A morality play in Circuit Court

Some stuff you just can’t make up — such as the testimony leading up to Tuesday’s conviction of a Honolulu policeman who forced a Waikiki prostitute to have sex with him.

In the officer’s defense, he denied having sex with the woman; he said he picked her up thinking she was a tourist looking to "hook up," and he threatened to arrest her upon learning she wanted to be paid for services rendered.

That was at the Piikoi Street apartment of the officer’s girlfriend, who apparently was out of town at the time. Oh, he also had a wife, by the way.

While driving the prostitute back to Waikiki, the off-duty officer testified, he lectured her about the immorality of her profession and how she should go back to school and "get a job." He says he even gave her $5, and complained that she didn’t even thank him. Poor guy. And now, he’s facing up to 10 years in prison when sentenced in September.

User-friendly sunscreens coming up

In our tropical paradise of sun and surf, the new FDA rules about sunscreens are especially … topical.

After a 33-year effort to set standards for sunscreens, new rules starting next year will require better truth in labeling when it comes to protection against both ultraviolet A and B rays, as well as allowing a max sun protection factor claim of SPF 50.

Good. For consumers, the confusing plethora of labels and claims should be made clearer. Ah, now off to the beach to relax.