Obama, Romney have competition

If the presidential debates between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have been leaving you a bit dissatisfied, you might want to watch the debate on Tuesday between four other candidates who are seeking America’s highest political office.

They are Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party; Jill Stein of the Green Party; Virgil Goode of the Constitution Party; and Rocky Anderson of the Justice Party. Of those, Johnson and Stein are actual choices on the Hawaii ballot, along with Obama and Romney.

The debate is being sponsored by the nonpartisan Free and Equal Elections Foundation and can be seen live on the Internet at freeandequal.org/live, starting at 4 p.m., Hawaii time.

Adding a bit of star power to the lineup is former CNN talk show host Larry King, who said he realizes none of the contenders is going to win, but their voices deserve to be heard.

College debt not so bad in Hawaii

The cost of a four-year college education has left many graduates in debt, but those from Hawaii are faring relatively well, according to a new study.

Only 38 percent of new graduates in Hawaii owe anything at all to education lenders, the lowest in the country and far below the national average of 66 percent, according to the Institute for College Access and Success. Of those who do owe money, their debt averages $17,447, second lowest in the country only to Utah, and far below the national average of $26,600.