Waikiki Community Center needs a hand

Honolulu’s soaring construction costs don’t discriminate, it seems. While the rail transit project has seen cost estimates more than double, the Waikiki Community Center has seen costs triple — from an estimated $25,000 to $80,000 for a new preschool classroom.

Granted, it’s not nearly as big as rail’s $10 billion (and counting) price tag, but, like rail, the center doesn’t have enough money to finish the job. And unlike rail, the center can’t skim from the general excise tax.

So it’s seeking donations and support for its Duke Kahanamoku Beach Challenge fundraiser on May 7. A contribution not only would allow more low-income kids to go to preschool, it would benefit the homeless seniors and others who depend on the center.

Ewa Elementary School is pretty cool

Remember all the starry-eyed hopefulness from Gov. David Ige about cooling the schools, at a red-hot pace? Progress has been made, but at a crawl.

Occupants of a new one-story classroom building at Ewa Elementary School, years in the planning, are the lucky winners in the Air Conditioning Game. This week, the governor was on hand to open the new building, along with the first lady, who once attended class there.

Among its amenities, of course, is the AC, much to the delight of the students. That’s 120 down, thousands more sweating students to go, still awaiting relief.