Nearly half of Ala Moana Regional Park’s parking spots were inaccessible for some seven months while much of the $2.5 million ‘Aina Moana (Magic Island) lot restoration was in the works. Even so, the project ranks among the least contentious ones in the city’s master plan for beautification and increasing accessibility to the aging “People’s Park.”

Earlier this year, in response to pushback from parkgoers supporting upgrades largely limited to sprucing — and leery of projects that could change the park’s low-key character — the City Council put the kibosh on ideas for a dog park, reconfiguring the parking on the mauka side of Ala Moana Park Drive, and constructing a playground.

Katherine Kealoha blames drugs

In her pre-sentencing letter to the judge, Katherine Kealoha, the former deputy prosecutor convicted in a devastating corruption case, claims to own up to her responsibility for the crimes. However, she does seek leniency for her estranged husband, former Police Chief Louis Kealoha, and two former officers, and she said a prescription drug habit clouded her judgment.

Just how much sympathy will apply will become clear when the Kealohas’ sentences are handed down Monday. A lot of damage was done — maybe most of all to the public trust.