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Both Honolulu papers have added several blogs over the last year, so we are getting more local news and comments on their web sites.

Case in point: the Star-Bulletin’s So Necessary blog reported Tuesday that Magoo’, the fabled bar at Puck’s Alley near UH-Manoa, is closing its doors tomorrow. I don’t get to Magoo’s often, but it’s one of my favorite places and I’ll miss it.
There was a follow-up article in yesterday’s Honolulu Star-Bulletin, and a hint that new ownership may open their own restaurant in the same space next month. Magoo’s will use 10 vans to sell pizza around the island.

Kamahemeha Schools bought Puck’s Alley last year, and today the Star-Bulletin announced that Kamehameha schools has purchased the Varsity Theater across the street. The Varsity closed its doors last week, with a similar lack of advance notice. Expect construction, renovation, and new business in a year or two. Construction will finish soon at another Kamehameha property, the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, which may become a fourth campus for the schools according to another Star-Bulletin article today.

Hawai’i: Traffic can get bad in Honolulu. Racing is still a problem. The city proesecutor wants the state legislature to consider a bill that allows judges to revoke a driver’s license for up to five years for speeding more than 90 mph. The same bill was killed by the state senate last year. Meanwhile, Mayor Harris is moving forward with his plan to reduce traffic in Waikiki by narrowing two major roads, Kuhio and the Ala Wai. Waikiki residents are upset because the project involves removing street parking, which many residents rely on to park their own cars.

Music: Cheese spreads it on thick with rock/rap parodies - The Honolulu Advertiser - Hawaii’s Newspaper: Kinda reminds me of Austin’s Recliners. “Still minty fresh from another stint as Las Vegas house band for ‘Last Call with Carson Daily,’ [Richard] Cheese and Lounge [Against the Machine] are Honolulu-bound for a couple of weekend shows at the Wave Waikiki. Having never played live here with his Lounge mates, frequent Hawai’i flier Cheese just about melted at the thought of a Waikiki gig. ‘Hawaiian music is such a large component of lounge music,’ said Cheese. ‘And I’m so looking forward to playing some of these great songs in the land of lounge … the land of Lava Lamps.’”