Mark Twain Estates, Green Sand Subdivision, Naalehu area.

[terracore]

Originally Posted by maiden_fern

I’ve always said those Energy Star appliances were a joke.

Sometimes they create more problems than they solve for sure. For example, my refrigerator shuts off if it thinks the door is open for too long. So when the switch broke that turns the light on and off the refrigerator thought somebody had left the door open and refused to cool. A light that doesn't turn off is something I can live with, a refrigerator that doesn't turn on is a whole different problem. Of course I couldn't find a replacement switch locally and had to order one, potentially leaving me without a functioning refrigerator for a week, all because a $2 light switch was broken.

Fortunately I was able to remove the broken switch and once the wires were disconnected the refrigerator thought the door was closed again so I had a functioning refrigerator sans light until the new switch arrived. Some "brilliant" engineer trying to save a few pennies in electricity created a monster that would have destroyed hundreds of dollars of food if I wasn't able to DIY a solution.

All that being said, I bought the energy star refrigerator because they had a fat rebate for getting one here: https://hawaiienergy.com/for-homes/rebates (they still have the rebates they just aren't as big as they were 10 years ago).

[maiden_fern]

Originally Posted by terracore

Sometimes they create more problems than they solve for sure. For example, my refrigerator shuts off if it thinks the door is open for too long. So when the switch broke that turns the light on and off the refrigerator thought somebody had left the door open and refused to cool. A light that doesn't turn off is something I can live with, a refrigerator that doesn't turn on is a whole different problem. Of course I couldn't find a replacement switch locally and had to order one, potentially leaving me without a functioning refrigerator for a week, all because a $2 light switch was broken.

Fortunately I was able to remove the broken switch and once the wires were disconnected the refrigerator thought the door was closed again so I had a functioning refrigerator sans light until the new switch arrived. Some "brilliant" engineer trying to save a few pennies in electricity created a monster that would have destroyed hundreds of dollars of food if I wasn't able to DIY a solution.

All that being said, I bought the energy star refrigerator because they had a fat rebate for getting one here: https://hawaiienergy.com/for-homes/rebates (they still have the rebates they just aren't as big as they were 10 years ago).

Cool website, I signed up for email on energy saving tips and rebates. Thanks!

[paindude]

Long police response times is what drives the crime in more remote locations, like Ocean View. My take is that property taxes being so low causes lack of funding for police, etc. In fact, I was told by my doctor that when you become a cop here, you are told to pick out any kind of vehicle you want to use one the job, and they will pay half! Seriously. The only way to spot most police cars is to look for the low profile blue light on top. I've seen a Range Rover, several Mustang GTs, and other hot rod type vehicles. No more being able to spot them at night by the Ford Crown Victoria light pattern!

[Grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by paindude

Long police response times is what drives the crime in more remote locations, like Ocean View. My take is that property taxes being so low causes lack of funding for police, etc. In fact, I was told by my doctor that when you become a cop here, you are told to pick out any kind of vehicle you want to use one the job, and they will pay half! Seriously. The only way to spot most police cars is to look for the low profile blue light on top. I've seen a Range Rover, several Mustang GTs, and other hot rod type vehicles. No more being able to spot them at night by the Ford Crown Victoria light pattern!

I believe the monthly stipend for the patrol car is a bit over $600. Definitely enough to subsidize a good vehicle. I don't recall ever seeing an officer in a stripped Ford focus, they all drive pretty pricey vehicles.

[maiden_fern]

Originally Posted by paindude

Long police response times is what drives the crime in more remote locations, like Ocean View. My take is that property taxes being so low causes lack of funding for police, etc. In fact, I was told by my doctor that when you become a cop here, you are told to pick out any kind of vehicle you want to use one the job, and they will pay half! Seriously. The only way to spot most police cars is to look for the low profile blue light on top. I've seen a Range Rover, several Mustang GTs, and other hot rod type vehicles. No more being able to spot them at night by the Ford Crown Victoria light pattern!

Are you saying they are all undercover cars, or do they have a police emblem on the doors?

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Grassyknoll

I believe the monthly stipend for the patrol car is a bit over $600. Definitely enough to subsidize a good vehicle. I don't recall ever seeing an officer in a stripped Ford focus, they all drive pretty pricey vehicles.

$562 on the Big Island. There is also talk of the Big Island phasing out personal vehicles.

I'm skeptical there are Ford GT's being used as police cars on the Big Island - for obvious reasons, on Oahu at least it has to be a 4 door vehicle - the last think you want to do with a handcuffed suspect is to try to do acrobatic antics getting that person in the back seat.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by maiden_fern

Are you saying they are all undercover cars, or do they have a police emblem on the doors?

Most of the police cars look like regular vehicles except for the small blue light strip on top. There are a few Hawaii County police cars that are clearly marked as such.

[Grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

$562 on the Big Island. There is also talk of the Big Island phasing out personal vehicles.

I'm skeptical there are Ford GT's being used as police cars on the Big Island - for obvious reasons, on Oahu at least it has to be a 4 door vehicle - the last think you want to do with a handcuffed suspect is to try to do acrobatic antics getting that person in the back seat.

There are a couple of 2-door patrol cars on the Big Island. I routinely see a Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by Grassyknoll

There are a couple of 2-door patrol cars on the Big Island. I routinely see a Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang.

Perhaps a function of your location on island. Puna district I see mostly SUVs with decent ground clearance so they can actually negotiate the rough roads if necessary.

[terracore]

They like to say the $562 is the monthly amount of the car subsidy but it is actually much higher. They are given separate funds for gas, maintenance, etc that exceeds what is consumed while on duty. The total subsidies combined is closer to $900. I don't know if it's the same across the board or dependent on where the officer is working.

I'm not aware of any prohibitions against two door vehicles. Prisoners are transported in county vehicles. They do have performance standards the cars must have, and they are prohibited from using any "luxury brands". In Puna they mostly drive 4Runners.