Putting ethics in its place — at the front of the line

State Senate President Shan Tsutsui has decided to get the advice of the attorney general on the ethics of lobbyists serving on task forces assembled by the Legislature.

It’s the job of the state lawyers to tackle such legal questions, in this case: Are task force members covered by the state ethics code?

But whichever way the analysis points in the end, an important message is being communicated here. And that is: In the Ethics Commission that Les Kondo runs, these issues are given their due consideration, rather than being brushed aside. If it means lawmakers and other state authorities think twice, or even three times, before dismissing an ethical consideration, that’s progress.

It’s the big time for our local-boy barbarian

This being Hawaii, we just gotta root for our native sons.

Barack Obama. Eric Shinseki. Steve Case. Duane "The Rock" Johnson. Jason Momoa.

Jason who?

Momoa’s not a household name — yet — but does have a growing entertainment fan base, thanks to HBO’s "Game of Thrones" and a career launched in 1999’s "Baywatch Hawaii." Now he’s out to conquer the big screen with the just-out "Conan the Barbarian," playing the sword-wielding primitive hero created by Robert E. Howard.

Early reviews have been solid for Momoa, but just middling for the film — not exactly a good sign for a movie filled with testosterone. But, as Conan might say: He’ll show them, by Crom!