Question: How can one locate an owner when one finds things like keys, jewelry, billfold, etc. on the sidewalk, on the beach or the park?
Answer: Sometimes it’s easy to identify to whom the item belongs, in which case you can contact the owner directly to arrange retrieval or delivery. Or it’s simple enough to leave a forgotten item at a hotel or restaurant’s lost-and-found, when it’s obvious that a guest misplaced it or left it behind.
However, when you have no idea to whom the possession belongs, and especially when you find something valuable, it’s best to turn it in to the Honolulu Police Department. Police will take a report and inventory the item in the evidence room, where it can be retrieved by the rightful owner if he or she also contacts the police.
Anyone who has lost property on Oahu may contact HPD’s records/evidence room at 723-3270 to find out whether the item has been turned in.
The Police Department’s advice goes for folks who lose valuable stuff (or have it stolen) as well as for those who find others’ belongings. Filling out a police report puts the loss or theft on record and allows police to contact you if the property is recovered.
You will have to show your ID and/or a case number from the police report before you can retrieve the property, according to HPD.
Q: Could you alert Hawaiian Telcom about a concrete manhole cover on a sidewalk in Aina Haina that looks ready to fall into its hole? … I believe this is Hawaiian Telcom property because it has HT in the middle of the cover.
A: Hawaiian Telcom immediately replaced the eroding pull-box cover after we passed along your query last month. You had included the exact address and a digital photograph of the problem, which you confirmed was fixed the next day.
You had tried to alert the company yourself about the issue but had difficulty with an online form. The form asked for your account number, but you apparently could have left that part blank since you are not a Hawaiian Telcom customer.
As you indicated, not all such property is the responsibility of Hawaiian Telcom — other cable, power and water companies or agencies have similar utility covers on sidewalks or streets. In this case, though, the cover was Hawaiian Telcom’s to fix, and a company spokeswoman provided contact information should you or others need to make similar reports in the future.
“Hawaiian Telcom appreciates assistance from customers and the general public to let the company know when they see damaged property,” said spokeswoman Ann Nishida Fry. “Hawaiian Telcom crews will investigate and address all issues as quickly as possible.”
There are several ways to report damaged equipment or property to the telecommunications company:
>> Call Hawaiian Telcom’s 24-hour Customer Care Center at 643-6111.
>> Submit a support request online at bit.ly/ 1SYnh3A. Click on “Other Support” in the list of various support-request options.
>> Submit the request via the live-chat function at hawaiiantel.com/support. Under the heading “Contact Us,” click on “Chat With Us.” This service is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Regardless of how you submit the request, include a brief description of the problem — for example, “cracked manhole cover” — and a precise location, including a street address with a cross street or landmark if possible.
If you have a digital photo of the damaged property, please let the call center representative know, or note it in the remarks section of your online report and a Hawaiian Telcom representative will provide an email address so that you can submit it as well.
Mahalo
A big thank you to the kind man who paid for my purchase at Savers on Dil- lingham Boulevard. You are special. I will pass on the kindness you gave me to someone else. Hugs every day to you. — Thank you, S.S.
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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.
