It is undeniably a prestigious opportunity for Honolulu to shine.

The city will serve as host of the 2019 annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, June 28-July 1, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

It’s a boon for the Hilton, of course, which will welcome back the conference for the first time since 1967. It also should be a boon for city and state tax coffers. Still, such honors don’t come cheap, at least not for the city: The City Council will need to cover a projected $100,000 in expenses. Perhaps the U.S. Conference can contribute.

Also, there may be some improvements that will make the city more attractive even after the conference leaves, like the new Waikiki sidewalks for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting seven years ago. We must dress for success.

Small homes for families with big ambitions

Little by little, small homes for the formerly homeless are starting to fill across the islands. On Monday, three families moved into Kauhale Kamaile, a 16-unit modular housing project in Waianae, with rents ranging from $981 to $1,177 per month. This follows Kahauiki Village at Sand Island, a collection of what is expected to be more than 150 modular homes, refurbished after use by victims of Japan’s Fukushima earthquake in 2011.

The homes may be small, but they’re inexpensive and compared to normal housing, less complicated to put up. For many homeless families, a proper house, even a tiny one, can provide the stable environment they need to rebuild a normal life in the larger community.

Let’s hope this trend continues.