Indigenous people protest together

There are occasions — in the pursuit of federal funds, for example — when Native Americans and their indigenous brethren from Hawaii find themselves in competition.

Increasingly, though, they are in cooperation, at least in exercising their rights to protest.

Some of the Indian tribal members joined the protests atop Mauna Kea. And now in return, Native Hawaiians have been on hand in Cannonball, N.D., for the demonstrations against an oil pipeline proposed to run through the lands of the Dakota Sioux.

Both causes have attracted celebrities.

Finally, there’s the common element of cold weather. Folks had to bundle up in sunny Hawaii at the summit, as well as in North Dakota. Chilled to the bone, but warm alliances.

Kenoi will face charges after all

A popular politician he might be, but Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi will be having his day in court, despite his attempts to the contrary.

Four motions by Kenoi’s attorneys to dismiss criminal charges against him were denied by a judge Friday, keeping the mayor’s Oct. 10 trial on track.

Kenoi was indicted in March on charges, including theft, stemming from alleged misuse of his government purchasing card (pCard).

The criminal cloud has been over Kenoi for many months now, but ever since the start of the scandal, he’s resisted calls to step down from office. That point, at least, will become moot in December when his term ends, due to term limits.