What a sad, sordid state of affairs surrounding the future legacy of Native Hawaiian icon and Campbell Estate heiress, Abigail K.K. Kawananakoa.

Control of her $200 million estate is being bitterly contested, after the 91-year-old suffered a stroke in June. Whether the stroke left her incapable of managing her own affairs depends on which side to believe — that of Kawananakoa’s longtime girlfriend, or the heiress’ longtime lawyer. An independent special master has just been court-appointed to investigate the circumstances. So much is at stake — notably, control of the substantial fortune that could underwrite Native Hawaiian charitable causes. Not to be indelicate, but the sooner this is sorted out, the better, to adhere to the wishes of the nonagenarian heiress.

UH continues quest for an improved Ebola vaccine

The development of vaccines to combat the Ebola virus took on new urgency during the most recent major outbreak, which killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa from 2014 to 2016. Some 12 vaccines are in development, although none have cleared final regulatory approval.

The University of Hawaii’s medical school, partners in the fight, just got a new round of ammo with a $6.35 million, five-year grant, received by researcher Axel Lehrer to test whether his Ebola vaccine formula will work against two related viruses, the Sudan and Marburg viruses.

Because his vaccine does not need refrigeration — a big plus in Africa’s heat — success in the lab could lead to many lives saved in the field.