… Well, the Lahaina Town Cleanup was a great success, due in part to MATT LANE and his volunteers. Now, let’s see what we can do to keep it that way!…

… and speaking of pollution, can somebody get to the town bus companies to order their drivers to quit running their engines and air conditioning while they sit at Lahaina Harbor — sometimes up to a half-hour at a crack — to keep their buses cool while waiting for exiting boat tour passengers? It creates not only appalling noise pollution at the picturesque harbor, but air pollution from their exhausts — and I should think a huge gas bill…

… and this week marks the start of the cruise ship visits to LAHAINA HARBOR with three boat days — the seniors have agreed to provide the music to greet arriving passengers. LAHAINATOWN ACTION COMMITTEE will provide the flowers to the passengers, and volunteers will do the set-up and breakdown. Meanwhile, LAC has enlisted the aid of an angel to write the grant for these Boat Day greetings to become permanent. Every passenger who steps off these ships to this happy welcome will tell others, and it can be nothing but a plus for visitors to remember our town, want to return and encourage others to visit…

… and LAC decided to postpone “A TASTE OF LAHAINA” for 2009 due to their ongoing recovery mode and the economic downturn. LAC receives around five calls a day asking if “Taste” will be on this year and when. No — not this year, but hopefully in 2010…

… and over the ocean blue, there are very few countries that still drive on the left. Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and now they are joined by SAMOA, which did a switch at 6 a.m. when all vehicles went from one side of the road to the other — with, I am told, not a single accident. But just the visual thought of all those cars jumping from one side of the road to the other gives me a shudder, and probably most of their cars are built for right side driving…

… and plans for the WEST MAUI HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER are moving along at a clip under the very capable management of BRIAN HOYLE. Plans are expanding to include a wide range of available services — there is an air of excitement in the community!…

… and NOAA is complaining about damage to their weather buoys and asking the fishing fraternity to please report any sign of vessels tying up or fishing around a buoy. These buoys are a vital link in the chain to give early warnings for severe weather, tsunamis and hurricanes, not to mention the cost of repairs and lost data. So if you see something fishy around the buoys, call (808) 535-3333…

… MAUI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE has mailed out pledge forms for next year’s Fourth of July fireworks event in Lahaina Town. Smart move! Let’s keep this exciting event on the calendar!…

… and we were sorry to hear of the bad breaks suffered by AUNTIE EDNA FARDEN BEKEART after a fall in her home last week. She is presently recuperating at Kula Hospital. Get well soon, Auntie Edna. We miss you!…

Up Front Lahaina is a twice monthly feature. To protect his innocence, the writer chooses to remain anonymous. The views expressed in this column belong to the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Lahaina News staff and owners.