Friday 5 for December 24: Brainstorming

Merry Christmas! And now to answer the weekly Friday 5 questions.

1. If you owned a new professional sports team (pick any sport!), what would you name it, and what be its team colors?

Out here in Hawaii, owning a professional sports team is totally unfeasible for maybe the exception of one type... Minor League Baseball. In order for that to be successful, there has to be 1. fans willing to come to a small ball field to watch games all the time 2. connection to a MLB team preferably on the West Coast 3. A good radio and streaming TV contract rights 4. Ability to probably have to pay for competing teams to fly over and stay in Hawaii for each game 5. and last but not least a good small stadium that has plenty of parking and near the metropolitan area where some people could walk to the games for a day/night of viewing.

Cue up the old Honolulu Stadium. This was a reality back in the day and that team was called the Hawaii Islanders. It was for more part very successful in urban Honolulu at the small rickety wooden facility. 

The team pretty much went back north after the forced move to Aloha Stadium and probably the increased costs, distance, etc. from their fan base. 

So yes, in an ideal, and somewhat nostalgic way, a revival of the Hawaii Islanders baseball franchise could be doable. Heck they could even elect to play at 4 or 5 home "stadiums".... Honolulu U.H. stadium (with a good rental agreement as to not interfere with the UH team in scheduling) , Maui, Hilo, Kona and maybe Kauai, though the population there may be too small.

It could be something worth looking into as long as they do not have to play at a large overpriced, costly and as of yet unbuilt Aloha Stadium replacement.

All in all this would be a super expensive venture that has a huge share of risk.

Answer: Minor League Baseball team, Hawaii Islanders (revival) depending on who owns the right to that name.

2. If you owned a new restaurant, what would you name it, and what kind of cuisine would it serve?

Restaurants are the most mortal business anyone can take a risk at starting and running. Most restaurants go out of business in a very short time unless they have some kind of unique selling point. I for one would never go into this business. I am not passionate about cooking or even eating out, given COVID-19 and all the regulatory crap that goes along with it. Plus restaurants are so highly regulated I have to ask myself is it worth the time and money?

That said, the cheapest thing I could think of coming up with is a shaved ice stand with just a minimum offering, a tiny space or a mobile set-up. Mel's Shaved Ice and Cheap Snacks

3. If you owned a little independent retail shop, what would you name it, and what would it sell?

A record and CD music store that sold used music including vinyl, CDs, tapes and maybe some videos. It is a big risky kind of business to go into since it requires a lot of inventory, with most not selling very quickly. Plus the competition from digital and online streaming is huge... so a store such as this would be a very niche operation. 

We have two record stores that I know of in this city and maybe that is enough. The market for physical music media is not that huge.

Name? Desert Island Discs? I dunno.

4. If you launched a charity, what would be its cause?

There needs to be a charity for those people with serious long-term body injuries or conditions, who live below the poverty line, and cannot afford to pay for needed surgery to correct their condition. Is there such a charity where people in need can be funded for major surgery that Medicare nor Medicaid are willing to fund? 

Tell me about it or someone or group with deep pockets, please start one. Thank you.

5. What kind of recreation is sorely lacking in your town?

Over the years Hawaii has seen the decline or elimination of the following:

• Ice Skating Ring
• Bowling Alleys
• Slot Car Racing
• Drag Racing Park
• Sanctioned Motocross area
• Dumpster Diving (a joke!)