It’s not as if Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava went off on their South Pacific sail on a lark. There were preparations to get the vessel, the Sea Nymph, up to speed. But what works for traveling interisland does not pass muster mid-ocean, where things do have a way of going wrong (“Cast Away,” anyone?). Disabled, this pair’s boat drifted to within 900 miles of Japan.

Their rescue by the Navy’s USS Ashland brought misadventure to a happy conclusion. Packing a year’s provisions was smart, though likely they won’t be craving oatmeal, one of their onboard staples, for a while.

More visitors but less spending is disconcerting

Hawaii is still on track to chalk up a sixth consecutive year of tourism growth in both arrivals and spending, with forecasts set at 9.2 million visitors releasing some $16.8 billion from their collective pocketbook in the islands. However, an industry observer found a September slip in spending by international visitors on Oahu concerning.

Also, last month’s figures noted a rise in the popularity of alternative accommodations in private homes. More visitors spending less money? That should prod city and state leaders to persist in efforts to effectively resolve our ongoing vacation rentals quandary.