It's been almost three months since the money trail stopped at Kuhio Park Terrace, where elevators in the two high-rises work only occasionally. The state has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on emergency and nonbid contracts to get them fixed.

So, how's it going?

Only one elevator in Building B — the freight elevator — is in service. It's slow, it's old and it has to be manned and operated by a management company employee 24 hours a day. The two passenger elevators are out of service and have been for quite some time.

Residents aren't happy.

In Building A, things are a little bit better. One of the two passenger elevators is operating, as is the freight elevator. Residents there are slightly less unhappy.

The state has a $375,318 nonbid contract with Hawaii Vertical Transportation Inc. to fix and maintain the KPT elevators. Michael Tomihara, who runs Hawaii Vertical Transportation, could not be reached for comment.

There are also elevator problems at the Ho'olulu and Kamoku midrise elderly housing projects in Waipahu. In an abbreviated telephone conversation yesterday, the manager of the two projects acknowledged that two of the four elevators — one in each building — have been out of service since October. This is elderly housing, where many residents can't use the stairs no matter how long they have to wait for the elevators.

Hawaii Vertical has another nonbid contract with the state, worth $323,751, to repair and maintain elevators at five housing projects, including Ho'olulu and Kamoku. Pamela Dodson of the state housing agency said yesterday the Ho'olulu elevator should be back in service by next week. And a repair crew from Hawaii Vertical "will be on site (today) to examine the control boards and troubleshoot the problem" at Kamoku, Dodson said.

Last year, the state awarded another $50,000 emergency repair contract to Hawaii Vertical to fix the KPT elevators.

"With the elevators out of service, hundreds of families who reside at Kuhio Park Terrace are forced to ... walk up/down as many as 16 floors," the agency said back then.

The fixes obviously didn't last too long. State personnel have reported in the past that the elevators at KPT are regularly vandalized.

Now the state is asking for competitive bids for a new public housing elevator repair and maintenance contract to begin in July. Bid opening is scheduled in two weeks.

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