Manti Te’o charges ahead

The waiting and speculation are over: Former Punahou School and Notre Dame grad Manti Te’o is headed for San Diego to start his much-anticipated NFL career as linebacker for the Chargers.

Born in Laie, college football’s most decorated player was chosen in the second round of the NFL draft, which these days is treated somewhat like a television game show, complete with live audiences and cheering.

There was some concern about how last year’s "girlfriend hoax," as Wikipedia calls it — a national embarrassment for Te’o — might affect his NFL chances, but apparently it didn’t that much. Though gullible, it seemed, Te’o is still excellent as a linebacker, and that’s what the Chargers were looking for.

So congratulations, Manti, and may you have a long and fruitful professional career.

Not much we can do about the vog

Hawaii island’s vog has scored a failing grade for its "particle pollution," compared with smoky fog — smog — elsewhere.

The Kilauea volcano is among the most active in the world, notes the American Lung Association, producing "tons of lava every day," including gases mixed with tiny particles such as sulfur compounds, irritating eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

Most areas can combat smog through environmental regulations, but what can Hawaii do about its natural fog?