Inouye goes for the longevity record

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye has remarked more than once how much he loves his job, and he is not about to give it up anytime soon. Inouye, who will turn 88 on Sept. 7, told The Maui News he will run for reelection in four years for his 10th consecutive six-year term.

In less than two years, Inouye is scheduled to become the longest-serving U.S. senator in history, surpassing West Virginia’s Robert Byrd, who died in office in 2010 at age 92 after serving in the Senate for nearly 51 1⁄2 years.

Inouye has used his seniority effectively over the years, now as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. And to say that he has not been shy about steering federal funds to Hawaii would be an understatement.

Yet another departure from UH athletics

Love him or not, "Vili The Warrior" undeniably has been an exciting mascot for the University of Hawaii Warriors football team, albeit unofficially. But now, after 12 years at it, the man behind the mascot is calling it quits.

Vili Fekoho told the Star-Advertiser’s Dave Reardon that it was time for him to spend more time with his family, leaving UH head football coach Norm Chow to say UH needs to "figure something out" regarding a new mascot.

Does this mean that UH will replicate what it’s doing to hire a replacement for Jim Donovan as UH athletic director — that is, form a search committee or hire a search firm? Hard as Vili might be to replace, let’s remind UH right now that it can ill afford further loose outlay of funds.