A word of caution at the end of the fishing line

There must be a better way to gain attention for an event you’re sponsoring than to get nearly attacked by a hungry 9-foot Galapagos shark, but for now kayak fisherman Isaac Brumaghim will take it.

A video of him experiencing such an encounter two miles off the Waianae Coast went viral on YouTube last week, notching more than 3.3 million views in about two days. As a result, Brumaghim has been fielding queries from news organizations around the world and, more important, from companies interested in possibly co-sponsoring the tournament he was participating in at the time of the recording.

Brumaghim, in fact, is the organizer of the event, the Makahiki fishing tournament, which is for people who like to fish from kayaks. That is what he was doing when the shark jumped out of the water from right behind him and seized the fish he had caught on his line.

The video conveys how vulnerable humans can be when they are out in the ocean. So be careful out there, and don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly surprised by a visitor you didn’t expect.

A giant leap forward for Mauna Kea telescope

The long-awaited state approval on the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea, some would say, was also long expected. Still, this is widely celebrated as a welcome resolution after years of controversy.

Or will there be closure yet? Native Hawaiians on Hawaii island, who have protested further development in an area believed to be sacred, have said they are contemplating their legal options. The state Board of Land and Natural Resources will require employee training in culture and natural resources.

Whether or not any viable pathway remains for challenging the project, expect to hear the outcry for some time. After all, the state-of-the-art telescope isn’t expected to be operational until 2021 — which, just like the cosmic targets the facility will scan, seems light-years away.