Sometimes it’s best to just throw in the towel

Troubled Halau Lokahi Public Charter School was given every chance to succeed as part of a movement to provide a culturally and academically sound educational experience. The state Public Charter School Commission did the right thing in finally moving to shut it down, after several failed attempts to make it financially solvent. No other Hawaii charter school has had its charter revoked, but in this case it seemed inevitable. The school has 30 days to appeal the move, but we hope it doesn’t — freeing loyal families to move on to more stable schools.

Look before leaping, and maybe form a human chain

The kindness of strangers, not to mention their savvy, turned up on Kauai, when about a dozen beachgoers last week banded together to save three swimmers in distress. The quick-thinking beachgoers formed a human chain to rescue the swimmers, two of whom got into trouble when they attempted to rescue the third. It turned out that teamwork was the best approach to overcoming the strong currents of Kauapea Beach. With more locals and tourists alike going to the beach, there’s a good lesson here about open-water safety: Think, then act.