The adjudicators are standing by, waiting for calls from claimants of unemployment benefits. Or they will be, after Monday.

But appointments for phone consultations on complex disputed claims can be scheduled now at labor.hawaii.gov/ui

— click the Appointments link on the right. On the next page, click the link by “Regular UI Adjudication (Claims Examiner)” to see what appointment slots are available.

Even with the surge, it’s good to see the COVID-safe phone consultations as an option — at last.

Battery power storage in Kapolei

Ground has broken on the Plus Power energy storage facility in Kapolei, a battery system meant to replace the need for Hawaiian Electric’s coal generator plant, which by law must shut down in September 2022.

But this is only a first step. The utility has been concerned about meeting the need for energy without fossil fuels because some of the solar-plus-storage installations have lagged.

The Public Utilities Commission must keep the electric company on pace if Hawaii’s move to green energy is to succeed.