GREAT PERFORMANCES

Symphony musicians show true dedication

The Honolulu Symphony ends its Masterworks season on a high note, with a promising fundraising campaign capping off a series of splendid performances. That the musicians put their heart and soul into their work, despite not being paid for the past three months, is testament to their artistic dedication. But even a virtuoso has to eat.

So let's hope that donors dig deep to preserve this institution so vital to arts and culture in Hawaii—and get the players up to date on their paychecks.

FLAME-BROILED

Snuffing the flamers' fire

A bill in Congress in response to cyberbullying could make Internet flaming a crime. H.R. 1966 seeks to amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code and targets any electronic communication “;with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass or cause substantial emotional distress to a person ... “;

Flamers beware. Could your mindless rant someday put you on the wrong side of the law?

TOWER OF POWER

Trump's tower holds strong

Gotta hand it to Donald Trump.

The economy's in dire straits, industries are tanking—but there's the celebrity tycoon, presiding over his TV “;Celebrity Apprentice”; wannabes, every inch the man of confidence. It's an attitude that's taken him through bankruptcy and back.

And now that he's dipped his toes into Hawaiian waters, it's encouraging to hear that the under-construction Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki Beach Walk seems to be withstanding the real-estate spiral. All presales of the 463 suites remain solid; no buyers have dropped out.

Here's hoping some of The Donald's winning optimism rubs off on other Beach Walk ventures—and on Waikiki as a whole.