Maui is taking a step toward the 21st Century. Thanks to the passage of a local ballot measure Nov. 6, Maui County residents in Hana and on the neighbor islands of Lanai and Molokai will be able to testify at county council meetings in Wailuku without having to take a long drive or an expensive plane ride.

The technology is still a bit dark ages — telephones. But, according to a story on MauiNow.com, at least they’ll be able to do it.

Now, if only the state government would be so progressive. For a state that is as spread out as Hawaii, it would seem allowing residents on neighbor islands to phone in to legislative hearings or testify by teleconference would be a no-brainer. And yet …