A rusty scalpel for gutting, replacing

If lawmakers crave the dubious honor of the “Rusty Scalpel” award from good-government groups, they have to pass a bill surreptitiously under the “gut-and-replace” method. That approach involves taking legislation that has passed through committees and public hearings, gutting the text and replacing it with the content of another bill. It was applied to Senate Bill 2858, a measure mandating hurricane resistance criteria for new schools.

But that content never had Senate hearings. So SB 2858, welcome to the Hall of Shame, courtesy of Common Cause Hawaii and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii. Congrats? No.

UH men’s volleyball a moneymaker

The University of Hawaii men’s volleyball team has gone green — and we’re not just talking about uniform color. Preliminary returns indicate that the recent season’s ticket sales and other revenue streams add up to a self-sustained program — making it the only U.S. men’s college volleyball program that comes close to paying for itself. Its Wahine counterpart traditionally turns a profit.

The men’s success comes despite a deplorable snub by the NCAA, which failed to give UH a well-deserved berth in last month’s NCAA Tournament. Rather than wallow in bitterness, though, the team is focusing on positives for next season, and beyond. Success, indeed, would be the best revenge.