Another reason to protect coral reefs

As if we needed more reasons to protect Hawaii’s precious coral reefs: The first global analysis of how much coral reefs reduce the risks of flooding, erosion and other storm hazards found that the natural barriers decrease the energy of incoming waves by an average of 97 percent.

Nearly 200 million people living in coastal regions worldwide — including in Hawaii — benefit from the risk-reduction provided by the reefs, and will bear the brunt as reefs are destroyed or degraded.

Conservation or restoration of coral reefs is a cost-effective way to mitigate some risks of living near the ocean, according to the study, which was published in the journal Nature Communications.

All aboard for Maui flights — from Kalaeloa

Kalaeloa is about to pass another threshold on the road to earning its "second city" stripes: the start of commercial flights from Kalaeloa Airport.

The novelty of the experience might be attracting some of those buying the first tickets for Mokulele Airlines for its new service between Kahului and what used to be called Barbers Point Naval Air Station.

Another lure: no security checks by the Transportation Security Administration. Federal law doesn’t require them for aircraft carrying nine or fewer passengers, as the Mokulele flights will.

Tickets went on sale this week for flights starting July 1, with discount fares available until the end of May. Even if passengers don’t have to contend with the TSA, they may want to allow time to find the airport in time. It’s uncharted territory for many of us.