The app formerly known as Hula

When it comes to commercializing the Hawaiian culture, the STD app formerly called Hula was a doozy. The smartphone app has nothing to do with the Hawaiian dance. It promotes testing for sexually transmitted diseases and was initially marketed as a way to help users "get lei’d."

Native Hawaiian college students petitioned Los Angeles-based social media entrepreneur Ramin Bastani to change the name, but he initially refused. However, after continuing to "listen and learn," Bastani has apologized and is changing the name.

We applaud this outcome, and are even happier that Bastani was persuaded by authentic feedback from people devoted to preserving indigenous language, culture and traditions that are too often at risk.

Hooray for the new Handi-Vans

Huge sighs of relief no doubt greeted the 15 new vans recently added to Oahu’s aging fleet of Handi-Vans, the first of 99 new vans expected here by October. The Handi-Vans are essential to residents with disabilities — about 3,500 riders daily who rely on the service for work, errands and medical appointments. But the fleet’s age has contributed to chronic complaints about schedule delays and reliability; further, years of litigation over the vans’ procurement process delayed solutions.

Now at long last, relief: By October, two-thirds of the old vans are expected to be replaced with new ones, as well as other improvements such as real-time software for scheduling. Then, an audit should help guide further efficiencies. Let’s hope smoother roads are indeed ahead.