Question: Whenever we go to Las Vegas, I take my dog to Hilo for my daughter to care for until we get home. On Sept. 6 I made arrangements to fly to Hilo on Nov. 6 to take my small dog as a "carry on" as I have done for years. Then I take another round trip to pick her up ($150 round trip each time for a total of $300). When we called Hawaiian Airlines to register her, they told us that we had to pay $35. I can’t cancel my trip, and now I have to pay $35. They didn’t have the decency to let pet owners know that they were going to charge for taking pets to the neighbor islands. Why? It’s all right for me to take a 15-pound item and place it under the seat.

Answer: The new fee was instituted on July 30, said Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Keoni Wagner.

It wouldn’t apply to any ticket purchased before that date.

"The fee is part of an overall rates and charges structure designed to support the costs of operation," he said.

However, there still is no fee for carry-on luggage and no change to the fee for pets checked with luggage.

Regarding advance notice, Wagner said if you had said you intended to carry on a pet when you booked your flight, the agent could have notified you then of the fee.

Meanwhile, "Like other airlines, we limit the number of pets that can be carried on any given flight out of consideration for the comfort and welfare of the animals."

Question: I need a copy of my marriage certificate to get my state ID. I don’t want to go down to the state Health Department. How can I have them mail an application to me?

Answer: Application forms aren’t mailed because you don’t need one to request a copy of a marriage certificate, said Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo.

Instead, you may submit a request in writing, including payment, copy of a valid government-issued ID and as much of the following information as possible: name, address and telephone number; full names of bride and groom; certificate number, if known; date and place of marriage; your relationship to the person named on the certificate; and the reason for your request.

You cannot fax, e-mail or phone in your request. Fees are $10 for the first copy and $4 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Payments by mail must be by money order, certified check or cashier’s check (no personal checks) made out to the state Department of Health.

All fees are nonrefundable, even if no record is found. The fees cover the cost of the search.

Mail applications to state Department of Health, Office of Health Status Monitoring, Issuance/Vital Statistics Section, P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, HI 97801.

The Health Department will accept applications for copies of vital records via the Internet — birth and marriage certificates only online — at www.ehawaiigov.org/ohsm; or in person, 7:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays, Room 103, Health Department building, 1250 Punchbowl St.

For more information, go to hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/index.html or call 586-4533.

Question: What happened to Patti’s Chinese Kitchen at Ala Moana Center and Pearlridge Center? I miss their food.

Answer: The last of four Patti’s Chinese Kitchens closed at Pearlridge Center on Feb. 28, after it was not able to renew its lease. The restaurant at Ala Moana closed in January 2008.

Columnist Dave Shapiro was told in March that a family member hoped to find a location to reopen. See the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2010/Mar/08/ln/hawaii3080330.html.

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 e-mail kokualine@staradvertiser.com.