Question: When will the Pearl City Public Library’s repeated air-conditioning breakdowns be corrected and the AC be fully operational? No one can borrow nonfiction books because the whole section is closed off. The staff has no clue when the work will be completed.
Answer: Ongoing repairs have progressed to the point that the library resumed normal hours Sunday, after six weeks of a truncated schedule. However, it will be at least several more weeks before the library is as cool as it should be. There is no date set for the complete fix, and some books won’t be available for browsing in the meantime.
You’re in luck if you know which book you want to borrow, though, because although “a portion of the collection will remain off-site until the AC is fully repaired, any book that is desired by the public can be delivered to the Pearl City Branch,” said state Librarian Stacey Aldrich.
The library at 1138 Waimano Home Road generally is open Sundays through Fridays, but had operated on a reduced schedule from Sept. 27 until Sunday because of the lack of air conditioning.
Keith Fujio, special assistant to the state librarian, provided an update Friday:
“According to Honeywell, our AC service contractor, and DAGS Central Services, the Pearl City Public Library’s air-conditioning system must replace all of their heat exchangers. Currently, two out of a total of eight heat exchangers have been replaced, allowing the air conditioning to operate at 25 percent capacity. While the library is still warm, it is operational and cool enough to allow the Pearl City Public Library to return to its normal public service schedule effective Sunday, Nov. 15. Another two heat exchangers are scheduled to arrive by next month, which should be enough to return the library to its normal operating temperature. The remaining four heat exchangers are on order but as of today, there is no confirmed delivery and installation date.”
DAGS refers to the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
Here’s a reminder of the library’s usual hours, now that they’ve resumed:
>> Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 8 p.m.
>> Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
>> Fridays, 1 to 5 p.m.
>> Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
>> Closed Saturdays and holidays
The library’s main number is 453-6566 if you want to call ahead and confirm.
Q: Where does the new shoulder lane actually begin in Pearl City? I had two near accidents yesterday as the drivers weaved back and forth, unsure whether they should enter. It’s confusing as it starts halfway down the H-1 freeway. There needs to be a line on the lane and sign visible or even on the wall where the start is.
A: According to the state Department of Transportation, the new shoulder lane begins near the Aiea Heights Drive Overpass, which is where motorists should enter it. The lane is 2 miles long and open westbound during the evening commute. “New signs and pavement markings will be added indicating the shoulder area and times,” according to a DOT news release.
Motorists using the shoulder lane and continuing west on the H-1 toward Kapolei will need to merge one lane to the left before the shoulder lane ends as they approach the Waimalu/Pearl City offramp (Exit 10). The merge must be completed prior to the solid white line.
Only cars are supposed to be in the shoulder lane; no trucks or buses.
Q: Did June Jones ever repay the money he owed for leaving UH before his contract was up? Last I remember, they were negotiating a settlement in the $200,000 range.
A: Yes, the former University of Hawaii football coach settled the dispute in late 2008 with $200,010 in donations to benefit UH and its students, according to news reports at the time.
The total included $100,010 from the June Jones Foundation (given to the Na Lei Oiwi Scholarship Fund in the name of the late Kanalu Young) and $100,000 to UH from an anonymous donor on Jones’ behalf, according to the news reports. The latter amount was be to used at UH at the then-chancellor’s discretion.
Jones left UH in January 2008 to coach football at Southern Methodist University. He departed after the football season but about six months before his contract extension expired.
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