Signals Possibly Interfering With Garage Remotes In Papakolea

Residents Wonder If Malfunction Is Related To Heightened APEC Security

By Catherine Cruz

 UPDATED 5:12 AM HST Oct 20, 2011

In the past, problems with garage remotes have been thought to have been related to military maritime exercises. Some Papakolea residents say their troubles began on Monday.

It happened to Adrian Lewis. When Lewis also began having trouble with the signal with his digital television and his cell phone, he wasn?t sure if it just was a strange coincidence. Then he began talking about it with his neighbors.

"It's not a loose wire because we checked everything, all my neighbors did," said Lewis

It was the same story for more than a dozen residents living from the lower part of the subdivision all the way to the top.

"It was last night we went out for a while, and when we came home the garage didn't work," said Ivan Pike. "I have no idea what it is, but it is pretty strange that everyone's remote isn?t working at the same time."

Some wondered if it had to do with military maneuvers. In the past they had heard similar problems with RIMPAC war exercises.

Public information officers with Pacific Command, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Region said they weren?t aware of anything unusual underway and told us to check with local law enforcement since they share part of the same spectrum signal.

But the Honolulu Police Department also said it was not aware of what might be causing the problem.

"I noticed it yesterday and I actually called Sears today to get a quote. They also told me if I lived near a military base there might be interference," said Larry Kekauleke.

Jake Chang thought it was more than just bad batteries when both his remotes in his truck and motorcycle failed.

?It never dawned on me that it might have something to do with some frequency.? Chang said.

Bertha Moses said she could use her garage door manually punching in her code on the keypad. That worked for other neighbors too.

It was the remotes that failed, working only occasionally if you got right under the door.

We did find one resident whose remote worked just fine, but he said he replaced his system about a year ago.

He wasn?t sure if his neighbors had a warranty issue or something else.

"I am not sure if it?s because of this whole APEC thing," said Jerry Deparalta.