Question: On Saturday, Aug. 24, I walked with my children from our home on Pumehana Street to McCully Shopping Center to get some ice cream. I was wearing rubber zoris. Without knowing what was going on, I saw a lot of running water in the street and assumed it was another water main break as this has happened several times recently. I had an open wound near my toenail and my feet started to get swollen the following day. After hearing the news that it was a sewage spill at the shopping center, I feel I may have contracted a staph infection as a result. TV reports indicated that the city would be investigating the circumstances of the spill. Who is responsible for dumping this overflowing sewage into the city streets? The responsible party should suffer the consequences and be responsible for triple damages.
Answer: The state Department of Health said it is continuing to investigate the Aug. 24 release of up to 5,000 gallons of raw sewage into city streets and storm drains.
McCully Shopping Center officials issued a statement three days after the spill apologizing for the incident, which they blamed on "a large amount of paper towels, etc. and a spoon lodged in the drainpipe."
The city Department of Environmental Services did look into the sewage spill, checking the shopping center’s "Multi-Ceptor unit that handles FOG — fats, oils and grease — from multiple establishments," said spokesman Markus Owens.
Investigators found the unit "seemed to be working properly," he said.
Because this was classified as a "private spill," Owens said it fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health.
"Our staff is actively working on this incident, and it is normal for these types of investigations to take several months to substantiate facts," said DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo.
Interviews have to be done and "evidence collected to substantiate allegations and justify imposed penalties," she said. "Your reader is correct, the responsible party should be held accountable for their actions."
Question: My home in Makakilo, in the old section of the subdivision, has become a dust bowl. The tradewinds are heavenly with the weather being so warm, but along with them come brown dust and dirt from new homes being built. Since moving here in 2003, the dust has increased tremendously. Can the construction crew spray water to minimize the dust or find another solution?
Answer: Call the state Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch at 586-4200 to get more information or to file a complaint about the "fugitive dust."
That describes dust that comes across from one property to another.
The branch "will investigate the complaint to ensure that the operations are in compliance with our fugitive dust requirements," said branch chief Nolan Hirai.
Tenting Correction
The Honolulu Police Department says it gave us the wrong information in Thursday’s Kokua Line item about officers doing house checks for homes that are being tented for termites.
It will NOT do house checks for homes that are being fumigated, or are up for sale or for rent.
The only time officers will do house checks is for residents going on vacation, upon request. But the residents must be away for a minimum of five consecutive days; the home must be unoccupied during the entire house-check period; and only single-family homes are checked. The maximum number of days a check will be done is 30 days.
Backhoe Sold
The backhoe that had been abandoned on Peter Street for 11 months (see is.gd/fC0TCx) was sold at auction on July 31, said Sheri Kajiwara, director of the city Department of Customer Services.
There were four bidders, with the winning bidder paying $1,000 plus towing and storage fees.
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.
