Overwhelming the other half of one's new relationship with too many texts, fawning Facebook posts, torrents of tweets or a flurry of phone calls is far too easy to do in this uber-connected phase of Earth history.

That's OK, there's an app for that.

Kailua friends Katie MacPherson, an attorney, and Kelly Lovett, a full-time graduate student in communications at HPU, respectively, have developed Love Taps. It is an iPhone app that helps users navigate “;those squirmy, tenuous first few weeks of any new relationship.”;

“;We were interested in apps and decided one day, 'Let's do it,'”; Lovett told “;TheBuzz.”;

The app will help prevent one from appearing too eager or from being too reckless prior to reaching out to the other person with a message with such screening questions as, “;Are you drunk?”;

Research included the dating movies “;Swingers,”; “;How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”; and “;The Ugly Truth.”;

They rounded up a graphic designer and programmer Kevin Lohman, a veteran of six iPhone apps, including the ukulele chord app that has previously appeared in this space.

The process took about three weeks and $2,000. At $1.99 a pop, it is likely the ladies will recoup their investment in relatively short order. It hit the iTunes store Tuesday and likely will not be the ladies' last effort.

“;We have more ideas in the works now, particularly applying to lifestyle and fitness,”; said Lovett, who is also a Pilates instructor.

SARENTO'S LEASE

You can count on another five or 10 years of upscale dining overlooking Waikiki from Sarento's Top of the “;I.”;

Restaurant parent company Tri-Star Restaurant Group has signed a lease extension for its spot atop the landmark Ilikai Hotel.

Sarento's is a treasured dining destination, said Lesley Love, senior vice president of iStar Financial Inc., which owns the property through a subsidiary. It “;will be an essential part of the rebirth of the Ilikai.”;

Improvements are planned for Sarento's vestibule in the hotel lobby, its glass elevator and the restaurant, which will continue to operate during the work, said Aaron Placourakis, president and chief executive officer of Tri-Star.

Strife of various stripes has plagued the property over the past few years, but since taking possession of it, iStar has “;showed their good faith,”; he said.

“;By them showing their commitment, doing their research and realizing what the Ilikai means to everybody ... they're going to do what it takes to bring it back to the luster it deserves.”;

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Reach her by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).