Honolulu, HI

Memorial Day - It’s a time to honor fallen soldiers for giving their lives towards the pursuit of our freedom. It’s a time when our community pulls together to gather in thousands of leis to decorate Punchbowl – the final resting place for many island veterans. (more…)

I’ve decided that I’m going to do everything I can to make this summer great for me and my kids. Since they are going to be home with me, I wanted to do something different and make it interesting and fun – a summer they’ll never forget. Since it’s been one of my personal goals as a parent to expose my children to the various cultures that exist in Hawaii, I came up with a list of things I’d like to do with my children. A few years ago, when one of my children was studying Hawaiian culture, I wanted to take him to the Big Island. Well, maybe this is the summer that we’ll finally get to go there. (more…)

Making Hawaii a more walkable and bikeable community is definitely going to take a lot of effort. The Honolulu Advertiser just ran a three day special series written by Rob Perez, Advertiser Staff Writer, covering pedestrian traffic safety issues – a hot topic on the table of many of Hawaii’s government agencies. (more…)

With the way Hawaii’s economy is going, we’ll have to start getting creative about cutting costs and finding more opportunities to increase our income. Let’s put it this way. There’s madness in doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results especially when we know that economic times are changing. So we make adjustments in how we live, plain and simple.

The first thing we’ll need is information. Where can the deals be found and what can we get?

Here are a few sites that can help us with that.

1) The first is a freebies / coupon site called “Free Meals and More” found at Keiki Gifts blog. When I saw the partial listing of the types of items that were being offered, let me tell you, that the coupons are well worth the one year fee. Thanks to Keiki Gifts for finding that deal and letting us know about it!

2) The second blog, Hawaii Money Saving Mama, finds the freebies and deals in Hawaii both on and off the internet. Her most recent post was about places that offer “Kids Eat Free” nights in Hawaii.

3) Frugal Mania, part of the 451 Press Network, offers tips and resources for frugal living. In this one post, Michael talks about the bento box which we are all familiar with – those Tupperware containers. You know, it’s been several years since I’ve worked a corporate job that I forgot what happened to my containers. I had some pretty nice sectioned ones that held just enough food for me. Anyway…

Anyway, I plan to make this topic a regular part of the posts I do. If you have any other sites you’d like to share that can help us cut the cost of living in Hawaii, please share them here!

Keiki Gifts, Hawaii Money Saving Mama, Frugal Mania

It’s no secret that Hawaii drivers are married to their cars. But with gas prices hitting $4.00 / gallon on the mainland (and Hawaii close behind) is it time that the streets of Hawaii can be cleared out as we look for other means of transportation? Is it even possible that people will somehow leave the comfort of their cars? I’m not so sure.

For instance, the other day, I had lunch with my brother. I drove from Pearl City to Ala Moana Shopping Center and from the looks of it, there didn’t seem to be any significant difference in the amount of traffic – Lunalilo Freeway was still busy at 11:45 am. This was the rolling kind of busy. You know the kind where there are a lot of cars around but you’re still moving at a decent rate. (more…)

So continuing where I left off yesterday… I was reminiscing about mango.

Anyway, here was my next thought as I heard my mom’s request to ask for mango. “What if I buy some mangoes from Foodland?” You know, the thought of buying mangoes brings the same kind of feelings I had back when bottled water was being introduced – “What?!?! Pay for water?!?! No way! I’ll just keep drinking water straight from the tap if you don’t mind!” (more…)

I’m getting excited because mango season is right around the corner! I was driving through Liliha the other day with my mom when we spotted a mango tree full of little green mangoes.

My mom asked me to pull over on the side of the road. “Go ask them if you can pick some of their mangoes and you can make pickled mango.” A quick image of me walking up onto their front porch flashes through my mind AND THEN, better judgment kicks in! I think to myself, “I’m not sure who owns the tree and I certainly don’t know anyone who lives near the tree’s owner.” (more…)

The closing of Aloha Airlines represents a marked change in the face of Hawaii’s airline industry. Whoa! That basically leaves Hawaiian Airlines and competing go! Airlines as our two options air travel in the islands. Ummm… I’ll take Hawaiian Air! (more…)

Happy Mother’s Day to all you fabulous Mom’s! May your day be blessed beyond measure and filled with the love that you have generously sown into the lives of those around you!

Now for the Dad’s and kids – if you haven’t bought a present or decided what to do, here’s a quick listing of a few of my favorite restaurants that I know your precious Mom would love to attend. (more…)

Look at the gorgeous morning sky! These photos remind me of how great mornings can be in Hawaii. I was actually at Kakaako Park on that day and couldn’t help but notice this awesome photo opportunity. If you woke up to that every morning, how great would your day be? (more…)

While not law yet, if you have three or more unpaid parking violations, read on because you could be affected by this proposal! In an effort to handle unpaid tickets and possibly even scenarios where car owners lack insurance, the City Council is reviewing a proposal that would allow police to place the “Denver Boot” on personal vehicles.

The Denver Boot is a metal locking device placed on one wheel that prevents the car from being driven. Vehicle owners can remove the lock by paying their tickets. After paying with a credit card, owners would be given a code that unlocks the boot and they would also be responsible for returning the metal boot within 24 hours. (more…)

As I read the paper more and more, I am reminded of why I just quickly skim it instead of reading every thing in detail. I think the most time I’ve ever spent in the newspaper is to do the crossword puzzle. Don’t get me wrong! We’ve got great newspapers, but quite frankly, the news reported can be, well… something that makes me wanna just shake my head.

I read in the headlines that we’ve got our 3rd TB investigation for potential outbreak in the schools this year. BUT we shouldn’t be concerned because none of the cases are related. Oh great! We’ve never had any outbreaks in the schools in recent years and this year we have three?!?! I guess one good thing I can say is that at least it was caught and contained. Besides, I thought TB was one of those obsolete illnesses. I even thought they froze a sample of the strain just in case we ever get TB again. I guess I’m wrong… (more…)

I’m just glad to see that Hawaii lawmakers are not going to let this opportunity for a new business fall to the wayside. One of the biggest changes in the “>Hawaii Superferry saga would allow the Superferry to continue operating in the islands while an environmental review was being conducted.

The restrictions are as such. They would have to give “unconditional acceptance” to operating restrictions that would be placed on them. The goal of the restrictions would be to protect the whales and prevent the spread of invasive species on the neighbor islands. This is still a potential option and it needs to be approved as of yet, but at least that’s better news that the “shut-out” treatment they got last week. (more…)

Last month it was the fabulous Thunderbirds. This month we’re in for another treat! The Blue Angels received a warm Hawaiian welcome earlier this week at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. The last time the Blue Angels performed in Hawaii was back in 2004 and in 1995. Four F/A-18 Hornets of the eight member team of the Navy Blue Angels will perform two air shows this weekend at the base. The event is free and open to the public. (more…)