Hemp will get to set down roots in isles

Hawaii could be poised for a hemp heyday. After years of test planting and wrangling over access to seeds (hemp is classified as an illegal drug under federal law), the state’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program is now accepting applications for licenses to grow the fibrous plant.

Applicants must have at the ready lab plans for testing of the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Even so, drug enforcement agencies likely have little to worry about. Hemp’s THC levels are significantly lower than those in marijuana. These farmers are likely focused on a growing inventory of legit cash crop goods, from hempcrete to healthful hemp juice.

Barbara Bush wowed ’em in Hawaii

Rarely does a GOP White House stump for a politician in Blue Hawaii, but Pat Saiki was running for U.S. Senate in 1990, and the Bushes came to Honolulu to do their bit. The late Barbara Bush was featured at an Oct. 3 Waikiki fundraiser.

Mrs. Bush, who died Tuesday at 92, was reportedly a hit with the local audience, who happily forgave the first lady’s efforts at pronouncing words such as “Kamehameha.”

She also called on Hawaii to send the first Asian-American woman to the U.S. Senate. That turned out to be Mazie Hirono, some years later, but Bush’s audience loved it at the time.