July 2004 Archives

UH Logo - New or Improved?

After almost a year after the first upsetting design was submitted by a Maryland-based design firm (who got a very sweet $73K severance pay after the contract was cancelled), UH is at it again, determined to finish what it started. Read the press release here.

This time, they've selected three of Hawaii's best to take on the daunting challenge of a state-wide brand facelift. The three firms that were chosen are Graphic House of Honolulu, Clarence Lee Design & Associates, Inc. of Honolulu, and Sae Design of Maui.

Ringing and Spinning

Our first night in Mililani, even with all the windows thrown open like giant, hungry ears, the world was distressingly silent. It seemed like something less than nothing, a negative space, the rare bark of a dog or chirp of a gecko the only proof that we weren't sealed off in a vacuum. I became hyperaware of things I'd rarely noticed before: the click of my ankle as I walked, the sound of Katie's fingernails as she scratched an itch, the water heater clicking off. I woke myself up with the sound of my own snoring.

It was strange. So many things had changed in the previous few weeks, but it was the quiet that I seemed to notice most.

The Poll

Upon each visit to HawaiiStories, my eyes will inevitably divert to the graph on the upper right-hand corner of the site. You know, where the poll question is asked, "Who will get your vote in November?"

Although I won't dispute the current numbers, I do find that these numbers are nowhere near the representation of what I've been finding in listening to others speak about their vote. In spending the last week listening to acquaintances, neighbors, and strangers discuss the election, there appears to be an overwhelming amount of support for the John Kerry/John Edwards ticket.

Why should I move away?

If I have to hear one more person tell me that I should move to the mainland I am going to mangle them until they are unrecognizable! Well, maybe not, but I shall politely tell them that it’s of no interest to me to move away, but thank you for the advice.

HeartWalk

Heart health is near and dear to my... well, heart. I nearly lost my mother to a heart attack when I was only ten years old (though I was too young then to really appreciate how serious things were). Heart problems have hurt many people I love, and frankly, I could take better care of myself. A charity walk isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but every little bit helps.

August 14 brings this year's American Heart Association HeartWalk here in Honolulu. I'll be there. Anyone else?

Writing

I have a dilemma: When does a real life story become fictional, and does it matter? See, I’ve taken to writing semi-autobiographical stories when attempting to start writing real stories from my life. The thing is that there are different sides of the story, how it appeared on my mind and how it actually happened.

HawaiiStories Hui V

Can it be? Has it been over a year before our last full-blown picnic? (Though we did have a small meetup in December.) Well, we've got to set things right! Our own Beth needs a proper sendoff, after all.

Let's get together on Saturday, July 31, say, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. What do you think?

Don't Flash Your Lights!

Anyone else hear about this? I got this memo at work saying that if you are driving after dark and see a car without their lights on, Don't Flash Your Lights! There is a new gang initiation going on that requires the new member to drive around at night without his lights on until someone flashes their lights at him or makes some other action to signal them. The new member is now required to chase after and shoot at or into the other car. This Is Not A Joke!

It kind of scared me because most people I know do flash their lights at people who drive without them. When walking down the street at night Lisa and I would always yell "Lights" if someone was driving by without them. What is the world coming to where you can't even be a good samaritan anymore? I don't know how serious this is but Managers have been sending this notice to all the stores and I've been sharing it with all my regular customers.

Everyone out there, Please Be Careful.