Money has started arriving for some of the 600,000 Hawai'i households that will get a total of $500 million from the federal stimulus package and, like a lot of people, Rebecca Dayhuff used her refund for nothing sexier than paying down debt.

Dayhuff, a 26-year-old attorney, couldn't even think about using her $600 refund for anything fun like a trip.

"That $600 doesn't even make a dent in student loans," she said. "You're not going to go to Vegas when you have so much debt."

The Economic Stimulus Act gives money to 130 million U.S. households, which could theoretically pump about $152 billion back into the stuttering economy.

"We feel people might come in and buy that plasma TV that they've been waiting for, maybe a nice flat screen," said Tom Luiz, operations manager for the Best Buy store in Iwilei. "We expect that people may use their checks toward electronics."

In reality, people like Dayhuff are skipping the toys for a more pragmatic approach.

Her friend, fellow attorney Claire Goldberg, 27, also applied her $600 to law school loans for her education at the University of Michigan.

"I wish I had more exciting plans than that," Goldberg said. "It didn't even lower my loan a percentage."

People who generally earned less than $75,000 last year will receive checks of up to $600, and most couples will get $1,200. Families with eligible children younger than 17 also qualify for an additional $300 per child.

SMALL ECONOMIC HELP

The $500 million that the U.S. Treasury Department estimates will be sent to Hawai'i households will be welcomed by retailers who worry about a slow summer tourism season, at the same time that Island residents are struggling with increasing gas, energy and food costs.

Even if most Hawai'i residents spent their refund checks in the Islands, Leroy Laney, Hawai'i Pacific University professor of economics and finance, doesn't think it would significantly improve the local economy.

"Tourism is slowing, we've lost cruise ships, Aloha Airlines and ATA have shut down, the construction cycle is winding down, imports are slowing," Laney said. "The forecast is for a flat economy and pretty much the same next year. In the context of the economy, those $600 rebates are not going to turn the economy around."

Laney expects to translate his rebate into remodeling his new home in Haha'ione Valley.

"I'll probably fix the house up some more," Laney said. "But here or nationally, $600 is not something that's going to make a palpable, significant difference in the business cycle."

PAYING DOWN BILLS

Many people receiving refunds have unglamorous plans for their $600, such as Jessica Enos, a 32-year-old, certified public accountant who needs to get her 1992 Toyota truck running.

"I need to fix up my truck," she said, "but I'm putting my refund in savings. It's not that I want to. It's more like I have to."

Jason Phillips, a 32-year-old air-conditioning apprentice, would like to blow the $600 he received on May 2 for something fun.

"But it's bills and savings for me," he said. "Bills and savings are a little more important right now."

Joann Silva, a 50-year-old commercial real estate project manager, has most of the $900 refund for herself and 16-year-old son earmarked for "everyday bills."

She did spend some of it on swim fins for her son and clothes for herself.

"The clothes were a Mother's Day gift for me," Silva said.

Ohana Hotels is targeting local residents to spend their refunds on special, reduced room rates.

"We're calling it the kama'aina stimulus rebate special," said Tom Wakita, director of sales and marketing for Ohana Hotels, Outrigger Enterprises' off-beach, mid-priced hotels.

The Ohana West's usual $89 per night kama'aina rate normally jumps to $99 on June 8. Instead, Ohana officials will keep the price at $89 through Dec. 21.

The idea took shape more than six months ago, when officials in Washington first started talking about a stimulus package, said Barry Wallace, executive vice president, hospitality services for Outrigger Enterprises Group.

"Since kama'aina will have the extra spending money, I think we'll attract quite a few residents looking for a convenient family vacation or romantic weekend getaway closer to home," Wallace said. "Mainland residents will be less likely to use their rebate checks for a spontaneous trip to Hawai'i."

MONEY FOR FLIGHT

Davin Pascual, a 31-year-old commercial real estate project manager, plans to use his rebate check for a trip.

But his flight to Boston in August to see friends will take him about as far away from Hawai'i as possible, while still staying in the country.

The trip will stimulate the U.S. economy by helping the travel and airline industries, Pascual said. Just not the Hawai'i travel and airline industries.

And for many of those staying closer to home, such as 42-year-old sheet metal worker Wes Yoshihiro, the $600 refund won't go far.

"It'll probably get eaten by gasoline," he said.