But not everyone who picked up money was as honest as Asahina, owner of Universal Construction Inc.

After arriving at his Sand Island office, Asahina called police and made arrangements to turn over what he recovered.

"My intent was to get as much money as I could to try and help whoever lost it," Asahina said. "I'm in my 70s so . . . I just picked up money that was on the side."

In five minutes, Asahina picked up 10 cash bills, totaling $46.

At least two or three other people were also picking up money, Asahina said.

Another Nuuanu resident, Kaimuki Intermediate School teacher Charlene Lau, gave police a wallet containing credit cards but no cash, a coin purse, a $1 bill and some documents that she found on the roadway.

The wallet belonged to Dr. Cyrus Yee, who declined comment. Yee, however, did call Lau to thank her.

"He was just happy to get his credit cards back," Lau said.

Yee may have forgotten that the wallet and other items were on the roof of the car when he drove off from his Nuuanu home.

Asahina, a Dowsett Highlands resident, saw "green stuff blowing on the ground" when he turned onto Pali Highway at about 8:30 a.m.

"There were at least a hundred bills all over the three lanes," Asahina said.