David Shapiro: How many dead fish does it take to spell ‘incompetence’?

November’s done and it’s time to “flASHback” on the month’s news that amused and confused:

>> Gov. David Ige announced a special Christmas Open House at Washington Place. It’ll include exhibits, music, free parking and accommodation for protesters who wish to block access to the event.

>> Officials with the Thirty Meter Telescope project say they are still committed to Mauna Kea despite news TMT received building permits for an alternate site in the Canary Islands. They won’t officially ditch us until they make Hawaiian protesters suffer through a cold winter.

>> The state killed hundreds of oopu fish it was trying to help during improvement work at Wailuku River. Perhaps it’s not so bad that Ige ignores state hospitals.

>> The Legislature is installing diaper changing stations on each floor of the Capitol. As the saying goes: “Politicians are like diapers; they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.”

>> Tulsi Gabbard’s attacks on the Democratic Party at the presidential debate got a thumb’s-up from Donald Trump. He didn’t give her the Cabinet job she wanted, but he’s fitting her for a MAGA hat.

>> Colleen Hanabusa officially launched her campaign for mayor of Honolulu. After losing races for U.S. Senate and governor, she’s attempting a triathlon of defeat.

>> The city sent former Police Chief Louis Kealoha a letter demanding he repay his $250,000 retirement payoff after pleading guilty to fraud. The letter came back stamped “Return to Sucker.”

>> Federal prosecutors dropped new subpoenas on city hall in their ongoing corruption probe, and a fresh batch went separately to the city rail agency. The elves at this year’s Honolulu Hale Christmas display will be dressed in orange jump suits.

>> The City Council is considering a limit of two consecutive four-year terms for the city prosecutor, the same as for mayor and Council members. That way, they can be in sync in overlooking each other’s wrongdoing.

>> Damien Kim is still serving on the the board of the Honolulu rail authority five months after his term ended because the City Council can’t find qualified candidates interested in succeeding him. Maybe Katherine Kealoha can get a work furlough.

>> A report says Hawaii faces grave consequences without urgent action to eradicate invasive bugs. That’s not a nice way to talk about our elected officials.

And a double quote of the month … on Pa‘ani Kakou, a luxury developer-backed group behind a controversial “world-class” playground proposed for Ala Moana Park:

From Mayor Kirk Caldwell: “The idea the city is allowing rich people to take over park land to build a luxury playground is ludicrous. … Pa‘ani Kakou should be thanked, not vilified.”

From blogger Ian Lind: “By my count, the campaign contributions to Mayor Caldwell linked to the directors of the nonprofit Pa‘ani Kakou came to a total of $123,900.”

Caldwell’s astrological sign is “For Sale.”