Local GOP votes for candidates far away

Today is a red-letter day for a blue state: Hawaii traditionally votes along Democratic Party lines.

But today’s voting is a big deal for Hawaii Republicans, the first time the broad party electorate will caucus to determine which presidential candidate 17 of the state’s 20 delegates will support at the national convention.

Most of the remaining field have bigger fish to fry elsewhere today. At least Ron Paul is dispatching his eldest son to represent him here, and Mitt Romney made a teleconference recording as a virtual stand-in. We’ll see in what form Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich send their aloha.

Could an actual candidate turn up someday? Republicans can dream.

Public schools prove that math counts

Cheers and kudos go out to Washington Middle School and Waiakea Middle School, which finished first and second, respectively in the MATHCOUNTS state competition — Washington for the second year running.

The nationals are going to be May 11 in Orlando, giving new meaning to the celebratory shout, “I’m going to Disney World!”

And not to put too fine a point on it, but the top two beat out private-school competitors. That must mean math is a level playing field. You just have to do the numbers, and do them right.