A car-sharing service that utilizes a smart phone as key fob launched this week as the latest option in Honolulu’s multimodal transportation lineup. Drive Hui’s customers can reserve and rent various models —starting at $9.95 an hour — at parking stations, which are now primarily in Kakaako, Ala Moana and Downtown. Developed by Toyota, in tandem with local distributor Servco Pacific Inc., the app-based service is poised to compete with ride-hailing and traditional car rentals.

However, it should be noted that customers cannot end their road trip anywhere. A Drive Hui car must be returned to its original station, with at least a quarter-filled gas tank.

Red and blue nods send Bennett to Appeals Court

A Republican is in the White House, and in blue-state Hawaii, this means some figures from the islands’ last GOP administration are resurgent. It’s no surprise that Mark Bennett, attorney general in the days of former Gov. Linda Lingle, would be among them. On Tuesday he was easily confirmed to serve on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Bennett appeared often before that very court, and has twice argued successfully before the U. S. Supreme Court on Hawaii’s behalf. He got praise from the state’s Democratic congressional delegation — a rarity in these partisan times.