Those “thuds” heard around the nation late Tuesday and early Wednesday were jaws dropping as Donald Trump’s path to the GOP presidential nomination suddenly cleared with the exits of Ted Cruz and John Kasich. Jaws dropping everywhere — in either despair or jubilation, depending on one’s mindset. Hawaii’s Republicans contributed to Trump’s upward trajectory, with 43 percent of them voting in their March caucus for the billionaire businessman, giving him 11 delegates; Cruz got 32 percent of the caucus voters for seven delegates.

All signs point to Trump versus Hillary Clinton, a showdown that promises boisterous months ahead of the general election. It’s sure to be gritty and entertaining — but will it be good for the country?

Transgender training in the schools?

The national debate over equity to transgender people, most recently flaring with a North Carolina law, has come home. The state Department of Education is being urged to adopt a more specific statewide policy protecting transgender students and more training for school staff.

More training is always good. But the DOE already has drafted guidelines that would bar harassment, bullying and discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, religion, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, physical appearance and characteristic and sexual orientation.

That would appear to cover it … or not, according to activists.