ORIGINAL HONOLULU ADVERTISER PHOTO BY CARL VITI
A August 20, 1994 photo of Tyke the Elephant running through the streets of Honolulu after escaping the circus at the Blaisdell Arena.
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Gov. David Ige has signed off on a proposal to amend Hawaii law to effectively ban wild animal acts in the islands. That means no more lions, tigers or bears in circuses and other shows. What’s more, no more cheetahs, rhinos, hippos, alligators, crocodiles, chimpanzees or gorillas. However, the rule does allow importing these types of animals for government zoo exhibition, and television and movie shoots.
Hawaii is the second state to put in place a ban — a good move to avoid safety risks for the animals as well as the public. Following the lead of some municipalities, New Jersey on Dec. 14 authorized the first statewide prohibition on the use of numerous exotic animals in shows.
Nonprofits come to rescue amid federal shutdown
A functional government should not be put in mothballs, partially or in full. So Uncle Sam’s limited service during the partial shutdown merits disapproval and dismay from every taxpayer.
Nonprofits have come to the rescue of at least some federal activities. In Hawaii, this includes the USS Arizona Memorial, being kept open with $18,000 a day from four area charities: Pacific Historic Parks, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, the Battleship Missouri Memorial and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
The shutdown may last a while, but they deserve thanks for however long they pitch in.
