Funny thing about help: All the help in the world is for naught if one can’t help himself. Amery Kahale-Sugimura, a convicted felon with a history of running from police, was given a last chance at drug treatment instead of 20 years in prison for a litany of crimes from five separate cases, including drug promotion, car theft, terroristic threatening and firearm possession. The judge must’ve seen a glimmer of hope, releasing Kahale-Sugimura without any bail posted into drug treatment to earn a lesser sentence, including probation. It took but a week for him to flee the program, and immediately get high.

On Monday, the judge imposed the 20-year term. “I wish I could have gone to one more lenient program before going straight to that program,” Kahale-Sugimura said. “Maybe it would have helped me.”

Funny thing about help …

Waianae Coast drivers wait, and wait, for relief

There is no sector on Oahu with as pressing a transportation need as the Waianae Coast: It’s desperate for a second coastal route, a fallback when an accident or other cause shuts down Farrington Highway.

There’s an emergency access route available, but that falls far short of what’s needed, and the state promises only smaller, stop-gap improvements. The cost is estimated at $150 million to $500 million — and given the experience with rail, it’s likely to bust through even the high-water mark. Still, relief for Waianae Coasters needs to come sooner, not later.