Still stinging over the passage of a rail finance package that assessed a new tourist tax statewide, the Kauai and Maui county councils passed resolutions urging state lawmakers to apply the state’s Sunshine Law on open meetings to themselves. The rail accord was struck in private negotiations and ushered through the special session.

Yes, openness certainly is the ideal, well worth striving for. But it was only in 2014 that a bill passed giving the councils more latitude in having small “limited meetings” to discuss council business in the community. Some Sunshine Law advocates worried about that one, too.

How to avoid a hungry and pregnant tiger shark

With the annual migration of hungry-and-pregnant tiger sharks to Hawaii waters from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands underway, this month is dubbed Sharktober. However, while you’re most likely to be a victim of an attack during pupping season, the threat is in place year-round.

Best bets for avoiding a confused shark making a food choice mistake? Stay out of murky water; do not wear high-contrast clothing or shiny jewelry; get out of the water if fish or turtles start behaving erratically; and swim or surf at beaches with lifeguards, and listen to their advice.