Kokua Line: Are gift cards taxed?
Question: Last Christmas, I purchased a gift certificate at a nail salon in Salt Lake and paid tax on it. Isn’t it wrong to charge tax on a gift certificate/card? Read more
Question: Last Christmas, I purchased a gift certificate at a nail salon in Salt Lake and paid tax on it. Isn’t it wrong to charge tax on a gift certificate/card? Read more
Question: Will there be regular trash pickup on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2? If not, can I leave my gray bin out for pickup on Dec. 27 and Jan. 3? Read more
Question: Where can I find a listing of privately owned assisted-living facilities? I am not referring to the large company-operated facilities, but a house that has been converted to handle two or three patients and is also licensed. Read more
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Question: Recently, I’ve been seeing and hearing a wild rooster roaming the neighborhood. It is a nuisance. Who can I call to have this animal removed? Read more
Question: Regarding the red-light cameras, the state says the ticket is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle. What if two registered owners are listed on the title/registration? Read more
Question: That’s good they’ll be mailing out free COVID-19 tests again, but they should make them more accessible for people with disabilities. My daughter ordered free tests for me last time, but once they arrived I couldn’t use them by myself because I couldn’t make out the instructions because the print was too small. Read more
Question: We’ve been to Hawaii many times and never worried about seeing sharks, but two incidents in a week have our attention. Please remind us and others of the safety tips. Read more
Question: Why are the red-light cameras at the intersection of Vineyard Boulevard and Liliha Street aimed only at drivers on Vineyard? I noticed that there are cameras, but only on Vineyard. What about putting cameras on Liliha? I don’t believe that people run the red light only if traveling on Vineyard. Read more
Question: What do we do if we never received our Act 115 rebate or any notice about it? We filed our 2021 state income tax return on time and owed money, so we had expected to receive a paper check eventually, per previous public communications from the state. My understanding is that the state caught up on issuing the checks, but we never received ours. Read more
Question: Now that, it seems, the city is fully implementing the red-light cameras, can you explain what constitutes running a red light at an intersection with the cameras that would generate a ticket? Read more
Question: My mother-in-law has early congestive heart failure which is getting worse, so she needs a handicap placard so we can park closer at the doctor’s office, etc. She no longer drives but she does own a car. What kind of pass can she get? Read more
Question: Could you please emphasize that Operation Santa needs gift-givers? Hawaii didn’t have enough donors in 2021 to fulfill Christmas wishes for all the kids who wrote letters. Read more
Question: Auwe! I’ve been registering my car online for years and never had to pay extra. Now all the sudden there’s a service fee. Why? Read more
Question: Regarding the new traffic signal setups at Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalia and Ena roads and Hobron Lane: To allow for better flow of vehicles and pedestrians, there is now an “all walk” signal where all pedestrians at all crosswalks may enter. Read more
Question: It sounds like someone is blowing up bombs in our area. These are not firecrackers or aerial fireworks. Presumably they are homemade explosive devices. Read more
Happy Thanksgiving! To celebrate the holiday, we devote today’s Kokua Line to readers’ expressions of gratitude. Read more
Question: Have they mailed out all the rebate checks? I never got mine and I filed early. Read more
Question: Is it possible to turn in a handgun (no permit found) and ammunition to police that formerly belonged to a long-deceased person? Read more
Question: When can I get the four-year kupuna driver’s license? Read more
Question: The next time the state does its condominium webinar, please publicize. I attended in 2021, and I wish more owners in my building had as well, so they would understand how condo boards should operate. Read more
Question: Is there really an annual fee of $100 to have a burglar alarm in Honolulu? I think I might have gotten a scam bill. Read more