Hikianalia is bound for California, and is decidedly not taking the scenic route. In fact, the Polynesian Voyaging Society canoe, sibling to Hokule‘a, is sailing right through the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” — marine debris collecting in the central North Pacific — before making landfall in San Francisco.

Nainoa Thompson, PVS president and master navigator, will speak on the topic of “healthy oceans” at a climate summit Sept. 12-14. There’s no better way to motivate the society’s commitment to that subject than by powering right through one of the unhealthy zones.

Flipping homes not so profitable here

Those who know what they’re doing here, or simply luck into a below- market price on a home, can still make a tidy profit by fixing it up a bit and then “flipping” it for a higher price. With inventories so low, there are usually multiple buyers to compete and keep the price aloft.

But these days the entry fee to even get into the market is so high, Hawaii is not regarded as such an opportunity. The personal finance site WalletHub ranks Sioux Falls, S.D., atop its roster of 172 Best Cities to Flip Houses. Honolulu (No. 155) and Pearl City (No. 162) just missed the Worst 10 List.