FORE!

Wie takes a swing at Twitter

Struggling for public attention, LPGA Tour Commissioner Carolyn Bivens said she would “;love it”; if players used Twitter.com to connect with fans.

Hawaii's Michelle Wie has been quick to respond, although “;I still am learning how to use it.”; After Friday's splendid round at the State Farm Classic in Illinois, despite a bogey on the first hole, Wie twittered: “;Thank u all. Rough start today but felt solid. Gotta straighten out the short irons and get the birdies tomorrow!!”;

HELP NEEDED

Marrow donors in short supply

Imagine how the sense of hope evaporates when the Hawaii Bone Marrow Registry matches a donor to a dying patient, only to have the person refuse to complete the medical procedure that extracts the lifesaving cells. That's what happens about 50 percent of the time, according to a registry recruiter, who cites a particular shortage of Asian, Polynesian and multiracial donors. The health risk to the donor is so low, and the potential reward to the patient so high, that it's a shame so many possible donors refuse.

PLAY TIME

Kids get a lift with new playground

How refreshing it was, amid all the gloomy news of late, to see the upbeat effort at YMCA's Camp H.R. Erdman in Mokuleia. More than 300 volunteers have brought a cool project to fruition: A 29,000 square foot Nature Built community playground. At the start of the year, 30 children helped design the playground, and their drawings, aided by adults', went to KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit group that builds recreational sites. Thanks to an army of volunteers, actual construction started on Wednesday and several days later, the finished playground was dedicated.

It is indeed, a happy, happy place.