Kokua Line: Does doctor need to reapply for HELP grant?

• By Christine Donnelly
• Today
• Last updated 10:42 p.m.
• 1

The online application for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program is open now. Read more

Kokua Line: Is leashed dog truly not allowed in park?

• By Christine Donnelly
• May 2, 2024
• 27

Most of Oahu’s regular city parks (as opposed to designated dog parks) don’t allow dogs, even on leashes, except for special, permitted events. Of course, this rule is frequently broken. Read more

Kokua Line: When is last day to claim 2020 tax refund?

• By Christine Donnelly
• May 1, 2024

While taxpayers have a three-year deadline after filing to make corrections or claim refunds, the IRS has 10 years to collect from them for any tax due. Read more

Kokua Line: Does Kaiser data breach affect Hawaii patients?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 30, 2024
• 4

Information about current and former members throughout Kaiser Permanente’s multistate health care system was exposed to third-party vendors via online trackers. Read more

Kokua Line: Should I return Venmo payment from stranger?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 28, 2024
• 2

Venmo is meant to be used among friends settling up group bills, for example, so any payment from a stranger who then wants the money back raises red flags. Read more

Kokua Line: Can I ignore letter from Census Bureau?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 26, 2024
• 12

Question: I received a letter claiming to be from the U.S. Census Bureau notifying me that my participation in an “important survey … is essential.” Read more

Kokua Line: How do I qualify for Medicare’s Extra Help program?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 25, 2024
• 1

Question: I’m an applicant for Medicare’s Extra Help program and they want details about my checking and/or savings account and any stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs, etc. This surprised me. Don’t they need just my Social Security income to qualify me? Read more

Kokua Line: Is there an age when I can no longer renew my driver’s license?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 24, 2024
• 12

Question: I am 88 years of age. Is there an age when I can no longer be issued a Hawaii driver’s license if all other requirements are met? Read more

Kokua Line: Where can I find out about Summer Fun?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 23, 2024
• 2

Question: I saw they are hiring for Summer Fun. When does this program start and when can we sign up our kids? Read more

Kokua Line: Why did I get check for catheters?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 21, 2024
• 1

This catheter scam is so pervasive that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Serv­ices Office of Inspector General issued a consumer alert about it last month. Read more

Kokua Line: What happened to HPD’s false-alarm tracking service?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 19, 2024
• 2

Question: What happened to the Honolulu Police Department’s false-alarm tracking service? I did not get a bill in the mail for my burglar alarm permit renewal charge. Read more

Kokua Line: Where do I get form for disability parking permit?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 18, 2024
• 2

Question: Where can I get a paper application form PA-3 to renew my blue handicap placard? I don’t have a printer at home. Once I get the form, how early can I mail it in? Read more

Kokua Line: Is Waikiki Natatorium next?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 17, 2024
• 32

Question: Now that the city is finally taking action on the Stairway to Heaven, is the Natatorium next? Read more

Kokua Line: Where will drug take-back be held?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 16, 2024
• 5

Question: Please print the locations for the drug take-back. Both myself and my son have chronic illnesses that our doctors are trying new medications to control, so we have a few unused prescriptions and I don’t like having this other stuff around for a variety of reasons. Read more

Kokua Line: Why can’t student fix FAFSA online?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 14, 2024
• 2

Question: My grandson needs financial aid for college and he goes online each year to submit a form and never had trouble until now Read more

Kokua Line: Where can I report doctor’s apparent Medicare Advantage fraud?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 12, 2024
• 6

Question: For the second time, a local doctor’s office is using deceptive billing practices with my mom, who has Medicare Advantage health insurance. It’s infuriating. Where can I report this deeply unethical and possibly illegal behavior? Read more

Kokua Line: Does state have upkeep plan for Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 11, 2024
• 8

Question: Does the state have plans to maintain the asphalt on the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail that cost us taxpayers a lot of money to repair? Read more

Kokua Line: Is Kalima class-action check taxable?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 10, 2024
• 1

Question: My mom received a settlement check from the Kalima v. State of Hawai‘i class action lawsuit. She has not received any other document, including a 1099, that indicates any state or federal taxes she might have to pay. Does that mean she doesn’t have to report the money? Read more

Kokua Line: Will Ward Avenue contraflow return?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 9, 2024
• 10

Question: Since March, there have been no contraflow lanes on Ward Avenue (right three lanes to Beretania Street) during morning peak traffic. The contraflow lanes did help ease the morning traffic on Ward, allowing a lane to stop at the light to turn left on Kinau Street and having two lanes have a clear access to Beretania. Will the contraflow lanes return? If yes, when? Read more

Kokua Line: Why halt camping for honu, but not military training?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 7, 2024
• 7

Question: I understand the need to protect the honu nests at Bellows, but it doesn’t make sense that the general public is more threatening than the military. Read more

Kokua Line: When was jury-duty pay last increased?

• By Christine Donnelly
• April 5, 2024
• 21

Question: If jury duty paid more (808ne.ws/327Kline) maybe so many people wouldn’t try so hard to get out of it. My boss didn’t pay me when I missed work for jury duty and the court pay wasn’t close to the work pay I lost. Read more