Hawaii’s expensive for tourists, too

We can be had, but we’re not cheap. Not that cheap, anyway.

TripAdvisor Inc., the Web company that dishes travel reviews and deals, is out with its latest TripIndex list of most expensive cities (and by contrast, the most affordable) for summer vacationing. Honolulu’s rank is fifth most expensive among U.S. destinations.

According to its survey, the total cost per night is $398.23, a tab that includes the hypothetical $301.26 hotel room and the $18.20 return taxi trip cocktails and dinner for two costing $22 and $56.77, respectively.

The lowest cost in America this summer? At $263.46, it’s Las Vegas. Where do you think folks from Honolulu will be headed? It’s a safe bet.

UH v. USC: Nothing to lose except the game

Well, there’s always next year.

Perhaps that’s the unspoken sentiment for new head coach Norm Chow and his University of Hawaii Warriors, who will be 35-point underdogs (or more, depending on who’s counting) at the Coliseum in Southern California, where they face the top-ranked USC Trojans on Sept. 1.

On national TV, no less. But who’s worried? Besides, the next time will be better — if for no other reason than we get to see the two teams do battle at home. USC is scheduled to play at Aloha Stadium on Aug. 31, 2013, and without a couple of first-round NFL draft prospects. That’s good enough for us.