This Waikiki beach rocks, no ifs, ands or butts

Now we can see the branding value of Oahu’s smoking ban at beaches: nomination to a best-beaches list. Most kamaaina probably would not imagine Duke Kahanamoku Beach topping the annual U.S. ranking by coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman, aka "Dr. Beach." But there it is.

Two things helped assure its selection. First, it had never made the list before — Dr. Beach retires each "winner" from being ranked again. Second, it was free of cigarette butts, which counts a lot to Leatherman, accustomed to Miami beach litter.

Now about those Waikiki homeless encampments …

Still pursuing their dreams

Congratulations to two former University of Hawaii football quarterbacks: Shane Austin and Bryant Moniz, both of whom completed their UH careers in 2011.

Austin now is quarterback of the American Football League’s 8-0 Cleveland Gladiators, having started six of those games. Last year the team finished last, so Austin is quite the star there.

Moniz, meanwhile, just reached agreement on a two-year contract with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders. The father of two young children said he "wasn’t satisfied with his (post-UH) career, and wanted to keep going. I wanted to teach my kids not to give up."

And what better way to teach than by example?