Whatever one thinks of the fine against the Maile Sky Court project for workplace irregularities, the amount of the penalty was stunning, no argument: $767,095.

The fine was issued by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations following a raid last month by state and federal investigators probing complaints about the lack of insurance provided for unemployment, disability and the like.

The fact that the construction marketplace is so competitive now makes it doubly surprising: Shouldn’t that have the effect of enhancing worker compensation and benefits? That fat fine surely underscores the state’s message: Better not cut corners.

In interisland airline biz, optimism is only way to fly

In the tough airline industry, it surely helps to be the eternal optimist. So, props to Island Air’s execs for sounding upbeat despite a $5.1 million loss in the second quarter, its first full quarter under new ownership.

There was CEO David Uchiyama seeing things half-full, noting that this year’s second-quarter loss was actually smaller compared with last year’s, and using positive buzz words like “very encouraged,” “strongly positioned” and “moving forward.” Good luck — and up, up and away.