Hand-pounded poi OK, maybe

Among the items folks may have missed as the Legislature closed down was the passage of Senate Bill 101, which exempts traditionally prepared poi from food safety regulations. This means someone can make a cottage industry of selling it fresh from the poi pounder, without investing in a fancy kitchen.

But a warning label may be required, among other rules. Here’s the draft wording: "This hand-pounded taro was not prepared in a Department of Health approved facility, and consuming this product may increase your risk of contracting a food-borne illness." Kind of a buzz-kill, but we’ll see how that sells.

Iroquois Point school steps up

Iroquois Point Elementary has earned a deserved, rousing round of applause for being accredited as the state’s first public elementary school in the International Baccalaureate program.

That means students will face more rigorous studies that will prepare them for high school. After three years of work on the application, teachers and administrators are elated. And, once they’ve had a fun summer break, even the kids might find reason to smile about it.