Kokua Line answers the Hawaii community’s most asked questions. Got a question? Find out how you can submit it to be featured.
Question: How can I replace the vehicle registration sticker that was stolen off my license plate? It doesn’t expire until October! I was hoping I could reprint it at a DMV kiosk but that didn’t work. Read more
Question: Please briefly describe the Honolulu Board of Water Supply’s emergency procedures to keep water pumping for firefighters during a Public Safety Power Shutoff. For example, does BWS have backup generators in place at all times? Whatever the process is, please explain briefly. Read more
Question: President Biden said that intentional power outages to prevent more fires in L.A. contributed to the lack of water to fight the fires; without electricity, pumps couldn’t get the water to the hydrants. Could the same thing happen in Hawaii under Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff plan? Read more
There’s no word yet about when this Social Security money will start flowing. Read more
Question: I change the engine oil, axle oil, gear oil and radiator fluids for our vehicles. I have been putting them in the same plastic gallon container they came in from the store. I do not know where to dispose of them. Read more
Question: Regarding U.S. passports (808ne.ws/3Pq8Ru9), I can’t renew online because my passport is so old. What about the main library? Is that still an option? Can I walk in? Read more
Question: What if we already threw fireworks away? I thought it was OK to put them in the trash after soaking in water overnight, so that’s what we did, same as in 2024. It was only a few, all legal (permitted firecrackers). I don’t see anything contrary on the Hazardous Household Waste website. Read more
Question: Why are there so many mango trees with lots of flowers now? It seems very early in the year. Is this normal? Read more
Question: Is the state doing a health survey? I don’t usually answer calls from noncontacts but I made a mistake and picked up and it was something about health and I hung up thinking it was a scam. They called again but I didn’t answer. Can you check if this is legit? Read more
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Question: I heard on the news that pedestrian fatalities rose in 2024. Do you know how many of those involved homeless people who were lying in the road? Read more
Question: I’m a renter with a pretty good landlord so when my year’s lease expired I continued on a month-to-month basis because I wasn’t sure how much longer I would stay. Now I am ready to move out and I gave two month’s notice but my landlord says he needs three months. Is this required? Read more
Question: How will I know if I am getting the extra stimulus payment? When would I get it? Do I have to submit a form? Read more
Question: Regarding new rules at community gardens (808ne.ws/3BSivCy), I have some questions as I am one who could be considered in violation although I do have good reasons for neglecting my plot (ill health). Will there be a grace period in terms of cutting back overgrowth and removing trees that are no longer allowed? Also, why are they saying no trees? Last, will they enforce against the feeding of feral cats? Read more
Question: Regarding the new online test to get a driver’s permit (808ne.ws/4fv1GuY), my grandson had the correct computer to take the test but it couldn’t verify him so he will have to go to the DMV to take it anyway. I wish we had known this could happen so he could have made an appointment and not wasted time trying over and over. Read more
Question: I have questions about state tax overpayments. I am a preparer who does GET and individual taxes for clients. The only overpayment that is automatically refunded to the taxpayer is the individual tax on a yearly return. Read more
Why is it taking so long to rebuild the Kalapawai Roundabout? Read more
Only property owners who had signed up for electronic delivery were sent emails; others were mailed notices through the U.S. Postal Service, according to a news release from Honolulu’s Real Property Assessment Division. Read more
Over 300 damage claims were filed with Hawaiian Electric Co. over the June 17-21 Downtown Honolulu-Chinatown outage. Read more
Why is there no canopy over the Uber and Lyft ride pickup median at the Honolulu airport? Read more
Question: When renewing a Hawaii driver’s license, why can’t we keep our old license while we’re waiting for the new plastic license in the mail, which takes weeks? Read more
