One "only in Hawai'i" wrinkle in the brutal admission decision timing: While you used to have to wait by the mailbox for the envelope, these days some colleges offer the decisions online.

The problem?

Elsewhere, schools are careful to make the unveiling after hours, so you can read the results in the privacy of your own home. But "after hours" for the Mainland schools isn't after hours here.

"Early Decision Friday," as Punahou senior Todd Seki dubbed it, was one of those days.

"Everyone knew who got in and who didn't," he said. "People were definitely sad. If you're really that emotionally into it, you shouldn't check (for online admissions decisions) at school."

The head college counselor at his school, Myron Arakawa, recommends waiting until you get home to go online, no matter what. There's nothing worse than getting bad news in front of a group, or having to conceal your good news because one of your schoolmates got bad news.

When that happens, "it's a rough day for the kids and the teachers," he said.