Waianae coast is great grad site

The Waianae coast is endowed with spectacular land-and-sea vistas that already are worthy of praise, but longtime residents remember when they were even more memorable — as backdrops for graduation photos. Why not restore those glory days?

Calvin Domen, Class of 1963, has the drive and dedication to beautify the Waianae High School graduation setting, next to its football field, by replanting trees that once fringed the shoreline view, plantings that have died out over the years.

Domen has help from other volunteers, but could use more hands — plus donations of more trees. His cell phone number bears repeating: 282-2443.

Kudos to all who are working on this project. Yes, Waianae could move its graduation to Aloha Stadium, as has been suggested, but then something truly special is lost.

East Oahu carnival wiser in Year 2

Some neighborhood residents were caught off guard last March as the inaugural Hawaii Kai Carnival rose along Kalanianaole Highway between Hawaii Kai Drive and Keahole Street.

Organizers want the carnival to be an annual event. So this time around, they were wise to appear before the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board in January, well before this Friday’s opening night, to explain traffic mitigation and other steps that should improve the experience for the entire neighborhood.

Thanks to that advance notice, there have been far fewer community objections this year.