Honolulu Star Bulletin
Friday, February 1, 2002
THEBUZZ
Section C

Computer Crashed? Go ahead, have a cow!
By Erika Engle
THEBUZZ

Parts of the Cowabunga! Computers' Web site at www.smartcows.com could lead one to believe that the company is a bunch of frat house geeks who scraped together a few bucks to register a "business" and rent an office to have somewhere to hang out other than at home with their parents.

Company President Yasuo Ogawa refers to himself as the rancher and his company nickname is "Holycow." The system administrator's title is "Insider"; but his nickname is "Tripe" "because it is the inside," said Ogawa.

Other cow crew names among the 10-member herd include "Eurocow," "Hapacow," "Madcow," "Cowboy," "Yukiniku," "Farmer" in sales, ("Because he farms our business," Ogawa said.) and "Iron Chef," the business manager ("because he mixes things up").

The computer servers have names too -"Lani (as in Lani Moo)," "Cattle Prod," "Steer," etc.

Does this computer service and Internet service provider, established in June, take anything seriously?

Most of its Web pages answer yes, when they need to -such as the frequently asked questions page which addresses help topics and customer service issues.

"We probably have more JD's and advanced degrees working in our office than most law firms," Ogawa said. "It just so happens that they don't want to live the corporate life anymore."

Hence, the wag-factor at Cowabunga! remains high.

"No one can take away our attitude. No one can take away our passion for computers," Ogawa said. I don't know who said life has to be serious."

The two company cars reflect their attitude -the Volkswagen Beetles are blatantly reminiscent of Gateway computer boxes. They bear the same markings as Holsteins and Texas Longhorns, according to photos at www.crazyforcows.com.

The cars would look the same if Gateway had one of its similarly designed "Country Stores" in this market.

"I think cows have been entitled to those rights for 2,000 years before Gateway, and regarding the laws you cannot patent a living thing," he said. Besides, "they can only wish they're as good as us," he said.

The Cowabunga! offices are in South Beretania Street's Executive Plaza, but Ogawa's business interests span the Pacific Ocean. The corporate parent of Cowabunga! is Lumi International LLC, the principals of which include Ogawa, his brother Kazuhiro, and his mother. "It's a family affair," he said.

Lumi International's operations include restaurants and real estate in Japan, tech-related businesses in Japan and California, and soon an art gallery in Waikiki.