Question: A large Board of Water Supply tank on the hill bordering Kaneohe and Kailua, just off H-3 freeway and Mokapu Saddle Road, has been leaking for six months. I called them a few months ago, but the leak persists. Can you can find someone to plug that leak?
Answer: The BWS says it was aware of the leak at its Kapaa 272 Reservoir and had already hired an engineering firm to prepare the plans for repair when we passed on your concern.
“Unfortunately, the nature of the leak rules out a quick fix because we are unable to take this reservoir out of service without first constructing its temporary replacement,” said spokeswoman Shawn Nakamoto.
She explained that the agency still needs to provide continuous water service and fire protection for residents served by the reservoir, as well as to minimize water pressure fluctuations that could result in main breaks.
Construction of a temporary replacement reservoir will begin as soon as plans are approved and permits obtained, she said. No timeline was given. Once the replacement reservoir is in service, repairs to the leaking reservoir will begin.
“Meanwhile, the BWS is exploring options for capturing the leaking water streams for irrigation purposes,” Nakamoto said.
Question: What is the latest news on back pay for part-time teachers?
Answer: In May, Circuit Judges Karl Sakamoto and Edwin Nacino ruled that approximately 30,000 part-time teachers were underpaid over a seven-year period and are owed approximately $36 million.
“It is the largest judgment against the state in history,” said attorney Paul Alston, who filed the class-action lawsuit against the state Department of Education on behalf of the teachers.
However, the DOE has appealed that ruling, which could delay any payments for years.
In addition to ruling on back pay for part-time teachers, the two judges awarded $10 million in interest fees to substitute teachers, Alston said.
The court earlier awarded about 9,000 substitute teachers $14 million in back pay.
“The substitute teachers got their pay last year,” Alston said. “One thing they didn’t get and they won’t get until we win the appeal is the interest.”
The appeals were filed last month.
“Briefings will be held over the remainder of this year and then we will wait for the Intermediate Court (of Appeals) or Supreme Court to decide,” Alston said.
In the meantime, the court also is being asked to award approximately $9 million in attorneys’ fees, he said. That ruling is pending.
Question: What are the legal rights of grandparents in Hawaii to visit their grandchildren?
Answer: A law granting such rights is still on the books but has been declared unconstitutional. Under Section 571-46.3 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (1.usa.gov/1CFpVOJ), grandparents have a “reasonable” right to visit their grandchildren.
That law said the grandparents of a minor child may file a petition with the court “for an order of reasonable visitation rights” if Hawaii was the home state of the child and visitation was in the child’s best interests.
However, although Section 571-46.3 still appears in the current statutes, it was declared unconstitutional by the Hawaii Supreme Court in Doe v. Doe in 2007, said Andrew Laurence, spokesman for the Hawaii State Judiciary.
“In Hawaii, there are no other statutory provisions addressing grandparents’ rights to visit grandchildren,” he said.
There have been proposals in the state Legislature to allow grandparents to seek visitation rights if denial “would cause significant demonstrable harm to the child,” but so far, no action has been taken.
You can read the Supreme Court opinion on the Judiciary’s website: state.hi.us/jud/opinions/sct/2007/26471.htm.
Mahalo
To two men who appeared suddenly to help us load our heavy luggage into our car at the Hawaiian Air baggage area on June 22. We still are smiling from their act of kindness. — Two Grateful Seniors
Mahalo
To Stuart Tanaka and his wife for coming to my aid after I fell in the Ward Centre parking garage on my way to Big City Diner on June 27. They stopped the bleeding from a deep cut over my left eye, found my husband in the restaurant and called EMS. The stitches around my eye have since been removed and my slightly fractured left knee is on the mend. We would like to thank the Tanaka family again for their help and concern and, through Kokua Line, want to extend a heartfelt invitation to them to please join us for breakfast at Big City Diner. We will be there by 8 a.m. on July 11, 18 and 25. — Grateful
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.
