Posted on: Saturday, October 4, 2008
Lessons abound; clues, not so much
By David Shapiro
Things were quiet with the governor and mayor both out of town, but there's plenty to revisit in our "flASHback" on the week's news that amused and confused:
Civil rights advocates marched in Waikiki demanding the ouster of tourism chief Rex Johnson for sending racist and sexist e-mails. With visitors down 17 percent last month, protesters are about the only folks Johnson is attracting to Waikiki.
After alleging that a Constitutional Convention would bring out-of-state special interests to Hawai'i, ConCon opponents are financing their campaign with money from out-of-state special interests. As Groucho said, "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them ... well, I have others."
"Megalodon, The Largest Shark That Ever Lived" arrived from Florida for a Bishop Museum showing just as Mayor Mufi Hannemann left for a conference in Florida. Seems like a fair trade.
Mayoral candidate Ann Kobayashi embraced the anti-rail stance of former rival Panos Prevedouros and named him as her "infrastructure adviser." Is this an election or a Greek wedding?
Manoa residents angry that Duke Bainum gets Kobayashi's old council seat unopposed are urging voters to leave their ballots blank. If Blank wins, he'll be the front-runner for mayor in 2112.
Gov. Linda Lingle released $2.5 million for air-conditioning at UH-Manoa. What a great incentive for public school kids to go to college. It's the only way they'll ever sit in classrooms cooler than 90 degrees.
Hawaii Superferry's second ship is nearly completed, outfitted with a ramp for military transport. Protesters on surfboards in Lihu'e are arming themselves with water balloons.
Blue-collar city employees represented by the United Public Workers agreed to random drug and alcohol tests to set an example for the community. Can teachers take a lesson as well as they give one?
A Nanakuli convenience store curbed pilferage by posting security photos of suspects on the front window. I guess that's why they didn't put windows on the Capitol.
Seven people, including wannabe king James Akahi, were charged with burglary in their Aug. 15 takeover of 'Iolani Palace. It could have been grand larceny if they hadn't gotten lost in the privy while looking for the throne room.
And the quote of the week ... from Councilman Romy Cachola on a proposal to ask the Japanese Consulate to make billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto clean up his Kahala properties: "Asking the consul general to talk to him is an embarrassment to the City and County of Honolulu. It shows that we cannot do our job." This is his first clue?
David Shapiro, a veteran Hawai'i journalist, can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net. His columns are archived at www.volcanicash.net. Read his blog, Volcanic Ash, at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.
Reach David Shapiro at dave@volcanicash.net.
