Clifford da Big Red Bus

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The Story of Clifford - Hawaii's Only RV Wrap!

Joe Akana & Clifford da Big Red Bus


An Awesome Story from 808Wraps

Today’s post is about a pretty incredible project 808Wraps completed back in June, 2020. However, this vehicle was not just any vehicle. It was a massive RV, likely the only RV on the island that has been completely wrapped! That’s right, the wrapped RV you see driving around Oahu is none other than Joe Akana’s RV, or, as we like to call it, “Clifford the Big Red Bus”.


There are some exciting details to the story we wanted to share with you today!


It all started several months back, when 808Wraps Owner, Founder, and Lead Graphic Designer Jon Launer received a call from Carlos. Jon and Carlos were mutual friends through their business network group, BNI. Carlos just so happened to be working on Joe Akana’s campaign, and Joe just so happened to have a friend who had shipped an RV all the way to Oahu.


How it All Began


They were wondering if Jon could wrap the windows, as they planned on making the RV into a kind of mobile headquarters. Plus, they were looking for additional signage, like yard signs and banners.


Well, as you know, windows of an RV are pretty small compared to the rest of the vehicle! After a bit of collaboration between Joe Akana’s team and Jon’s lead Sales Representative Bryan, they realized it was better to go big…really big. After all, an RV isn’t something you see driving down the H3 very often. And a fully wrapped RV? It would certainly turn heads!


Wait until you hear how long this project took. Can you guess?


Record-Breaking Turnover Time


Six days! From concept to installation. Because when Carlos called Jon he told him Joe Akana had a launch party scheduled 7 days out from the day he called, and Jon was actually off-island!


A job of this size normally takes 3-4 weeks, but that didn’t stop Jon and his awesome team from making this wrap happen ASAP.


Virtual Possibilities


The mindset shift towards Zoom in March 2020 had already set the foundation for speedy video collaboration. Jon jumped on a Zoom call with Joe’s team, and within an hour came up with a pricing plan (the wrap is removable, and will be taken off within a year). The following day, he collaborated with his team and Joe’s team on design, revisions, and final approval in under 3 hours!


Fun Fact: the original photo was of Joe holding sunglasses, but Jon used his graphic design magic to turn those sunglasses into a beautiful plumeria lei!


Once the digital files were approved, Jon sent them to his print production team, who were able to print the graphics within 2 days and get them sent to the installers. Jon’s installation and production team worked tirelessly to get the RV wrapped in 2 days, working practically 24 hours straight, as Jon had brought in 4 installers to complete the wrap within the time crunch.


And, amazingly, thanks to the collaboration, persistence, ingenuity, and diligence of everyone involved, Clifford the Big Red Bus was ready 24 hours before his big reveal.


This project really was one for the record books!


The 808Wraps Team


Jon attributes this success to the laser focus of everyone on his team as well as the commitment of each person involved to pull this off.


Joe has been thrilled with Clifford, and you’ll see him driving all around the island for his campaign.


808Wraps wraps vehicles for all kinds of customers and clients. The greatest joy for Jon is seeing his projects driving all around the island, from food trucks to commercial grocers, Lasik eye surgeons to attorneys, construction companies to painters. What’s so exciting about vehicle wraps, whether they are a complete wrap like the RV, a partial wrap, or even just a nice graphic on a door panel, bus, car, or truck is that they advertise for you while you sleep!


Beautiful Designs, Incredible Results


Every client Jon has worked with has realized a 200% ROI within 6 months, because vehicle wraps are such a powerful marketing strategy. That’s because the average wrap costs around $2,500 and lasts for 5 years minimum. That translates to $1.36 per day as your cost of advertising for the lifetime of the wrap. And did you know that 98% of in-car viewers said they noticed truck-side ads?


Hawaii is well-known for terrible traffic, and vehicle wraps make every traffic jam an opportunity for marketing. Plus, one vehicle generates between 30,000 to 70,000 impressions EACH DAY.  


After all, what’s more memorable than a beautifully wrapped vehicle cruising around the island with your business name on it?

By Jon Launer September 18, 2025
Why Replace Vehicle Wraps Every 2 Years? Maximizing Impact, ROI, and Vehicle Longevity 1. WrapFatigue™: Proven Advertising Science Research across TV, radio, digital, and OOH advertising shows most messages lose effectiveness after 12–24 months. Viewers habituate to the design and stop seeing it. A 2-year refresh keeps your wrap eye-catching and your advertising impact high. 2. Material Durability & Appearance in Hawaii's Climate Hawaii's harsh sun, heat, and salty environment degrade even the most top-quality vinyl. Horizontal surfaces like hoods and roofs can crack or fade after 18–24 months, making removal difficult and increasing labor. Rewrapping every 2 years preserves your image and lowers long-term costs. 3. Financial Logic of Timely Replacement Frequent replacement means easier removal and installation, less downtime, and sustained advertising effectiveness. Even if a wrap can last 5 years under ideal conditions, its advertising ROI drops sharply after 24 months. Don't believe it? Schedule a call with ourClient Success Advocate and have them show you the ROIRadar™ to determine the revenue lost by keeping the same wrap on a vehicle longer than 18–24 months. The results will shock you. 4. Aligning with Proven Marketing Practices Companies rarely run the same TV commercial or social media ad for years without refreshing it. Vehicle wraps, aka moving billboards, follow the same principles. Updating your design every 2 years keeps the message engaging and memorable. Key Takeaway Stay visible. Stay memorable. Maintain your brand's strength. Replace your fleet wraps every 2 years to protect your investment and keep your advertising working as hard as you do. Recap of Your Logic on WrapFatigue™ Ad wear-out after two years especially for high-visibility/frequency wraps. Vinyl durability and physical deterioration in Hawaii: Harsh sun & heat reduce longevity; engine heat impacts horizontal surfaces. Easier removal before two years for less labor and better vinyl integrity. Viewer advertising fatigue: Mobile target audiences “tune out” the message after too many exposures. Financial and branding advantages to refreshing more often. What Data Exists on Ad Fatigue and Longevity? There’s limited direct vehicle wrap-specific data since it’s not a digitally tracked channel, but there is very well-documented research on creative wear-out across all forms of advertising. Here’s what is generally supported across industries: Ad fatigue begins as early as 4–12 weeks in digital campaigns (Google/Facebook regularly note declining CTR after 8–12 impressions per viewer). Out-of-Home (OOH) creative wear-out is estimated at ~6–12 months before recall plateaus and impact drops without creative change (Outsmart/Outfront Media reports). TV and radio ads typically wear out around 3–6 months — people recognize and stop noticing the message after hearing it too often. Brand tracking surveys often show recall and effectiveness declining sharply after a few months without a creative refresh. With longer-form advertising like billboards and transit ads — including vehicle wraps — estimates suggest maximum effectiveness per creative at 1–2 years depending on: Frequency of exposure to the same viewers. Design complexity & brand recognizability. External environment (weathering of materials, fading colors). Local market saturation with similar messages. Applying This to Vehicle Wraps: Why 2 years as a cut-off? The material itself (especially in Hawaii) degrades after 18–24 months. The novelty and impact of a design declines with repetitive exposures. You’re aligning your marketing logic with material realities. Even the most pristine vinyl — without reprint issues — will see declining ROI as the public becomes habituated to the design. Decline rate (as an educated estimate): Year 0–1: 100% effectiveness. Design is new, attention is high. Year 1–2: ~70–80% effectiveness. Familiarity grows; visual impact declines. Year 2+: Rapid drop-off: ~50–60% effectiveness. Wrap looks tired; target audience has tuned it out. Year 3+: Significant deterioration of vinyl; advertising impact negligible (~25–40% or less) + poor company image. That’s why most top companies do new TV spots every 3–6 months, rotate billboard creative at most every 12 months, and redesign fleets every 1.5–2 years. The Logic of Frequent Refreshes From a psychological and branding perspective: Humans habituate quickly to stimuli. Once they recognize a pattern (your design, tagline, color placement), they stop consciously noticing it. Advertisers call this the “sleeper effect” or simply diminishing returns — this is why companies like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s overhaul campaigns regularly. Even successful TV commercials don’t air forever — companies switch them up after a few months to reset attention and reduce burnout. The Wrap Reality You Wont Hear Anywhere Else. By year two, up to 50% of potential customers no longer consciously register your wrap design. Studies show most ads lose their effectiveness after 12–24 months — much faster than the physical lifespan of the material. Professional marketers refresh their TV, radio, and digital ads at most every 6–12 months; a two-year refresh is already conservative. Ready for a WrapRefresh and overcome the ROI loss from WrapfFatigue™? Let the experts at 808Wraps turn your fleet into a visual masterpiece. Contact us today to discuss your design ideas and start enjoying the benefits of a perfectly branded fleet. Call: 808-99-WRAPS or Email: wrap@808wraps.com
By Jon Launer September 18, 2025
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The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is an icon of versatility, known for its spaciousness, reliability, and style. Whether you're using it for business or leisure, your Sprinter is a reflection of your brand or personal taste. But why settle for a factory finish when you can turn your Sprinter into a mobile masterpiece that stands out on the road? In this article, we'll explore how a Sprinter van wrap can transform your vehicle into a unique and attention-grabbing work of art.
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Leasing a car or truck offers a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy a new vehicle without the long-term commitment of ownership. However, many lessees wonder if they can personalize their leased vehicles to reflect their style, brand, or business identity. Specifically, they ask: Can you wrap a leased car or truck? In this article, we'll explore the possibilities and considerations of applying a wrap to a leased vehicle.
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In the world of fleet and operations management, where every detail matters, the visual impact of your fleet is more critical than you might think. For medium to large-sized companies in Hawaii, having a fleet that turns heads and leaves lasting impressions is a game-changer. At 808Wraps, we're on a mission to redefine the standards of fleet and commercial vehicle wraps. Our secret weapon? Hyper-focused graphic design illustrators who craft visually impactful designs that don't just impress but result in thousands of visual impressions per day. In the competitive world of business, where every second counts, our dedication to designing success sets us apart.
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