The state Agriculture Department is launching a $1 million pilot program through which local farmers and ranchers can buy compost at half the cost, with taxpayers paying the balance. In lobbying for the funds, the department asserted that given challenges tied to federal food safety regulations and production costs, the costs of doing business as an agriculturalist here is a burden. OK.

The compost sourcing appears to be a fumble, however. Initially, the bill aimed to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfills or getting incinerated. So, it’s a bit puzzling that packaged compost from the mainland sold in local retail stores qualifies for the program’s reimbursement offer.

Kahele has to watch his vocabulary

Kai Kahele is looking to step up from the state Senate, to take U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s seat on Capitol Hill. Along the way he’s learning that anything one says on the campaign trail is bound to get out.

Kahele used what’s politely called a swear word in discussing the political match-up with the online publication Vice News, asserting that he thought it was off the record. Gabbard is running for the Democratic presidential nod. In that arena, it’s risky to assume that any secrets will stay secret.