Trash talk in House won’t be in the record

After an aborted attempt to reorganize the state House’s power structure, the target of that attempt, Rep. Scott Saiki, on Wednesday used his new role as House speaker to enforce a ban on theatrical trash talk.

In response to Rep. Isaac Choy, who said: “Your reign of terror is continuing and some day it must stop,” Saiki declared the comment a violation of House rules to be stricken from the House journal. On the House rules roster, No. 27 addresses decorum. It notes that “allusions to, or critical reference to the Speaker or members are not in good order.” Agreed. But in the interest of free speech and accuracy, verbal lashing should not be erased from the record.

Courts are no place for political posturing

Yes, Hawaiian and English are both official languages of the state of Hawaii, and this strengthens the argument for affording a place for both languages in government.

The courts, however, and the interpreters who serve them, have a cooperative goal: to dispense justice in a way that all participants can comprehend.

Kaleikoa Kaeo, the protester and defendant in the Haleakala telescope case, refused to speak English and insisted on an interpreter. Maui District Court rightly refused.

Interpretation is provided as a court service to aid understanding, not political posturing.