Legal challenges notwithstanding — and there have been a couple — the city’s fledgling crackdown on illegal vacation rentals is working, with online listings dropping. But it’s a big job, the 1989 ban having lacked vigorous enforcement over decades. Not surprisingly, help was needed: to aid the city’s new tougher law, three retired inspectors have been brought on board.

The cost so far tops $130,000. Note that each works for 19 hours a week, meaning, no health benefits. Of course, taxpayers already paid that tab for the city retirees.

Scout troops still gender-specific

Nearly one year after the Boy Scouts opened its programs to girls, more than 400 girls have joined Cub Scout packs in Hawaii. On the mainland, an estimated 77,000 girls have signed up. For the most part, though, the programs are not coed. Cub Scouts are sorted into separate boy and girl “dens,” which together form larger packs for various events.

At the Boy Scout level, where the top achievement is the rank of “Eagle Scout,” there are now seven girl troops on Oahu. Nationally, more than 21,000 girls have joined girl-specific troops. For more information about upcoming recruitment events, visit www.scoutinghawaii.org.