Wonders of nature can be big business

Is it wrong to think of nature conservation as a business opportunity?

A delegation of Hawaii’s leaders, including Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz, doesn’t think so. In fact, Hawaii officials are investing about $220,000 in hopes of a much bigger return.

The money will be spent in South Korea this week to lobby for the privilege of hosting the 2016 World Conservation Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. But besides the estimated $25 million boost in visitor spending, the Congress seems like a good fit. It promotes ways to incorporate nature-friendly solutions to the world’s most intractable problems, including climate change, food security, economic development and conservation — all issues with special resonance here. Moreover, there’s geographic precedent. This year’s Congress is on Jeju, South Korea, a volcanic island roughly the size of Oahu.

Better plan ahead before you gotta go

Yes, it would have been a real convenience to have a public bathroom at the Alapai Street Transit Station. But perhaps the complainers — including those on the City Council — need to step back and get some perspective.

Given that there are many other stops lacking restrooms, security and maintenance costs and the city’s budgetary constraints, there was no reason to expect that to be a top-priority asset for this project. Fair warning to bus riders: Make potty plans before heading off to the transit station, as they no doubt already do when catching a bus from, oh, just about anywhere.

What would really be nice? Buses with facilities right on board. Yeah, we know, these aren’t Greyhound-length commutes, but we can dream.