The good news is that the jobless rate in this state has hit a record low, 2 percent. But every silver lining comes with a dark cloud. Here it’s the fact that what was already virtually full employment in Hawaii has not lured everyone back into the job-seeking mode. The full count of the working and those seeking work has fallen.

And there’s this: Some 13,000 Hawaii people this year have moved to the mainland, likely due to the high cost of living.

Of course, if employers elated with corporate tax cuts start handing out raises, perhaps they’ll come back. We’ll see.

Otake nominated despite Obama’s consideration

Judges are meant to be nonpartisan. There was at least a bipartisan touch here.

Almost everything from former President Barack Obama’s administration has ended up on his successor’s chopping block. Jill Otake was not in that disfavored lot.

Instead, Hawaii’s assistant U.S. attorney has President Donald Trump’s nod as the new federal district judge here. Otake had been on a list of nominees under Obama’s consideration, and Trump went to the same list.

Of course, Obama had ultimately picked another of the contenders. So the president can still draw a distinction.