There probably is no easy cure for the problem of unconventional hula halau accommodations at the Merrie Monarch Festival, which swamps Hilo each year. Some of the dance schools have for decades found cheap rentals in places such as county-owned gyms.

But after all those years, and undoubtedly some concerns about liability, the county has decided they are not up to code to be used for overnight stays. Is it possible that upgrading these as emergency shelters would make them suitable as halau hotels? Being without rooms during Merrie Monarch week qualifies as a real emergency, some would say.

For condo residents, fire safety is top of mind

The deadly Marco Polo condominium fire has prompted expansive discussions about fire safety in condo towers without sprinkler systems. Most recently, a forum at Mission Memorial Auditorium on Saturday raised concerns, provided helpful information and and offered hope that future tragedies could be avoided.

Proposals to require some 300 buildings to be retrofitted have been met with resistance, primarily because of the cost — in the six-figure range for many individual units. Even so, there are lots of things a homeowners’ association and individuals can do to otherwise protect themselves, including fire safety drills, individual fire extinguishers, fire-resistant furnishings and adherence to building fire codes. Now more than ever, we should be prepared in case of fire.