Soldiers who served in 442nd were pure gold

Congress’ awarding of the Gold Medal to Japanese-American members of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service during World War II was yet another well-deserved acknowledgment of nobility in the face of intolerance.

One of those veterans, 89-year-old Ted Tsukiyama, said their answer to questions of loyalty proved that being an American was "a matter of mind and heart and not a matter of race or ancestry."

Like the deeds of the young men who stepped up to serve nearly 70 years ago, that lesson should never be forgotten.

We love it when things turn out well

Score one for the little guy — in this case, the kids and youths in the Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange program (KVIBE).

A noise complaint last October put the bike repair program at risk of closure for operating in a residential zone. Its location has been both a curse — the aforementioned complaint that spurred a needed zoning variance request — and a blessing: The operation sits between Kalihi Valley Homes and Kuhio Park Terrace, two public housing projects where many of KVIBE’s kids live. The volunteer program teaches area kids technical skills, but just as important, serves as a safe haven for interaction where gang "colors" are restricted.

Noting KVIBE’s value to the community, the city granted it a variance to operate, as long as it doesn’t negatively affect neighbors. Now there’s a valuable lesson in positive wheeling and dealing.