Sickly yellow color is just a phase for pines
I live in Mililani next to Mililani Waena Park. I've noticed that within the past few weeks, the beautiful pine trees have turned yellow or look sickly. These trees are over 20 years old. Does the Parks Department know what's wrong and if anything can be done to save them? It's affecting more than a few trees.
Answer: You are assured that the Norfolk pine trees in question are not dying or diseased, despite their appearance.
An arborist with the city Department of Parks and Recreation's Division of Urban Forestry inspected the trees in the park on June 15 and found them to be in good condition, said Dana Takahara-Dias, deputy parks director.
They don't require maintenance or removal, she said.
She explained that the trees may look sickly because many are in their seed and/or pollen cone-producing phase.
"These cones are brownish in color and from a distance, the trees may appear to be brown," she said. "While the brown color would suggest declining health for some tree species, that's not the case here."
Q: A couple of years ago, local filmmaker Edgy Lee put together a documentary on the "ice" epidemic here in the islands. I know it was aired on television. I had asked my dad to tape it, but he forgot to at the time. Would you be able to find out if that documentary is available for purchase on either DVD (preferably) or VHS tape? Some of the work I'm doing involves issues that invariably include drug abuse.
A: FilmWorks Pacific, Lee's Hawaii-based production company, has a Web site that provides information on how to order a DVD on "ICE -- Hawaii's Crystal Meth Epidemic." Go to www.filmworkspacific.com/about.html.
It costs $19.95 each, plus shipping, but teachers and certain health organizations are given a discount, Lee said. The DVD also is available at Borders Books and Music.
Lee noted that that documentary, as well as a follow-up on "Life or Meth -- Hawaii's Youth," are co-produced by RecoveryWorks.
Some of the proceeds from sales go to numerous nonprofit organizations, she said.
The producers also do many events "gratis," she said, such as screenings for high school students, at Army Reserve workshops, at the Waianae community center, in rural communities on Kauai, at city "Sunset" events, and in weekly presentations at the Alder Street Detention Home.
"We also contribute DVDs and film viewers guides ... to nonprofits, including native American organizations where meth is a serious problem," Lee said. The guides accompany the documentaries, to help teachers and community leaders learn how to use the film -- "not just view it and put it on a shelf," she said.
Lee said revenues from sales also allow the company to produce videos and/or public service announcements for organizations such as Drug Free Hawaii and Domestic Violence Clearing House.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered. E-mail to email@example.com
. See also: Useful phone numbers