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According to the National Weather Service, there is a high wind warning for Oahu this weekend.  Whenever the weather forecast calls for strong winds, you’ll want to bring in any loose items on your lanai.  If an item falls or is blown off your lanai, it could damage property or hurt someone.   If you have awnings (rolling shutters), you may want to close them before the strong winds are expected to arrive, not just for others, but for your own safety.

There are limited items that may be kept on your lanai when it’s not windy.  Only appropriate  furniture specifically manufactured for outdoor use.  Potted plants may also be kept on lanais so long as they are maintained.   Absolutely no other items may be kept, maintained or stored on lanais.  This prohibition includes, but is not limited to other types of furniture, storage bins or boxes, trash bags or receptacles, garbage, bicycles, skateboards, surfboards, toys, etc.   Avoid being fined for prohibited items.

Have extra breadcrumbs from Thanksgiving? Well, one thing you don’t want to do is feed the wild birds. As you know, the House Rules strictly prohibit feeding wild birds from your lanai or anywhere on the property. Those caught in the act will be warned or fined. Bird droppings can be a health hazard as well as cause erosion and damage to whatever it lands on.

It’s not uncommon to see pigeons perched on a lanai in Waikiki. They are everywhere and because some people feed them, birds associate humans with receiving a decent meal. Birds may be attracted to your lanai because they were once fed there before, or they spot you eating from a distance. If you have this problem, how do you keep birds from flocking to your lanai? Well, if you’ve seen the Wizard of Oz, using a scarecrow will not work. However, we do have several suggestions that may help.

1. Bird Spikes
These are generally an effective deterrent to birds that land and roost on railings. Birds have excellent vision and can see from a distance that it’s not safe to land and therefore will avoid them. Even though the spikes aren’t terribly sharp and harmful to birds, this may not be the solution for you if you like to comfortably rest your arms on the railing while enjoying the outside view.

2. Flash (Scare) Tape
Flash tape and scare rods create an optical distraction for birds. Birds generally don’t like flashy and moving things. It also emits a light crackling sound in the wind that scares them away. You could also try attaching shiny pinwheels every few feet along your railing with the same effectiveness. However, these may not be a permanent solution since most pigeons are smart and may return after a few weeks once they learn it’s harmless. So, the trick is to change it up and replace it when they get faded.

3. Netting
These cover the entire lanai and prevent birds from nesting. It’s still possible birds may claw the mesh, but they will soon tire and fly off. It’s a good solution to keep birds from entering your lanai without having to keep your shutters closed. However, you must ensure that the net is professionally tethered and secured so it doesn’t fall or get loose.  Using netting on your lanai must also be approved by the Board of Directors.

You can buy the above items at Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Amazon, and other local and online retailers.

There are other methods for keeping birds away, but we don’t recommend them. Using an electric bird wire is simply unsafe if not installed professionally. Using an ultrasonic repeller can be irritating to your neighbors. Using repellent gel on the railing and balusters may harm birds and create a sticky mess as everything, including bugs, will stick to it. Using a plastic owl decoy (or scarecrow) may work for a while but it must be properly secured so it doesn’t fall off the lanai. Sooner or later though, the birds will figure out that it’s just another decorative piece to poop on.

The best solution is to eliminate food and water sources, and to be persistent in shooing them away when seen. This will take time and determination, but eventually the birds will not return.

On June 8, a film crew was on premises shooting an episode for the national HGTV show, House Hunters.

Well, we were just informed by the Associate Producer that the airdate for Season 157, Episode 5 is scheduled for November 12 at 10:30 pm/9:30 pm central.

https://www.hgtv.com/shows/house-hunters/episodes/hawaiian-dream-home-for-family-of-five

They suggest checking our local listings, and keep an eye on them for any possible late changes.  If you know of any changes, please share it with the rest of us in the comment section below.

Our community seems to be always on the move!  Whenever you’ll be away for an extended period of time, say longer than a week or two, be sure to use this checklist of suggestions to prepare.

• Notify the Resident Manager of your travel dates and provide him with name and contact number for anyone who you’ve provided access to your unit for care of plants, etc.
• In addition to giving the keys to your unit to a trusted friend, be sure they have keys to your bicycle or car in case your vehicle must be moved in case of emergency or just to start it periodically to keep the battery running.
• Unplug any small appliances or equipment (not fridge or stove) that pull power from electrical outlets to minimize damage from surges and spikes or risk of fire. This includes computer equipment, coffee makers, toasters, TV and audio equipment, etc.
• Disable any device on a timer that powers on every day like a coffee pot , TV, or A/C unit.   If you have an alarm to wake you up in the morning, turn it off.
• Make sure the batteries in your smoke alarm are working.  If you don’t have a battery tester, put in a fresh battery just in case.
• Close louvers on makai side of your unit to keep water out in the event of heavy rain or planned building washdowns.
• If your lanai has sun shades and you have no plants, you may want to close them completely.
• Wash the dishes and take out the garbage.  You don’t want to attract creepy crawlers while you’re away.
• Sign up to put your mail on hold several weeks before you leave.  You can do this easily online by going to https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/.
• Turn off water supply lines to the washing machine, toilets, and  sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms to avoid water leaks to other condos.

Weather hazards, plumbing issues and other emergencies can happen at any time.  Although your unit may be in tip top shape, we have seen instances when a neighbor’s unit had a water line leak and we were unable to access an absent owner’s unit to help to minimize the damage from the leak, nor were we able to contact the owner!  What a mess!

While on this subject, if you see or hear any water dripping or constant water running, please be sure to report this to our Resident Manager for investigation. The unit(s) you save could just be your own!

With more people ordering online these days, our parcel lockers (located in the lower level parking deck) fill up quickly. That is why it’s important to check your mailbox daily. We only have six parcel lockers, and when those are full, packages cannot be delivered. If you ever had to pick up your packages at the post office due to all the parcel lockers being used, your Board of Directors would like to hear from you. If we have enough requests, we’ll consider purchasing more parcel lockers. But for now, here are some ways you can help.

1. Before going away on a trip (even if it’s just for a couple of days), we highly recommend placing your mail on hold. You can easily do this up to 30 days in advance by filling out an online form. It only takes a minute. Just click or tap on the link below.

https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/

It’s also recommended to pick up your mail at the post office when you return instead of having it delivered to you all at once.

2. The USPS has a new and exciting service that allows you to see pictures of letters ahead of delivery on your phone or computer. And yes, it’s available for our building! It’s a great notification service to have if you’re expecting an important letter or check in the mail. You can sign up for Informed Delivery for free by using the link below.

https://informeddelivery.usps.com

This is not intended for you to avoid picking up your mail. Please be sure to empty your mailbox daily even if you see junk mail or those dreaded bills.

3. Sometimes you may not receive mail because the mail carrier accidentally placed it in the wrong box. If you receive mail that is not to your address, simply put it back in the outgoing mailbox for it to be redelivered. If it’s for someone in our building, you can leave it in front of their door if it’s not an inconvenience to you. We don’t recommend leaving mail on top of the mailboxes for security reasons unless it’s clearly junk mail. In any case, do not open or throw away someone else’s mail (even junk mail) for it is a felony.

4. If you receive mail for a resident that may have occupied your apartment previously, then simply write “Not at this address” on the envelope, draw a thick vertical line through any barcodes with a black Sharpie, and then drop it in the outgoing mailbox. The USPS will flag the address as undeliverable.

The holidays will be here before you know it, and that’s when vacation travel and mail deliveries are at its peak. By using the tips above, you’ll not only help yourself but also all the residents in our building. Mahalo for your cooperation!

With any aging apartment building, owners may want to remodel their kitchen, bathroom, or maybe just renovate the flooring. Unlike a single-family house, there are many other factors to consider before starting a remodeling or renovation project in a condominium complex. If you’re not sure where to start, go to the Owners Documents page and scroll down until you get to the section, “Construction and Renovations”. There, you’ll find a packet containing useful information about required documents, rules to share with your licensed and insured contractor, and forms that you’ll need to fill out and submit to the Resident Manager.

Contractors may only work between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday through Saturday and not on State or Federal holidays. They must check-in with the RM each day so he can take appropriate action such as putting up elevator pads. Also, remind contractors to be respectful to neighbors. If there will be a lot of dust and sawdust, cover lanai doors and windows so fine debris doesn’t drift into other units while work is being done. Additionally, owners are responsible to ensure contractors clean-up after themselves in the lobby, hallways, elevators, and other common areas.

If you’re well prepared, you’ll reduce costs, delays, and stress that inevitably comes with any remodeling project.

You may have noticed a new call box system installed next to the lobby gate. Guests, contractors, couriers, and other service companies can use the call box system to contact the Resident Manager or someone by unit number.

If you would like to add your apartment number to the directory, call RM Rusty and let him know the phone number you would like the system to call when someone selects your unit number. The landline or mobile cell phone number can be a local or Mainland number. If you have Caller ID, you will see the call come from “Oahu Surf II”.

Keep in mind that the call box cannot be used to buzz someone in. Residents and owners should always accompany their guests when in common areas. Always make sure the gate is locked behind you after letting them in. Periodically, each phone number registered in the entry system will be verified, so if you change phone numbers or move, you should let the RM know.

With Cinco de Mayo, graduation, and summer quickly approaching, there will be increased noise levels in the streets and common areas. Summer is also the busiest season for people moving in and out of their apartments, enjoying the company of visitors, and having fun parties. Therefore, it’s important to remember when quiet hours must be observed.

Quiet hours are in effect from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am daily.  The volume of entertainment systems should be at a reasonable volume so it doesn’t disturb the residents.  Do not loiter in hallways, and when waiting for the elevator or walking along corridors, please do not have loud conversations in consideration of your fellow neighbors.

Finally, the trash chute is like a giant percussion instrument.  It can sound like attending a Stomp performance whenever someone uses it.  Therefore, keep in mind that according to the latest House Rules effective November 1st 2017, the trash chute may not be used from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am daily.

Thank you for observing quiet hours so we may all live in harmony rather than “dis-chord”.

Have you ever wondered what’s happening in your district?  Do you want to have a voice in the decisions being made?  Do you want to express your concern with an issue in the community you live in?  Then why not attend a Waikiki Neighborhood Board Meeting?  The meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Waikiki Community Center located at 310 Paoakalani Avenue.  You can review the agenda in advance by clicking here.

If you can’t attend, sign up to receive agendas, meeting minutes, and newsletters via email at the following website:
https://www.honolulu.gov/esub/email-subscribe-nco

By being involved in the community, you can help make it a better place to live in.

If you have an automobile, motorcycle, or bicycle and park it at Oahu Surf Two, then you should have a parking decal on your vehicle. Getting a parking decal is easy. All residents should have received a yellow registration card either by mail or delivered under your door. If you do not provide the Parking Decal # on the form, then one will be issued to you if you fill in the year, make, model, and license plate of your vehicle.

If you sell your vehicle or no longer park it in the building, then remove the parking decal and inform the RM of the decal number. Also, if you have a bicycle in the parking lot in need of maintenance, please repair it or remove it from the premises. Abandoned bicycles can be an eyesore and take up valuable rack space.

If you haven’t received a yellow PERSONAL DATA CARD, don’t fret. Just go to the “Our Documents” menu and download the Resident Registration Form. Fill it out online and email it to the RM, or print it and slide it under the RM’s office door located in Apartment 402.

Keeping our records up-to-date annually is important to help keep residents safe and informed. Thank you for your cooperation!