Watch Gov.-elect David Ige’s inauguration

Hawaii welcomes a new "new day" on Monday, with the inauguration of David Ige as the state’s eighth governor.

Unlike predecessor Neil Abercrombie, who opted for the coronation pavilion on the ‘Iolani Palace grounds, Ige will be sworn into office at noon at the state Capitol courtyard. The 90-minute public event will be aired live starting at 11 a.m. by ‘Olelo Community Media, cable Channel 49, and live-streamed at www.olelo.org.

Festivities will follow, through 3 p.m., with taiko drums, dance troupes and other cultural performances, as well as an open house at Washington Place.

GMO opponents need to try a different tack

So U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren has shut down the Hawaii County Council’s ordinance banning genetically modified organism crops on that island. At the risk of sounding indelicate: We told you so.

Not surprisingly, Kurren applied the same logic to this case that he did in a similar challenge of a Kauai County ordinance, concluding that the legislation was preempted by state law.

Almost certainly, this means the issue will return to the state Capitol for another round of contentious debate. For now, the two sides regroup and plan. Perhaps someone will devise a way to advance toward better state agricultural policy without ignoring legal precedent.