Maili Beach Park needs comforting

Thanks to online mapping sites, we can answer this question: How far would someone have to walk from Maili Beach Park to get to the nearest park restroom?

Since Maili has been without facilities for seven years, that’s an issue of some significance.

It turns out the next one in the Waianae direction is Lualualei Park, a mile up the road. Going the other way is worse: It’s at Ulehawa Beach, a mile more than that.

Of course, some event sponsors have provided the Porta Potty solution — but really, the place needs a comfort station. And now the City Council seems determined to fund one, though we’ll believe the money is available when the construction trucks arrive.

Let’s hope, too, that when that day comes, the grateful citizenry will break with Oahu tradition and keep the place clean. That would be truly comforting.

Hawaiian takes another big step

Hawaiian Airlines continues to broaden its ser-vice to Asia, becoming the only U.S. carrier with nonstop connection between Hawaii and Taiwan.

Hawaiian took off from Honolulu at 1:55 a.m. Tuesday and landed at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday Taipei time, including Gov. Neil Abercrombie among passengers on the 10-hour, 20-minute flight.

"The demand for service to Hawaii from the Taiwan market has been growing and we are delighted to respond to the strong interest by delivering our new nonstop service to and from Taipei," said Hawaiian President Mark Dunkerley.

The three-days-a-week service comes nine months after the U.S. included Taiwan in its visa-waiver program. Aloha and "li ho bo."