Under the adroit direction of filmmaker Edgy Lee, Levi's video magazine featured quality content and high production values seldom seen in locally produced TV news.

The first airing of what Levi and Lee hope will become a quarterly production strongly tilted toward law enforcement, with eye-opening reports on Internet pedophiles, theft of Hawaiian artifacts by drug addicts and the U.S. marshal's fugitive task force.

Even an uplifting report on Michael Foumai, a young violinist and composer, had a crime angle: His father is a prison inmate who has never seen his son play.

But these crime stories had grit and reporting depth that put them far ahead of the routine police blotter fare that's the staple of local TV news.

Much of the class was in the presentation; unlike many camera-hogging reporters who think the story is them, Levi stayed in the background and kept the focus on his subjects.

Lee relied on fine camera work and sharp editing of interviews to make her points, avoiding the distraction of trendy technology that does little to advance the story.

Here's hoping that this worthy effort attracts enough viewers and sponsors to stay around for a long run.

Maunakea, the fifth director of an institution founded by the Rev. Claude DuTeil, did her job with a direct style that could be as sweet or salty as the situation warranted.

She leaves an enduring mark as a leading advocate for the homeless at a time when a weak state economy was swelling their ranks.

IHS, started as a downtown peanut-butter ministry, now helps more than 2,000 people a year, providing shelter, food and social services to the neediest people in our community.

Maunakea played a vital role in raising public awareness, and the fight is no longer so lonely; Gov. Linda Lingle has committed to ending homelessness in 10 years, and more than 60 public and private agencies now exist to help the homeless.

The true measure of the man came when regents were so pleased with his work that they considered skipping the customary nationwide search for Dobelle's permanent replacement and offering McClain the job.

McClain was among those advising regents it would be a mistake — and he was exactly right.

That's just the kind of corner-cutting that for decades has kept UH from becoming the first-class university we all wish it to be.

Choosing a president must be an open and thorough process that explores all options for making UH a powerful force to elevate the lives of our young people and help drive Hawai'i's culture and economy.

McClain, 59, certainly would have contended strongly for the position in open competition, but he has other plans.

He promised his wife he'd leave administration by 60 so they could pursue other life interests, which they'll do after he helps regents find a new president who shares his integrity and love for the university.

David Shapiro, a veteran Hawai'i journalist, can be reached by e-mail at dave@volcanicash.net.