Kukui High for fun, and now for profit

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in 5-0 Country.

No sooner had blogger Ryan Ozawa create a Web presence for Steve McGarrett’s fictional alma mater after the first passing mention on "Hawaii Five-0" than the concept went viral and Kukui swag began appearing on the site (www.kukuihigh.com). T-shirts, bumper stickers and computer wallpaper designs followed a nanosecond later.

Already the online discussion has touched on how the proceeds could benefit Hawaii’s real public schools (donations to nonprofit foundations have been proposed). But good luck stripping the profit motive from the Kukui High ("Home of the Fighting Nuts") craze. There are knockoffs of the official line of KHS goods already up for sale on eBay. 

From welfare to Waikiki

Looks like we owe the embattled California taxpayer for part of Hawaii’s own economic recovery.

A lot of them must be incensed to see state data showing that $387,908 in welfare payments to California residents was spent in the 50th state. Even Lanai, where visitors have few accommodation choices other than posh resorts, got a cut — about three grand.

Las Vegas got the lion’s share, about $11.8 million. Is it any consolation that Vegas may be one of the few places where the economy tanked as badly as it did in California? Probably not.