Protect ‘Iolani Palace’s irreplaceable treasures

There are lots of descriptive terms usually applied to acts of vandalism — "stupid" being among the most apt — but the ‘Iolani Palace episode on Saturday surely qualifies as "tragic."

A woman, accompanied by a man, kicked the front door at about 8 a.m., cracking a 132-year-old pane of etched glass. Regardless of the reasons for the act, those who cherish the palace as a historic legacy have to flinch at any damage inflicted.

When the kingdom was overthrown, many of the furnishings were sold, and restoring the royal residence has been a long labor of love (the search for missing pieces continues to this day). All of that work should not be left so vulnerable.

Creative solutions to affordable housing shortage

It’s encouraging to see lawmakers focusing on the dire need for affordable rental housing in Hawaii. Measures moving in the Senate, for example, would help fund the construction of micro units suitable for single living and finance a public housing complex for senior citizens, which would be a first for the state.

Hawaii has among the highest average rents in the nation and the highest rate of homelessness per capita, according to the Homelessness Research Institute. The quality of life for some in the Aloha State is downright grim, so creative solutions are warranted and appreciated.