Hope springs eternal for spring

Nonprofits and the state and city governments should move forward with a $2.3 million plan to preserve Kane-wai Spring, the roughly 1,000-square-foot natural pool in Kuliouou that sits on a neglected residential estate.

Surrounding property owners have expressed concerns over their privacy, since the site being purchased would eventually hold a classroom, community gathering space, caretaker’s residence and Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center office.

Surely preservationists and neighbors can find some kind of middle ground — perhaps by limiting the number of daily visitors. A meeting of the minds is needed before the City Council gives final approval today to the city budget, which contains $1 million in preservation funds earmarked for the project.

Facts before rate increases

The fact is … there aren’t enough facts in this request.

So says the Public Utilities Commission, in response to a request from shipping company Young Bros. Ltd. to increase its interisland rates by about 4 percent. That would boost revenue by $3.14 million annually.

Of course, local conditions may be different, but this application comes amid declining freight rates globally. And the PUC Consumer Advocate indicated a lack of detail about how the revenue is distributed.

So the commission had to hold off saying yes pending information. For now anyway, ratepayers are surely glad it did.