Exchange; inside near flower shop; must have base access
>> Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange, 4725 Bougainville Drive; main lobby; must have base access
Hawaii island
>> Ka Waena Lapaau Medical Complex, 670 Ponahawai St. in Hilo; upper parking lot
>> Kona station of Hawaii Police Department, 74-0611 Hale Makai Place; parking lot
Maui
>> Maui Police Department, 55 Mahalani St. in Wailuku; parking lot
Kauai
>> Kauai Police Department, 3990 Kaana St. in Lihue; parking lot
For more information, visit dea.gov and click on the header “Got Drugs?”
Q: If I transfer ownership of my condo to my son, will he automatically get the same property-tax classification that I have? I get the residential rate on the unit. …
A: No. A new owner does not inherit the classification and tax rate of the previous owner, according to the city’s Real Property Assessment Division website, realpropertyhonolulu.com. Your son would have to register for any break for which he is eligible as the legal owner of the condo, which may differ from your status.
For example, the exemption granted homeowners who live on their properties varies by age. Currently, the exemption is $80,000 for owner-occupants younger than 65 and $120,000 for those that age and older; the eligible amount is deducted from the assessed value of a property before the tax bill is calculated.
Another possibility: If your condominium is in a hotel/resort or commercial project but you live in it or rent it out on a long-term basis, you may have submitted a Declaration Regarding Condominium Use form. Assuming it was approved, your condo would be classified as a residential unit, at a lower tax rate than a hotel/resort or other commercial property.
A change in ownership would cancel that declaration, according to the city, placing the unit back in the more expensive property-tax class. The new owner — in this case your son — would need to submit his own Declaration Regarding Condominium Use form to achieve the lower tax rate if the unit continues to be for long-term residential use.
Mahalo
On Sept. 26, after shopping at Long’s at Kahala Mall, two handicapped senior citizens were assisted by a very pleasant gentleman, who not only offered to push our cart but unloaded our purchases and helped us get into our car. Hyatt, where the thoughtful young man works the evening shift, is very fortunate to have such an employee like Eric. Thank you from a grateful couple. — A.M.
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.
