If we knew then what we know now

Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but the redevelopment of the International Marketplace in the heart of Waikiki does provide a moment to reflect on what might have been.

Imagine if the Hawaii Convention Center had been built there as intended in the late 1980s. The owners of the knick-knack stands that predominated there at the time protested vigorously at the state Capitol, and the plan to demolish the affordable marketplace on Kalakaua Avenue was scrapped. The Convention Center eventually was wedged into a less-than-ideal corner at the edge of the tourist district.

Now the International Marketplace really is shutting down — with far less outcry — to be replaced by an upscale shopping mall. The reminder here: Even good ideas often are vociferously opposed by individuals with a lot at stake. Our elected officials must withstand the pressure and make decisions that serve the common good.

Job figures show correlation is not causation

About 6.2 percent of Hawaii workers juggled more than one job in 2012, higher than the national average but well below the No. 1 state in this labor category. That distinction goes to South Dakota, where 9.5 percent of workers had multiple jobs, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The national average was 4.9 percent.

Hawaii’s high cost of living is considered the main reason folks seek more than one paycheck here, but that’s not the case in South Dakota, where the overall cost of living falls below the national average.