Hawaii Now

Sarah Palmer Volleyball

2010-09-07T20:25:00.007-05:00

Having been a Hawaii volleyball fan for 35 years included paying close attention to players at all levels in the sport. On September 4, 2010, I had the pleasure of watching one of Hawaii's own start her first college game. Sarah Palmer had always been an impressive player at Hawaii Baptist Academy. Saturday it was her turn to step on to a stage with one of the nations top division 1 teams as a starter.

Gregory gym, on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, would be the setting. The lady Longhorns would be going for the teams 1,000th victory. Texas suffered their first loss of the season the night before. The team turned to Sarah to start in the libero position against the always-competitive Long Beach State.

It's always a good thing when second team All American Juliann Faucette holds your hand.

Texas won the match in five games. Sarah made a strong contribution to the Longhorn's victory with 15 digs and extraordinary pinpoint passing.

Home in Texas

2010-08-01T22:10:00.012-05:00

Howdy from deep in the heart of Texas which has been home now for more than six months.

The beauty, freedoms, and opportunities shade memories of Hawaii. Austin Texas is where my plan took me. The first month was spent in an extended stay motel. It was not in a part of Austin that I found particularly attractive. I was not immediately enthralled with the city.

Becoming localized was a priority. The transition went quickly and without problems. Government agencies were surprisingly easy to navigate. Car and I soon became Texans.
Austin is a popular place to relocate. Things happen here. There are opportunities and I quickly snagged a couple of part time jobs. Running your own business here is a venture that many folks plunge into. I was fortunate to meet the owner of a newly formed electrical company. We had common ideas to grow the business. Austin is a place where people often act on visions. Thinking along the lines of saving customers money and energy proved to be a good theme for this electrical services company. I am still under contract with C&C Energy Electric today. The small business survives in a sea of competing electrical companies by hiring the best available electricians, warranting workmanship and products while maintaining a personalized relationship with its customers.

Yes, I have a day job too. A major University provides me with a non-union, faculty status position. Along the way, the Art Institute of Austin became another part time employer, which brings in some extra cash most months.

Austin is considered one of the more expensive cities in Texas. Smiling comes easy when hearing that kind of talk. It seems dirt-cheap to me. Food is fresh and inexpensive when contrasted with the staples in Hawaii. Ask me if it’s a delight to pay 49 cents for a 49-cent mango. Can you say no taxes on food? Cutting your food bill in half is likely if you do not think about it. Do some serious shopping and get a workout carrying bags to your car and still have cash in your wallet fill her up. Hope those last three words did not frighten you all in gas tax hell. Austin is not all peaches and cream though. Driving here is often an adventure. Many drivers are aggressive and accidents are frequent. Traffic is often heavy. The city is not a sprawling beast though so travel from one point to another usually goes rather quickly.
Austin is still growing rapidly but not just in terms of humanity. There are more than 50,000 construction workers in the city.

It’s rather difficult to find a born and raised resident. There is much talk that it’s to late to move to Austin. Finding the parks uncrowned indicate that may not be true. Things really do still happen here. Austin just announced the building of a new formula 1 racing track that is scheduled to open in 2012. Face book recently moved here, and many other high tech businesses plan to do the same.

There are jobs to be had in Austin although the competition for them is quite intense. Walk in to any of the frequent job fairs and notice hundreds of applicants dressed and groomed to kill.
Now, I am focused on my 3 jobs. I thank God for them. Apartment hunting is a casual activity. Austin has a large selection of homes and apartments. For the time being, renting 2 bedrooms in a new 3 bedroom house keeps me comfortable. My rent is variable with $800 as a ceiling. All bills are inclusive and my car sleeps in a garage. Eventually I hope to post occasional brief updates about my new home state. After all, things do happen here.

Moving to the mainland

2010-05-31T22:16:00.013-05:00

The Move

When you live in a place for thirty-five years, there must be something special about it. Hawaii always will be special and will be the home to many of my most precious memories. Reasons to leave Hawaii grew exponentially. It was time to go. I did it with tempered reluctance and committed to abandon thoughts of remorse.

I sold most everything I had and gave away the rest keeping only the irreplaceable and necessities. A few bulky items were mailed to a stop off point on the mainland. I spent Christmas and New Years with family in Alsio Viejo California. New Years Eve produced a Blue Moon. This was an interesting omen for 2010.

Yes, there are nice beaches and gorgeous sunsets on the mainland too. For fun, changing the environment was an easy option. A quick drive into the mountains to pick up some free shave ice made for a nice Sunday drive.

I bought a car, and began to drive to my new home. Driving out of California was beginning a new chapter in the second half of a story. Arriving in Phoenix at dusk and rush hours would go into anyone’s list of experiences to avoid. It looked pretty coming in but traffic got extremely heavy and aggressive. I got off the road and spent the night in an awful motel. You don't want to see the pictures. Or, do you?

No alarm clock was needed to get me up and started through an ugly part of New Mexico. The scenery did improve much towards my exit of that state near Las Cruces. The Organ mountains are quite an impressive sight even from an hour away.

Entering El Paso Texas was much less than special even though I had lived in El Paso for a few years when I was in the army. Looking at the gray city of Juarez, Mexico in the distance stirred my emotional pot. The city looked still, and had a light blanket of smog and smoke over it. I surely took photos but appropriately they are lost. There was no stopping or driving down memory lanes here.

About 10 miles past those two cities, Interstate 10 started to get interesting. The speed limit went up to 80 mph and the traffic had thinned out considerably. Folks were driving at 85 and 90+. Texas was becoming an agreeable place. I thought I would be home in no time.

IH 10 became delicious. It was obvious that considerable thought had been taken about how this highway should be constructed. Steering the car became an afterthought, even on banked curves. The road surface periodically changed which help keep the easy high speeds from becoming monotonous. The quality of the road composition always remained excellent. When the sun started to shine in my eyes, the direction of the road changed. Oh my, there still are people that have visionary expertise. So, home was coming closer fast. After a while, I learned for myself the phrase “Texas is big” is not an understatement. It looked big too. Home was not as close as first thought.

This time, I stayed the night in a nice motel in town Ozona Texas. It was cold. The temperatures were the lowest this part of Texas had experienced in fourteen years. The nights were freezing. The leftover coffee froze overnight in the car. This was different and at times a bit uncomfortable yet exhilarating. The weather posed no real problems. Some folks call it being prepared. The gloves certainly came in handy.

Deep in the heart of Texas.
I have been in my new home town now for the last five months. Join the final part of my journey on my next post and find out where I ended up and how things are working out.

Moving from Hawaii

2010-04-13T18:55:00.004-05:00

Mukashi Mukashi, or Once Upon a Time, we played on Maui’s Makena beach often with nary another soul present. We always knew when it was time to go home. Around two o’clock a large cloud regularly covered the beach as if to say we had used our allotted amount of sun and fun for the day. Places change and great times become special memories.

Special memories are hard to come by these days. For many of us there is a two o'clock cloud that's hovering over Hawaii. Finding a forecast of sunny days ahead is one your likely to find only if you’re looking at the weather report. Looking for greener pastures might become an interest or necessity. Our next article will share with you the experience of someone who decided to leave the state after a thirty-five year visit. For now, we share a brief compilation of what can make moving to the mainland with less grief possible.

Many professional movers have a reputation of giving clients a result that includes an unfair amount of misery. Sell your stuff! Ship your car if it has a heater.

Wherever you are going, get local before you get there. Change your cell phone number to a local one. Folks like local. Local businesses and realtors like to hire, rent and sell to locals. Make sure your bank does business in the area too. When you get there, swap out your drivers license for a local one. Do this as soon as possible and get your car localized too. If you are going to get a post office box to use as a temporary address, you will need local identification. Getting a mailbox from a private company may be a better idea. They often have an actual street address. Keep in mind that PO boxes are sometimes not acceptable addresses for some government agencies and employers. Get the post office to hold or forward your mail. It’s easily done online. You may move several times after you arrive to a new area so a mailbox may be a good option for six months or a year.

Learn how to get around before you get there. Google Earth is a great tool that can show you everything from public transportation to pothole images. Having a laptop on your journey is almost an essential. Bring an internet connection with you. If you have a windows mobile phone, you can connect your laptop with the phone connection. A laptop connect card is another option. A GPS (global position system) is another tool that likely will bring you smiles and eliminate tears.

Looking for work could be a part of your moving process. There are numerous articles about where the jobs are and will be. Keep in mind that many of these projections may not consider the type of work you do. If a new medical complex is being built in Seattle, if does not mean it is a good idea to move your plumbing business there. Again, get local with the job search. Search state specific rather than national job search sites. City specific Craigs list is a good way to compare housing and job availability in different areas. Keep in mind that there are large numbers of Americans that are relocating to states that offer better employment opportunities. The competition is intense everywhere. Have your resume well done in several different formats. Contact your references and find out if they will be willing to give you a positive report. Check out how local wages compare for the work you do. Here is a fairly up to date source. Find out about local business taxes and income taxes. Research business friendly states. Recent unemployment percentages give some indication of a job and business friendly state. Take these statistics with a gain of salt. When you start to crunch the numbers, many factors come into play that are not clear. Rely more on the local job searches. Sure, the national job search companies usually offer local searches too but local businesses are most likely to first list with in town advertisers. After a few weeks, you will be able to see what states have and have not jobs that interest you.

If you have allergies, be sure to run a pollen and mold check. There are a few good sites that list up to date data.

The cost of housing can vary widely even within a state. Again, search locally and include utility comparisons as a part of the housing search.

Be sure you have your papers! A copy of your birth certificate, original or replaced social security card, drivers license or state ID, passport, diplomas, awards, certificates, insurance papers and tax records. If you are discharged from the military, you will want the original DD-214, not a copy. The DD-214 often is accepted in place of a social security card but not always.

The author of our next article shared these tips with us. We welcome you back to enjoy the mistakes, the fun, the scary times, the successes, and the journey, which began in early December of 2009.

Governor Vetoes Tax Hikes

2009-05-08T01:59:00.010-05:00

Governor Lingle pummels Hawaii State Legislators for passing new taxes. Several hundred angry taxpayers listened as Hawaii’s Governor Linda Lingle explained that the Senate would have none of her logic. The legislature said they had no time to pass alternatives to taxes. Lingle pointed out the legislators did however have time to name a state insect.
The Governor vetoed three tax bills during the outdoor gathering at the State Capitol as the crowd erupted with cheer and chanted “VETO-VETO.” Lingle also vetoed another bill earlier in the day that increased taxes on tobacco.
Senate president Colleen Hanabusa said the Senate would override the vetoes during a special session. Governor Lingle urged taxpayers to present opinions to legislators immediately. The veto overrides could come in a day or two.

Find your Hawaii State Legislators phone, fax, and email address here.
Tax Veto Video:

Tea Party Hawaii

2009-04-17T15:10:00.007-05:00

Hawaii residents protest proposed and recent tax increases at the state capitol in Honolulu. Numerous new taxes were considered and moved along to committees. A new sales tax for Hawaii counties was also moved forward. Internet shoppers were also targets of the new tax proposals. Hotel guests, smokers, motorists, and higher income individuals were also targeted. House bill 1550 was also a shock to those who were paying attention to the legislator's actions. Rollover state income tax would impose tax on rollovers made by employees of state and county agencies. The bill also affects tax-exempt orginizations.
Conspicuously absent from the event were Governor Linda Lingle, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, and Honolulu Mayor Muffi Hanneman.
The event was in concert with a nation wide endeavor to show objection for new state and federal actions.
New tax initiatives were the focal point of the Honolulu Tea Party.

Please enjoy the Hawaii Tea Party video at the top of this page.

Hawaii Photo of the Week

2009-04-03T21:43:00.006-05:00

A walk around Waikiki often yields photo opportunities.

If you have a picture you would like to submit and considered for publication, you can send one to us via email. No photographs over 1024 x 768 and over 200 KB will be accepted. Only one photograph a week will be accepted from any one email address. The publisher of http://hawaiiphotographs.blogspot.com/ will become the owners of any mailed Photographs. If you would like credit for your photograph, please state so at the time you send your submission.

Include any information you would want published. Please be brief. The information is subject to edit by the publisher. Your email address will not be shared with anyone. You will not be contacted by the publisher of http://hawaiiphotograps.blogspot.com/ unless you request it.

Enjoy the photographs!

privacy policy

2009-04-03T21:08:00.001-05:00

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Hiking Diamond Head Crater

2009-02-06T14:01:00.004-06:00

Diamond Head State Monument is also a National Monument.

Hiking Diamond Head Crater:

Winter is a good season to make the hike. Diamond Head is usually picturesque after the winter rains green up the crater. The cooler weather makes the hike comfortable.
The monument opens at 6:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm. Arrive early or late to avoid crowds. Last entry to the site is 4:30 pm. The summit trail attracts more than 600,000 visitors annually.
There is no need to bring a flashlight as the 225 ft. tunnel floors are lighted.
A small or medium size bottle of water per person should be sufficient fluid for most.
Many except for the two sets of very steep stairs would consider the hike easy. The first flight of stairs numbers 74 and the second set is 99. Anyone with respiratory or heart conditions should not make the hike. Hawaii State Parks lists the trail difficulty as moderate.
The site is accessible to those with disabilities. Please confirm this by calling the Division of State Parks at (808)587-0300.
Admission is $5.00 per vehicle or $1.00 for a walk in person.
From the parking lot on the crater floor, the trail to the summit is 0.8 mile. The elevation of the parking lot is 201 ft. or 61 meters. The elevation at the summit is 762 ft. or 232meters.
City and tour buses currently go to the monument. There is also a trolley. The city bus is # 22. Get off the bus on Diamond Head Rd. between Makapu'u Avenue and 18th Avenue. Kapiolani community college is across the street from the entrance.
Walking from Waikiki to the monument is an option. From central Waikiki (Liliuokalani Ave), the walk is a distance of about 1.7 miles and takes around 35 minutes. Cut across Kapiolani Park and get a great view of Diamond Head.
All age groups from infants to seniors are seen on the trail. Please view the video and photographs to help determine if the hike is appropriate for you and your group.
Foot ware designed for hiking is highly recommended.
There are restrooms near the information booth beside the start of the trail. No restrooms are available at the summit or along the trail.
The entrance to Diamond Head State Monument is located off Diamond Head Road between Makapu'u Avenue and 18th Avenue. Monsarrat Ave. turns into Diamond Head Road. Monsarrat Ave. begins off Kalakaua Ave. near the Honolulu zoo.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources closed the popular trail for one month beginning October 20, 2008 for maintenance. Improvements to the historic summit trail are planned for 2009 and are currently in the design stages. Please call (808)587-0300 for information.
For more information, maps, photographs, history, and city bus routes and schedules visit the links near the bottom of this page.

Park Rules:

No dogs
No open fires
No camping
Permit required for groups larger than 24.
Mountain biking is not allowed.
Stay on the trail.
Bring out what you brought in.

Links:

a. maps, history, information
b. bus routes and schedules
c. photographs

Spyware Adware International Threat

2008-11-20T17:43:00.022-06:00

Finding an ad ware program holding your personal computer hostage has become a common predicament that even advanced users of the internet experience. Learning that your highly rated, paid for, antivirus/antispyware programs cannot remedy the situation, may call for the utterance of more than a few expletives. Intentionally accessing a personal computer without permission and causing a program or code to be written or copied on that protected computer, often causes consternation, financial and productivity losses.

If you feel your personal computer is now infected scroll to the bottom of this article for possible solutions.

These invasions of your personal protected property are unconscionable. Kaspersky’s anti-virus research group analyzed approximately 200 new samples of malware a day in 2007. Eugene Kaspersky stated, "No antivirus company can come before you and say we can handle everything. It's responsible to be vocal." Massive cyber attacks have been generated a year later. This situation has gone far beyond overwhelming antiviral software vendors. When thousands of servers and millions of web pages are hacked in a day or two, the situation becomes an international crisis. The time for the public to become “vocal” has come.

Cooperation between law enforcement and the internet industries needs to become a forced issue. With the passage of H.R.5938 in September 2008, some excellent tools were put into place to combat one front in this cyber war. The bill became law No: 110-326 when signed by President George W. Bush. In the United States Congress, H.R.1525 Passed the House of Representatives May 22, 2007. May 23, 2007: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Since then there has been no visible action despite overwhelming support for the bill in Congress. H.R.1525 is a stand-alone bill requiring no new taxes or earmarks. It is the sense of Congress that the Department of Justice should use the amendments made by this Act, and all other available tools, vigorously to prosecute those who use spyware to commit crimes and those that conduct phishing and pharming scams. Many of these scams are responsible for identity theft. Though most cyber attacks are contrived overseas, H.R.1525 provides an important prelude to launching a serious counter attack on these invasions. Make no mistake in not relating these attacks to Home Land Security. Computer hacking is now causing battle field concerns for the military.

Congress does listen. Sent were letters to both of Hawaii’s congressional senators asking, “Can you please find out and inform me of when this bill will move forward and why has there been such a long delay?” One senator has replied but failed to answer my question. As of November 11th There are no bills scheduled for a hearing in November or December.

Please take a few minutes to read this bill. The bill is very easy to read and understand. Please use this link to contact your Senators and politely encourage them to expedite H.R.1525. Also please contact Senator Patrick Leahy (Judiciary Chairman) from the state of Vermont. Senator Leahy’s office was contacted by phone on 11/17/2008 and urged to bring this bill to the Senate floor. When asked why this bill had not come to the floor after passing the House 18 months ago, the response was “They just have not gotten to it yet.” No groups or opposition to H.R.1525 could be sited by either Senator Leahy’s nor Senator Akaka’s office. Certainly further measures will be necessary to combat these threats on an international level. Right now, we can take a big step forward by enabling aggressive prosecution these criminals.

Many of us are not supportive of growth of our government and regulation however protection of personal properties and the nation’s security is a legitimate cause for it. H.R.1525 does provide for uses of spyware that are beneficial to internet users and vendors alike. This issue is extremely complex when the international level of enforcement is concerned. The internet needs stricter regulation. With around two billion web pages world wide decisions must be made concerning what level the strongest regulations should be implemented. Surely, the fingers of these illicit operations need to cut off as quickly as possible. Foresight and actions can prevent catastrophe. We can light the fire. Even a cave man could do that. Please urge Congress to take action on H.R.1525 immediately.

Possible Solutions

Parade of Champions

2008-09-02T14:41:00.006-05:00

Women’s Olympic Soccer Gold Medal Winner Natasha Kai

Women’s Olympic Indoor Volleyball Silver Medalist Robyn Ah Mow-Santos

Waipio Little League World Champions

Women’s Olympic Freestyle Wrestler Clarissa Chun

On Labor Day, Hawaii had an opportunity to celebrate the efforts and accomplishments of many of our past, current, and future champions. Kalakaua Ave. access roads closed down at 5:30 from Ft. DeRussy to Kapiolani Park. The special Parade of Champions moved sluggishly down the avenue, often stalling for 5 to 10 minutes. At times this became somewhat annoying, especially so if you happened to have a large diesel powered truck idling near by. Some band members carrying heavy instruments also seemed uncomfortable with the delays.

The timely opportunity to see and applaud our athletes far surpassed any discomforts. It was truly a pleasure to see all the smiles parade though Waikiki.

The featured photographs include Waipio Little League World Champions, Women’s Olympic Soccer Gold medal winner Natasha Kai, Women’s Olympic Indoor Volleyball Silver medalist Robyn Ah Mow-Santos, and Clarissa Chun. Clarissa did an excellent job representing Hawaii and the United States in the Women’s Olympic Freestyle Wrestling.

Lei Day in Hawaii

2008-05-04T03:22:00.005-05:00

Since 1928, May Day has been Lei Day in Hawaii. On Oahu, the celebration is centered at Kapiolani park. The festival is a day long affair and is free. Popular local entertainers held the attention of the large crowd. All of the seating around the bandstand was filled. Picnics blanketed much of the surrounding shaded area.
Locals and visitors alike took it all in. The colors were spectacular. Cameras often changed hands. Everyone seemed they had to be recorded as there.
Entries for the lei competition numbered 152. Festival goers lined up all day to view the entries. The artistic creations alone made this event a special experience. There are several divisions, categories and methods used for the contest. All ages were invited to submit entries.
This year, an attempt to create the worlds longest fresh flower lei was made. The goal was set at over a mile long. The lei was lifted by volunteers who formed a large circle around Kapiolani park. Photographs were taken from a helicopter showing how enormous this effort was. After the ariel pictures had been taken, the lei was placed on the ground and then measured. Two notaries carefully documented the measuring. Nearing the end of the measuring it was evident that the lei would not be as long as hoped. Some flowers had fallen off during handling and these areas could not be counted. A plea went out to the crowds and many responded by giving up their personal leis to be added to the project. In the end, the final measurement was 6336 ft. That number was submitted to Guinness and acceptance is expected in two weeks.
The Hawaiian steel guitar association provided additional entertainment. A tented area with seating attracted an overflow. A constant cool breeze kept audiences comfortable as they enjoyed the casual atmosphere.
Hawaiian craft exhibits, demonstrations, and food vendors rounded out an experience to remember.

Honolulu Festival

2008-03-18T19:14:00.007-05:00

More than 90 groups provided Hawaii and visitors an opportunity to get up close with pacific rim cultures. Four popular venues were used to showcase the activities and performances. Cultural education melted in with all of the eye candy and onlookers often were invited on stage to join the celebration.

Attending every event was not possible. The spacious Hawaii Convention Center, the large open air center stage at Ala Moana, Waikiki Beach Walk, and Waikiki Shopping Plaza were all enticing scenes. For the purpose of viewing as many events as possible, I chose Waikiki Beach Walk and Waikiki Shopping Plaza. The short walk between the two venues allowed for a quick rotation during breaks.

The Grand Parade is always popular. This year was no exception. The parade lasts for three and one half hours. Beginning in late afternoon, it continues well after sunset. Most of the large crowds stayed into the night in order to view the spectacular fire breathing dragon. Assembly is required! The construction of the Dragon begins early in the morning the day of the parade. It takes a skilled and hardy crew to build this beast.

All of the presentations were colorful and captivating. The performers were well rehearsed and practiced to the point that they were truly enjoying the moment. Capturing the spirit via a camera was a pleasure. Hopefully the images have conveyed the ambiance.

Another interesting opportunity of the Honolulu Festival was the Craft Fair. More than 100 booths at the Hawaii Convention Center offered hands on experience to interact with exhibitors from around the Pacific Rim.

View excerpts from a few performances on video below. Tip: If you ever get the chance to play the card game Karuta [読み札] with the young lady in the video, expect to lose. She is a 14-time champion winning 11 consecutively.

The Honolulu Festival Foundation is a non profit corporation. It’s no cost to the public policy truly promotes the Aloha spirit of Hawaii. This premier event is certainly worth putting on your schedule for next year.

Magic Ukulele

2008-01-07T23:28:00.008-06:00

The ukulele has anchored many treasured Hawaiian music memories. Music in Hawaii has often reached into the hearts and souls of those who create and perform it. Any fan of Hawaii’s music legends can feel it. The ukulele continues to be a favorite intermediary to channel an artist’s inner self into a shared experience. The instrument is a perfect lure for those with musical ability to participate in Hawaiian culture and to pilot their inspirations. Inspiration for Hawaii musicians seems to come from everywhere. Just look around and see that magic ukulele appear in most any setting. History of the ukulele is deeply imbedded in the Hawaii time line. A world wide popularity of the ukulele is surely partially due to the world class talent that emerges from Hawaii. It is not magic nor illusion when a gifted musician brings your emotional makeup into a physical reaction. It’s reality.

For real with Taimane Gardner

With both feet on the ground Taimane Gardner continues to bring the ukulele magic to the world. Hawaii’s musical princess has had an active year. In late spring Taimane preheated the summer. The eighteen-year-old virtuoso brought the night to life with an electrifying set of songs at the Tribute to Don Ho in Waikiki. The estimated crowd of 20,000 roared with approval as Taimane shook the stage with an action packed performance. Taimane performed with the Don Ho show and with adulation credits him for much of her success. She also performed with great reception In Las Vegas at Caesar’s Palace and Huntington Beach. On local television, Taimane appeared on Late Night and was featured on Konishiki’s House. Private corporate parties and Celebrity charity events were also fitted into a busy schedule.

New Music

Besides performing, Taimane is completing her first original set of songs. The genre will be acustic rock. Jack Gardner, her father and manager, related "her new originals are gorgeous and very different from her present style of music." Kanilea is creating a new custom six string ukulele for Taimane that will merge with her unique style. Her style shows an integration of the instrument into multiple music domains. She learned the ukulele from various teachers with different styles. “This was done purposely so she would see the potential of her instrument.” Jack also revealed the title of one of the new songs. “Sunstrokes.”

Study

This fall, miss Gardner has elected to continue her education. In her first year of college she is studying psychology and music. Previous completed studies include poetry, painting, and sculpture. Taimane loved her experience at Waldorf high school that put a strong emphasis on the arts. "At Waldorf I learned how to balance the arts and general studies. In fact, I learned how both can support one another."

Family is Special

Jack is emphatic about how special his daughters are. The youngest Teuila has accompanied Taimane in song and Jack states that “she is quite an athlete.” Teuila, nicknamed "Bugs," as in Bugs Bunny, due to her exceptional running speed, loves sports and horses.

Future

Plans for 2008 include making her songs available for downloading on ipods via the internet. Taimane is convinced that is the way of the future in music. She also looks forward to live performances in Hawaii, the mainland, and abroad. With Taimane’s innovative style the evolution of the ukulele music is seemingly inevitable. The magic continues.

Of course mother Elva has had a great deal to do with all of this providing long lineage of musicians and talent from Samoa. Visit Taimane.com to see much more of the history and story. View music videos of Taimane on her website.

Taimane will soon be playing at the Cirque Hawaii show in Waikiki and also on Mondays and Thurdays at the Royal Hawaiian hotel with the Royal Luau show.

Happy New Year

2007-12-30T17:58:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year All !

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T16:06:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Honolulu Marathon 2007 Race Day

2007-12-10T20:54:00.002-06:00

Honolulu Marathon Race Day
A heavy downpour at the beginning of the 2007 Honolulu Marathon was not what the massive crowd had hoped to experience. The rains quickly subsided but damage had been done. Running in wet shoes compounded the already difficult challenge.
For many, the 2007 Honolulu Marathon was a battle of conditions. Ambesse Tolosa, the eventual winner, suffered though blistered feet and leg cramping. Five time champion Jimmy Muindi was unable to keep fluids down as stomach problems plagued him. Race leaders set an extremely fast pace that was not to be maintained through the wet and humid surroundings.
Alevtina Biktimirova, winner of the women’s division, Did not seem much bothered by the environment. She charged down the final stretch of the marathon with fervor. However, her time was more than two minutes slower than her last years second place finish. Japan’s Akemi Ozaki courageously ran for the victory but Biktimirova finished with impressive power.
The senior divisions showed their determination. Many seasoned marathon veterans pushed though the elements often at the head of large groups. A most remarkable performance by Canadian Betty Jean McHugh, stopped the thoughts that they might not challenge any records. McHugh set a world record for the 80-85 age group. 80-year-old McHugh's time of 5:06:34 broke the world record by 3.07. The previous record had been set in 1985 at the Chicago Marathon. The Honolulu course is considered more difficult than the Chicago course. Japan racers dominated most of the divisions.
Japan runners won twenty-eight of the thirty-two divisions. Top five men and women Overall are not eligible as division winners. As expected, Masazumi Soejima, also from Japan, dominated the wheel chair division with a time of 01:38:17.A-special congratulation is for our Honolulu Champion Susannah Rice- Kamanu women’s wheel chair time of 3:33:57. Well done.
A small collection of Honolulu Marathon photographs is now available. Also excerpts from the race and the exposition can be viewed on video. This includes a glimpse of Ambesse Tolosa, Jimmy Muindi, and Alevtina Biktimirova approaching the finish line.
Statistics may contain some errors. Failures with the timing system made race results uncertain. Officials hope to minimize disappointment by using video to reinstate lost times.
Update: 12/14/2007
Officials at Honolulu Marathon.org wrote the following regarding inaccurate and lost data.
It is with sincere regret that we inform you that the timing company for the 2007 Honolulu Marathon - SAI Timing and Tracking - was unable to provide accurate data at the start, throughout the course and at the finish line.
The full impact of this inaccurate and lost data is not completely known.
Honolulu Marathon officials are making every effort to verify as much finisher and race timing data as possible. Fortunately, none of the finish line video was affected. That video will be used to verify individual finish times.
The Honolulu Marathon has already begun the process of reviewing finisher video in order to create an accurate finishing time for all finishers. We believe that due to the quality and redundancy of the video system that we will be able to obtain a finishing time based on the starting gun for all race finishers who wore their race number on the front of their chests.
We understand how important your finishing time is, and we apologize for any delay or inconvenience this causes you. Please check our website http://www.honolulumarathon.org/ for future updates.

Honolulu Marathon 2007

2007-12-08T21:31:00.000-06:00

Wet weather did not dampen the spirits of those who attended yesterdays Honolulu Marathon Exposition. The four-day event ends today at five p.m.. Festivities were held at the Hawaii Convention Center and was free to the public. The exposition was surprisingly interesting. Just the buzz from the crowd was exciting. The world famous dancers of the Polynesian Cultural Center kept the atmosphere lively. Cultural demonstrations and performances awed the onlookers. Running legends Frank Shorter, Alberto Salazar, Greg Meyer, and Jim Ryun signed autographs and talked story with fans. Most popular of all, two time Olympic medalist. Yuko Arimori enthusiastically welcomed fans to her table. Her continuous smile brightened everyone’s day. A variety of food and drink were available in a spacious setting. They impressively displayed a multitude of past Honolulu Marathon photographs throughout the exposition. A body massage area was in constant use. Nike offered a tracking system for marathon participants. A constant line to register was present most of the day. If you missed the exposition, video is available to view.

Today, despite early morning southerly winds and showers, has become a welcomed sun bath. Many marathon participants came out in the predawn rain. Race day weather forecasts indicates a day much like today. Earlier in the week elite runners expressed doubt that any race records would be challenged if the weather remained wet. To be continued race day.

Hawaii Super ferry face off

2007-10-31T02:47:00.000-05:00

Wednesday the Hawaii state Senate held a special session meeting at the state capitol. Thursday two House committees followed. The public and government officials gave testimony. The special session was called to decide if they would allow the Hawaii super ferry to sail and under what conditions. Earlier, as the super ferry was about to begin operations, environmental groups petitioned the Hawaii Supreme Court to stop the ferry operation. The Court decided unanimously that since the Hawaii State government had spent money for harbor improvements, an environmental impact study must be completed before the ferry operation could continue. They introduced A bill HB 1. The Senate and House groups asked questions of many that gave testimony. Both Wednesday and Thursday sessions lasted all day and well into the night. Much unpublicized and revealing information came to light.

As a result, it appears that the Hawaii super ferry will move forward and be allowed to operate while an environmental impact study is being done. The legislative process is not yet completed and oppositions from Oahu’s neighbor island representatives remain. Representative Mina Morita from Kauai, attempted to add several special rules for the super ferry operation. Her efforts failed. Testimony was given earlier in the week on the island of Kauai and Maui.

Entire testimonies were open to the public. We can easily review the Oahu transcripts. Much of the public input was very emotional and informative. Provided are some compelling moments that convinced law makers to arrive at the decisions they are making. Many unheard and relevant arguments were presented.

If the bill passes, environmental groups vow to take the matter back to court while ignoring government officials claims those initial causes of environmental concerns were not being addressed.

Often the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was referred to by those who participated in the discussions. Other compelling information was given by Captain Edward Enos Jr. Captain Enos testimony is #136

To be continued:

November 15, 2007 UPDATE:

Maui Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza lifted an injunction yesterday against the Hawaii Superferry.

Hawawii Superferry president John Garibaldi said the Superferry would announce a start up date by the end of the week.

Opponents of the Hawaii Superferry said they would bring further opposition. Some of the statements made were to barbaric and banal to quote. References were made about the largest blood bath in Hawaiian history as well as possible illegal in the water protests.

アロハ祝祭

2007-09-23T12:38:00.000-05:00

The Aloha Festival continues to grow in size and popularity. The entertainment venue expanded much to the delight of visitors and locals alike. You can view video and many more photographs of the event by using the links to Hawaii photogrphs and or ハワイの写真 links on the right side of this page.

アロハフェスティバルが、9月14日から28日まで開催されます。

パレード, 花, ウクレレコンテスト, 座興, 炊き合わせ, ダンサー, フレンズ

アロハ

ハワイのスパア渡し

2007-07-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

On board the Hawaii superferry as the public is invited to tour the ship. An impressive vessel and a unique addition to the islands. This ship has the ability to provide a multitude of services to the Hawaiian islands. Similar vessels operate around the world.

船内にスパア渡し
船は3時間でオアフ島からマウイ島へ移動します。

植物園

2007-06-21T16:39:00.000-05:00

Talipot 木 [Foster 植物園] 13.5 エーカーオアフ島 Talipot tree at Foster botanical gardens nearing the end of it's life. The tree blooms only once in it's life time and dies shortly after.
Talipot 木は一度だけ栄えて死んでください。 Another view of the tree as it is now seeding.
キャノンボール木 At the same time a cannon ball tree flowers and a bee is very interested in the bloom. Foster botanical garden is located in downtoun Honolulu.

相撲ビデオ

2007-06-10T03:23:00.000-05:00

ハワイ相撲２００７年６月９日土曜2007

Summer Grand Sumo tournament. A high level completion was the highlight of this now rare event in Hawaii.

The tournament had an exciting conclusion. The first day of the grand sumo event ended with Asashoryu defeating Hakuho in match up of yokozuna. On the second night a rematch had Hakuhō Shō (白鵬翔) beating Asahoryu. The two Yokozuna wrestled again for the over all champion chip in a play off match. Hakuho again defeated Asahoryu in an exciting final match. It came down to a test of power with Hakuho lifting Asahoryu out of the ring. More photographs.

FireWorks 花火写真今ハワイ

2007-06-05T03:41:00.000-05:00

Despite a threat of inclement weather, the show went on flawlessly. View more photographs of the show at the events page at Hawaii Photographs.

FireWorks 花火

2007-06-04T17:23:00.000-05:00

花火, 今夜, ワイキキ浜。写真は明日

Fireworks show, presented by Royal Cosmetics Co. 8:45 p.m In front of Royal Hawaiian hotel. Largest fireworks shell ever launched in Hawaii. Last seen in Utah at Olympics. free photographs to follow tomorrow.
Next week: Sumo tournament in Hawaii.

来週, 相撲ハワイ巡業