Gabbard gets on first debate

It’s hard to grab the spotlight when there are a couple dozen people all reaching for it, but Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will at least have the TV cameras on her June 26.

That’s when the first of two Democratic presidential primary debates will air, including Gabbard and nine others. Except for Elizabeth Warren, who will share the stage that night, the front-runners will be on the next night. Most pundits say Night 2 was the one to get, but who knows? Going first has its advantages, too.

Ha‘ena park back in business

Closed to nonlocal traffic since April 2018, Kauai’s Kuhio Highway reopened to all comers this week. The long pause for flooding-related cleanup and repairs has rightly prompted tighter limits on access to attractions such as Ha‘ena State Park, which had been frequently overwhelmed by visiting vehicles.

The Ha‘ena State Master Plan, which took effect Monday, aims to reduce daily visitation from an estimated 3,000 people to 900.

It also launches a new reservation system for park entrance, a shuttle to reduce the number of vehicles on the highway, higher fines for illegal parking, and a new parking lot with 70 spaces for visitors and 30 for residents.