The Zo Zone

Question: So what do you think of the hula figurine?
Answer: It’s funny. It’s neat. It’s one of a kind. I think it’s a little unusual, but I think it’ll be fun to see the fan reaction.
Q: You’re supposed to be able to stick the figurine to your dashboard. I suppose you’ll be doing that?
A: It definitely won’t be on my dashboard, but I’m anxious to see whose dashboard has one when I’m walking the streets of Philly.
Q: So do you actually go to luaus when you’re home?
A: Yeah, I go to them. Even being born and raised there, I still go to those. It’s a Hawaiian tradition. I like it. You get good meals there. You get to see the hula dancers. It’s fun. I’m glad it’s part of our culture.
Q: So when’s the last time you wore a grass skirt?
A: Spring training (to promote the figurine). That’s it. You won’t find me wearing a grass skirt very often.
Q: What’s your hometown Wailuku like?
A: It’s small. It’s about 10 minutes from the ocean, either way. It’s a small, little town. I think there are two high schools in the town. One was a private high school, which is where I went. St. Anthony. It’s not very big. It’s laid back. Quiet.
Q: So are you recognized on the streets of Wailuku?
A: People recognize me, yeah. I did a lot of things in high school and my family also is well known. (His father Mike Victorino is a Maui County council member.)
Q: So let’s test your Hawaiian baseball knowledge. Which native Hawaiian has the most hits in baseball history?
A: I have no idea. Mike Lum?
Q: Mike Lum (with 877). The most wins for a Hawaiian in baseball history?
A: Sid Fernandez, probably.
Q: Charlie Hough (with 216).
A: Charlie Hough is Hawaiian?
Q: It says he is, at least according to baseball-reference.com. How about most stolen bases?
A: It was Len Sakata. I think I passed that though, or does he still have it?
Q: He still has it. He has 30. You have 27 (entering Wednesday’s game against Arizona.). … You currently lead the National League with seven outfield assists. You joked with ESPN’s Jayson Stark recently that you learned to throw by throwing coconuts as a kid. So I guess you hear a lot of coconut jokes?
A: Coconuts, pineapples, that’s all everybody ever talks about. They see you’re from Hawaii and it’s like, “OK, pineapple.” Everybody thinks we have pineapple for every meal.
Q: You don’t?
A: We don’t.
Q: I know you don’t surf, so what do you do at the beach?
A: I’ll just hang out. I’ll get in the water. I’ll go out on a boogie board, but I’m not going to surf.
Q: Why not?
A: I don’t know. I just never found a love for it. I have no idea why.
Q: Best beach?
A: D.T. Fleming (in Maui) is a pretty nice beach.
Q: So if I tell you I’m heading to Hawaii, what are the three things I have to see?
A: Drive the Road to Hana. Sunrise at Haleakala. And see the sunset.
Q: Do you own any Hawaiian shirts?
A: Oh, yeah. But not now. They’re all back home in Hawaii.
Q: Best TV theme song: Hawaii Five-O or Magnum P.I.?
A: Gotta be Hawaii Five-O.
Q: So you do you like hearing Mele Kalikimaka at Christmas time or does it drive you nuts?
A: Yeah, I like it. It’s on everywhere at Christmas.
Q: For whatever reason, it seems TV shows always have special episodes in Hawaii. There’s the Brady Bunch, Growing Pains and shows like that. What’s your favorite?
A: I don’t know. I’ve never seen any of them.