Hawaiian names take a back seat

Hawaii might be one of the 50 states, but Hawaiian names don’t seem to have much cache at the national level, at least not among parents of newborns. Social Security Administration data show there wasn’t one Hawaiian name among the top 100 names given to babies born in America during 2011, nor even among the top 200. Nationwide, the first Hawaiian name to show up on the 2011 list, at No. 202, was Kai ("ocean"). For baby girls nationwide, the most popular Hawaiian name in 2011 was Leilani ("heavenly garland of flowers"), at No. 244.

In Hawaii, state data show that the first Hawaiian names to show up for 2011 newborns were also Kai, at No. 12 for boys, and Malia (Mary), at No. 13 for girls.

Smaller cities can be fun to visit, too

Allegiant Air has been going after vacation travelers from smaller western U.S. cities who would rather not brave the big-city airports of Los Angeles, Seattle and such to get to Hawaii.

Couldn’t Allegiant start pitching packages to the mainland-bound Hawaii travelers, too? Smaller destinations have their share of attractions, including annual events.

In California, there’s the Stockton Asparagus Festival in late April and the Big Fresno Fair in mid-October. In the Pacific Northwest, there’s the Bellingham, Wash., Ski to Sea Race, a 100-mile cornucopia of seven sports. Or the more relaxed Eugene Celebration in August in the Oregon metropolis of that name.

Allegiant is also starting thrice-weekly service between Honolulu and Las Vegas. But we all know how to amuse ourselves over there.