Question: At the University Avenue bus stop near Metcalf Street (stop No. 413), I noticed a new OnStreet passenger information electronic board mounted on the bus shelter. Why is it not turned on, and when can bus riders expect that to happen? A similar board across the street at the University of Hawaii’s Sinclair Circle bus stop is working.

Answer: It’s uncertain when that electronic passenger information board will be operating.

The power feed is configured to turn on at night and turn off during the day, a situation that also is affecting the electronic board at the Kapiolani Community College bus stop, said Wayne Yoshioka, director of the city Department of Transportation Services.

Both signs will be turned off until the time-of-day issue is addressed. When that will be resolved is uncertain. "UH-Manoa is working with us to remedy this situation," Yoshioka said.

The city began installing the OnStreet signs at selected locations, as a pilot project, to provide up-to-date bus schedule information.

The signs being used were acquired for an earlier project that stalled in the trial phase, Yoshioka said.

The success of the current effort will determine whether more OnStreet signs, beyond the number already on hand, are ordered.

Most of the installed signs are solar-powered and cost about $5,000 each to install, Yoshioka said.

"In the cases where solar arrays are not feasible, the cost of installation is higher, since we have to wire the OnStreet sign into the power grid, including routing the conduits," he explained. "In these cases the installation costs may reach $10,000 each, depending on the situation."

In addition to the two signs in the UH-Manoa area and the one at Kapiolani Community College, seven electronic boards have been posted at five other stops: Kapolei Transit Center (one for Koko Head-bound buses and one for Waianae-bound buses); Waipahu Transit Center (Koko Head-bound and Waianae-bound); Mililani Transit Center; Middle Street Transit Center; and Hawaii Kai Park and Ride.

Q: In the Sept. 22 Young at Heart tabloid, the Star-Advertiser had an interesting article about a retired teacher, Helen Nakano, who has printed a hanafuda instruction booklet. No contact information was given. Can you please get me a contact number or address?

A: You can e-mail Nakano at info@hanafudahawaii.com, call her at 927-0993 or write to her at Hanafuda Hawaii, P.O. Box 61623, Honolulu, HI 96839. For more information, go to hanafudahawaii.com.

Star-Advertiser reporter Burl Burlingame wrote about how Nakano, 73, is on a mission to get people to play hanafuda, the Japanese card game, saying it’s part of the culture of Hawaii.

See www.staradvertiser.com/specialprojects/10/youngatheart/20100922_age_old_card_game_fuels_mission.html.

MAHALO

To Michael Sinclair and King Windward Nissan. After being broadsided recently in a year already filled with loss, I seriously considered that there was nothing positive left for a public school teacher. They helped me with a level of aloha and ohana I thought was almost dead on Oahu. It completely renewed my outlook on the future and instilled a sense of hope I have not felt for months. May your kindness be returned in multiples! — Bea DeRego

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.