An island needs a bigger boat

Ah, yes, this is the life. Larry Ellison, multi-billionaire, buys almost the entirety of Lanai, his own private island (though he does have neighbors).

And now, as many were expected, he owns his own airline, with the announcement that his deal to buy Island Air has closed.

We’re all wondering what’s next for the chief executive officer of Oracle. His own fleet of ships, to go with the planes, perhaps?

Or maybe just a few seacraft, toting passengers and cargo between the islands, will suffice. We can call it "Superferry." Or, to sweeten the pot a bit, how about "Superlarry?"

You can’t always count on credit

It must have been a hard time for some customers of Hawaii’s two largest banks last week when they learned that their credit and debit cards had been blocked because of a security breach at a local restaurant.

Such an inconvenience is a reminder of how fragile our technological society has become, whether because of security breaches, government shenanigans or natural disasters. Not being able to use a credit or debit card on demand would have to rank as a major inconvenience — for example, if your car needed gas and you were going to pay with your credit card.

So, be prepared. It might be wise to always have a little bit of cash on hand, or in hand, as the case may be.