Near-death experience can change you

There were many lessons offered by the against-the-odds Thursday rescue of Seattle tourist Niel Bode, 32, who drifted 10 miles on his rented paddleboard for 15 hours, from Waikiki to south of Ewa Beach.

One that Bode probably learned was about perspective. Described in the missing-person bulletin as "emotionally distraught," he beamed with his Coast Guard rescuers after landing at Barbers Point, and seemed happy to be alive.

Another takeaway: The Coast Guard rescuers, who used currents and wind patterns to find their man, really earned their stripes that day. One Seattle citizen owes them his life, and the rest of us just stand and salute.

One more time for dancing bears

Who knew wild animals had such political clout at the state Capitol?

Gov. David Ige has promised to stop the practice of bringing wild animals to Hawaii for purely entertainment purposes, like circus acts.

It makes sense. In this day and age, transporting large land animals halfway across the Pacific to amuse us seems an anachronism, a throwback to when zoo animals lived in cages, elephants were big game and lions were fearsome man-eaters.

Perhaps the 50th State Fair, which will feature three performing grizzly bears this summer — they’re getting in under the ban — will find an audience less receptive to the attraction. Times are changing.