A miracle in Mapunapuna

From time to time, readers would ask the newspaper’s Kokua Line about flooding on Ahua Street in Mapunapuna: "Why is it always flooded there?" (2003). "Does the city know about this?" (2006). "It reminded me of Venice, Italy, at high tide." (2008).

Each time, Kokua Line columnist June Watanabe would patiently explain that the land in the area has sunk below the high-tide level in spots, and that there was no immediate solution to water backing up through the city’s drainage system onto the street.

Well, no longer. After years of inaction and unheeded complaints, two "duckbill" valves have been attached to the drainage system, and Ahua Street is now mostly dry at high tide. It’s not like parting the Red Sea, but it seems just as miraculous.

No backup plan at HLRB, really?

This is a small state with a lot of interconnections among its citizens. Here’s a simple question, with no simple answer: How can the Hawaii Labor Relations Board have no way to replace members who recuse themself for a conflict of interest? We’ll leave it there — for now.