First World road work comes to Kaimuki

Here’s another episode in the "Be careful what you wish for" department: The city has started a 16-month program of removing and resurfacing streets in the Kaimuki area from Kapahulu to 17th avenues.

It’s going to cost almost $10 million and involve a lot of inconvenience — to residents, businesses and anyone just passing through.

But, hey, talk about a Third World driving experience. Kaimuki right now is treacherous, considering the condition of its roads, and the road work is long overdue.

So on the one hand, it’s going to be a massive headache that will affect people’s lives and livelihoods for months to come. On the other hand, it’s about time, and thank you very much.

Car sales factoid proves age is relative

How nice it must have been for some people to read the other day about how some corporations have been adjusting their definitions of "younger buyers."

An Associated Press story about the huge sales increase in the U.S. of Toyota Camrys said the average age of buyers this year through July was between 51 and 52, "a full nine years younger than last year." And the average age of those buying the sportier Camry SE was 45 years old — "15 years younger than the average Camry buyer last year." Overall, almost half the Camry buyers this year were under 45, versus 34 percent last year.

"That’s what’s driving it down, bringing the younger buyer in," said a U.S. Toyota executive.

Flattery might just get you everywhere — into a Camry, perhaps.