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It’s the last Sunday in August and time to flASHback on the month’s news that amused and confused: Read more

It’s the last Sunday in August and time to flASHback on the month’s news that amused and confused:

>> As Mauna Kea telescope protests gained strength into their second month, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim and Gov. David Ige differed on who made the decision to call off arrests. It depends whether you believe Abbott or Costello.

>> Sen. Mazie Hirono hedged her bets on Mauna Kea, saying, “I believe in the rule of law … but I also believe people have a right to civil disobedience.” She’s from the Groucho Marx school of politics: If you don’t like her principles, she has others.

>> Observance of Hawaii’s 60th statehood anniversary was muted as we remain in a state of confusion about whether we want to be one. If Donald Trump hears this, he’ll try to trade us for Greenland.

>> Republicans disappointed by the lack of celebrations held a statehood dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The local GOP always had a taste for eating its own.

>> Kealii Lopez resigned as Hawaii Democratic chairwoman to work for AARP. It puts her in better position to service her party’s leading presidential candidates.

>> Mayor Kirk Caldwell held a political fundraiser at Waialae Country Club, asking up to $4,000 a head amid hints he’ll run for governor in 2022. Lofty ambitions for a guy who proved the Peter Principle two jobs ago.

>> Lt. Gov. Josh Green, also eyeing the governorship, fund raised in San Francisco for $2,500 donations, proclaiming: “I’m focused on providing caring, thoughtful leadership now and into the future.” Nothings says caring about Hawaii like getting paid off by California special interests.

>> The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation named former Island Air CEO David Uchiyama as chief operating officer for Oahu rail. Only HART would turn to the head of a failed airline to make this pig fly.

>> Rail exec Andrew Robbins said service will start late next year with a “soft opening,” explaining, “We don’t want people to be disappointed on Day One with massive lines to get onto the system.” More like massive lines of homeless eager to move in.

>> Officials warned of the annual “Beat the School Jam” as classes started at the epicenter of Honolulu’s traffic woes — the University of Hawaii. Isn’t it great we’ll someday have a $9.2 billion train that won’t go there?

>> Caldwell insisted his new bulky item pickup system is starting to work despite piles of uncollected trash around the city. It’s working fine if the goal is to blackmail us into paying his extra fee for trash pickup.

And the quote of the month … from former Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa on Mauna Kea protests: “We’re going to let a handful of people stop what most people believe is a good project?” Only when they donate to his campaigns.