With Congress and the president unable to agree on a budget deal, the federal government shut down on Tuesday, putting about 800,000 federal workers on furlough and closing agencies and facilities. In Hawaii, an estimated 25,000 people are on furlough, their paychecks cut off until the standoff is resolved. National parks, which are major attractions and economic drivers for Hawaii have been closed, including the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor and Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii’s top visitor attraction. Political cartoonist John Pritchett notes that Halloween came early this year, with Congress playing tricks rather than handing out treats.

About the author: John Pritchett is a longtime award-winning political cartoonist. He has been penning artwork in Hawaii for decades, including 20 years at the Honolulu Weekly. Find more of his work on the web at pritchettcartoons.com.