The City Council last week granted the developer of the proposed North Shore Rural Community Commercial Center, to be built across from Shark’s Cove, a few more years to secure permits. Hanapohaku LCC’s main reasons for seeking the extension were delays due to COVID-19 and a now-resolved 2019 lawsuit against it and the city. That suit focused, in part, on concerns about preserving rural character and marine water quality.

In the interest of keeping the country country, the center’s tenants are rightly slated to prioritize services that area residents need, such as doctors’ offices. For now, though, the property is being used primarily by food trucks.

Better gun control measures

The issue of “ghost guns” clearly required more attention, and lawmakers provided it.

The law had already banned making or obtaining parts for these untraceable firearms that lack a serial number; it now also bans possession of the component parts, due to the enactment of House Bill 1366.

And HB 31 now requires gun owners to ensure safe firearm storage away from all minors under the age of 18, rather than 16.

Hawaii — a state already strict on gun ownership — can always improve, and has done so here.