For developers, the sky’s the limit

Enforcement of height limits in Waikiki, and in urban Honolulu generally, seems to be the exception rather than the rule. In December, the city made it easier to exceed them through approval of a City Council resolution than a much tougher process.

The latest example? The 34-story condo-hotel tower at 2121 Kuhio Ave., originally planned by K3 Owners LLC. Now that L.A. developer Pacrep LLC bought them out, the blueprints show a tower 50 feet higher than the 300-foot limit and with the broad side facing Kuhio.

With the push for denser development in the city, maybe Waikiki needs to rethink its whole height-limit future. The line should be drawn at some height, but where? Any ideas, give them to your friendly neighborhood City Council member.

Cheer for swimmers with UH connections

With the Olympic Games having begun, athletes with Hawaii connections can be located in numerous events, including men and women’s volleyball and women’s wrestling, water polo, sailing and swimming.

Three past University of Hawaii swimmers will be representing countries other than the United States — Jasmine Alkhaldi of the Philippines, Azad Al-Barazi of Syria and Melanie Schlanger of Australia. Those watching them compete are allowed to shout encouraging lines other than "U-S-A."