All in a day’s work for saviors at sea

While we describe our military service members as heroes returning from battle, we mustn’t take for granted a quieter heroism here at home.

On Sunday, Coast Guard personnel guided the pilot of a single-engine plane in distress to an ocean landing near a cruise ship off Maui. An HC-130 Hercules aircraft stayed on the scene until the pilot was safely aboard the ship. Later that evening, a Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted a light in darkening waters off Barbers Point and saved the three adults and a 1-year-old girl who were aboard another ditched single-engine plane.

Yes, the Coast Guard crews will say they’re just doing their job. But for those who were rescued — and for the rest of us — it’s so much more.

Judy Collins shares stage with fellow folk singer

State Sen. Mike Gabbard was there onstage Sunday with folk legend Judy Collins to remind us: He’s sung a few tunes in his day, too.

Gabbard was at the sold-out Mamiya Theatre show to present Collins with a commemorative Senate resolution, and exuded enthusiasm for her as he related his own history as a folkie, playing in coffee shops on the mainland, back in the day. And he handed Collins a copy of his first CD, "Stand as One." It’s on his personal website, but this way, there was a better chance she might give it a listen.