Coconuts on the highway

The palm trees are starting to arrive on Nimitz Highway, as the state continues primping for our imminent, prominent guests. There are a lot of events associated with the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference starting about a week into November, but the really big show is the economic leaders’ meeting, Nov. 12-13.

And we don’t want heads of state, including our own Hawaii-born president, peering through shaded limousine glass, looking for Hawaii and seeing the industrial district’s unsightliness. Trees might take the edge off. If things go according to plan, there will be 116 coconut palms, 89 Fiji fan palms and two acres of St. Augustine grass along the nearly 11/2 miles between Sand Island Access Road and Alakawa Street.

Sounds good, and it will probably look good for the duration. You have to wonder, though, whether the fruit of the coco palms will ripen after the big fest and pummel the passing traffic. The need for long-term maintenance of the trees will eventually hit us. Literally.

Football weekend starts on Friday

Don’t be surprised by a quick trip home during rush hour on Friday. Hawaii football falls can be expected to gravitate from their office televisions to the nearest post-work setting to watch San Jose State host the University of Hawaii Warriors on ESPN.

The game will pit former Rainbow head coach and now Warrior assistant coach Dick Tomey against his former team — he was San Jose’s head coach until his retirement two seasons ago. San Jose is the underdog and — if the bookies are right — will give Hawaii fans something to cheer about. Game time is 3 p.m.