The County of Hawaii is prepared for whatever will be washed up on our shores and we already have protocols for the various items that have routinely been washing ashore for many, many years.

Dear Troubleshooter, We are a community group that has been concerned for some time now about a hazard posed by a very large, old tree in the county road right-of-way in Ahualoa. We explained the problem to the County Department of Public Works, and the department awarded a contract for tree cutting to a private company. Removing this particular tree was supposed to be handled under that contract. This eucalyptus tree is enormous, and it is dead and rotting. We estimate it is 100 feet tall, and the trunk is 10 feet in diameter. Branches from the tree have been dropping into the yard of a home nearby, creating a danger for the children.

Dear Troubleshooter, I live in Hamakua, and I believe my next-door neighbor is doing illegal grubbing, and mutilating the land. She is also chopping down trees and dumping them into streambeds, which could cause flooding. She is building extensive ATV trails, and I think she is going to use the property for commercial activities that are not allowed on agricultural zoned land. Please help. Upset in Hamakua

Dear Troubleshooter, The recent improvements to the Saddle Road have been wonderful for those of us who commute to and from Kona, and have cut quite a bit of time off of the drive. What I want to know is, will the work continue after the current leg just outside of Hilo is complete? How soon will the work begin on the other end, close to Waimea? Commuter, Kona

Dear Troubleshooter, I am very upset that county has stopped delivering mulch from Kealakehe to the transfer station at Wai`ohinu. I was told the deliveries were halted because of the fear of spreading the coffee berry borer, but why should the coffee farmers take priority over everyone else? I am a taxpayer, too. Ka`u residents use that mulch, and the county should continue the deliveries. Avid Gardener, Ka`u

Dear Troubleshooter, I live in Kailua-Kona, and to get some relief from the vog, I go to the beach. The air seems to be clearer there, and when the vog is bad, the beach is my only refuge. Now that smoking is banned indoors in public places, people light up at the beaches, and our Kailua beaches have become smoke traps. I know that this is illegal, because smoking was banned at the beaches some time ago. Can the police help by warning and citing violators if necessary? Can the county erect signs in parks? I don’t expect the county to stop the vog, but please enforce the law. Breathess, Kailua