For advocates of House Bill 2424, a measure responding to the disappearance of 6-year-old Ariel Kalua, Gov. David Ige’s veto was tough news. Ige told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s “Spotlight Hawaii” webcast audience on Wednesday that it was “probably the hardest veto I had to deal with,” again pointing to intrusive investigation into foster adoption cases.

Ige also cited better news: Hawaii’s post-pandemic economic growth. Added revenues could go toward state child-welfare services, at the very least.