By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Q. I sometimes see women topless on the beach or wearing very tiny bathing suits. How much of a bathing suit are people required to wear on a public beach?

A. The short answer is that if the suit is skimpy enough to draw complaints, it's probably not allowed.

Violating the state's open lewdness (Hawai'i Revised Statutes 712-1217) law is a petty misdemeanor. Case commentary to the law cites "gross" flaunting of nudity. While this means you should definitely keep your bathing suit bottoms on, the case commentary also show that at least one judge has ruled that "female breasts are not private parts."

Before you fling off your top, though, please note that city Parks Director Bill Balfour has said tops are not optional and the police will be called if citizens complain.

Keep your privates under cover in state parks, too. Hawai'i Administrative Rules 13-146-38 says "No person shall bathe, swim, walk, sunbathe or remain on the premises in the nude, or take outdoor showers in the nude, except for bathing or changing clothes within closed facilities provided for those purposes or for the exposed breast of a nursing mother in the act of breastfeeding an infant."

Q. We have been trying to contact someone regarding the Adopt-A-Highway program to find out about participating, but we cannot get anyone to return our phone calls. How can we get information on how to get started?

A. To participate in the Adopt-a-Highway program, you should be willing to commit to cleaning the highway four times a year for two years. The state Department of Transportation will supply t-shirts, trash bags and gloves.

For more information, call Charles Lee in the DOT permits division at 831-6712. On the Neighbor Islands, call the Hawai'i District Engineer at (808) 933-8866; the Maui District Engineer at (808) 873-3535 (includes Moloka'i and Lana'i) or the Kaua'i District Engineer at (808) 274-3111.

Q. Last weekend I dropped my girlfriend off at the airport's departures area. After we had put her bags on the curb, we began saying a quick goodbye. Before we were done, an airport employee told me to move my car. How long can you stop at the curb?

A. State Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said there is no specific time limit for active loading or unloading at the curb, but "We do not allow people to leave their cars unattended, waiting, or extended goodbyes."

Do you ever get frustrated or confused trying to navigate the various layers of government? Are you looking for an answer to a simple question but can't figure out where to start? If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:

• e-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com

• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message.

Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number.