Schatz’s first bill seems a winner

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced his first piece of legislation Wednesday, the Pacific Island Parks Act of 2013, which would expand national parks in Hawaii.

Since the federal government has done a pretty good job managing Hawaii’s seven existing national parks, preserving Hawaii’s natural beauty with federal money sounds like a win-win situation.

Schatz promoted his bill through a conference call with Hawaii’s big conservation groups — The Nature Conservancy, Hawaiian Islands Land Trust, Sierra Club of Hawaii and the Hawaiian Islands Trust for Public Land. Meanwhile, letters to the editor praising his leadership are starting to make their appearance.

No doubt Schatz is seeking a win-win, too — for conservation and his 2014 election campaign.

No more ifs, ands or butts at beach?

Consider it a pilot project. The City Council has passed a bill to ban smoking on several of the most popular town-side and East Honolulu beaches, effectively making it illegal to treat the sand at those spots as personal ashtrays.

The new ordinance seeks to discourage littering at the affected beaches: Kapiolani, Kuhio, Duke Kahana-moku, Sandy and Ala Moana beach parks (on that latter one, smoking would be barred on the sand but OK in the grassy areas).

Mayor Kirk Caldwell seems likely to sign the bill into law, which is a relief to hear. There have been calls to expand the bill to other beaches, but let’s see how well police are able to enforce this limited ban first.

Any reduction in cigarette butts in the sand will make this social experiment worthwhile.