The news from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was welcome. The appellate court upheld Hawaii’s open-primary system. It survived a challenge by the Democratic Party of Hawaii, which was seeking to limit participation to registered Democrats.

Judge Wallace Tashima said the party “provided no evidence showing a clear and present danger that adherents of opposing parties determine the Democratic Party’s nominees.”

While not a legal argument, consider this benefit of open primaries: In a state with one-party dominance, some candidates may be Democrats In Name Only. Voters who align with their true political philosophy can cast their ballot for the candidate of their choice.

Take the deluxe shoppers bowling

A bowling alley at Oahu’s most upscale shopping center? Sounds like a sure thing. Who wouldn’t want to bowl a few frames after a long, hard day of shopping for high-end goods elsewhere in the vast acreage of Ala Moana Center?

But don’t count on getting a lane right away: The new operation, called Lucky Strike Social — which plans to open next summer in the space formerly occupied by Shirokiya’s — will have only four lanes.

And likely it won’t be cheap; a similar operation in San Francisco charges $70 an hour for up to six people per lane on Fridays and requires a $20 minimum per person for food and drink.

If bowling isn’t your thing, the place also will have arcade gaming, live music and, as mentioned, food and drink.