Posted on: Wednesday, May 30, 2001

Editorial
Sandy advertising? No, we don't need it here

Excuse us for being old sticks-in-the-sand, but this latest advertising gimmick on the Mainland is something we just don't need here.

Maybe you missed the story. Someone has come up with a beach-cleaning machine that leaves behind smoothly raked sand with a message stamped into it.

Yes, it could be a wholesome public service message, such as "Don't throw your cigarette butts into the sand."

But it could just as easily be a sales pitch for an ocean cruise, a place to buy a mai tai or maybe even information on the best place to pick up plastic hula skirts and lei.

You can bet that someone will come along shortly and offer a great cheap deal on beach cleaning if we just let them leave their message behind. Sure, the message will be wiped out by time and tide, but we just don't need it.

Hawai'i prides itself on being a place where outside advertising and clutter is hard to find and limited in scope.

Let's keep it that way.