McIlroy would be feather in Maui tourney’s cap

Sunday’s victory at the U.S. Open qualifies Rory McIlroy to play in next January’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Maui, but don’t count on his showing up.

He plans to remain in the European Tour rather than play an obligatory 15 times as a card-carrying PGA Tour member, his agent, Chubby Chandler, told The Irish Times.

Chandler told PGA Tour chief Tim Finchem at the U.S. Open that the new darling of golf "probably" would join the PGA tour if he didn’t have to play in the end-of-season FedEx series.

Meanwhile, golf commentator Mark Rolfing of Maui is lobbying to exempt Hyundai from the limit of 10 tournaments in which a non-PGA card-carrier may compete.

Is it too early to say, "Aloha, Rory"?

Hawaii Kai Foodland stirs populist passions

Malihinis may be scratching their heads about the outcry over the impending closure of Foodland Super Market at Koko Marina Shopping Center, to be replaced by Walgreens.

It’s a simple explanation, really: Foodland is an iconic presence, maybe the closest thing to a historic site a relatively newbie community like Hawaii Kai can claim.

No offense, Walgreens execs, but we Hawaii folks get a bit protective about our local landmarks — though this may be the only state classifying a supermarket among them.