Wow, Wie is playing really well

Winning would be better, of course, but win or lose, it’s always special to watch Michelle Wie doing her thing on her Hawaii home turf.

This week, defending champ Wie and others have definitely had their work cut out for them in the 2015 LOTTE Championship at Ko Olina against tour rookie Sei Young Kim, who’s been on fire.

The LOTTE tourney ends Saturday; armchair athletes can follow Wie and her LPGA colleagues on the GOLF channel starting at 1 p.m.

Bankoh banks on future customers

Think of it as planting seeds for a new crop of customers who might otherwise be lost to the banking industry.

Bank of Hawaii is doing it, with the launch of its "Ease" debit card, aimed mainly at people for whom the term "financial institution" has meant payday-loan and check-cashing businesses.

It’s free to open the account of $25 or more, and there are no overdraft penalties. Execs figure that’s a simple way to bring newcomers into the banking family.

The hope is that once people have a steadier income, they will transition to a conventional account. Good marketing strategy, Bankoh.

As for the new customers: Better get acquainted with online and mobile banking with the Ease card. Bankoh makes that free — and, one hopes, easy.