Stronger dollar has downsides

Good news in economics is usually bad news for somebody. Take the relative strength of the U.S. dollar, for example. It’s great to capitalize on that with cheaper travel to international destinations, so American globetrotters can celebrate.

But a lot of those seizing the chance at foreign travel might otherwise have opted for a Hawaii vacation. Bad news for local tourism. And that’s just the mainland market; travelers from Asia and elsewhere are rethinking the islands as destinations, too.

That could put a stopper in the upward drift of hotel room prices. The disincentives from the exchange rate are discouraging enough, so why compound them?

Ala Moana Beach Park not so large

"Ala Moana Beach Park is our Central Park," says Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

As the city seeks community input about how to "better utilize this great open space," it’s important to keep the scale of any improvements in proper perspective.

New York City’s Central Park is 843 acres, well more than eight times the size of Ala Moana Beach Park.

This isn’t about the size of the population, it’s about the size of the parks themselves: Central Park can accommodate enterprises that would overwhelm Hono-lulu’s much smaller urban respite.