Hawaiirama sure knows how to pick'em. I posted yesterday about bedbugsat the posh Halekulani. The hotel said it took care of them plus its bedbitten guest in April. Now it looks like this grand dame hotel is going to take care of the hottest politician since JFK. Dems are planning to host an already over-subscribed private and pricey fundraiser for favorite Hawaii son Barack Obama at the hotel sometime on August 12. Obama is dropping into the islands to chill out and visit family and friends -- most of whom could not afford the $10,000 price tag that gets you entry into the private reception with Barry himself (they call him Barry in Hawaii). Said one fundraiser in the Honolulu Advertiser article, "I've been around this kind of stuff for 40 years (and) never in my life have I seen anything like this."

—Alex, 07/22/08