Would an objective report cost more?

File this one under nice work if you can get it: The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs paid political scientist Keanu Sai, a well-known Hawaiian nationalist, $25,000 to write a 44-page memo supporting his own opinions and $70,000 for a book that was never published.

If OHA is serious about taking an unvarnished look at Sai’s contention that the United States has illegally occupied the islands since 1893, it should hire an objective legal scholar to analyze the issue — not a guy who believes that in the first place.

Hawaii car accidents not comparable to all states

Few in Honolulu were surprised by a recent Allstate Corp. report that this city’s above-average frequency of accidents is getting even worse.

Some residents of the worst-ranked city among 200 — Worcester, Mass. — defensively said the stats for their community don’t distinguish between accidents involving residents and those passing through.

At No. 140 on the list, we may not feel quite as embarrassed, but we can’t blame it on interstate travelers. We own this record.