Off the News

Mallards in a not-so-ducky situation

Is it really necessary to get rid of all the feral mallard ducks in Hawaii as a way to ensure the survival of the endangered Hawaiian duck, or koloa maoli? Apparently the mallards and koloa maoli have been mating through the years, with the result being a dilution of the genetic makeup of pure koloa maoli. Now there are only about 3,000 pure koloa maoli left, and some environmentalists are worried.

Mallards are subject to importation restrictions here, but not because they are an "invasive species" in the economic sense, threatening commercial crops. In fact, ducks in general love to eat apple snails, a truly invasive species that is a threat to Hawaii’s important taro crop, so maybe it’s more ducks the merrier. Perhaps a better way to protect the koloa maoli is to go after feral cats, rats and mongoose that eat their eggs and young, as well as protect their wetland habitats. Can’t all ducks just get along?

We’re still wondering about the pink moustache

The ride-sharing service Lyft, new to Honolulu, might be a fun ride, featuring cars outfitted with furry pink mustaches on their grills. But it’s not a free ride — so don’t be confused by the "donation" pricing model. All transactions are via credit card, and if a user fails to pay within 24 hours of the ride, the card is automatically charged, according to the company’s website. Conventional cab companies are none too fond of Lyft’s peer-to-peer service, so it will be interesting to see what happens on the legal front.