As long as they’re fixing the roof anyway …

A farm in the sky appears destined for the fifth-floor roof deck of the state Capitol building at the suggestion of Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who has taken notice of the nearly barren space on the roof.

Alan Joaquin of FarmRoof suggests that planter boxes now on the roof be removed to make room for an unobstructed rooftop installation. Meanwhile, the state is spending $4.8 million to repair the roof, which leaks. The state Agriculture Department estimates that starting the garden on a portion of the roof would cost $250,000.

The Capitol is a historic place, but that should not be a problem. Roof-top gardens date back to ancient cultures, at least as far back as 600 B.C.

Here’s an idea that isn’t going to fly

Hawaii Sen. Malama Solomon (D, Hilo-Honokaa) surely means well in proposing rate regulation for interisland airfares, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

For one, state law is trumped in this case by the federal 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, which for the most part removed government control over airline fares, routes and market entry. Second, airfare regulation would impose a burden on the private air carriers, whom we suspect are not trying to gouge Hawaii interisland travelers so much as cover their significant costs. If it is truly an issue of serving the greater good, perhaps tax credits or some other options should be explored.

Is this a good time to bring back an interisland ferry system? One can always hope.