It’s good news that Oahu’s Community Outreach Court — aka the “homeless court” — has cleared 268 cases involving 21 defendants, who were cited for such charges as urinating in public and loitering. Four homeless defendants have been housed, one permanently.

That might not sound like a lot, but the court has been open for business only since January. It’s worth continuing and expanding the effort. Helping the homeless get straight with the law can be an important step in straightening up their lives as well.

More distressing destruction at Iolani Palace

Sadly, Friends of Iolani Palace is contending with a case of deja vu vandalism. On Sunday, state sheriffs arrested a 57-year-old man after he allegedly broke etched glass panes in three doors on the mauka side of the building. Back in April 2014, glass on the front door (makai side) was shattered during a break-in incident. In that case, a 21-year-old woman ended up serving jail time and was ordered to pay $11,540 in restitution.

The nonprofit group is now trying to determining whether the just-damaged glass panes were installed when the palace was constructed in the early 1880s. The estimated value of the 130-year-old glass vandalized three years ago was $100,000.