Editorial: Two Hawaii treasures hurt by homeless

Vandalism and vagrancy have been longstanding problems at ‘Iolani Palace and, in nearby Kakaako Makai, the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. And now the nonprofits that care for these places are being forced into unfortunate actions to protect the assets.

The palace grounds will be closed at 6 nightly, rather than 11 p.m., for better security. It’s too bad, because the park-like setting is lovely in the evenings. But much more sadly, the children’s museum could close for good, as officials say some hard-core, help-resistant homeless people relieve themselves at the door, and cleanup has become a nearly daily chore. For those causing such strife, it’s hard to sympathize.

Hawaii island gets medical cannabis

Good news, medical marijuana purveyors and patients: Big Island Grown Dispensaries, the first selling medical cannabis on Hawaii island, is open for business. The inventory will be building slowly, with only the basic product available now, but there is at least that legal seller for those disinclined to grow their own. Further, the testimony from the proposed U.S. attorney general, William Barr, indicates he is not gunning for enforcing the federal marijuana ban in states that allow it. That’s a change from his predecessor, Jeff Sessions. Maybe the industry can exhale.