Fundraising company failed to research its targets

Talk about bad luck. Representatives of Freedom United States LLC were going door-to-door in Windward Oahu communities, soliciting donations to send care packages overseas to the troops.

Behind one of the doors, it turns out, was Hugh Jones, supervising deputy attorney general. His particular specialty: oversight of charities.

Which, as it happens, Freedom United States is not. The AG’s office last week issued a cease-and-desist order. Jones said it’s not a nonprofit, donations are not tax-deductible and its financial records can’t be tracked.

Bet for-profit fundraisers will do what they can in the future to be more selective: Steer clear of houses where state regulators of such activity may dwell.

‘Green jobs’ czar made some Republicans see red

Republicans who had touched down in Hawaii for the GOP caucuses have left town just in time to avoid a confrontation, it seems.

Van Jones is in town today, 5-9 p.m., for an assembly on environmental activism themes, at the rotunda of the State Capitol.

The former "green jobs" czar served briefly in the Obama White House before resigning in the wake of protests by Republican leaders over controversial past statements and actions.

Fortunately, this is the Aloha State, and partisan rancor seems less, well, rancorous here.