Kokua Line: Will changes at Social Security delay new payments?
Question: Are the Trump administration’s changes at Social Security going to delay payments for those of us due more now that WEP/GPO is repealed? Read more
Kokua Line
Kokua Line answers the Hawaii community’s most asked questions. Got a question? Find out how you can submit it to be featured.
Kokua Line: Is MGM cash offer for real?
Question: I go to Vegas quite a bit, but I’ve never stayed at the MGM Grand. I got an email saying I’m entitled to a settlement from them. Is this a scam? Read more
Kokua Line: How can laid-off federal workers get unemployment benefits?
Question: Will the federal workers losing their jobs even be eligible for unemployment benefits? Read more
Kokua Line: Why do libraries close 3 days for 1 holiday?
Question: I went to the Manoa library Saturday, and it was closed for Presidents Day. It was also closed Monday for the actual holiday. The Kaimuki library was closed Sunday, and closed Monday for the actual holiday. I’m curious as to why the public libraries seem to get two to three days off for one holiday. Read more
Kokua Line: Can DOGE mess up Social Security?
Question: I am three years away from collecting Social Security, after paying Social Security taxes my whole working life, and I am concerned about what Elon Musk is doing over there. I don’t take it lightly when the head of an agency quits rather than comply with what they consider improper demands. What can we do? Anything? Read more
Kokua Line: When will holiday festival grounds be cleared?
Question: We drove past Honolulu Hale over the weekend and noticed that those ugly metal arches left over from Honolulu City Lights are still up. When will they be taken away? Read more
Kokua Line: How do I figure car registration fee from taxes on total cost of registration?
Question: How do I determine the car registration fee from taxes on the total cost of registration? Read more
Kokua Line: Do traffic cams check expired registrations?
Question: When a vehicle runs a red light and the license plate number is recorded on camera, does the system also check if the registration is current? Read more
Kokua Line: Why can’t Hawaii taxpayers use IRS Direct File?
Question: An eligibility check on the IRS.gov website indicates that Hawaii is not one of the 25 states participating in the “IRS Direct File” online income tax filing program for federal returns. Why not, and is there any plan to participate in the future? Read more
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Kokua Line: Can opala crew dump blue, gray bins in same truck?
Question: In the last year, at various times not all the blue or green bins were picked up with the rest of our street. Three things have happened. We brought our bin in; the next day the remaining blue bins on the street were picked up. We left our bin outside for a later pickup; one week later our bin was still on the curb. Read more
Kokua Line: What’s up with new Hawaii license plates?
Question: How did we run out of the new license plates so fast? Didn’t they just start adding the okina this year? Read more
Kokua Line: Will all public workers get Social Security bump?
Question: Will all public workers get the Social Security bump? I never applied for Social Security when I retired because of the exclusion, so maybe I should apply now. Read more
Kokua Line: Who do I call to dispose of cats hit by cars?
Question: Even before this last thunderstorm there was a storm where it was pouring rain and the power went out and there were no traffic lights. It was very hard to see driving. The next day it was obvious that cats were fatally hit by cars the night before. This was on the weekend and I didn’t know who to call. Read more
Kokua Line: Did crews clear homeless camps along streams?
Question: Auwe! Letting homeless people get away with living in the drainage canals and under bridges has got to stop. Every time it rains hard, their stuff goes downstream, and then heavy resources are spent cleaning it up. Not to mention the flooding risk when streams are blocked with tents, tarps, shopping carts, etc. Read more
Kokua Line: How do I dispose of old batteries from disaster kit?
Question: Ahead of the storm we checked our disaster kit and found alkaline batteries (Duracell D8) that were best by March 2015. We’re replacing them, but my question is what can we do with the old ones? Read more
Kokua Line: Won’t federal freeze hurt red states, too?
Question: Regarding the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants, won’t this hurt red states just as bad? Read more
Kokua Line: Is REAL ID enforcement postponed again?
Question: I hear they’re postponing REAL ID again. Is that true? If not, please remind me of the documents required. Read more
Kokua Line: Can police increase video enforcement of fireworks?
House Bill 550 would allow law enforcement to establish probable cause for a fireworks-related arrest based on video recordings “made by a law enforcement agency using, controlling, or operating an unmanned aerial vehicle.” Read more
Kokua Line: How can Las Vegas resident get copy of Hawaii birth certificate?
Question: My son lives in Las Vegas now, but he was born in Hawaii in 1972 and needs to get his birth certificate. How would he go about getting a copy? Read more
Kokua Line: When will Tax-Aide sites open?
Question: I noticed you ran something last month about Tax-Aide looking for volunteers, but what about the sites for people who need the help doing their taxes? Have those been announced yet? I learned last year that it’s better to call sooner than later for an appointment. Read more
Kokua Line: Any progress on traffic roundabouts?
Question: You’ve written a lot about the Kailua/Lanikai roundabout, but what about the one they are building past Kaneohe? Read more
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