Native Hawaiian rights go only so far

Lloyd Pratt fought the law, and the law won. The Native Hawaiian kahu tested the limits of his constitutional rights to engage in traditional and customary Hawaiian practices by living in Kalalau Valley on Kauai as a caretaker for the area — without bothering to get a permit or otherwise abide by state rules. But Pratt had a point: He met the court’s standards as a Native Hawaiian who enjoyed those rights, as defined in the famous 1998 case, State v. Hanapi. Unfortunately for Pratt, the state has rights, too. Under Article 12, Section 7 of the Constitution, Pratt’s rights are "subject to the right of the State to regulate such rights."

The case raised interesting questions about whether customary Native Hawaiian rights could prevail over the state in a criminal prosecution. In Pratt’s case, the court, in a 3-2 vote, upheld Pratt’s petty misdemeanor conviction. Round 1 to the state.

Carry-on luggage? That will be $100

More flight passengers are packing light these days, and U.S. airlines overall have taken a fall for the first time in revenue from luggage — but watch out for fees on carry-on bags.

Spirit Airlines was the only U.S. airline to charge for carry-ons last year and has plans to increase those fees from the present $45 to $100 in November. Allegiant Air, which will begin serving Hawaii next month, recently began charging $35 for a carry-on bag. Those airlines don’t charge for bags that can fit beneath the seat, if that’s a consolation.

Tom Parsons, chief executive of Bestfares.com, refers to the carry-on baggage fees as "skyway robbery." He points out that most travelers don’t realize the fee until they arrive at the gate.

Fliers beware: Better start reading that fine print ever-more carefully.