Great news from Hawaiian Air, or not

There are two sides to every story, including this one.

The upside: "Hooray! Hawaiian Airlines interisland passengers won’t be able to recline their seats! I hate when people recline into my space."

The downside: "Well, you’ll have less space for them to recline into. The flights also will have less leg room so the airline can squeeze more people in."

The upside: "But it only takes a half-hour or so to get where you’re going interisland. No big deal."

The downside: "And we’re paying more all the time per minute we spend in the air."

Yes, indeed, it’s a fitting coincidence

On Monday, Christina Neal becomes head of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, succeeding Jim Kauahikaua. Kauahikaua, with his iconic ponytail and beard, was HVO’s first scientist-in-charge of Hawaiian ancestry. In that job over the past 10 years, he became known for his outreach and communications efforts, especially during recent significant volcanic and seismic events. He’ll remain at HVO as a research geophysicist.

In announcing Neal’s appointment, the USGS said, "It is a fitting coincidence that Neal, only the second woman to lead USGS HVO in its 103-year-long history, takes the helm on March 8, International Women’s Day, a day established to celebrate the achievements of women around the world." Madame Pele should be pleased.