Felony convictions of a former Honolulu police officer, his wife and three others should send a strong message to law-enforcement officials protecting cockfighting operations. They follow the conviction in August of a Florida man caught trying to smuggle cockfighting spurs into the country at Honolulu Airport. U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo has shown his willingness to crack down on cockfighting, and his yet-to-be-named successor in the Obama administration should continue the effort. The state should join in the effort.

Kevin Brunn, a 23-year police officer, was convicted by a District Court jury of conspiring to facilitate a gambling operation in Waialua from 2003 to 2005. Two other former Honolulu Police Department officers - Bryson Apo and Glenn Myram - have pleaded guilty to helping protect the operation from law enforcement. Apo was sentenced last year to 18 months in prison and Myram is awaiting sentencing.

The outrageous protection also included a state liquor inspector and director of Aloha Stadium security, plus several relatives. The cockfight was operated by 79-year-old Douglas Gilman Sr. and his sons Douglas Jr. and William, all convicted of conducting an illegal gambling operation.

The operation was discovered four years ago when the FBI found that Charmaine Moniz, a drug-squad secretary for the agency, was leaking information. In all, more than 30 people were charged with federal crimes.

The operation preceded the enactment of a federal law that makes interstate or foreign transportation of rooster for fighting purposes or of paraphernalia, such as spurs, or gaffs, used in cockfights a felony. In August, a Louisiana landscaper, was caught trying to smuggle 263 gaffs from the Philippines through Honolulu Airport in February, a month after the law took effect. He was convicted in August and sentenced to two months behind bars.

Congress has recognized cockfighting as among the most despicable forms of animal cruelty, resulting in punctured lungs, broken bones and eyes pierced by gaffs. Meanwhile, Hawaii remains among 15 states where cockfighting is a misdemeanor. Proponents maintain that cockfighting is a cultural tradition, even though it is considered barbaric throughout most of the civilized world and was banned by King Kalakaua in 1884.

As state legislators remain complacent, federal law might be the most effective way to combat the horrific activity. At the county level, enforcement of related offenses - illegal gambling is an integral aspect of the bloodsport - might remain the only way of ridding the cruelty from the islands.