Perhaps we need a break from tourism anyway

It’s hard not to get complacent when tourist arrivals from Hawaii’s largest market keep going up, up, up. But a dose of reality comes in the August numbers from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which reports fewer visitors arriving from the U.S. West after 20 straight months of increases. Arrivals from that region were down 1.3 percent compared to the same time a year ago, and spending was down 1.7 percent.

Tourism officials stopped short of saying the decline signifies the beginning of a trend, but airlines, hotels, restaurants and other businesses that depend directly on tourist dollars are smart to adapt quickly.

Stephen Colbert jokes with Jack Johnson

That old Jack magic just keeps on working on music lovers. Jack, as in Johnson, as in the super-mellow fellow whose new album, "From Here To Now To You," is No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart and debuted at No. 1 in Canada. Not only does the low-key, cause-conscious Johnson live on Oahu’s North Shore, that’s where he recorded this album, in his Mango Tree Studio.

Fans of both Johnson and Emmy-winning TV host Stephen Colbert got a kick when the singer-songwriter appeared on the program recently — wearing slippers, of course. Johnson barely got a word in edgewise against the wisecracking Colbert, but among the funny bits was the comedian ribbing Johnson’s laid-back style, asking: "Where do you store your rage? Perhaps your feet? That’s why shoes just burst into flames when you put them on?"

Good stuff. And that was even before the two got into a feather-blowing game.