Early or late, memorial will reopen

Whether the reopening of the USS Arizona Memorial, slated for Sunday, is ahead of schedule or long overdue is a matter of perspective. The fix — upwards of $2.1 million — was complicated by various historical and environmental sensitivities.

After access was suspended in May 2018, due to damage to an attached dock, National Park Service officials said it would reopen within about five months. What followed was a postponement to December, followed by a bump to March, at which time officials said “fall.” Three months ago, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said, during a Pearl Harbor visit, he would be disappointed if repairs weren’t done by October. Voila, Sept. 1.

Gabbard stays the course

Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s long-shot campaign for the presidency isn’t over yet. But she suffered a serious setback by not qualifying for September’s debate among Democratic Party contenders. It seems likely the public will recognize the 10 candidates who did qualify as the finalists, with the rest no longer in contention. Gabbard will have to work harder than ever to overcome that perception.