Maybe $6 million more will do the trick

That little bit of history sitting in the middle of Honolulu, the Royal Brewery building on Queen Street, has been a whole lot of trouble but is probably worth saving. Built in 1900, its design came from a New York architect experienced with building breweries, according to the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation. It was restored but has been unusable because of toxic fumes coming from replacement beams and flooring installed in 1996.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority wants to move its headquarters there and has decided to invest $6 million in its reclamation. Let’s hope that effort pays off. And too bad it’s not going to be used as an actual brewery. At the end of all that, a beer sounds nice, right?

Adm. Thomas knew how to (de)Occupy

It’s going to take more than new shrubbery to deter the (de)Occupy protesters from pitching new tents on the Beretania Street side of Thomas Square.

The squatters were rousted from the edge of the sidewalk there while the trees were trimmed and the bushes were planted, ostensibly to prepare for the park’s 170th anniversary this summer.

The square was named for the British Navy admiral Richard Darton Thomas, who endeared himself to Hawaiians by ending a short-lived cession of the isles to Britain. Called Restoration Day, it’s marked on July 31.

Maybe the admiral can return from the great beyond to end the occupation of the park, as well.