Ancient fishpond gets new life 

It’s exciting to see the first oyster harvest in Hawaii in decades, from the 800-year-old Molii Fishpond at Kualoa Ranch. 

Hawaii annually imports 400,000 oysters from the continental United States and Asia. 

Now, Kualoa Ranch has 28,000 Pacific oysters ready to bring to market. 

Experts estimate this could be a $20 million industry for Hawaii in the next five to 10 years. 

Using the ancient fishpond in this modern way is a bright light for Hawaii aquaculture. 

Let’s hope they try raising the endemic Hawaiian oyster next. 

GMO labeling bill deserves a rest

Yes, we know it’s not over until it’s over. 

But after reading the tea leaves  those grown without genetically modified organisms, that is  the GMO labeling bill does seem dead for this lawmaking session.

While it’s technically true that there is a vehicle still alive that could pass (the House leadership seems more amenable to the bill), it doesn’t look like the Senate was moved, even with all the passionate testimony in favor of requiring GMO labels. 

Opponents in either chamber can’t dismiss the critique that such a bill would hinder local agriculture, let alone the fact that states can’t really mess with interstate commerce. 

And they shouldn’t dismiss it, because those are actual problems.

So let’s call it a draw. 

The right-to-farm bill is dead, and there’s a nice space beside it to bury this one, too.