Emergency management officials are feeling better about the second test of the nuclear air-raid siren this week, the first of the new year.

There were fewer complaints that it wasn’t audible in certain neighborhoods, or was generally just too quiet. Other residents said they didn’t notice it this time. It’s nice to be able to hear past most of the many intrusions of society that disrupt our day. Still, it would be best not to become inured to this particular sound.

Residents rally to clean up the beach

If there were such a thing as an Aloha Aina Award, it would go to the residents of Kailua — and certainly not to the government officials who are supposed to be working on their behalf.

Winter has deposited a pile of trash on Kailua Beach, possibly converging from currents offshore and from the canal that periodically brings material from inland. Residents of the area, as well as volunteers summoned by social media (facebook.com/groups/808cleanups), turned out to pick up the rubbish. The state and city, meanwhile, pondered jurisdictional questions. Here’s the answer: Just do it.