Hawaii’s economy is improving — or not

Is Hawaii’s economic glass half-empty or half-full? That’s the lingering question after two new reports seemed to suggest divergent bottom lines.

First came the state Council on Revenues, which revised downward its fiscal 2015 forecast — a 3.5 percent growth instead of an earlier, rosier 5.5 percent prediction. That means about $110 million less in tax revenues than initially thought, which is sure to trigger caution on the next state budget.

Then there was the positive report, by Hospitality Advisors LLC, showing Hawaii’s hotel and time-share industries are pacing for a strong finish in 2014 that should continue into 2015.

Beyond tourism, though, the key cause for fiscal pessimism was the weaker-than-expected construction industry. Yes, despite those visible cranes in our skyline, new construction is lagging initial projections.

Do alcohol breath tests require a warrant?

The lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state law that criminalizes refusal to take a sobriety breath test presents an interesting legal argument. Defense attorney Jonathan Burge asserts that breath tests should require a warrant as a consequence of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that warrants are required for blood draws in similar DUI cases.

Should the judge find that breath tests constitute unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment, one has to wonder how DUI laws will be enforced.

Perhaps police could just go back to the walk-a-straight-line test. Getting a designated driver lined up would be a smarter move.