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Hawaii lawmakers are scheduled to conclude this year’s session on Thursday. But lots of bills died and it’s hard to think of much of substance that was accomplished.

A report requested by House leadership faulted State Auditor Les Kondo for late reports, unqualified staff and inconsistent standards. But Kondo is fighting back, arguing that the real reason behind auditing the auditor is purely political.

The recent influx of visitors to the islands brings to mind a tag line from the old “Poltergeist” films. We need tourists, but their outsize presence after a year’s absence is also a little unnerving.

The Hawaii House Speaker wants public officials to get substantial salary increases even as the state continues to struggle through a pandemic-induced economic crisis.

If Rip Van Winkle fell asleep in Honolulu in 2006 when the rail cost was $3 billion, imagine his reaction upon waking 15 years later.

Top Democrats in Hawaii are hailing the $1.6 billion in federal pandemic relief money to help the state budget. While fiscal challenges remain, the big bucks mean there will be no furloughs or layoffs of state workers.

The estate of Theodor Geisel said this week it will stop selling six Dr. Seuss titles, saying the books contained racial and ethnic stereotypes. The decision was denounced in some circles as going too far.

A bill to allow the use of psychedelic mushrooms for medical purposes was shelved earlier this month. But its author, Sen. Stanley Chang, is hopeful the legislation will do better down the road.

Lawmakers want to prevent sitting LG’s from holding second jobs, a ban that already applies to governors and mayors. That could impact Josh Green, an M.D. who works two weekends a month at a Big Island hospital.