New laws that aim to protect our important cultural heritage may arise from the best of intentions, but they're pointless if government can't carry them out.

Yet this is what's happening in the case of old Hawaiian burials that are unearthed in the course of development. A new state law imposes a daily fine of $25,000 against anyone who knowingly damages burial sites or finds remains and then fails to stop work and report them to state authorities.

That reflects lawmakers' cultural sensitivity, perhaps, but it won't achieve any meaningful purpose if there's nobody at home over at the state Historic Preservation Division.

The division, which shoulders a heavy burden under the best of circumstances, is not in the best of circumstances these days. Woefully understaffed, the employee roster rife with vacancies, the office is drawing on only a fraction of its professional expertise.