Making the case for changing TheBus

It’s tough to plan changes to bus routes while imagining the howls of protest that could ensue. Upheaving routines is not what anyone does to win a popularity contest.

But upsetting the applecart is sometimes unavoidable. And if TheBus management and overseers achieve the primary directive — cutting expenses in the face of rising gas prices without raising bus fares — they’ll deserve a round of applause.

Neighborhood boards will begin a series of meetings on the issue tonight, with Pearl City’s starting at 6:30 at Waiau District Park and Hawaii Kai’s at 7 at Hahaione Elementary. Bus passengers will get this chance to support the most critical bus services; they need to make their best case now.

Palin’s Hawaii background comes out

Now "okole" is among the smattering of Hawaiian words mainlanders know. Probably not what the Hawaiian dictionary scholar, Mary Kawena Pukui, ever had in mind, but there it is.

Anyway, most people hearing Sarah Palin’s censure of that Secret Service agent last week probably figured it out from context, not a dictionary.

The agent, David Chaney, had run a photo showing him guarding the former vice presidential candidate on his Facebook page, remarking that he was "checking her out." Palin was not amused.

"I hope his wife kicks his okole," she said. Palin had briefly attended what is now called Hawaii Pacific University, and probably picked up the phrase there.

According to Pukui, the less crude word for "buttocks" is "lemu." Anyway, we can all wonder about the condition of Chaney’s lemu, or whatever.