The happiest people live in Hawaii

Hawaii continues to be America’s happiest state, according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, based on a daily survey of Americans that tries to measure elements of "the good life."

The new poll shows Hawaii scored highest in the first half of this year, just as it led the nation in well-being last year.

Among six areas, Hawaii was tops last year in three — life evaluation, emotional health and physical health — while yielding in the first half of this year to Alaska in life evaluation. North Dakota, this year’s most employment-rich state, inched into the runner-up spot overall.

Gingrich takes campaign to the far, far West

While other Republican presidential candidates were touring crucial swing states like Iowa, Newt Gingrich was campaigning on — wait for it — Maui.

He met with activists at the Door of Faith Church in Wailuku on Saturday, and yesterday discussed the American founding with students at Seabury Hall in Makawao, according to Politico.

So why would Gingrich spend campaign funds in the bluest of blue states? Who cares? A tourist is a tourist, whether he’s running for president or celebrating his 11th wedding anniversary with his wife, Callista. On behalf of our struggling economy, many happy returns!