Support bone-marrow transplant service

There’s good cause to celebrate the quick passage of a bill providing emergency funds for an organ-transplant program at The Queen’s Medical Center, replacing the one shuttered with the closure of Hawaii Medical Center’s hospitals.

But there’s more to come — we can all hope. Measures are moving in both chambers to provide similar support to re-establish a bone-marrow transplant service, which also had been housed at HMC-East in Liliha. And the issue may come up in the informational briefing set for 10 a.m. today in the state Capitol auditorium.

The Health Committee chairmen, Sen. Josh Green and Rep. Ryan Yamane, respectively introduced Senate Bill 2958 and House Bill 1952. At last check, HB 1952 was a little ahead, making it through second reading and into the hopper being considered by the finance panel.

So there’s progress, advocates, but it’s still too soon to exhale.

Ease up on Pro Bowl restrictions

Before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decides to keep the Pro Bowl in Aloha Stadium every year or occasionally, he is pondering whether to maintain the all-star game anywhere. To do so, he is wondering whether to convert it into something closer to real football and risk a player getting injured. Fans are rooting for a good balance.

Pro Bowl rules forbid blitzing, shifting the offense, having three receivers on one side, trying to block a punt or kick or engaging in various kinds of offenses and defenses. Quarterbacks are allowed to intentionally ground the ball.

Goodell said fans "actively booing in the stands" made him wonder if the Pro Bowl should be dropped altogether. A better option would be to cover all the game’s finest in extra padding and allow them to engage in something other than backyard touch football.