BEYOND BABY STEPS

Many happy returns for Kapiolani hospital

Any parent or guardian who's had to rush a beloved child to the ER knows only too well that gut-wrenching feeling of fear, anxiety and panic. And that overwhelming relief when things do ultimately get better, fates willing, is a fortune beyond compare. The fact that medical care has progressed to a level unimaginable 20, 50, let alone 100, years ago is truly amazing.

So it is that the community, collectively, thanks and congratulates Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children as it celebrates its centennial. One hundred years of scientific advances, 100 years of swaddling and nurturing; 100 years of giving and saving lives. Happy, happy birthday.

SPIKE 'EM

Hard-hitting Wahine

Good luck to the University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball team as it gets ready to open an anticipated banner season Friday.

Not one to shy from challenges, coach Dave Shoji has packed the roster with some tough, top-ranked rivals. In his 35th season at Manoa, Shoji and team are looking to reach 1,000 wins this year. Go 'Bows!

TAKE THAT, YOU FIEND

Pow! Bam! Wham! Crime-fighting gets better

Shades of “;CSI: Criminal Scene Investigation.”;

The Honolulu Police Department has unveiled a new $13.8 million full-service, state-of-the-art crime laboratory, complete wth better DNA analysis, drug, firearms and trace evidence capabilities. U.S. Sens. Dan Inouye and Dan Akaka were among the dignitaries taking a tour Tuesday, since $3.3 million in congressional earmarked grants went toward equipment and personnel.

While no one expects crime-solving to leap into the realm of fiction — where TV cases are solved using a speck of dust that happened to land on a strand of fiber that happened to show up in the drop of blood detected by Luminol, all in one neat hour — this should aid the fight.

Perhaps one of the first things this new lab needs to track down are more staffers: 12 of the allotted 48 full-time permanent positions are still vacant.