Man in a malo streaks into fame

Anyone old enough to remember Ray Stevens’ 1974 novelty song about a fad at the time — running naked in public, usually before a TV camera — might be forgiven for saying a Hawaiian torch-bearer at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation event was a "streaker."

Lots of the media did, most of them reporters and photogs simply charmed by the secretary of state’s reaction. In a video clip that went viral, Hillary Clinton wheeled around and exploded into laughter.

Facts are facts, though. He was wearing a malo, which, technically speaking, disqualifies him for streakerdom. Had he simply ambled by without running, he might have escaped notice and missed his 15 minutes of fame.

Greed isn’t just in the private sector

Here’s some welcome news from the state Department of Education: It has a blueprint for cracking down on a string of thefts by school employees in recent months.

Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi this week unveiled plans for a fraud-reporting hotline, a boost in its internal auditing capacity and training to help staff spot thievery in progress.

The Hall of Shame now includes a former high school business manager and secretaries at two elementary schools. But it’s the high school case that is most startling, with almost a half-million dollars stolen over the course of five years.

The suspect there will make his first court appearance on Monday. Good thing for him everyone’s in school then and won’t be able to attend. Given the struggle to make ends meet, the reception likely wouldn’t be very warm.