Vigilance the price of Chinatown safety

There are undoubtedly many complexities behind the standoff between businesses and drug dealers in Chinatown, a problem now centered on the cheesecake shop Otto Cake. Not the least of these are staffing constraints limiting police patrols.

However, the wider Honolulu community holds out hope that the effort to create a safer neighborhood for businesses and residents will be sustained and ultimately succeed. Most people who’ve lived here even for only a few years note how much has been reclaimed in this historical district. Starting with the establishment of Hawaii Pacific University on Fort Street Mall and the renaissance around The Arts at Mark’s Garage, Chinatown has started to bloom. It would be a shame to see things backslide again.

In the meantime, it’s great to see that multiple merchants around that part of Smith Street are working together on the issue. They deserve a vote of thanks.

Get up tomorrow and walk for life

This must be one of the easiest fundraisers to enter. Maybe the folks at Life Foundation want people to save their energy for the 5-kilometer walk itself, set for 9 a.m. Sunday at Kapiolani Park.

A visit to the Web (www.honoluluaidswalk.org) offers three entry points into the Honolulu AIDS Walk drive. No entry fee, and no deadline: Just show up to register at 8. Then pound that pavement, for life.