Doi had success in and out of politics

During the peak of his political life, the late Nelson Doi was never that far from the limelight. Doi, who died Tuesday, sought to move closer to the center of it a few times, in fact.

There was his initial, independent candidacy for lieutenant governor in 1970; four years later, as George Ariyoshi’s running mate, he finally succeeded in winning the state’s No. 2 spot. He did run for mayor against Frank Fasi, too.

Doi was one of a few LGs who never grasped the brass ring of the governor’s office. But he never sought it.

And after he left office, the former Circuit Court judge resumed his career on the bench, taking an appointment to the high court of the Marshall Islands. He taught school in Japan and helped build the North Hawaii Community Hospital.

There is life after politics, and Doi seemed to relish that.

Looking better at Convention Center

"Under new management" seems to be working for the long-struggling Hawaii Convention Center. The center posted its best financial year in 2014, with 320,680 attendees spending more than $501 million — and pumping more than $48 million in tax revenue into state coffers, officials said.

That’s good news indeed, for the iconic facility that for years has been long on hopes but short on booming business since opening in 1997.

2014 was the first year under management company AEG Facilities, based in Los Angeles. And though the center’s net loss was reported at $2.1 million, that was $1.2 million lower than the budgeted loss expected. With at least three big conventions on tap this year, here’s hoping the positive trend continues.