‘Sounds of freedom’ can be a big annoyance

Tens of thousands of people enjoyed the Kaneohe Bay Airshow at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii over the weekend, and how could they not have? There were the high-flying, precise Navy Blue Angels, as well as displays of various military hardware and exciting pyrotechnics.

But not everybody enjoyed it: Many residents in the area suffered the significant noise generated by the event, not to mention the usual noise from helicopters and jets that comes with living near a military base.

Some fans of the military would call this the "sounds of freedom." Critics would point out that these public events have little military value and cost millions of dollars. Can a balance be found for these competing views?

Red folks here often more green than blue folks

Oahu Democrats who have been worried about the party’s threadbare commitment to environmental protection were especially miffed at state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz. His breach was introducing — and aggressively backing — a controversial bill creating special development districts around bus and rail stations where regulation would be streamlined.

Ultimately, the party contingent decided against censuring him. The larger problem for the party, though, is that there are GOP lawmakers truer to the Democratic Party’ environmental platform than actual Democrats. In Hawaii, even elected Republicans are tinged purple.