07-01-2014, 09:23 AM
Safety check stations in Hilo....Nick's garage is good, but they haven't renewed their license last I checked....Since then, I've been going to the Chevron station downtown across from Sack and Save, the girl who works there knows her business...Would not go to the Puainako 76 across from KTA....Too many bad experiences I've heard and encountered myself, especially from people with older vehicles...It seems the older Japanese man who does the inspections there has a habit of hunting for easy fails, things like rust on your bumper or no license plate lamp....Yet I've seen him neglect to check much more crucial items, such as the seatbelt bolts, headlight aim, and suspension on modified trucks.....You'll be fine if you have a newer vehicle, but that inspection station failed my 1995 Ford F250 for having surface rust on an otherwise structurally sound bumper...When I contested him about it, I was told quite rudely to go fix it and not come back until it's fixed....I work farm for a living and not having a legal vehicle to take product to market puts a hurt on my family....Just sharing my experience and hoping you won't have to go through the same...aloha..