Question: Potholes on Honolulu streets and even the highways are ridiculous. I hit one and it damaged my car. How do I file a claim against the city?
Answer: If you are certain the pothole you hit was on a city street, call 768-5222 and ask for a claim form; this is the contact number the Department of Corporation Counsel lists for all claims against the city of Honolulu. There is no claim form online.
Not all streets are maintained by the city. The state government, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, federal government and private entities oversee some thoroughfares.
Since you mentioned highways, there’s a chance your claim actually should be filed with the state. The state does provide a claim form online, which you can access at ags.hawaii.gov/aso/rmo/faq. Once at the site, click on “Claim for Damage or Injury form (RMTC).” If you lack online access, call 586-0547 and ask for a copy of the claim form, which you must submit to the Risk Management Division of the state Department of Accounting and General Services.
If you are not sure who maintains the road you blame for your car’s damage, check these two websites — 808ne.ws/1TIjPXi and 808ne.ws/1OGAF7V — for information about state, HART and, by default, city roads.
A successful claim requires careful documentation. If you can do so safely, photograph the pothole you hit and record an estimate of its width and depth. Write down all the details you recall about the incident (including the date, time, location and road conditions). Also document the damage to your vehicle, with photographs, if possible.
According to the Risk Management website, you might need to submit two estimates for the cost of the damage, or the repair bill, plus the vehicle’s registration, insurance card and any other documents necessary to prove you own the car.
If the state denies your claim, you may submit further documentation to bolster it, or file a lawsuit. You have two years from the date of the incident to finalize the claim without filing a lawsuit, according to the website.
Q: I’ve collected all the hotel amenities from my trips (travel-sized soap, shampoo, lotion, etc.). Who can I donate these to?
A: The Institute for Human Services. The nonprofit organization that helps homeless people lists toiletries of all sizes as being among its most needed items; that includes soap, shampoo, conditioner and other common items such as you describe.
Bring your donations to IHS’ Women’s and Families’ Shelter at 546 Kaaahi St. (near the corner of King Street and Dillingham Boulevard), preferably between 9 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, according to the IHS website. You can call ahead, 447-2800, to let them know you’re coming.
The nonprofit organization, which operates shelters for homeless people and also provides social-service outreach to those still living on the streets, relies heavily on donations and volunteers to fulfill its mission of providing “respite for those who are unsheltered and solutions that transform the lives of homeless and at-risk people.”
Although financial donations are No. 1 on its wish list, donations of food, clothing, toiletries, school supplies and gift cards also are much appreciated, as the people IHS helps need a continuous supply of these items. IHS invites supporters to coordinate food, clothing or toiletry drives. For information about that, go to ihshawaii.org and look under the heading “Ways to Help.”
MAHALO
A big mahalo to the honest woman who left a note on my windshield that she hit my car while I was parked at Ala Moana Center. I was at the mall for less than half an hour when I went to my car and saw the note with the phone number. I called and she apologized. We were able to quickly file the claim with the insurance company and did not have to bother the police to file a report. I hear of many hit-and-run situations, and I am so grateful for this woman’s honesty. Accidents happen, but it’s the right thing to do to step up and take responsibility. May she be blessed many times over for her honesty. — A reader
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.
