Q. Now that Hawaiian Telcom has taken over Verizon, I'm getting a separate bill from Sprint as my long-distance carrier. I recall that we had to choose a long-distance carrier at one time and if we didn't, we'd be assigned one by default. Since I use my cell phone to make all long-distance calls, I can't see paying a monthly charge to Sprint when I don't use that service. Can I just cancel my service with Sprint and not have a long-distance carrier?

A. Hawaiian Telcom spokeswoman Ann Nishida said the company's customers do not need to select a long-distance provider. However, if you choose to cancel your long-distance service, you will be blocked from making any long-distance calls from your land-line phone. She also noted that the change from Verizon Hawaii to Hawaiian Telcom in May should not have affected customers' long-distance bills.

Q. I noticed a dangerous situation at a crosswalk across Ala Moana boulevard near the beach park. Weeks ago, a new post was built when some work was done on the pedestrian crossing and light but for some reason, the crews did not install a button to push for the walk light when they completed the other work. Unless someone presses the button on the beach side, one can be stranded on the center side waiting for the pedestrian light to go on. What can be done?

A. After you wrote with your concern, crews installed the new button and fixed the problem.

Q. I was driving on H-3 and witnessed some people painting graffiti. So I pulled over at the control center at the tunnels to report it. But I could find no way to contact people in what appeared to be an impenetrable fortress. Why can't I call the people there?

A. State transportation department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said you can use one of several emergency call boxes along the H-3, as well as other state highways on Oahu, that are connected directly to H-3 Tunnel operators who are there around the clock and will answer the calls. He said people have used the phones to call about everything from stalled vehicles to medical emergencies.

Ishikawa said there is heavy security at the H-3 tunnel office because it is the control center that handles day-to-day operations for the three Windward tunnels (H-3, Likelike and Pali). He said drivers who see anyone vandalizing public or private property can also call 911.

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