The night the lights went out

Everybody in the country, it seems, was watching the first-ever College Football Playoff on Monday — except for thousands of Hawaii residents who were tearing out their hair instead.

The game — featuring Hawaii native Marcus Mariota leading the Oregon Ducks against the Ohio State Buckeyes — turned out to be the most-watched show in cable TV history. But viewers in many Oahu neighborhoods were shocked by their inability to watch much of it, thanks to rolling blackouts initiated by Hawaiian Electric Co.

HECO blamed problems at three of the plants from which it secures power, but that was little consolation to many.

As for the game itself, the Ducks lost, but still Heisman Trophy winner Mariota played and behaved like a champ.

"My main focus was to be a great teammate," the St. Louis School graduate said afterward. "That’s all I really hoped to accomplish."

Mission accomplished, Mariota. Now, about HECO and its commitment to "firm power" …

Obama expenses should be federal

Security for President Barack Obama is essential, but the cost of overtime for Honolulu police who assist during his annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii has been rising.

His first annual trip, in 2009, cost $107,000. This past vacation was up to $277,585. That’s less than the $293,731 in 2013, but still not chump change.

We’re always happy to welcome the president and family, but we could use a little help. The feds have turned down earlier requests, but that’s getting harder to justify. Come on, Uncle Sam: Pony up.