The NCAA now allows schools to provide stipends to athletes, to cover costs that go beyond a scholarship. This is a good thing: College athletes contribute to the bottom line of athletics departments, so it makes sense that they should be compensated for miscellaneous expenses. After all, when other students are working part-time jobs, the athletes are at practice.

There are concerns about schools with bigger athletics programs outspending smaller programs like the University of Hawaii. But it’s encouraging that UH hasn’t thrown in the towel.

With help from the Waterhouse Charitable Trust, UH will provide $256,100 to be split among its 246 scholarships. Other private organizations should follow Waterhouse’s lead and lend our student-athletes a hand.

Waipio on its way to Pennsylvania?

The Little League baseball team from Waipio is once again in the hunt to win the Little League World Series, with a key game taking place Friday, starting at 3 p.m.

The game, shown on ESPN, will determine if Waipio gets to play in the Western Regional championship on Saturday. The winner of that match will advance to the Little League World Series, held in South Williamsport, Pa.

If Waipio makes it to the grand finale, where it also would represent the U.S., it would be the third time. In 2008, Waipio prevailed over Mexico; in 2010, it lost to Tokyo.

In 2005, another West Oahu team, from Ewa Beach, won the Little League World Series, beating Curaçao.