Good luck to all in Aiea area when driving on H-1

On the cusp of starting a fairly major traffic disruption, state transportation officials quite naturally want to put the best public face on it.

So in the days before the Monday start of lane closures on the H-1, they issued the following positive message: Don’t worry, folks, this is going to work.

The knobbly freeway surface in Aiea will be remedied with cutting out sections and replacing them with slabs, using "proven technology," according to the press release, a system that will make future upkeep more efficient. We can only hope so, because the coming Monday-through-Thursday roadwork schedule, ending April 2, will be memorable. It was planned to coincide with spring break. Meaning, it could be worse.

Hold off on increasing funding for HTA

The Hawaii Tourism Authority wants to spend more of its budget on administrative expenses, but lacks an urgent reason to do so.

Lawmakers should slow down on House Bill 1259, which would allow the HTA to spend up to $5.33 million per year on administrative costs starting next year. The State House has already approved the measure, which also has cleared a key Senate committee.