Short-term pain for long-term gain

Few vistas are as beautiful as the Ka Iwi Coast, as seen from the summit at the Makapuu Lighthouse, at the end of the mile-long trail.

That scenic path will be shut down on weekdays for a month starting Monday, as well as in July, so improvements can be constructed. Although an inconvenience to those who love this popular walk, this is good news.

It’s far too infrequent that Hawaii’s parks get the sprucing up they deserve. The four new lookouts and other upgrades seem worth the $2.7 million — and the wait to enjoy them.

Happy days are here again

Gasoline prices statewide are either near or below $3 a gallon, almost a whole dollar lower than a year ago, and cargo shipper Matson just lowered its fuel charge for the second time this year, this time by 7 percentage points, equaling up to $245 in savings per container.

Now if that isn’t good news for Hawaii consumers, not much else would be — although lower interisland air fares would be nice to see, too.