From The Garden Island:

Here on Kauai, the mere mention of a Hawaiian monk seal can quickly stir up conversations about their origin, eating habits and whether references to the seals can be found in traditional Hawaiian chants.

But many, including Don Heacock, an aquatic biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on Kauai, say those debates are taking away from the real issue: How are we, the people of this island state, going to coexist with and manage their growing population, as well as look at their long-term conservation?

“The key to this is opening communication, being honest and respecting one another,” he said. … Read the full story.

And here’s the latest in other neighbor isle gov’t and politics:

Kauai Grown redefines marketing of agricultural products

GMO:$243 million seed industry largest in state’s ag sector

Papaya: A GMO success story

Zippy’s at Prince Kuhio Mall to open in August

GMO: A war is raging over food and science

Rice research under way in Hawaii

Safety of pesticide-producing gene debated

Camp Tarawa helped build Waimea

New school Puu Kukui closing in on capacity

Maui advocacy groups, legislators hopeful for election reform

Developer optimistic about West Maui hospital funding

Photo courtesy Jared Wong.

—Chad Blair