Oahu News

This year the fireworks are lining up to be a big crowd puller as the state of Hawaii is feeling the economic crunch. A free show in the air, preceded by live entertainment, BBQing and a south shore surf swell that appears to be sticking around for the weekend will have everyone enjoying some low cost entertainment. For driving directions check out the map below.

Fireworks start at 8:30 p.m. on July 4th with the grand finale going off around 9 p.m. The fireworks are visible all throughout Honolulu and if you live on a rise with a great lanai can be sublime. The entertainment in the park will be all day but scheduled performers start at 5 p.m.

Although usually we would suggest floating out in the water to catch the show from a surfboard or a kayak (or really any other floating device), the south swell that has been pounding the shores of waikiki may make things a little tough. Staying on shore looks to be the smarter idea.

Expect huge crowds as KGMB9 is reporting more the 50,000 people are expected to be loitering (ok having fun) on magic island alone! Although I haven’t been down ala moana I can imagine that people will be staking their claim early, as they usually do. Plus, the cops are all out trying to catch people with the cell phone ban in effect so who knows, you may be able to get a great spot even with the park closed (not suggested.)

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On June 9th 2009 Hawai’i in particular the City & County of Honolulu lost one of the most outstanding examples that the American dream thrives in its 50th State. A man born into humble circumstances in a Maryland Hospital just a few miles from Washington DC on July 21st 1952, raised in rural Arkansas, and later in Maryland, where his family instilled in Mark Edmund the principals of hard work, discipline and the love of family a concept he was later to learn was embodied in the Hawai’i’an word ‘Ohana.’

Mark Bainum grew up on a farm where his chores included tending to horses & cattle, hoeing corn, and in his own words “plus helping water and feed young chicks at the chicken house. I can still recall the forceful smell and odor of 1500 hungry, thirsty, chirping chicks.”

Education played a key role in Bainum’s life, his Grandma Florence encouraging him to read in his spare time especially biographies of great Americans such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, instilling the idea that from modest origins one could achieve great things. Bainum’s earliest school was a simple country two room school with fewer than fifteen students, later his family moved ‘up north’ so that his older brother could attend a high school offering a ‘Christian Education.’ The move benefited young Mark who now found himself in a challenging new environment, a “brick n’ mortar school with more than 300 students.” The adjustment made easier by the devotion of teachers, once again in Duke’s words, “The teachers at the new school inspired me to learn and do more. The school principal was a dedicated educator who doubled as the school librarian. She loved helping students who had the desire to learn. I recall her telling me right before I left the 8th grade that I was the first student to read every book in the school library. My earlier values of respect, cooperation, and caring were re-enforced at this school. With so many other kids around, I also learned to get along with people, even if they did not agree with my view of the world. The playground became the laboratory of learning how to work with people, no matter what their backgrounds.”

Inspired by an Auntie, a public health nurse, older brother Tim decided to pursue medicine as a career and it was only natural that Mark did the same, Mark Bainum graduated from The University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1980 and then he came to Hawai’i to fulfill his internship requirements at The University of Hawai’i Surgical Residency program, working at various local hospitals.

It is fitting that Hawai’i gave Mark Bainum a nickname, Duke, in honor of his ‘John Wayne country drawl’ (legacy of Arkansas), and that Hawai’i gave the newly minted Duke a renewed purpose in life. Answering the call for volunteer doctors needed in Nepal in 1984, the experience gave Duke Insight into the need for service to his community, city & county government, specifically the need for local government to serve the needs of the community, to impact the lives of people in a positive affirmative way. That desire to serve led Duke into politics.

Duke dedicated his life to serving the city & county he had learned to love, so much so that he once said “25 years ago, I chose to make Honolulu my home forever. And today, my sense of connection to Oahu and the people of this City makes me feel as though I’ve always lived here.”

Duke’s dedication to work was inspiring. He could have easily settled into life as a physician with a thriving practice and perhaps a nibble at the political scene now & then but no, he felt it was vital to take courses from The Western Regional Banking School so that he could better manage his families business affairs, expanding his resume by serving as a chairman of the Diamond State Bank in Arkansas from 1999 to 2004 while juggling his medical duties, a young thriving family, and service to the Honolulu Community.

Duke’s community service began with the Ala Moana / Kakaako Neighborhood Board from 1987 to 1989, moving up to chair the McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board from 1989 to 1990, then a stint with the Hawai’i State House of Representatives from 1990 to 1994. Duke first served on the Honolulu City Council from 1995 to 2003.

The events of 2004 here in Honolulu will likely never be settled to everyone’s satisfaction. Duke Bainum ran for Honolulu Mayor against Mufi Hanneman and for a while seemed to be the likely victor, then allegations were thrown around, the mud flying fast & furious and in the end Duke lost by the narrowest of margins, by 1, 300 votes. One could have forgiven Duke had he settled for the rigors of a full medical career but he had a need to serve and so when a seat became vacant on the Honolulu Council he once again threw himself into the fray. Unopposed Duke won handily and was soon back in the thick of the fight, arguing against proposed tax increases, voicing concerns that residents of Honolulu ought to be treated fairly, with respect & dignity.

Outwardly healthy, in the prime of his life, in the midst of the sort of political fight he seemed to thrive on, Duke died of a “an aortic aneurism, or a ruptured discetion of the aorta,“ a result of hypertension, high blood pressure. Duke’s death removes him from further speculation; the list is limitless. A viable candidate for Mayor, even the office of Governor was within Duke’s reach, now none of us will know, all that we know is that Honolulu is saddened by the loss of a man few will argue was truly dedicated to the City & County, to the State that he had come to love, that had come to love him in turn.

Duke Bainum is survived by his wife and two sons, as of this writing memorial services have been set as per http://www.kitv.com/politics/19784503/detail.html “The funeral for the late Honolulu council member will be held June 26, at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Visitation starts at noon, with the service beginning at 2 p.m. The following day, Bainum will be buried at Diamond Head Memorial Park at 10:30 a.m The family requested that no one give flowers. Instead, the family asked that people make donations to the Duke and Jennifer Bainum Foundation, P.O. Box 11120, Honolulu, HI 96828.” For More Info go to http://www.dukebainum.com/index.html

That’s right, your eyes aren’t tricking you, I said 70% off!!!  If you are looking for new shoes, head down to Foot Locker at the Ala Moana shopping center to capitalize on new shoes that are 70% off.

The reason for the sale is because Foot Locker is moving back to their original site in Ala Moana (upstairs above what will be Victoria’s Secret), having been relocated downstairs next to Old Navy for a few months.  To clear some of the inventory before the move, they are offering some fantastic deals, which include 70% off already marked down shoes and 25-70% off clothes.  Now, most people think that these sales only consist of discontinued items.  I’m here to prove that they still have good shoes left! 

My girlfriend and I headed down yesterday after work around 5pm, and I was able to pick up a pair of Asics Kayano 14’s for $40.  The original price for these shoes were $135!!!  I’ve been wanting them for a while, and the cheapest place I could find them were at Nordstrom Rack, which still sold them for $70, which were mostly sizes that people didn’t want (ie. wide widths up to EEEE).  I also picked up a pair of Nike Air Shox Experience’s for $30, which retailed for $140.  My girlfriend picked up a pair of Nike Air Victory’s for $30 from $100.  And lastly, my brother picked up Nike Air Force Ones for…drumroll…$15!!!!!!  It was so good, he picked up two pairs!

They are also putting their remaining Ed Hardy and Affliction clothing for 70% off.  When I was there yesterday, only dri-fit Affliction shirts and boardshorts were left.  They also had a few Ed Hardy tee-shirts and some sweaters.  Some of their hats were also 70% off.

So if you are in need of a new pair of shoes or some new threads by Ed Hardy, I suggest you head on over to Foot Locker at the Ala Moana shopping center before all the good stuff gets bought!  The sale ends on June 30, which is apparently the scheduled date they are planning to do the move.

Happy shopping!

Chris Lee

            The local economy is tanking, pigs are spreading the flu, most of your favorite television shows are airing their finale episode of the season and football season is several months away.  The prescription for these and other woes is Laughter.  Fortunately the comedic duo of Cheech & Chong have reunited and are on tour set to touchdown on O’ahu at The Waikiki Shell on Thursday May 29 2009 and on Maui at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center at the Castle Theater.

            Cheech & Chong’s Light Up America Tour was launched in 2008 and has carried the duo across the United States and Canada.  Their stoner humor and wry observations about life are a welcome tonic during these troubled times.  Tommy Chong a native of Alberta, Canada, a multi-talented musician and natural funnyman started an improvisational comedy troupe in 1966/67 in a Vancouver BC nightclub because, “It was a topless joint and I didn’t have the heart to fire the strippers,” recalls Tommy Chong “so when I turned the show into a comedy troupe known as ‘City Works,’ I put the girls in the skits. We had the only topless improvisational theatre in Canada.”

            Cheech true/name Richard Marin, born in the barrios of East Los Angeles, found his way to Canada and joined City Works, at a tremendous salary of $60 a week!  After two years the troupe disbanded and the two found that they could easily entertain an audience without an ensemble of strippers.  They made their way to Los Angeles where they became a fixture at the famous Troubadour Club where they were swiftly signed up by a record executive who soon had them recording their first comedy album, their self titled record Cheech & Chong debut in 1971 and was swiftly followed by Big Bambu in 1972, the Grammy Award Winning Los Conchinos in 1973, The Wedding Album in 1974, and many more to follow.

            Cheech & Ching successfully transferred their smoke fueled fun to the big screen with the 1978 film Up In Smoke followed by a slew of hilarious films including the grossly underrated The Corsican Brothers (1984). 

            Cheech and Chong are scheduled to perform at The Waikiki Shell on Thursday May 29 2009 at 7 PM.  Tickets are available via any number of sources, and prices have varied so it is best for you to research your best bargain, one option is via their website http://www.cheechandchong.com/.  

            Cheech & Chong are scheduled to perform at 7:30 PM at The Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, One Cameron Way, Kahuli, Maui.  Tickets are $59.50 and are available via https://www.mauiarts.org/tickets/ or call via 808-242-SHOW (7469)

Book Lovers Rejoice – - – the Fourth Annual Hawai’i Book and Music Festival will be held on the grounds of the Honolulu Hale on May 16th and 17th from 10AM to 8PM.  Sponsored by the Bank of Hawai’i, along with a whole bunch of terrific co-sponsors, the Hawai’i Book & Music Festival just keeps getting bigger and better.  It is a celebration of books and music providing an excellent opportunity for folks to meet & mingle with many of their favorite authors as well as introducing folks to books & music of every description; new books & titles, old books & titles yearning to be rediscovered, whatevers!

This is one of those events that the entire family will want to attend.  There will be exhibits by publishers & authors, lots of talk story & music, poetry readings, comedy and panel discussions by authors & editors & others versed in the art of the spoken and musical word.

The festival has expanded for 2009 with two evening concerts from 5 to 8 PM.  The retailing giant Target presents Jake Shimabukuro on Saturday May 16 2009, while Outrigger Hotels sponsors KANI KA PILA and a 6-Band Competition.  But you do not have to wait to be entertained; there will be exciting activities throughout the event, such as “NEW! HAWAII CHORUS SHOWCASE: 8 spectacular choruses Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, Windward Choral Society, Sweet Adelines, Sounds of Aloha, Honolulu Gay Men’s Chorus, La Pietra, Iolani, MidPac.”

One of the most popular pavilions is the ‘Talk Story Stage’ where one can watch/listen to many of Hawai’i’s best story tellers, among those listed for 2009; Jeff Gere, Tita Cathy Collins, Ed Chevy, Nyla Fujii-Baab, Sandra MacLees, James McCarthy, Lopaka Kapanui.  There will be also be playwright slams, poetry and more.

The Hawai’i’an Culture & Language Pavilion will feature the “Akaka Bill, Origins of Hawaiian Literacy, Haena, Hawaiian Blood, Native Men Are Made Mythology, “ along with Fiction & Non Fiction Hula and Chant.”

There will also be a Keiki Stage where the terrific comedian/actor Billy Sage will read Dr Seuss, which in and of itself is reason to celebrate, check program for time.  The Keiki Stage will also feature “8 Musicals, Comedy Improv, No Sweat Shakespeah, 2 Ukulele Demos, Fight Choreography,” and “Terrence Knapp/Willows in the Wind.”

Various Hawai’i restaurants will have food booths where one can buy ‘grinds’ and for those in need of a caffeine fix Starbucks sponsors an ‘open air Festival Café.’

There will be plenty of new & old books for sale plus the Bank of Hawai’i hosts a Book Swap wherein the past thousands of books were exchanged. In fact there is so much fun to be had that readers are encouraged to scope out the website for the festival: http://www.hawaiibookandmusicfestival.org/home.html.

Now here is ‘the kicker.’  All of this fun is free!  Yea, yea, you might have to pay for a book and a plate lunch, but all the rest of the fun, the poetry slams, the talk story, even keiki rides & activities, all of this is FREE!  Occasionally Tax Dollars get well spent!  Not only is the event free but there is free parking close by and naturally the Honolulu Hale Civic grounds are easy to walk to or to get to via bus.

This is one Festival that you will want to attend.

On Saturday April 18, 2009 Muscular Dystrophy Association Hawaii will be having their 10th annual Spring Soiree at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel Ocean Lawn and Monarch Ballroom.  This is MDA Hawaii’s largest event and fundraiser of the year. 

The MDA organization is a national non-profit organization that helps people with neuromuscular diseases.  This organization supports patients in clinics, support groups, summer camps, equipment loans, and much more.  MDA’s funding is based on donations from national and local sponsors and fundraising alone.  The state of Hawaii is fortunate to have an MDA office in Honolulu that services Oahu and the other neighbor islands.  A medical clinic is held once a month for doctors to see patients and activites and support groups are held for the patients year round. 

The Spring Soiree tickets are $150 a person and this gives you access to food and drinks from:  Anheuser-Busch, Azure, Barefoot Wines, Blue Water Grill, Chibo Okonomiyaki, MAC 24-7, Marians Catering, Pepsi, PF Chang’s, Ryan’s Grill, Tiki’s Bar and Grill, Tropilicious Ice Cream & Sorbet, and Waivera Infinity Water.  There is a silent auction with jewelry, gift baskets, vacation packages to the neighbor islands, and much more.  In the Monarch Ballroom, tables are available for purchase and emcees Steve Kelly and Sista Sherry from Krater 96.3 will be on hand hosting the live entertainment. 

I have been fortunate to work with the Muscular Dystophy Association monthly clinic for 5 years.  I have learned about the many neuromuscluar diseases and how it effects the people and families.  MDA Hawaii offers such a great program for these individuals who are having financial difficulties or simply need support from others like them.  MDA never asks the patients to pay any out of pocket expenses for doctor visits, wheelchairs, summer camps, etc.  They rely on people of the community and fundraisers like the Spring Soiree to fund all the services MDA offers. 

I have also been fortunate to attend the MDA Spring Soiree for the past 4 years.  This is a exciting event where I can dress up in elegant attire, dine, sip cocktails, bid on auction items, dance the night away, and help a great organization.  If you would like more information on the Spring Soiree and/or ways to help this local organization call MDA Hawaii at 808-593-4454.

Everyday the national news is filled with depressing stories of people getting laid off from their jobs and big companies like CompUSA and Circuit City going out of business.  Recently, this plague has hit hard locally among Oahu stores and restaurants.  I was blown away to hear the news of Banana Republic closing their Waikiki Store in January.

Then one after another the news of other businesses closing continued to get worst.  Some stores and restaurants have announced their closings publicly while others have seem to disappear overnight.  In the same Waikiki complex as Banana Republic, Nick’s Fishmarket closed unexpectedly in February and Niketown is scheduled to close in May of 2009.

I was at Ala Moana shopping center the other day near the food court pacing back and forth looking for Taco Bell.  After a couple minutes I realized that the empty storefront that sort of resembled the colors of a Taco Bell was actually the Ala Moana center Taco Bell that had recently closed.  It really caught me off guard because I had not heard this store was closed.  A few other Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations have also recently closed.

Some other businesses that have recently closed in the past few months are:

Compadres Bar and Grill, Aaron’s Atop the Ala Moana, Brew Moon Restaurant and Micro Brewery,  Arden B in Ala Moana, and Starbucks in Hokua.

Ironically, Hawaii is also seeing new stores such as Target and Petco opening their doors on the islands.  New high-rises in Ala Moana continue construction and new strip malls are appearing in Kakaako and Kapolei.  Tough economic times do bring big opportunities for high powered investors.  They will capitalize on low cost real estate and they can afford to take the big risks.

Visiting the new Target store last week, the store was packed with shoppers and I couldn’t tell that we were in a recession by all the buying that was going on.

In these uncertain economic times, Hawaii must brace themselves for this economic roller coaster.  We must become smart consumers and live on only what we need.  Business owners need to be strong and brave and ride out this down spell.  Hopefully soon the world, the nation, and the island will again see economic growth.

My heart goes out to all the local businesses that have recently closed, they will be missed.  Because of the high cost of living, Hawaii residents are use to living a budget lifestyle.  I think we’ll all be alright as long spam stays under $3.00 a can.

Is it really a recession? If you’ve been to one of the two new Hawaii Target stores you wouldn’t believe it. My wife and I went today to the Salt Lake Target to find gridlock, a full parking lot, and a jam packed target store.

Being originally from the mainland, in a town that had it’s very own target store, we had been missing it for a while. When we first heard Target was coming to Hawaii we were pretty psyched. And now it’s finally here. So what better way to spend a rainy day in paradise? Boosting the economy of course.

Just over the H3 in Salt Lake we knew the store was going to be busy, but when we got there, it was more than busy. On every corner and parking lot opening there was a cop or security guard directing traffic. We had to circle the block once just to get in. But after 20 minutes, we were finally there, and already noticed the size of the parking spots. Not the normal door banging slim spots at most parking lots. They were spacious and ready for a truck.

As we walked towards the door, past the red velvet ropes fit for a Hollywood opening night, we noticed the industrial strength plastic shopping carts that appeared to be straight from Tupperware . We were finally in, and it was just as we had remembered it.

The place was packed. Starbucks to the left, all 30 some odd checkout lanes open, a waiting line for carts, and families lining every aisle. Even the read Target shirts could be seen everywhere, which by the way have nice little aloha flare. That’s right, aloha target shirts. And yes, I checked, they’re not for sale. But you can get an aloha print Target shopping bag for $2.

For anyone that says Target is just the same as Wal-Mart, is the same as K-Mart are just plane wrong. I could go on and on explaining the differences but just head to the Household aisle and you’ll see. It’s just different.

2 hours later, that’s right, 2 hours later, we had a few things in our basket, a box of wooden hangers for $14.95 and a couple aloha print Target shopping bags, we were on our way out. Another 15 minutes trying to get back to H3 and we were done. A successful rainy day on Oahu spent at the new Target store in Salt Lake.

It’s been a long time coming for an Oahu Target store but the wait is finally over. Tuesday night there was a special friends and family event for all Target employees and any other workers who have helped in the construction and making of the new Targets of Oahu.  Employees, friends, and families got to be the first to shop at the new Target stores.  Guest had to wait 40 minutes just to get into the door.

What they found inside was a brand new store, stocked full of Target merchandise, plus all you can eat and drink pupus, snacks, desserts, and beverages were being served at all isles of the store.  A local company helped cater and serve the event.  Helpful escorts were on hand to greet guests and answer any navigation questions throughout the store.  These lucky guests were given the oppurtunity to see and shop at the Targets before official opening day.  Upon leaving guests recieved a free re-usable Target shopping bag with an assortment of give-aways.

The two new Target stores on Oahu are in Kapolei, 4450 Kapolei PKWY and Salt Lake, 4380 Lawehana Street (the old Costco).  The stores are scheduled to open for business at 8 am on Wednesday March 4, 2009.  The public grand-opening will be this weekend Sunday March 8, 2009.  Regular store hours are Monday thru Saturday 8 am 10 pm and Sundays 8 am to 9 pm.  Hawaii has been anticipating this opening for the great Target merchandise and also creating new jobs for island residents.

For those who live in Kahalu’u, Ka’a'awa, Hau’ula, Punalu’u, La’ie, or even Kahuku you are all familiar with the traffic problem starting on Kahekili Highway at the beginning of Likelike Highway in Kaneohe and continues on through Kahalu’u on Kamehameha Highway.  This traffic problem has been going on for years, but has recently become increasingly worse.  Oahu’s population growth can be blamed for its infamous traffic and so this region of the island is no exception, but this region happens to be where I reside, so I have had the opportunity to closely monitor this on-going problem.

Monday through Friday, before sunrise, beginning at 6:00 am is when bumper to bumper traffic starts in Kahalu’u around Ahuimanu Road and Ahuimanu Place going towards Kaneohe.  In the morning, it can take me about 15 minutes from Ahuimanu Road. to Haiku Road, which is only approximately 3 miles.  Without traffic this route should only take about 3 minutes.  This morning traffic lasts until about 9:00 am.  For the after work flow going the opposite direction from Haiku Road to Kahalu’u, this traffic-jam begins at about 3:00 pm and can last up until 7:00 pm!

A few years ago, the Kahekili Highway had some major improvements in the Kaneohe town region, which lead to the three lane expansion and sidewalk additions.  The highway improvements were great and sidewalks helped out walking pedestrians.  On the downside, this 3 lane expansion has created a ”bottle necking” effect that I have just described above.  The 3 lanes narrow down to 1 lane at the Haiku Road intersection and this leds to bumper-to-bumper traffic in both directions.

Recently, this commuter traffic disaster has begun to bleed over into all days and hours of the week.  I find myself on a Saturday at 10:00 am sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic going either direction.  I wasn’t sure what was going on, so I decided to attend my Kahalu’u Neighborhood Board meeting a few months ago because I heard their main agenda for the evening would be on TRAFFIC.  The meeting was packed with concerned Kahalu’u residents that were getting fed up with the current traffic situation just like me.  Attending the meeting were traffic specialists that explained the current situation and the solutions that they were exploring.  They had been exploring alternatives such as: more lane expansions, adding extra turn lanes at some intersections, adjusting red light times, etc.

Key traffic speaker, former mayoral candidate and traffic expert Panos Prevedouros spoke about some traffic solutions that have not been explored such as tunneling new lanes, called underpasses.  Another traffic expert spoke about another alternative such as bicycle riding as an option for residents to consider to stay in shape and avoid the grip lock traffic.  It seems like local residents were concerned with the traffic, but they didn’t want to make any drastic changes to the roads or environment.  They wanted to keep Kahalu’u country and feared too much change.

After the meeting my thoughts were filled with hopelessness and frustration.  I agree with both sides of the argument.  We need to solve the current traffic crisis that seems to be getting worse, but not at an environmental or community cost.  In that debate it seems that the traffic in Kaneohe/Kahalu’u was here to stay, at least for now.  The traffic experts and government officials are currently working on solutions, but making sure that it was in the budget and would not upset the community.  Based on their time line, a firm resolution is going to take A LONG TIME.

I believe this debate spans through out all areas of the island and that is why it seems now days traffic on our islands is everywhere and getting worse.  In the meantime, I will try and channel my road-rage, avoid peak traffic hours, and maybe even move…move to Alaska??!!

bumper-to-bumper on Kahekili Hwy