Question: My neighbors informed me as a courtesy that they are putting a beehive in their backyard. I was surprised. Is this even allowed in residential neighborhoods? …

Answer: Yes, backyard beekeeping is allowed under the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, limited by rules intended to ensure the safety of all concerned.

You can find the specifics in ROH Sec. 7-2.5 (808ne.ws/beehivehi), which states that there shall be no more than eight honeybee hives per zoning lot. According to the law, beehives shall be maintained in movable frames constructed to meet standards of the American Beekeepers Federation. The hives must not be located within 25 feet of any property line, public street, sidewalk or alley, with two exceptions: Hives can be within that distance if they are behind a solid 6-foot-high fence or hedge that parallels the property line and extends 15 feet beyond the hives in both directions, or if they are built at least 8 feet above the ground.

If you live in a neighborhood governed by a community association, you might also check your association’s rules to see if there are any relevant regulations.

Bees are vital to human health, as they provide the pollination required for plants to reproduce — plants that include food crops. As awareness has grown that pollinators such as bees and butterflies are threatened worldwide, people in urban and suburban neighborhoods have become more interested in providing habitats to help pollinators thrive.

Q: Is it legal to ride a moped on the H-1? I have been seeing quite a few lately.

A: No, it is against the law. Violations may result in a fine of $97, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Mopeds are limited to 2 horsepower and a maximum speed of 35 mph, making them unsafe and unlawful to operate on Hawaii’s freeways, according to information on HPD’s website, which a department spokeswoman confirmed was up to date.

Q: Regarding Preschool Open Doors (808ne.ws /2dTmgbt): Do children with disabilities get priority placement, since there is not enough funding for everyone?

A: No, not if those children qualify for special education services under the U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Part B, which governs how states and public agencies assist children and young adults with disabilities.

Those children are served via the state Department of Education, including at the preschool level, not through Preschool Open Doors, which is a tuition-subsidy program administered by the state Department of Human Services for children from lower-income families.

“Children who qualify for special education services under the IDEA Part B with the Department of Education would not receive POD services,” said Keopu Reelitz, DHS public information officer. “We recommend families of children with disabilities consult with their medical professional to assess whether their child will benefit from IDEA Part B services, or with their Individualized Education Program team to determine the most suitable placement and services for their child.”

Children who do not qualify for IDEA Part B and have special needs or children who are from vulnerable or underserved populations may receive POD priority if the family has a professional complete the POD Special Populations Priority Referral form (DHS 913A POD), which is included in the POD application packet, Reelitz said.

Applications are being accepted through Oct. 31. For more information on Oahu, call 791-2130 or download an application at patchhawaii.org.

POD availability is limited by funding. However, Reelitz noted that the 2016 Legislature set aside an additional $10 million for tuition subsidies through the program. Children with completed POD Special Populations Priority Referral forms will receive priority consideration, she said.

Families must meet income-eligibility requirements, and the child must have been born between Aug. 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012, to be considered for the January-June 2017 term.

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.