The Left Lane
Merrie Monarch – watch it from home

• Check out up-to-the-minute information on the competition here online. You also can vote for your favorite competitor in the Miss Aloha Hula competition.
• Watch it live on KITV-4, beginning each night at 6 p.m.. The broadcasts are anchored by Paula Akana and Kimo Kahoano, with expert commentary by Manu Boyd.
• See it streamed live on KITV-4's Web site, thehawaiichannel.com.

Paper Roses blooming soon

Paper Roses in Ward Centre is expanding. Owner Ava Stottlemyer said that she has taken over the space formerly occupied by Tropical Clay, and renovations should be completed by Monday. In the store's efforts to expand its line of paper and gift products, Stottlemyer said, they hope to carry "more locally designed and printed invitations" featuring designs such as maile lei and plumeria blossoms. Paper Roses also will have a larger wedding department, and a baby section with birth announcements, thank-you notes, baby books and photo albums. "We hand pick the best cards from around the world," said Stottlemyer, whose buyers select from more than 200 vendors.

Ex-survivor first to go on 'Weakest Link'

Last weekend, NBC's "Weakest Link" taped a special "celebrity" edition, to air in May, featuring six former cast members from CBS' "Survivor," including original winner Richard Hatch, who is in line to play host to a possible syndicated version of "Weakest Link." Amusingly, Hatch was the first to be voted off by former colleagues Gretchen Cordy, Joel Klug, Susan Hawk, Sean Kenniff and Ramona Gray.