So much emotion is tied up in animal care, especially for those who make it their career or chief avocation. That’s part of the force behind Monday’s protest fronting the Hawaiian Humane Society that centered largely on the numbers of treatable animals that are euthanized.

They may have a basis for complaint. But so do those who worry about how many feral animals are living uncontrolled throughout the island — many of them subjected to suffering as well.

Ideally, more energy would be directed at supporting society efforts to reduce animal births. That seems key to a real solution.

Crumbling cliffs cause for future concern

The Pali’s steep and crumbly slopes are notorious for landslides and rockfalls. So, for many Windward motorists, this week’s incidents of tumbling boulder bits and gushing red dirt on or above Pali Highway — touched off by soaking winter rains — were not a complete surprise.

When landslides cause the highway to close, traffic backups on alternate routes can be anticipated. For safety’s sake, be patient with state Department of Transportation crews continuing to assess slope stability and complete highway cleanup efforts.

In regards to long-term stability — amid climate change forecasts for greater storm intensity in future winters — the state may need to ramp up shielding near the highway’s tunnels.