Politicians follow the votes on Hawaii island

It’s become a downright political convention in Puna, which is still reeling from Tropical Storm Iselle.

Of course, there’s U.S. Senate Democratic rivals Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa, showing their caring side without being too overt about the votes that each so desperately needs to win this thing. (The final two Puna precincts are scheduled to vote on Friday, though Hanabusa on Wednesday asked a state court for a delay.) The Senate race’s Republican candidate, Cam Cavasso, also was there, as was Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is due Friday.

Initially, Gov. Neil Abercrombie was conspicuously absent, especially since he’d spent so much air time pre-Iselle — pre-primary election — expounding on the state’s readiness preps and plans. He finally made it down there Wednesday to get a first-hand look at the damage.

UH battens down hatches as NCAA approaches

The growing NCAA cloud over the University of Hawaii men’s basketball program grows darker and heavier with each day. When questions of an NCAA probe first surfaced, Coach Gib Arnold in February dismissed the issues as "absolutely nothing." But six months later, with formal allegations still to come, Arnold has retained counsel and the UH athletics department has hired a prominent Alabama law firm that’s worked on high-profile NCAA cases, including one last year involving Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

Just how much havoc will be wreaked among the team, coaches and perhaps higher up — Wonder Blunder, anyone? — is an unsettling thought.