If it’s good enough for India, how about Hawaii?

International fast-food chain McDonald’s is planning to open all- vegetarian restaurants in India soon, hoping to capitalize on that nation’s preference for meatless meals. About 40 percent of India’s 1.24 billion million people are vegetarian, so the move makes sense.

In Hawaii, the percentage of vegetarians is much smaller, and though there are some restaurants locally that have been successfully catering to the meatless crowd, past attempts by vegetarians to break into the fast-food arena here didn’t go over so well — anyone remember Healthy’s?

Still, maybe the day will come when McDonald’s will start offering more meatless meals in Hawaii, as the trend toward healthy eating gains prominence both here and throughout the U.S.

It’s conventional for islanders to spread aloha

Hawaii has made a lively impression at this week’s National Democratic Convention, beyond the fact that President Barack Obama was born here.

Taking the podium on opening day was Hawaii 2nd Congressional District candidate Tulsi Gabbard; Illinois congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth, a University of Hawaii graduate; and Honolulu resident Maya Soetoro-Ng, Obama’s half-sister. Addressing Wednesday’s session was Veterans Affairs Director Eric Shinseki, a Kauai native and retired four-star Army general.

They were surrounded on the convention floor by dozens of leis and loud applause —indeed, lots of aloha.