Get the word out to public about sharks

The beach area near Makena was open again only a day after it had been closed Wednesday following that shark attack in which a tourist’s arm was severed. For the victim, recovery will take much longer.

State officials and visitor industry executives have a difficult needle to thread here, and a lot of questions to contemplate.

There are signs posted in areas known for shark attacks, but is that enough? It’s easy to see how tourists, especially non-English speakers, could miss that. But "Watch out for the sharks!" is not exactly the line of choice for those marketing Hawaii’s vacation-destination appeal. And there’s the issue, too, of warning people about other dangers in the surf, with several drowning and near-drowning reports in recent days. A messaging challenge to be sure, but the word has to get out.

A flat screen isn’t the same as an outdoor one

Hawaii is among six states where drive-in theaters are history, according to a new survey by the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association.

Oahu’s last drive-in movie theater, the Kamehameha Drive-In across from Pearlridge center, was closed in 1998. Other states without drive-ins are Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, North Dakota and Wyoming.

The outdoor theaters’ dive is blamed on the flat-screen digital TV. Still, 350 or so drive-ins remain open.

Ah, the good old days. For many kamaaina who remember the relaxed, ohana vibe at drive-ins, watching movies from the station wagon or under the stars was a treat that was hard to beat.