Christie’s lengthy saga nears a merciful end

However you come down on the case of Roger Christie — the Hawaii island "cannabis minister" just sentenced for marijuana distribution — a natural response is to breathe a sigh of relief that this part of the saga at least has come to an end. Although appeals in his case and that of his wife likely will follow, the detention and trial simply took far too long.

To underscore that point: Christie’s very nearly already served his five-year sentence.

Also, in the intervening four years since the defendant began detention, the legal stance on marijuana has relaxed in various states. In addition to the two states that have made it wholly legal, there has been an increased acceptance of decriminalization and legal medical use of cannabis.

The protracted court fight over Christie seems almost quaint.

Game-day football parking will be a hot ticket

The University of Hawaii’s most loyal football fans can expect energetic bidding when the auction for Aloha Stadium game-day parking begins May 5.

Rail construction is taking 1,040 parking spots out of commission for the next two seasons, or 13 percent of all the stadium’s parking. Only UH football fans who own at least two season tickets will be eligible to participate in the auction, which netted nearly $400,000 last year. UH used the money to fund athletic scholarships, so at least superfans know their money is being well spent.