March 2003 Archives

Annoying Locals

It seems that HawaiiStories is becoming one of those places people check in on in order to get a sense of how Hawaii's people are feeling. I'd like to take advantage of this fact by starting a list of annoying local personalities. It seems to me that some of the truly annoying people in the public eye don't realize how annoying they're being, so I offer this list as a public service on the relatively decent chance that they might hear about our annoyance, and thus do something to address the problem.

The Varsity

Having moved to Honolulu from Atlanta, when somebody told Baz and I that we should check out The Varsity because it was in our neighborhood, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. See, The Varsity is an Atlanta fast food historical landmark. A true car hop, you can sit in your yuppie mobile and be served the greasiest fries and orange creamsicle shakes by friendly car hops in oldey timey red paper hats that say Varsity in wonderful collegiate sports type across both sides.

When I found out that Honolulu's Varsity was a movie theatre, I was left hungry and disappointed. Until I actually drove by and saw the place....

Love in the 21st Century

I was talking with a friend who has been in a relationship with a woman he considers "The One" for a little over a year, when he told me the story of how they met: over the Internet.

I found this incredibly interesting. I have been a net junkie since I was thirteen, and done everything from chats to forums. Although I have developed on-line social circles, I have never developed romantic relationships over the internet.

Who you calling Haole?

I know the word translates in Hawaiian as Foreigner but it's connotation is sometimes unclear. I don't mind being called a Haole, depending on the attitude that is present when the word is used. I've been referred to as a Haole in a good way, "Who's the cute Haole boy?" and in a bad way, "Stupid Haole!"

The Media Hush

There are so many questions not being answered, it's unnerving.

"So and so has this intelligence and that intelligence, which clearly prove why we must do this and that, something we can't tell you because of operational security, but trust us, we know what we are doing."

Kuhio Day

Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole was born on March 26, 1871 in Koloa, Kauai, and was in line to become king before the monarchy was overthrown in 1893. He went on to represent Hawaii in Washington, and was credited with paving the way for significant local growth, from the dredging of Pearl Harbor to establishing the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The territorial legislature designated his birthday a holiday in 1949. Today, the "day off" is often mooted by Spring Break, which usually coincides with it. Will you be working tomorrow? What will you do to mark the birthdate of "The Citizen Prince"?

JournoAnon

Feeling run down? Lack energy? Shaky hands?

Is it Code Yellow getting to your head?

How about the SARS scare?

No? Then you must be a news junkie.

What are those people thinking?

We drove to Berkeley and there was a lot of police all over the place today! In the news, people are protesting this war! All over the place! I find it wierd that people would actually stick their arms in a metal tube and have the police saw them off! Not their arms though! But what got me thinking is this... do these people actually think that because they are protesting that the president will actually say, okay, I'll stop?

Blogs come of age?

There are probably quite a few of them, but I find this "blog" from Baghdad compelling reading, many of his comments being far more emotionally touching than any mainstream news report I hear.

I'd pray for his safety, if I knew anything to pray to.

Melona Bars

Melona bars! ONO! I am in San Fran and can't find it anywhere! Does anyone know where I can get them here on the mainland? Also if I can order them right to my home in California? I have a strong weakness for melona bars!

Made in Korea, a melona bar looks like a pastel-green, single popsicle. It's made of water, molasses, skim milk powder, sugar and melon flavor. Each 2.46-ounce bar contains 5 grams of fat, 4 of them saturated, and 19 grams of carbohydrate, including 15 grams of sugar. Price is about 79 cents.

The First

I've been wandering around HawaiiStories for some time, getting my feet wet. Now I'm comfortable enough to make my introduction

Stud or Dud?

While the world takes a collective breath on the eve of a seemingly unavoidable war, some might turn to the pointless and frivolous for a moment of mindless relief. For them I offer Hawaii's Bachelor, a local attempt by an otherwise highly-regarded news outlet to create buzz by capitalizing on a proud mass-media lineage that includes The Bachelor, Joe Millionaire and Married by America.

Aloha ohana!

alright.. so here i am trying to belong! i am new here and wanted to give a "BIG ALOHA" to everyone here! my name is Heidi and i want to get familliar with everyone here!

you peeps are awesome from the posts i have been reading! and also, i do get a good laugh! I have been reading Hawaii Stories for a while and thought... well... kewl! why not ask if i can be a part of this big ohana!

Hidden Treasure in Hawaii?

"There's gold in them thar hills!"

For ages and eons, man has been seeking hidden treasure. Long John Silver, Erik The Great, Lewis and Clark, Thor Heyerdahl, and many others all struck out on adventures either for the sport of exploration, the thrill of being first to discover something new, or for rush of finding the loot! Well, if you think the days of treasure hunting are over, then you've obviously never been geocaching!

I know there's an English equivalent ...

... but I just can't think of it. Any ideas?

"makes against bad luck good heart (horrible literal translation. What
is the saying in English ????):"

Freedom kiss me, baby?

Lingle's recent quip about state legislators being "childish" can certainly apply to national ones, given the story about "Freedom Fries".

[Even if use of the term "childish" is an insult to children everywhere.]

If I go into an establishment serving "Freedom toast" or "Freedom fries", I am walking right back out again.

Vive Monsieur le President Chirac!

What are your coordinates?

The latest meme making the rounds 'mongst warbloggers and other politically-aware escribitionists is the Political Compass. It adds another dimension to the left-right cliché: an authoritarian-libertarian spectrum. Over at MeFi, someone collected all their answers, and plotted it on a graph. There's a definite... trend. And I seem to fit in.

How well does the compass peg you?

Liliha Bakery

Have you ever wondered what makes Liliha Bakery's food so good? Well, my husband Basil and I went on a quest this morning for the truth. We loaded in the wagon, and headed to our favorite spot for Sunday morning coffee and coco puffs.

Ahhhhhh.......love!

They're Heeeere!

That's right! It's Peeps time again! I spotted them last night at Safeway in Manoa. I personally prefer chicks to bunnies, and cut right to the chase, biting the head off right away. How about you? Bunnies or Chicks?

Blog Publishers Stealing Web Limelight

Decent overview from BizReport.

Orange Nation, Blue Hawaii?

This morning the Washington Times ran the following headline: Terrorists aim at Pearl Harbor.

The attacks would be carried out by hijacked airliners from nearby Honolulu International Airport that would be flown into submarines or ships docked at Pearl Harbor in suicide missions, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The harbor is the home for 30 Navy and Coast Guard warships, including 18 nuclear submarines, five destroyers and two frigates.

This report conflicts with Governor Linda Lingle's statements in the Saturday, February 8, Star-Bulletin piece, Hawaii stays at general risk for terrorism.