Congratulations to election winners so far

Hawaii’s primary election hasn’t even been held yet — it’s scheduled for Aug. 9 — and already we have eight candidates who are guaranteed to win their races and prevail in the general election as well.

How did that happen? Because there are no other candidates for the offices they are seeking.

All Democrats, the winners are Sen. J. Kalani English, former City Councilman Breene Harimoto (who will be filling the seat being vacated by Sen. David Ige), and Reps. Cindy Evans, Karl Rhoads, Romy Cachola, Ty Cullen, Marcus Oshiro and Ken Ito.

There are five primary races where only Democrats are the contestants, so once the primary is over, the winners in those races also will sail straight through to the Legislature. Must be nice.

A Hawaiian village of high-rises

Everyone feels relieved when the visitor industry types feel bullish enough about the economy to invest in new things here. So the plans for the Grand Islander by Hilton Grand Vacations Club represent good news, right?

Right. But it is another 350-foot tower that is being added to the Hilton Hawaiian Village. At some point, with all the high-rises in the place, Hilton has to stop calling the complex a "village." How about "Hilton Hawaiian Megalopolis"?