Today we celebrate the legendary St. Patrick, bishop of Ireland, who spread Christianity in the Emerald Isle.

For many people, it’s a celebration of everything Irish, or sort-of-Irish, from shamrocks to green beer to corned beef and cabbage.

For pious Catholics, however, this St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday during Lent, which means no meat. However, some bishops across the country, including Honolulu’s Bishop Larry Silva, have issued special dispensations, allowing Catholics to enjoy their corned beef with a clear conscience. Still, a proviso: Silva said that those who choose to eat meat should abstain on another day close to today “to preserve the importance of Lenten penitential discipline.”

From a college degree comes a better life

Pursuing a college degree in the islands is worth the investment. That’s the takeaway from an analysis of higher ed financial benefit conducted by the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.

Among the projections based on a typical 2016 high school grad continuing to reside in Hawaii: Earning a UH associate’s degree adds up to an average of $360,000 more in earnings over a lifetime than that netted by a high school classmate who never goes to college. Holding a UH bachelor’s degree means $950,000 more over a lifetime of residing and working in Hawaii. The gap widens to $1.56 million with a postgraduate degree.

When lifetime earnings are sorted by gender, a woman with an AA degree clears more than a man holding the degree. After that, men jump ahead. The UHERO study does not elaborate on why; that could make for a telling follow-up study.