Lava flow offers a chance to innovate

The slow-moving disaster of the lava flow claimed its first home in Pahoa Monday, but Madame Pele’s deliberate pace does have some up-side. Besides the obvious — giving residents time to prepare for the worst — it’s also an allotment of time that enables innovation.

The state on Friday started testing road-surfacing materials to find the ones that would work best in repaving a lava-covered road. Even when it’s cooled considerably, magma is not kind to garden-variety asphalt, it seems. Yes, there will be emergency bypasses if the flow follows its recent course, but they’re poor substitutes for Highway 130.

Kapiolani Park helps our mental health

Kapiolani Park made the list of "30 Great, Inspiring Inner-City Parks," ranking No. 29. The list, compiled by an online guide for aspiring social workers, informs students about how U.S. cities are using green spaces to improve the mental and physical health of urban communities.

"Research has shown that open green spaces improve psychological well-being, make neighborhoods more attractive places to live, reconnect children with nature, enhance economic development opportunities, and provide healthy alternatives for at-risk youth," said Taryn Baer, editor of the Social Work Degree Guide. At No. 1: New York City’s Central Park.