Mele Kalikimaka

Mele kalikimaka is the thing to say around this time year when the crazies begin shopping and decorating before Thanksgiving even shows itself. But with the economy still in recovery mode, will Christmas 2009 be a less festive event than in past years? Poinsettia farmers in Hawaii say so, as:

This year’s seasonal crop of the so-called Christmas flower has sunk to a 13-year low of 273,000 plants, according to a survey by the Hawaii field office of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

So it’s safe to say that the islands may be a little less cheery in the form of red flowers this year, and my allergies say thanks. Maybe we can switch to Gerber daisies and roses?

But besides decorative flowers, it seems that toys are also in short supply:

Robotic toy hamsters, the latest Barbie dolls and stylish boots are disappearing from store shelves as holiday shoppers start to get serious.

Toy companies and manufacturers, similarly to flower farmers, are producing less to ensure an economically safe holiday season despite the recession. What will we do? We can buy all of our presents now. We could not give any presents at all. Or we could turn to the age-old solution that fits now more than ever: alternative gift giving.

During an economic recession where we are trying to save, imagine the lives of people less fortunate than us and the struggles they face. While we are worried about poinsettia flowers and Barbie dolls, others are worried about food, shelter, and clothing. Let’s continue the spirit of giving and aloha during this Christmas season and consider alternative gift giving!

Ni hao ma?

Since I learned the word “China,” my daddy has been telling me that China will take over the world. He didn’t mean it literally, obviously, but he did predict, along with many others, that China would become an economic powerhouse in global standards. In anticipation, some smart tourist businesses in Hawaii have started targeting Chinese tourists, who come in preset groups and tours, to set up good relationships with Chinese tour companies. Today, it’s no longer a prediction: China is becoming, if not already is, the strongest nation economically in the world.

We (Hawaii) were off to a good start with the Chinese. In the summer of 2008, the first group of Chinese tourists EVER took their first trip to Hawaii. The Ambassador Hotel of Waikiki, where I interned that summer, received its first group a few days after. It marked a hopeful increase of Chinese in Hawaii. But, the economy crashed, swine flu hit, and other events violently caused the numbers of Chinese tourists to arrive in 2009 to be much less than predicted. Now, after the worst is over, we can begin the long recovery process to heal our economy. China seems like a good place to start.

Taking a proactive approach to our economy’s recovery, Governor Linda Lingle will soon depart for a two-week trip to China to strengthen relations and hopefully improve trade and tourism. Lingle will first target Hainan airlines:

Expected to offer the first nonstop flight service from Beijing to Honolulu early next year. The flights, which will start at one a week but could expand based on consumer demand, could bring more than 10,000 new visitors to the Islands each year.

A nonstop flight from Beijing to Honolulu would encourage many Chinese to make Hawaii their next travel destination, eliminating the hassle of an international layover in Seoul or Tokyo. Another way Lingle will work to eliminate annoyances for potential tourists is with visas.

The governor is also scheduled to meet with Jon Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador to China, about potentially expediting the visa application process for Chinese visitors to the Islands and Mainland. The governor may ask for specific interview times for Chinese visitors at U.S. consulates and a process that would make it easier for last-minute travel arrangements.

Governor Lingle has thoroughly covered the bases to make sure it is as easy as possible for Chinese tourists who wish to travel to Hawaii will do so. Of course, it is also important to advertise Hawaii additionally, to encourage more and more tourists to come.

Lingle sets an admirable example with her aggressive approach to economic recovery. In the long run, her trip to China will greatly benefit tourism in Hawaii, the economy, and lives of local residents. As Hawaii begins to make more money through the tourist industry, slowly, more money will be available all around (no more furloughs!). While economic recovery will be, as always, a slow and taxing process, Governor Lingle has given us a running start by improving relations with China.

What can we do to accelerate this process? Keep pushing. As I have said before, being laid back will not help to improve our economy. If “aggressive” actions can’t be taken, at least be safe and smart by saving and cutting back. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, can you? Shoots cuz, we go.

To carry or check?

I’m sure that any and every frequent flyer has noticed the increased number of carry-on bags per flight. With the new check-in fee policies, more and more passengers choose to carry-on their luggage than to pay $15-$50 to check it in. And with understaffed airlines, the hassle of increased carry-ons is taking its toll on both staff and customers.

Is this affecting peoples’ willingness to fly? If there is any possibility of this, perhaps there is another solution that (in particular) local airlines can use to maximize the amount of flyers traveling inter-island. Since there are only 2 airlines that fly inter-islands (after the go! Mokulele merger), and airfare is expected to rise, baggage fees may greatly impact flying.

Ken Richards, a surgeon quoted in “Carry-on Space Scarce Due to Fees,” suggests that airlines charge customers for carry-on bags instead of check-ins. This solution presents the understanding that the airlines’ needs to make money, but also takes the passengers’ comfort into consideration. He observes that businessmen and people who have tight schedules would gladly pay for the convenience of carry-on space, and the fees will encourage people to check-in their one bag before incurring fees. This prevents passengers from getting hit in the head with bags and saves over worked staff from the stress and chaos of passengers fighting for over-head space.

I think this strategy would be effective. Not necessarily in bringing more flyers to the skies, but it would stop people from not flying. At this point in the economy, after one airline merger and higher airfares, airlines should be very careful with all of their policies. Personally, if one airline used this policy, I would choose that airline over one that didn’t. Just food for thought! Shoots cuz, we go.

Breaking the Bach

As a fortunate private school student, I was lucky to grow up surrounded by music. In elementary school we sang, played xylophones, and hit wooden blocks together in rhythm. Middle school followed with more xylophones, ukuleles, and recorders. Soon, I was given an option to join choir, band, or orchestra (I chose the latter). As my passion for the viola intensified, I began joining more and more music groups: school orchestra, chamber music, and finally the Hawaii Youth Symphony (HYS).

It was at HYS that I learned lessons that would last beyond my years as a violist. Besides playing amongst the top young musicians in Hawaii, I was exposed to discipline, passion, and leadership that was unique to the HYS program because of the leaders there. Truly, compared to any other program I participated in throughout my high school years, HYS was the one I took the most from.

Unfortunately, the Honolulu Symphony (and subsequently HYS) has been suffering financially for several years. About to go bankrupt a few years ago, an anonymous donor graciously gave one million dollars to the Symphony, saving it from extinction. Big and small donors alike are giving all they can to save the Honolulu Symphony, and the Honolulu Symphony is doing its part to be smart with the donations.

This recent article shares that:

[The Honolulu Symphony] has canceled a concert on the grounds that the cost of it would return the Symphony to serious financial trouble…The decision may alarm some people but the current board said over the summer it was determined to get the Symphony onto more of a secure business footing.

Let the Honolulu Symphony be a model for us all. In these tough times, it is necessary to cut back, make sacrifices, and hold out until the economy improves. The Symphony teaches us not to spend what we don’t have, even if it’s embarrassing or difficult or atypical.

Some people might argue that the arts, during a difficult economic time, are not worth saving. To that I say nay and will support it with a quote from my HYS conductor, Maestro Henry Miyamura:

You can take confidence from music. You can take anger and love from music. You can take all the meanings you know in music and become stronger leaders, because you are the future of our country.

And by leaders he meant in every field: law, business, medicine, education. By training local students in music, confidence, passion, and discipline, Miyamura was training leaders who would come back to their Hawaii home and improve their communities. So, despite these trying circumstances, the arts (especially education of the arts) isn’t only a beautiful concert this weekend but an investment in Hawaii’s future as well.

Without the Honolulu Symphony, mentors in HYS would be unemployed. Mentors to public school music programs would disappear. Private schools would be the only places with orchestras and symphonies. Music would become an elitist art.

But I have faith that the Symphony will survive, as will our economy if everyone can save and hold out till the end. Be smart with your money, and soon the light at the end of the tunnel will shine around us, and we can get our tans back! Shoots cuz, we go.

Dear Bad Economy, Please go! Home.

A sad dejavu moment in the islands today: the go! Airlines and Mokulele Airlines merger. While not nearly as tragic as the shutdown of the beloved Aloha Airlines, this merger is a consequence of the economy (specifically decreases in Hawaii’s tourism industry).

As with any merger, the new go! Mokulele Airlines will include newly branded planes, some transitional flight scheduling difficulties, more efficient operations, and the worst repercussion, job and pay cuts. Almost 40% of Mokulele employees were furloughed and will not be receiving a paycheck for one to three months, at the end of which only a possibility exists that they will be offered new jobs with go! Mokulele. Many of these employees formerly worked for Aloha airlines.

Remember the saying (or song lyrics, wherever you’ve heard it first): “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me”? These are some words of wisdom I would like to offer the employees of Hawaii airlines. Some are beginning to realize this. Joe Kauweloa, former Aloha airlines and Mokulele airlines employee, said:

There’s two strikes against me already so I don’t want to go back to the airlines, I don’t think I want to go back to that field again.

Honestly, to work for Mokulele in the first place was a risk. Founded in only 1998, the fledgling company was trying to fight for a stake in an industry where even the big dogs were flailing. When Aloha airlines went out of business, it was a sensible story for former employees to go to airlines such as Hawaiian and United. And while finding a job wasn’t easy, especially for airlines workers who had no experience other than working for Aloha airlines, I would still question the choice to work at Mokulele.

With this merger, people like Kauweloa are rethinking the airline industry. It’s a smart move. Looking just at numbers, it’s easy to see that the tourist industry has dropped due to the economy and H1N1, and less people coming to the islands means less people flying in planes to, from, and between the islands. Since the economy is unpredictable, it’s hard to tell if we’ve reached the “bottoming out” point in the recession yet. A strong possibility exists that more pay and job cuts will be handed out at go! Mokulele.

Understandably, former airlines employees are looking for jobs with the same unbelievable benefits and pay that they received before. However, and not a comforting solution, the economy isn’t what it was when the airlines were booming. Some people will have to settle for less, cut back in their lifestyles, and make some sacrifices. With effort, diligent job searching, and an open mind, I believe that these people can find a job with more security and stability than what the airlines industry provides.

But to end this depressing post on a positive note, I would like to remind everyone affected by this merger, and who have been affected by the airlines industry, that all the kamaaina are behind you. We understand that these are tough times, especially for you, and we pray for you every day. We hope that you make wise decisions toward the future of yourself and your ohana. Everyone, hold out just a little longer–we will come out on the other side of this recession together. Shoots cuz, we go.

H1 N E 1?

The eleventh person died from H1N1 (lovingly referred to as “swine flu”) in Hawaii. Don’t believe me? It was on the news! But no worry beef curry, we now have a vaccine for the nasty virus. Will that get rid of all the swine flu?

It’s becoming well known that the swine flu is contributing to our flailing economy. The Japanese are the most scared of disease and germs, and because they do not want more cases of swine flu in their country, they are traveling to other places besides Hawaii and spending their valuable money there instead.

This is grimy situation.

So should we really be releasing statistics of H1N1 victims in such public places like on t.v., the newspaper, and the internet? Shouldn’t we try to put this in a top-secret vault for only the most trust-worthy of people to see? Yes, this sounds unrealistic, but we need money and we need it from tourists!

Well, at least there’s a vaccine. And U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the vaccine is safe.

The adverse effects are minimal compared to what can happen when you get the flu.

So, like home sales, the future of our battle against H1N1 is looking up, and with it will slowly be our economy. Keep your heads up, guys, we’re climbing out! Shoots den, we go.

Ono Kine Grindz

I’ll admit, I’m rather jealous of the ono kine grindz being served for lunch at Hakipuu school. The Department of Education recently approved a new Hawaiian lunch menu, and it’s a hit! According to KGMB9 article, “Hawaiian Food in School fro Lunch” (is “fro” a pun, because I don’t get it! Otherwise, oops! Typo!), options include:

Lawalu mahimahi, ‘ulu chicken burger, limu salad, poi, and more.

Wow! I don’t even know what all of those things are, but they sound a lot better than mystery meat. But beyond the obvious perks of this cultural addition to public school cafeterias (including better tasting food, more nutrition, and an awareness of the Hawaiian culture), what I approve in this scenario is BUY HAWAII!

Though the official government campaign no longer exists (see my previous post!), the concept will always be in my mind and in my heart: support local retailers to keep local money in the local economy. The onolicious lunches at Hakipuu are provided by Hale Kealoha Ai Pono, a family business that, in the words of Kaniala Smith (part of the Ai Pono Ohana),

[Wants] to promote healthier living through [the Hawaiian] culture.

Kaniala truly embodies this mission, and said:

As long as they have a smile on their face when they’re finished eating and enjoy what they eat, that’s my favorite part. Just to see people smile.

With a genuine aloha spirit, Kaniala’s food business is definitely a worthy candidate of consumers’ support, just like the other small, local businesses that compose Hawaii’s economy. It’s great to know that we can help support our neighbors and fellow kamaaina while sending our keiki to school. Let’s keep up the BUY HAWAII spirit! Shoots cuz, we go.

Cash those Clunkers!

Ho, Mistah Prez,

Mahalo for da ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program, brah! 1,850 new vehicles been bought in da aina, makin’ fo’ a huge increase in da kine aut-mo-beel sales in Hawaii. Good fo’ da kine environment too. Eh but…any mo’ ideas fo’ helping da kine car sales, brah? Could use some help!

Aloha,
Cuz

Thanks to the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program, it’s true, a whopping 1,850 new automobiles have been released onto the streets of Hawaii in the past month. As could be predicted, truck sales are down (as people are trying to be environmentally friendly, and save their wallets from the gas monster), and Japanese makers have outsold all other makes. Brands including Hummer and Land Rover are suffering, though Korean makes are enjoying the largest percentage increase.

Given the state of our economy, it’s expected that the car industry would suffer since cars are luxury items. When times get tough, a family trying to save can easily just not buy a car. Plus, gas prices are horrendous! Statewide, Hawaiians are paying 85¢ more per gallon of gas than the rest of the U.S. That’s an average of $3.36 per gallon! With prices like that, who would spend the money on a new car? So it’s a truly pleasant bonus when car dealerships (even if only Toyota and Kia) can experience a good month, and all thanks to a government program.

A good month, however, says nothing about the future of Hawaii’s car industry. Bill van den Hurk, president of Aloha Auto Group Ltd., says,

“We had an incredible August…[but now] we’re back into reality world.”

Despite the boost from ‘Cash for Clunkers,’ no vehicle in Hawaii has seen a year-to-date sales increase. And with furloughs on the way, plus a possible rail system on the way, what will happen to Hawaii’s car industry? Van den Hurk says that,

“All we can do is hope now.”

Well, in my opinion, hoping is a little passive. President Obama helped the industry out– maybe it’s our state government’s turn to do the same. Times are definitely rough, but perhaps some out-of-the-box thinking could turn “hoping” into “doing.”

Here is my out-of-the-box idea of the day:

I remember a man spoke to my class one day in 8th grade assembly about an outreach program he was spearheading for the homeless. The concept was to take old busses and turn them into homeless shelters and/or soup kitchens. I think this could be turned into a ‘Cash for Clunkers’ type of government program, encouraging people with extremely old cars to get new ones. The government would assist in a type of rebate for these people, who would feel compelled to help the homeless as well as get a discount on a new car. Also, the quality of the car wouldn’t be too much of an issue, as the shell of the car is the main part needed to make the project work.

But this idea is just to get you thinking. Because while van den Hurk is hoping, the economy isn’t getting better. What we need are innovative thinkers to propel us forward in ways we wouldn’t think possible. So no matter how outlandish the ideas, please come forward with them, because they might actually help. So kids, the lesson for today is: be creative, and be brave about it. Shoots cuz, we go.

Ono (Delicious) Kine Sites

So I was just introduced to social bookmarking tools (Diigo, Delicious, Digg, Stumbledupon, Trailfire, etc.), and boy, they are really handy in terms of finding cool articles and material! First, I made an account on Diigo (where you can download a toolbar to make bookmarking and organizing easy) and searched “Hawaii Economy”, since I was looking for blog inspiration. However, there were no specific articles listed under that tag, only under “Hawaii” and “Economy” separately, which gave articles about the best tourist spots on the islands and the world economy in general.

I then moved on to Delicious, which you can conveniently link to Diigo and share all of your bookmarks between the two sites. When I searched “Hawaii Economy” in Delicious, the same results came up as in Diigo, however, there were suggestions for other tags to click right underneath my search. I clicked the tag “Hawaii Economy Tourism,” and the fun began.

Delicious is such a helpful tool to help find relevant articles to your personal topics of interest. My search pulled articles from major news sources such as CNN and the Honolulu Star Bulletin. The best part about the search, I thought, were the articles and posts from websites I didn’t know. I stumbled across a blog about Hawaii (whose most recent post, “Prices in Paradise”, discusses the hits Hawaii’s economy has taken in relation to the rest of the nation) that I would never have found if searching on my own in Google. I found another blog that discusses different energy options that had one post about Hawaii and oil.

The first blog I found from Delicious, Hawaii Blog, is written by Ryan Ozawa (you can read more about him at this website that is all about him). He posts about Hawaii and lots more, including a bunch of posts about the television show “Lost” (filmed in Hawaii), local events (“Free Admission on Museum Day!”), and economic issues similar to what I like to discuss (“Prices in Paradise”). In the latter article, Ozawa uses a familiar item, milk, to compare the effects of inflation on Hawaii and other mainland states. He brings up a valid point that as a local, paying $7 for a gallon of milk seems normal since that is the only price we see. But as a college student at USC, I buy my gallon of milk from Ralph’s for only $2.50. People tell me all the time that the economy is hitting everyone hard, but it’s apparent that a $5.50 price difference for a gallon of milk is quite a stretch. This inflation not only effects locals—tourists must also pay extravagant prices when visiting the islands. This is bad news because they will spend less and be discouraged from visiting, which doesn’t help our economy any more than the high price of living.

Another article that was very relevant to my blog was from the Honolulu Star Bulletin which presented a convenient bar graph of tourism rates through 2008 (and trends only continued into the current year). Hawaii saw June tourism rates drop 14.5% in 2008, and the percentages only rose this past summer.

Using sites like Diigo and Delicious help to find relevant articles quickly and painlessly. Blogs like Hawaii Blog would have taken me hours to find on Google, and the millions of articles from the Star Bulletin would have taken a lot of time to weed through as well. I would definitely recommend these sites for those researching, in need of inspiration, or if you’re just bored. Shoots cuz, we go.

Furlough Fever

Government employees throughout Hawaii (and nationwide) have been taking pay cuts, fearing layoffs, and suffering from furlough fever. And in a recent article in the Honolulu Advertiser (“Furlough dates set for Hawaii public school teachers”), 17 furlough dates have been settled for public school teachers in Hawaii. We know what this means: parents will adjust their schedules and find day care for furlough days, teachers will tighten their personal budgets, and children will learn 17 days-less of information per year. Everyone needs to take a hit for the team.

But speaking of team…

Coconut wireless (aka the grape vine) has it that athletic directors may be exempt from these furlough dates, since many sports games take place on Fridays. While the trend of favoring athletes over scholars has taken over America and the world, should it really trickle down as far as our public school system? I don’t think so.

Perhaps a lesser discussed aspect of economics is the moral aspect, but I think it sends the wrong message to our keiki that when times get tough, your parents, teachers, community, and education take a back seat, but oh wait…football, that’s okay to continue. Why can’t Friday’s games be moved to Thursdays? Public schools don’t play private schools in most sports anyway, so there would be no time or date conflict. And haven’t you heard? Thursday is the new Friday.

Maybe I’m just a bitter musician who sat in the old recital auditorium while the track and gym got renovated every other year. But in all fairness, if everyone is taking one for the team, I see no loophole for athletes. Shoots den, we go.

"Buy Hawaii"

In reading JohnfromBerkeley's blog today, I remembered an old, local campaign called "Buy Hawaii". Here's the comment in regards to his wonderful post about supporting local retailers:

It’s such a great and economical idea to buy locally made products during your vacation in Hawaii. In fact, there was a government campaign back in 2001 called “Buy Hawaii” to help promote buying local goods over imported mainland ones! A nifty “Buy Hawaii” sign, with the Hawaiian flag, was made and distributed to all retailers supporting the campaign and who sold local products, which would let buyers know where to shop to support the cause. The goal, of course, was to keep local money in the local economy instead of filtering it over seas.

When I googled the issue to find pictures of the sign and the government page about the campaign (which I used extensively when I wrote a middle school speech about “Buy Hawaii”), I COULDN’T FIND IT! No sign pictures! No government page! Where did it go? Where did our support for “Buy Hawaii” and local retailers disappear to? In these horrible economic times, it is more important than ever to support each other, to support our fellow kamaaina by choosing their stores and products over others and keep their jobs and shops alive. We need to keep our money in our state and “Buy Hawaii”.

I am so grateful for Hawaii lovers like yourself who, as you said, “want to honor hardworking Hawaiian businesses”. Our culture is so unique, and in order to preserve it we need to work together. Understandably times are tough and money is tight, but when we do take out our wallets, if we “Buy Hawaii”, we are helping to save not only jobs and businesses, but our culture and way of life. Mahalo for your support.

So remember keiki: live, love, and "Buy Hawaii". Shoots cuz, we go.

Try Transit into Tourism...

“WE WILL RIDE!” The crowds of high school and college students shouted this at a rally last summer, after a congressman gave his motivational bit:

“What do we want?”
“Rail!”
“When do we want it?”
“Now!”
“What do we want to do?”
“Go?”
“Go…FAST!”

Honestly, it was comical how surprised the congressman really was at his audience’s confusion after his third motivational question. He proceeded to chant “Go rail, go!” with such syntax that the crowd began to sound like they were reading a “See Spot Run!” book.

This was before the rail project was approved. Since last summer, it’s a “go” for “go rail, go”. Still yet, rail transit in Hawaii has been a controversial topic plaguing voters from eighteen to eighty. Many of my friends and peers are involved with this cause, which is why I attended that particular rally. The pros and cons have been stated and restated: the rail will save people commute time, reduce traffic and pollution, and give construction workers jobs, but will cost all tax payers (even those who “would not” benefit from the rail) money and would take FOREVER to complete, if at all.

And as I am interested in Hawaii’s economy, I question the rail through this lens: how will/can the rail help to raise or support Hawaii’s economy? Can it? I believe so; thus, I support the rail.

How? First, it would create job opportunities, which is always a great stimulus for the economy. The construction industry is in need of a boost of business, and the rail project would definitely help.

Second, I believe the rail would bring tourists to branch out further than Waikiki (the tourist town in Oahu). In our current rail-less situation, some tourists use the bus system, but not all are comfortable with it since riding the bus often requires a lot of transfers. This makes bus riding inconvenient for heavy shoppers, which keeps the tourists who want to spend close to Waikiki and town. It’s fair to assume that the tourists who currently use the bus systems would also use the rail. Not to mention that Japanese nationals are familiar and comfortable with the concept of rail, since that is the main means of transit in Japan (I focus on Japanese tourists because they bring the most money to Hawaii’s economy). With more tourists using the rail, and visiting other parts of Oahu, local vendors and stores would prosper and expand, creating more jobs and currency flow.

And hey, will we have little rail stations? Or rail stops? Because around and/or in rail stations and/or stops, realistically, would be food vendors and convenience stores, creating, again, more job opportunities and flow of money.

Every chance Hawaii gets to create opportunities such as these, we should take. I view the rail as an investment. Though it will cost tax payers roughly 50 cents a day, totaling $4000 over 15 years, it will save them money in the future. If they use the rail, they will pay less to commute. If they drive, they will pay less for gas because traffic will decrease. And whether or not the area their local traffic is affected by the rail, the economic benefits will help them to get a job or make more money.

Can the rail help our economy? Yes. There are many other questions regarding rail transit that, however, remain unanswered. As my pro-rail friend says: “we’ll see”. But no worry beef curry, the rail will prevail. Shoots cuz, we go.

At Least Voices Can't Be Stinky

It's been the hot topic of local news in Hawaii: "let's make sum kine law weah we kick da kine stink buggahs off da bus". In common terms, the Honolulu City Council is attempting to create a law slapping potent bus riders with a fine or jail time. However impractical or improbable, you have to admit that it's a "fresh" concept.

This was Howard’s most recent blog topic (titled “Stinky bus rider bill is delayed”), as well as many other local blogs I came upon. One aspect of the funky, future law that Howard picked up on, compared to other bloggers, is the humorous side. His natural comedic voice emerges, especially while discussing this topic. A combination of local vocabulary, colloquial flow, and rhetorical questions create Howard’s unique blogging voice.

In one paragraph especially redolent of the local culture (hah!), Howard describes a scenario that the “stink law” presents:

Can you imagine the arguments if an officer (sweating profusely under his or her heavy uniform) tries to charge a conspicuously unbathed passenger while some tutu across the aisle is twitching noses for five rows in either direction with her industrial strength perfume?

In fact, I can imagine! Thanks, Howard, for the riveting image of smelly people on the bus. But in all seriousness, the reason that I understand and enjoy this paragraph-long sentence is the way Howard describes the situation. His informal comment about the sticky po-po made me chuckle at the likely irony. A “tutu” (which means grandma in Hawaiian), not a “grandmother”, is scrunching her nose, which hints toward a local grandma (stereotypically loud, blunt, and fluent in pidgin) saying "Eh, you stink you know". Her perfume is INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH (that must be more than maximum!) which presents another irony because (what if) her perfume is not an appealing scent?! Howard easily uses local humor in an casual way to display his voice.

He also uses one-sentence transitions to move between paragraphs.

In a post called “Council on Revenues: ‘Look out below!’”, Howard opens with a crafty metaphor when:

The dark wizards of the Council on Revenues [met], murmuring incantations and waving their hands over a crystal ball while dry ice filled the room…

His next paragraph says (in italics, no less):

“Economo confundis!”

(And that’s it.) Besides a clever Latin phrase inferring that a magical spell was cast on the governor, this sentence serves as a transition from the council meeting to revenue forecasts. Howard effectively uses this as both a change in topic and a presentation of his voice (not to mention a shout out to all Harry Potter fans). It’s just another way his voice emerges through the blog and out your computer speakers.

In my opinion, Howard’s take on current events through a local, comical voice makes these (sometimes) uninspiring issues relevant and fun to read about. It’s the spoonful of sugar to my medicine. And as the goal of my blog is to create “an optimistic on Hawaii’s economy,” I am inspired by Howard’s voice and blog.

Shoots cuz, we go.

Da Kine Profile

People often overlook the significance of airfare in relation to Hawaii’s economy. When stopping to think about it, however, the concept is simple: if the cost of a flight to Hawaii is too expensive, less tourists will fly over to visit. Similarly, the higher the cost of transportation over seas, the higher the cost of living becomes, also affecting the number of tourists who visit the state each year. And with the recent pikes in air prices, transportation to Hawaii is a hot topic to those who evaluate the local economy.

Jeff and Rob (and Muley the Mule, the blog’s mascot), authors of the blog “Beat of Hawaii and Beyond: Travel Deals, Tips, Culture, and Analysis”, discuss the topic of airfare for the benefit of local readers and tourists who plan to visit the islands. While there is no economic analysis involved, the two Hawaii residents include very detailed updates on local and national airlines, as well as weather forecasts, food recommendations, and even one intriguing post about a fleet of planes whose lavatories broke with 6 hours left in the flight (drink services were halted immediately).

Both authors have traveled around the world and were not born in Hawaii, though Rob has been living in the islands for six years, and Jeff for ten. (Muley was born and raised in Hawaii–a true expert.) This creates more of a “traveler’s” point of view, as opposed to a “local’s” point of view, but since they mostly report on findings and do not apply (for example) airfare to the possible outcomes of the economy, there is no significant difference. Jeff and Rob make posts 5-7 times a week on the latest airline trends, culinary suggestions, and raves about the one and only Hawaiian culture.

One post that I found both interesting and relatable to my future blog was called “Our Hawaii Fall Airfare Predictions” posted on the 17th of August. Here, Jeff gave his opinion on how air prices would affect tourism from different regions of mainland America. Some of Jeff’s predictions included that the Pacific Northwest (Seattle and Portland) would contribute a large amount of tourists, followed by the Bay Area in Northern California. While it is still too early to measure his accuracy, what I find most interesting is the emphasis he placed on American tourists. While over 50% of Hawaii’s tourists are from other states, Japanese tourists (who contribute to 20% of tourists) spend 60% more per person than American tourists. Specifically speaking about Hawaii’s economy, the Japanese are much more important.

Another interesting post was called “When TravelZoo Calls It A Deal, Should You Listen?” about “hot Hawaii airfares” on a travel website. Here, Jeff researched the advertised air prices and compared them to ones offered by other airlines. His results found cheaper flights (with less layovers) from the other carriers, and he concluded that consumers should research before buying tickets. This caused me to think about the extent online ticket sellers affect travel to Hawaii by not advertising the cheapest prices.

These blog posts relate fairly well to my own blog topic about Hawaii’s economy and culture. Jeff and Rob write in a report style as opposed to an analytical style, and I hope to take my blog one step further by using similar details but predicting how the economy will be affected through my point of view (similar to the first post I mentioned). The content is accurate, though not particularly scholarly or academic, which is fine for the audience of the blog that consists of potential tourists and curious locals. The airfare trends will benefit my blog because that information is vital in regards to Hawaii’s economy.

From mules to flight costs, “Beat Of Hawaii” provides another insight to Hawaii. Hopefully my blog will as well. Shoots cuz, we go.

Howzit Blogging World?

Eh, brah. Howzit? Ho, you know da kine surf, got choke waves today so I like stay at da north shore. It’s da kine Friday but I stay working at da state and da guhvnor put da lolo kine furlough so no mo work Friday, pau. You like come? What’s da doo doo kine furlough foa anyway, eh? I geev’em state high maka makas da stink eye when I see’em, I got no moa work Fridays an den no moa moneys. Watchu tink I gon do? Eh, bumbai we just go beach. Kay den.

(Hey, how are you doing? The surf is so great today, I just want to stay at the beach all day. It’s Friday, but since I work for the state, and the furlough is in effect, I don’t have work like usual. Would you like to join me at the beach? Oh, what is the purpose of the furlough, anyway? I’m going to glare at those uppity state officials when I see them; I don’t get to work on Fridays and my pay has been docked. What am I supposed to do? Oh well, later let’s go to the beach again. Good plan.)

It is highly probable that you found this introductory paragraph a confusing mess of slang, sounds, or jibberish, and with that initiation, I would like to introduce you to Hawaiian Pidgin: the slang of the locals who live somewhere amidst the Pacific Ocean. I’ll be honest and admit that this form of English (and what it represents) is somewhat foreign to me as well. In fact, it took me 30 minutes and Wikipedia to write a paragraph of Pidgin. Hawaiian Pidgin represents a native/local subculture that makes Hawaii one of the most unique states in America—but it isn’t the only subculture.

I would like to dub my subculture the “Hawaii Private School” culture: a breed of local flavor and “good ole American” style. Like those who speak Pidgin, I too call “flip flops” “slippers” and say “that’s junk” instead of “how unfortunate”. However, I use normal grammar and spell properly. I am filled with the “aloha spirit” of friendliness and giving but dreamed of pursuing higher education on the “mainland”. This “Hawaii Private School” culture places education as a very high priority, and since the public school system in Hawaii isn’t as strong as the private school systems, parents who strongly value education try their hardest to send their children to a private school. I grew up in and surrounded by this “Hawaii Private School” mentality—it is my culture.

It makes sense that those with the means and motivation to go to private school over public school, to pursue further education like college, graduate school, and higher, would be the prominent members of Hawaii’s society who impact important local issues. And as Hawaii’s economy—a very significant and relevant local (and global) issue—continues to decline, the importance of this “Hawaii Private School” point of view grows, since members of this culture will likely effect different outcomes of the economy.

So, I intend to explore the future outcomes of Hawaii’s economy through this “Hawaii Private School” lens by examining first the origins of this distinct culture and then the current issues affecting the economy (such as tourism, the rail transit system, and government spending). And while the economy can be a very depressing subject, hopefully the carefree, “aloha” mentality of Hawaii will help us all to keep our heads up.

Shoots, cuz. We go.