Question: While sitting in traffic going west on the H-1 freeway near the Waipahu exit, I noticed construction workers with five or six shopping carts from businesses such as Don Quijote and Sam’s Club. Why are they using stolen carts? The public and store owners are upset about the homeless using the carts, and here we have workers making good money and companies with budgets for carts doing the same thing.
Answer: The workers and subcontractors were using "derelict" carts they had found strewn throughout the construction site beneath the H-1 Pearl City viaduct, according to the state Department of Transportation.
"Use of the carts was opportunistic to transport heavy items over the
1.25-mile work zone, and the workers have been reminded not to use them, even though they appear abandoned," a DOT spokesman said.
After we relayed your observation, the carts were placed in a single location under the viaduct, and area businesses were contacted to retrieve them, he said.
Wahiawa Pool
The Wahiawa War Memorial Ceremony honoring 21 Wahiawa veterans killed in action during World War II and recognizing their families for their sacrifices will be held at 1 p.m. July 26.
The event will take place at the Wahiawa District Park Swimming Pool, 1129 Kilani Ave., where the names of the 21 soldiers are inscribed on a plaque.
It will be hosted by the Wahiawa Lions Club, which recently signed an agreement to "adopt" Wahiawa District Park, said spokeswoman Rene Mansho. The celebration will be the club’s first project at the park.
The event is open to members of the public, who may bring a lei to pay tribute during the program, which will include representatives of veterans organizations and community groups, Mansho said.
The keynote speaker will be Jeanne Ishikawa, deputy director of the city Department of Parks and Recreation. In the May 25 Kokua Line (bit.ly/1FzLmRb Opens in a new tab), Ishikawa told the little-known story about how the pool came to be built in 1949 through the efforts of "the boys" from Wahiawa, led by her father, George Ishikawa, who returned home after World War II wanting to give back to the community.
Her father was a member of the Wahiawa Lions Club, chartered in 1940.
The plaque honors soldiers who did not return from the war: "In memoriam to the valiant sons of this community who have died in action during World War II" and "Erected by joint contributions of the Wahiawa community and the City and County of Honolulu/July 1949."
The inscribed names: Masaharu Endo, Chester Fukunaga, Robert Han, Harry Hayakawa, Himeo Hiratani, Kikuichiro Ikehara, William Irwin, Kumao Iwahiro, Robert Johnson, Kiichi Koda, Mitsuharu Kuboyama, Daniel Lim, Robert McEldowney, Weldon Simpson, Richard N. Suwa, Wesley B. Swain, Robert Sweet, Yoshio Tagami, Mitsuo Tanji, Kazuo Yamashita and Jerry Yamauchi.
The club is trying to contact the family and friends of all Wahiawa World War II veterans to participate in the program. For information, call Mansho at 291-6151 or email renemansho@hawaii.rr.com.
Mahalo
To those who came to my aid when I fell in Walmart: to the EMS workers and the police officer who gave me a cold drink; to Straub Clinic and all the staff in the emergency room, who were kind and very helpful; and the hospital staff for their excellent care. I am now off my walker and don’t use a cane anymore. I just wanted to thank you all for coming to my aid when I really needed it. — Mike
Mahalo
To a generous and thoughtful couple. We were pleasantly surprised when they paid for our parking at Queen’s Hospital POB1. Only in Hawaii. — Grateful Senior Citizens from Mililani
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.
