At last, important measure of justice for Peter Boy

Rather than stand trial this month in the case of his son’s death, Peter Kema Sr. has opted for a plea deal, accepting a charge of manslaughter. Response to Wednesday’s turn of events — nearly two decades after 6-year-old Peter “Peter Boy” Kema was reported missing from his Hawaii island home — includes sad sighs of relief, especially on the Big Island.

Peter Boy, who suffered repeated physical abuse, was last seen alive by his siblings in June 1997. Prosecutors have said the boy likely died from septic shock from not getting medical care.

Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth and others tied to the case helped generate some justice for Peter Boy. In November 2014 — almost a decade after officials had released any update on the case — Hawaii County announced a fresh round of police and prosecutor interviews. Subsequently, a Hilo grand jury indicted the boy’s parents of second-degree murder by omission. At long last, closure is near.

From Hawaii to Paris — and back again?

Vestiges of Hawaii’s bygone material culture — ranging from a spear said to be acquired by Capt. James Cook to a Kingdom of Hawaii flag — are priceless to Native Hawaiians. Such items belong in a place for public viewing, such as a museum. So, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is justified in trying to put the brakes on a Paris auction billed as the world’s largest private collection of Hawaiian art, featuring nearly 1,100 items. Good luck.