Commerce and romance bind Hawaii and England 

Honolulu is about 7,200 miles from London, but distance hasn’t severed the links between the islands.

Even setting aside the whole William-and-Kate fascination — as the seconds tick away before the royals get hitched — the bonds are there. The newest one: Kua ‘Aina opened its newest hamburger joint there just in time for the big wedding. Ironic, for a business named for Hawaii’s "back country."

And don’t forget the historic roots. Queen Victoria was Kaiulani’s godmother, and all that. Note what’s in the upper field of the Hawaiian flag: It’s the Union Jack, people.

It’s not too late to OK on-bill solar financing

Among the bills being considered by state legislators in this session’s final hours is authorization of "on-bill financing" of residential solar water heating and other energy-saving appliances. The programs contained in the bill would allow residents — including renters — to choose a term length to make small increments on their monthly electric bill for the up-front cost of the improvements.

A Senate bill that would have authorized the system failed early in the session but a similar proposal in House Bill 1520 is close to being enacted if approved by a House-Senate conference by tomorrow. The system has been successful in other markets and could help solve one of the biggest problems with renewable energy today — for many residents, it’s just too expensive.