Honolulu, HI

Just to let you know, not everyone in Hawaii knows how to do this. Despite Hawaiians being notorious for surfing, tandem surfing requires strength, skill and balance that only the best “watermen” and “waterwomen” have. You’ll have to know how the wave breaks and figure out your body position. As if surfing wasn’t hard enough?!?!

Surfing pioneer, Duke Kahanamoku (1890 – 1968) originated the sport by entertaining thousands of tourists in Waikiki at Queen’s beach. Now, the sport is gaining popularity internationally. Held in places like Australia and Europe, people all over the world are beginning to take notice of tandem surfing.

The International Tandem Surfing Association (ITSA) recently held the finals of their 2007 World Tandem Tour (WTT) at Waikiki. Kalani Vierra and Blanche Yoshida, crowned the 2007 WTT champions displayed phenomenally acrobatic moves that clearly distinguished them above the rest.

Think you’re cut out to try tandem surfing watch this clip on YouTube to see if you’ve got the skills to compete!

tandem surfing, Duke Kahanamoku, Waikiki, International Tandem Surfing Association, ITSA, 2007 World Tandem Tour, WTT, Kalani Vierra, Blanche Yoshida, YouTube

Phenomenal on video and equally striking on stage, the Lion King musical has made it’s way to Hawaii! Originally selling out within a matter of hours, the show was extended for another 4 weeks. Opening earlier this week at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, the show received great reviews which was expected. (more…)

This was only practice, but the Thunderbirds are AMAZING! This video clip on YouTube highlights over 9 minutes worth of air maneuvers. (more…)

Do you have a dream? Have you done anything with it? If you’re like most people, your dream is probably still in the incubating phase and you need to start taking action on developing that dream - developing that goal.

This song is a hawaiian music classic. (more…)

In the quest for success, we all get lost sometimes in the process of our journey. When it’s that time, we need to take a step back and ask ourselves, “just why we are doing all of this?”

Dreams are a gift and they are just for us! (more…)

This song says it all. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s (Bruddah Iz) calm and soothing voice coupled with the image of beautiful Hawaii beaches just make you want to pack your bags and hop on the next flight over here!

If stress has got you so twisted that you can’t see straight, you don’t have to hop the next plane. Just take some time and imagine the perfect place where you would like to be. Watching this video from YouTube can sure help!

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Bruddah Iz, Iz, stress, YouTube

Loving unconditionally is something we all want as a part of our quality of life, but yet sometimes, it seems so far out of reach. Where is this love coming from and where can we find it?

The truth is that it is already within us whether or not we actually use it. Sometimes we just need some help to bring it out.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole - best known for his song, “Somewhere over the Rainbow” is one of the few Hawaii recording artists to have their music go nationwide. His wife, Marlene, talks about their love in this interview with the Honolulu Advertiser - a local newspaper.

The message may not be too much about Hawaii’s music or about Hawaii’s culture specifically, but you get an idea for the kind of love that can produce such great songs. Check out what she has to say.

unconditional love, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Marlene Kamakawiwo’ole, Honolulu Advertiser

Talk about coming out of the closet! My mother is totally into the Bows even staying up late to watch their games! This woman religiously goes to bed at 9:00 pm (well, because she get’s up at like 3:30am), but for the UH Rainbows, she’ll stay up late into the wee hours of the morning!

Today, the UH Rainbows face UNLV at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. With a current (2-0) record this season, UH is making a great start. A couple of weeks ago, there was video clip posted on this site that talked about the Bows stopping the performance of their “haka” dance. Well, that was incorrect!

I just read in the paper today that they are continuing to perform the pre-game ritual (they did it at last week’s game against LA Tech). On top of that, they are now being penalized for doing the “haka” – they received a 15-yard penalty at LA Tech’s game and they expect the possibility of being penalized today as well. Ok, UH as long as you win!

No matter what the Bows are going to do, my mother will be there in full support! Maybe this season, we’ll actually go to a game.

UH Rainbow Warrior, uh rainbows, haka dance, bows

Want to know where the cheapest gas is being sold on Oahu? Updated daily, HonoluluGasPrices.com lists the locations and prevailing rates of Oahu’s gas stations. Find out how your local gas station is ranking against island-wide prices.

You know, I thought all the gas stations charged pretty much the same thing. But there can be huge differences in gas prices!

HonoluluGasPrices does a great job at tracking local gas price trends as well as comparing them to national trends. They also provide articles to help people like me understand what’s going on in the gas industry.

honolulugasprices, oahu gas station

I just read in the paper this morning that Wal-Mart is going to use a new slogan, “Save Money. Live Better.” They’re leaving “always low prices” to add a more personal touch to their advertising campaign. After more than 19 years of “always low prices”, it’s probably time for a change and Wal-Mart is well prepared to do just that.

Wal-Mart has really become a part of family life for many people. Much like McDonald’s endearing connections with families, Wal-Mart has the potential to have that same type of connection with household goods. That’s still in the shaping, BUT this new campaign slogan will certainly help form those connections.

Check out these video clips from Wal-Mart! I think the idea is “catchy” and will definitely impact the hearts of families!

Wal-Mart Save Money. Live Better.

Wal-Mart Road Trip Commercial

Wal-Mart Cars Commercial

Wouldn’t it be cool if Wal-Mart personalized commercials by locale? For example, seeing a Hawaii themed commercial would be cool, don’t you think?

Wal-Mart, walmart, save money live better, always low prices, McDonald’s

My kids come to me every morning to get them to sign their “communication” tablet. It’s a tablet that lists all their homework assignments and any reminders that needs to be communicated to the parents. I sign off every morning regardless if I read it or not – not because I don’t want to be involved in their school work or anything like that, but because it’s a busy time. Maybe that’s their plan…. Hmmm…

When I was growing up, I never had to get my parents to sign my homework assignments. I also never asked my parents for help with my homework – except once, and I didn’t really ask for help, I just needed some encouragement. I was overwhelmed with all the homework I was given and just felt defeated. My Dad came in and told me just what I needed to hear to get back on track… Parents somehow can do that.

In the Honolulu Advertiser today, there was a Hawaii’s Public Schools report that talked about every resource and everything a parent could possibly need to know about my kids’ public school education. It was a really comprehensive resource offering help in understanding the standards-based report card and the Hawaii State Assessment report.

The reports and the communication tablet are great and all, but I just want my kids to learn on “how to learn” and they won’t get that with the reports and communication tablet. The communication tablet does build accountability for the student, but other than that, it’s a real pain to deal with each morning. I want them to learn to be responsible for their own things and not rely on someone else to do it. I want them to be accountable for their own education.

Don’t get me wrong. I do want to be involved in my kids’ education, but I went to a public school while growing up and I know that it’s not only the school that’s going to help the child become a success. My kids need to learn how to learn and regularly apply that. They need to learn how to operate as a success in the school before they can be expected to operate as a success in the real world. Is there a test or a report for that?

Hawaii’s public schools, Honolulu advertiser, Hawaii state assessment

Here’s the low down on the Superferry’s new policy on “whale avoidance”.

Vessel Design:
1. Vessels have hulls the minimize the area that can strike whales
2. Vessels use water-jet propulsion; not propellers to eliminate cutting whales
3. Vessels have the ability to turn, slow and stop quickly to avoid marine mammals

Operations during Whale Season:
1. Avoid waters less than 600 feet deep when possible
2. Slow speed of boat to 25 knots or less in that depth
3. Take routes that avoid whale-dense areas

Staff and Equipment:
1. Two dedicated whale lookouts in addition to bridge crew
2. Image-stabilized binoculars, laser range/bearing finders, night-vision systems, front-facing cameras on each hull

Maneuver Procedures:
1. Actively seek and identify whales ahead of the vessel
2. If a whale is sighted within 500 meters, change course until the minimum distance of 500 meters is kept
3. If whale appears suddenly in the path of vessel, execute emergency maneuvers to avoid whales while considering vessel and passenger safety

With all this in place, people are still saying that this is not enough to ensure that whales will not be hit during operation. As it stands, during the past whale season, there were six vessel-whale collisions from other vessels that run during “whale watching” season. The fisheries recommend slowing the vessels to 13 knots. Additionally, the Department of Transportation has research that shows that whales hit by boats at 17 knots are 90% fatal.

Some of the prime areas that you can spot whales in the islands are on the south east shores of Oahu and on the south shores of Maui. Apparently, Hawaii is a calving ground for humpback whales. As a result, juvenile and whale calves are more likely to get hit because they spend a lot of time at the surface of the water.

This is a great first step by the Superferry to protect the whales, however, it is by no means the end. There’s still the people factor involved. They’ll have to train their teams to be involved in the process and that can take time despite any policy created.

Photos courtesy of NOAA via pingnews.

Hawaii superferry, whale avoidance policy, whale watching season, oahu, maui

Canoe paddling is a popular sport here on the islands.

Check out this clip on YouTube.

canoe paddling, YouTube

The Hawaii Superferry is still making the news daily.

Check out this clip on YouTube concerning the impact on humpback whales. Makes you think twice about why an EIS statement is NOT deemed necessary. Is/was this an oversight?

Hawaii superferry, humpback whales, YouTube

In a blowout first game, (63-6), the UH football team starts their season with a bang!

Check out this clip on YouTube!

northern Colorado, UH football, YouTube