Question: A private waste company picks up our garbage but leaves liquid waste on the street adjacent to a storm drain. This is very evident by the oily, smelly residue on the street. This is a problem since we all, including Ala Wai Elementary kids, walk through the stinky grime or around it, which is not a safe alternative. On a rainy day, the water in the gutter looks brown and oily. Isn’t this against the law? Is there an agency we can call?

Answer: Call the city’s Environmental Concern Line, 768-3300.

Section 14-12.23(a) of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu prohibits the discharge of any pollutants into the city’s storm drains, including "liquid waste," said Markus Owens, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Services.

 An investigator with the Storm Water Quality Branch investigated your complaint and observed a small truck transporting trash bins from your condominium building property to a nearby city park, Owens said. He then saw the bins being unloaded into a private refuse truck. 

"The refuse truck was observed compacting the load, which resulted in the leakage of fluids into the city’s parking lot," Owens said.

Environmental Services planned to submit a "Notice of Order" to the refuse hauling company, SSG, for the discharge of liquid waste into the city’s drainage system, he said. (A Notice of Order leads to fines if a violation is not corrected.)

In the meantime, a "Letter of Warning" was to be issued to the property owner for failure to clean up the residue on the property.

Question: Who was the emcee at Gov. David Ige’s inauguration? He did an excellent job.

Answer: The master of ceremonies was attorney Keith Hiraoka, Ige’s Pearl City High School classmate, who served as his gubernatorial campaign manager.

He is a partner in the Roeca Luria Hiraoka law firm.

According to the Hawaii Herald, Hiraoka was among those in 1985 who encouraged Ige, at that time a supervising electrical engineer for Hawaiian Telephone, to enter politics.

To make a long story short, Ige was appointed by then-Gov. George Ariyoshi to fill a vacancy in the state House in November 1985.

That was the beginning of Ige’s 29 years in the Legislature, which ended with him moving up to the fifth floor of the state Capitol this month.

Trees = Leaves

In response to Monday’s Kokua Line about the city’s street trees, several readers pointed out that required maintenance of the area fronting their properties involves more than "weeding and watering."

As one reader said, "The choice of trees is important." Beyond the need to often rake dropped leaves, "trees that shed stems as well as leaves (result in) more work," as is the case in her Hawaii Kai neighborhood, she said. "When tree rubbish is left to blow into the street or even to be raked into the street by uncaring residents, storm drains may be clogged. There is more to careful care of sidewalk areas than only weeding and watering."

As to whether property owners are responsible for picking up the tree debris, Art Challacombe, deputy director of the city Department of Planning and Permitting, says Chapter 14 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu does not specify "raking up leaves." However, "the ordinance does require abutting property owners to maintain a safe passage way for pedestrians. If the leaves become a trip-and-fall hazard, the property owner is responsible."

Mahalo

To a stranger named Johann. I was sitting on a bench outside Macy’s, talking on my recently purchased iPhone when someone from behind snatched it out of my hand. The thief dashed toward the Ala Moana Hotel. With an injured knee, I hobbled in pain to go after him. Without hesitation, Johann, who heard me shouting, pursued the thief, who gave up, handed the phone to him, then took off again. I thanked Johann for his kind deed. He said he was meant to be there at the right time to help. This incident certainly restored my faith in humanity. To fellow shoppers: I understand this is a common incident at shopping centers, especially during the holiday season. Be wary of anything you carry or use in public view. They could be attractive targets for thieves. — D.C.

Happy Holidays

To our readers: Kokua Line will return Jan. 6.

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.