For any number of reasons, the late Sen. Hiram Fong deserves to be remembered and honored by the people of Hawai'i whom he served for so many years.

Toward that end, the Legislature last year commissioned a group to come up with ideas on how best to honor the longtime political, business and community leader. Many of the group's ideas make great sense. Particularly attractive are proposals for scholarships in the senator's name.

One strong idea is for scholarships aimed at low-income youngsters in Chinatown, where Fong got his start.

But a few ideas should be reconsidered.

One is the idea (discussed, if not formally recommended) to rename the East-West Center after Fong. While Fong certainly was a supporter of the center, it hardly makes sense to change the name that has become a globally identifiable "brand" for the institution.

Equally out of place would be naming the State Library after Fong, although the idea of honoring him in the name of the airport post office has some attraction.

Another idea clearly worth rethinking is naming the new Smith-Beretania Park in downtown Honolulu after the late senator. It is true the park is in a part of Honolulu long associated with Fong. But the residents of the area, who had to fight for years to get the promised park built and finished, already have their own naming idea for the park. They surely should have the first call on giving it a permanent name.

The proposal at the moment, backed by the Downtown Neighborhood Board, is to name the park after activist Christina Kalahiki Brown, a nearby resident who led the fight to make the park a reality.

It's a good bet the senator himself would agree that, in this case, the people should be the ones to decide on a permanent name for their park.