Statehood Day in an awful state

It’s Statehood Day in Hawaii, formerly known as Admission Day, one of 14 official state holidays observed each year.

Hawaii became the 50th state on Aug. 21, 1959, and the occasion is now marked with a day off for state and county employees on the third Friday in August each year.

But it’s not a day that’s celebrated much anymore. Statehood here has become a subject of controversy, with some Native Hawaiian groups protesting it — even on the 50th anniversary of the occasion.

It makes you wonder why we even have the observance at all.

Oh, yes, a day off for many. That means it’s here to stay.

CVS says better safe than sorry

Manicure addicts beware: Longs Drug Store and 7,500 other CVS pharmacies nationwide now require photo identification from customers buying nail polish remover, which contains acetone, an ingredient of crystal meth.

Purchasers must be 18 years old and show their driver licenses to purchase the product over the pharmacy counter.

Hawaii has used similar over-the-counter methods since 2006 due to federal controls for purchases of medicine containing pseudoephe-drine, also a methamphetamine ingredient.

The company’s nervousness is understandable.

Three years ago, parent company CVS Caremark agreed to pay $77.6 million to settle a criminal investigation that its drugstores allowed widespread sales of cough medicines containing pseudoephedrine to criminals who used it to make meth.