Is it time yet to ask for our money back?

Hawaii taxpayers spent $53 million for the Hawaii Health Connector website, which didn’t work on Oct. 1 and only sort of works now. Can we get our money back?

Two other states are asking the same question. Massachusetts and Vermont are exploring ways to get refunds or avoid paying CGI Federal, the company that set up their Affordable Care Act websites, which suffered from similar delays and problems as the Connector. CGI set up Hawaii’s website as well.

This consumer-rights problem will confront the Legislature in January. Along with considering whether the Connector should remain a private nonprofit organization, lawmakers will need to seek some kind of redress from CGI. After all, we should get what we paid for, especially if it cost $53 million.

Mistaken fares a boon to tourists

Speaking of websites run amok, sometimes the consumer comes out ahead. Lucky Delta Air Lines customers took advantage of computer glitches to buy $400 tickets for as little as $25. A round-trip fare between Baltimore and Honolulu was posted at $98 — for a first-class seat.

Alas, the deals only lasted two hours before the errors were caught and corrected. Delta will honor the fares anyway. So, in the near future, we hope to entertain some very happy tourists with extra money to spend on their first-class Hawaiian vacation.