"$33.85 million more has also gushed into the local economy through food purchases, lodging, equipment and stuff."

The Hawaiian Islands are known for many things including, but not limited to, Kelly Slater burritos, shave ice, duck tours, Roy’s fusion cusine, Spam musubi, sugar cane trains and seasonal drownings. Soon, though, that list might include Maybachs and Rolls-Royces purchased in bulk. But you are certainly aware of the new hit television drama “Rescue: HI-Surf” set on Oahu’s famed North Shore.

The series, a fan darling, has been soaring in the ratings as it features the action-packed days of North Shore lifeguards and, I assume, ambulance drivers.

Well, not only is it drawing millions of eyeballs, it is making locals millions upon millions of dollars.

Maui Now is reporting the program has “hired over 2,100 local cast and crew to be part of the first season. Collectively, the hires earned more than $31.75 million in wages.”

$31.75 million?

Eureka!

Native Hawaiian filmmaker Erin Lau, who is directing an upcoming episode, might be related to Zeke and might also be in the market for a new McLaren declared, “I am incredibly grateful for the support from our local film community and the collective of organizations and advocates that have helped me grow as a filmmaker and are empowering even more voices. Opportunities like this are essential for our emerging artists, and I’m thrilled to be part of ʻRescue: HI-Surf’ as it celebrates Hawai‘i’s creatives and stories.”

Maui Now has also deduced $33.85 million has gushed into the local economy through “food purchases, lodging, equipment and office rentals and goods and services from local vendors.”

I’ll be Jamie O’Briened!

Have you ever thought of moving to the islands and getting filthy rich?

Sorry, it’s too late.

"Who made this list?"

The surf world shifted on its axis, yesterday, after Kelly Slater, the world’s greatest competitive surfer, raked Sam George, the world’s most important surf thinker, with a vicious online takedown. At issue, the “10 most influential surf spots on the planet” as decreed by the aforementioned George and published upon The Inertia, the world’s most “definitive voice of surfing and the outdoors.”

After dismissing Slater’s Abu Dhabi facility as irrelevant, George declared, “There is a quantifiable list of global surf spots that over the decades have significantly affected the direction of the sport. Perhaps not the most ‘perfect’ waves, or hollowest, or prettiest or most famous. But based on any reasonable standard, certainly the most influential.”

The list.

10) Sebastian Inlet

9) North Narrabeen

8) Killers (Todos Santos)

7) Ala Moana

6) Peahi

5) Cape St. Frank

4) Malibu

3) Honolua Bay

2) Steamer Lane

1) Waikiki

Taking to Instagram, Slater responded in the cruelest, most dismissive way possible, simply writing, “Who made this list?”

Sam George certainly unable to hold the damn back on bitter tears. Not only was his eminence questioned, but his whole person apparently unknown.

Slater wasn’t alone in the demolition of the monument the self-appointed guru has made to himself. Conner Coffin chimed, “Bell’s Beach ! Snapper rocks!? Lowers!? Pipeline!? Random ass list!” Kolohe Andino added, “Whoever made this list should be fired. No pipeline?No lowers?!Hahahahhahahahahahahahhaha” Kelly Slater came back for seconds, filling out his initial eye poke with “I think a case could be made for that as it helped foster multiple world champions. Most people are probably caught up on what is best today but historically places like Ulu, J Bay, Pipeline, even Huntington played various influential roles in surfing. You’d likely have to have some yardstick as to why or how they did but Waimea would be there. Maybe even Bell’s as far as competition and history. But there are some glaring omissions and strange choices here IMO.”

Sam “Strange Choices” George.

Wellness check on him, please.