A big bowl of saimin, with Shiro on the side

The late Franz "Shiro" Matsuo may not be a poet laureate, but his little "Dear Hearts" rhymes that appeared on the walls of his Shiro’s Saimin Haven in Aiea were a big part of the place’s charm.

It’s unclear who was posting on the restaurateur’s Facebook page after he died a week ago, but all can appreciate this one that appeared on Tuesday:

If I brought a little laughter, made you feel a little better, maybe even a little smile, surely not to beguile — I am satisfied.

If I turned that frown into a little twinkle ‘neath that cute little wrinkle — it makes me content.

Or if I made you forget about the clout and got something positive out your mout, then I’m surely not a washout.

I know I tried.Wherever I am I’ll keep doing my part, with all the percolating, pulsating throbbing from the bottom of my heart.

Good luck, Mr. Okabe — and the teachers, too

It was hardly a ringing endorsement. And it just goes to show that if the silent majority opts out, it’ll be the vocal minority that gets to set the agenda.

We speak of the Hawaii State Teachers Association’s reelection of Wil Okabe to another three-year term as its president, with just 22 percent of the union’s membership bothering to cast a vote. Even with such low turnout, Okabe barely eked out a 52 percent win over challenger Paul Daugherty, who received 48 percent of the vote. With contentious labor issues far from being settled, teachers best fasten their seat belts.