Sixteen years ago this week, Hillary Clinton said she would support a constitutional amendment for direction election of the president.

Clinton had just won a U.S. Senate seat while, due to snags tied to Florida’s electoral votes, the 2000 presidential election had yet to wrap up. Vice President Al Gore, however, had won the popular vote over George W. Bush.

At the time, Clinton said: “I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means it’s time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president.”

Had Congress followed up with an amendment, there might have been be a different sort of historic White House meeting on Thursday.

The Kelleys, and the hotel industry, move on

Many kamaaina know the story — or at least the name —behind the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts chain. Roy and Estelle Kelley started their first hotel in Waikiki nearly 70 years ago, and the family-owned business flourished impressively over the decades and three generations of Kelleys.

But times have changed — tremendously, both in Waikiki and in the tourism industry since Outrigger’s launch. So it is that the Kelley company has been sold to Denver-based KSL Capital Partners LLC for an undisclosed price. The deal, expected to close in 60 to 90 days, includes all 37 of Outrigger-owned and -operated hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties. The brand name remains, as will top execs and the 4,500 employees.