Numerous broken elevators in state public housing projects will soon be fixed, according to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

We've heard that before, but newly appointed HPHA executive director Chad Taniguchi said this week the agency has signed a new repair and maintenance contract with one company and has enlisted "emergency" help from various other firms.

The outgoing elevator repair contractor, Hawaii Vertical Transportation Inc., fixed the busted elevator at Kalakaua Homes near Waikiki after the Money Trail located a replacement part for the machine. The contractor said miscommunication with a national parts supplier led to the belief that replacement parts were no longer available. But we tracked one down.

Taniguchi sent along his thanks for our "help in being part of the solution, not only pointing out the problem. We appreciate the information (you) got that moved the repair forward."

Broken elevators at the Ho'olulu and Kamalu projects in Waipahu will be fixed by tomorrow, Taniguchi said.

At the Kalanihuia high-rise project for the elderly near 'A'ala Park, the out-of-service elevator will be operational by July 16, said Taniguchi. That comes as very good news for besieged tenants there who had to wait as long as a half-hour for a ride on the building's one working elevator.

The broken elevator at Paoakalani Homes, next door to Kalakaua Homes, will be working by July 20, according to Taniguchi.

At Kuhio Park Terrace, the largest high-rise public housing development in the state, the prognosis is not so rosy for the ailing elevators.

At present, only the freight elevators — one in each building — are working. The other four passenger elevators are down and out. Last weekend, one of the freight elevators stopped running, but the new repair and maintenance contractor, KONE Inc., had it repaired in about an hour, Taniguchi said.

In Building A, one of the two passenger elevators should be operational by July 20. There's no estimated repair date for the two passenger elevators in Building B, but HPHA is "working on one," said Taniguchi.

The state is also finishing a contract with a consultant who will evaluate all public housing elevators to determine which can be repaired and maintained and which must be replaced entirely. The consultant will also analyze past work and outstanding invoices of at least $275,000 from Hawaii Vertical Transportation, said Taniguchi.

If you know that a particular money trail will lead to boondoggle, excessive spending or white elephants, reach Jim Dooley at 535-2447 or jdooley@honoluluadvertiser.com