Hawaii

As many of you know, the Today Show kicked off its “Great American Adventure” yesterday in visiting Hawaii, Yellowstone, Chicago, Orlando and the Jersey Shore — starting with us, of course, and working their way back east. (Note to viewers, due to the disaster in Oklahoma, the Today Show has changed travel plans and will be broadcasting live from Oklahoma City on May 21 instead of Yellowstone.) The live broadcast was from 1 to 4 a.m. on Monday morning, and the news of the day was mixed in with pre-taped accounts of their visit here as well as live commentary and demos by Tihati Productions, Jake Shimabukuro, Daniel Anthony of Manaai poi, chef Jon Matsubara, and Crystal Pancipanci. If you missed the show, you can click here to see most of the featured clips. While the crowd had to stay on the outside of the fence, as media, we got to stay inside the production and shooting area to see what they do. Here’s a quick look at what we did behind the scenes throughout the morning: ◄ Back Next ► Today Show in Hawaii (1 of 19) Here was the scene on Waikiki Beach when we arrived at 11:30 p.m. People had been there since as early as 9 p.m. to get a good spot on the fence. Bonus: I got to actually meet with the cast of the Today Show. That’s right, I talked to Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales and Willie Geist. Here’s my interview with them, which included their favorite local foods, and a lesson in pidgin: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri6cIrIQoxs One of the (other) highlights of my morning was watching radio personality Slick Vic Harris teach Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie how to “Chee Huu” like a local. Click here to see my looping Vine video of the event (click the microphone button on the screen for sound, but be aware that my video is loud). Pretty good for their first try, huh? Even I can’t do a proper “Chee Huu,” and I’ve lived here all my life. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to stay up all night, but the pace was quick and it was actually a lot of fun. I was also worried that the cast might be a bunch of divas, since they are national celebs, but they were very personable and down to earth. One thing that I found to be amazing is how they were able to keep a lively conversation going with no dead spots, but as soon as someone signaled to wrap it up, they quickly, but smoothly, let the conversation end without being abrupt. It’s easy to take for granted when you’re watching it on television, but when you watch them in person — especially after doing back to back interviews — you realize what true professionals they are. I wish I had time, off camera, to find out how they do that. Anyway, good luck to the Today Show as they make their way across the country! A hui hou.

During the week of May 13, 2013, through May 19, 2013, Hawai?i Island police arrested 29 motorists for drunk driving. Ten of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Four were under the age of 21. So far this year, there have been 515 DUI arrests compared with 550 during the same period last year, a decrease of 6.4 percent. - visit Hawaii 24/7 to read the full story -

Victor John Fleener came across an illegal dump in Hawaiian Acres today, and shared these photos, including a closeup of some of the mail found in the strewn trash.  Do you know Fred Perreira?  Perhaps you can jot down a note to him letting him know his trash was found on Road 8, near the intersection with F Road, in the Acres.  If it wasn’t Perreira who dumped the trash, maybe he has some idea who did.  Plus, he needs a nudge to buy a shredder. Speaking of found trash bearing mail with people’s names, there was an Opala in Paradise trash cleanup this weekend in Waawaa.  Some of the trash found there included mail for Farah I. Liwai, of Hawaiian Beaches.  Illegal dumping is a major problem on this island, and maybe these people, Farah and Fred, can help shed some light.  Surely they’re not driving their trash into people’s neighborhoods and dumping it, when we have free transfer stations to dump our trash.  Are these people paying trash haulers for residential pickup?  What is the deal?

Hawai?i Island police are investigating a shooting that occurred in the Puna District and left one person dead. Monday afternoon (May 20) at about 2:19 p.m., police responded to a call of a shooting victim found in a home on Maui Street in the Nanawale Estates subdivision. - visit Hawaii 24/7 to read the full story -

Clark Hatch, founder of the popular Clark Hatch Fitness workout center in Downtown Honolulu, will speak at the next Smart Business Hawaii Sunrise Networking Breakfast Forum on Thursday, May 30, in the Pineapple Room, Macy’s Ala Moana (3rd Floor), from 7 a.m. to 8:30 am. His topic: "Doing Business in Asia." The SBH forums are open to the public. Advance paid reservations are required. In addition to networking, introductions and special announcements, the Sunrise breakfast event offers a full buffet breakfast at Alan Wong's Pineapple Room at Ala Moana Center's Macy's, an interesting program and free parking. The complete cost for SBH members and their guests remains $25 per person. For non-members and those paying at the door—seats are limited— the cost is $35. For details go to http://www.smartbusinesshawaii.com or call Darlyn at SBH (808) 396-1724.

Big Island Video News for May 20th, 2013:  Hawaii County Democratic Convention, High Surf, Heavy Rains and more courtesy of  HawaiiScoops: Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Hawaii, Unexplained Phenomenon Tagged: Big Island Video News, Hawaii Scoops

Hawaii Republican Assembly By the Hawaii Republican Assembly - Ten days ago, the Hawaii Republican Assembly provided a chart to show the downward decline of the number of Republicans in our state government. We solicited inputs from our readers on solutions to this alarming trend, because we believe that only through the Hawaii Republican Party can we contest the Democrat super-majority. However, yesterday, resources of the Hawaii Republican Party were spent in an effort to debunk our chart. See their letter to Hawaii Reporter here. Why is the HRP spending time challenging an objective chart when we all agree that there are far fewer Republicans in office today than we had over a decade ago? We want HRP to address the issues of why we have this decline, not to get mired in red herrings. So, in defense against this transparent attempt to change the subject, let's start where HIRA and HRP agree . . . right now. At present, as the result of the recent 2012 election, there are only eight (8) Republicans in state office. Great, there's no dispute. There's Slom all alone in the State Senate and seven (7) Republican members of the State House: Johanson, Ward, Cheape, Fukumoto, McDermott, Fale, and Thielen. Moving on to the outcome of the 2010 election, when Jonah Kaauwai was chairman along with several current party officers. The HRP claims that HIRA's figures about elected Republicans in state office is over by 1 ("it should be 8 instead of 9"). In 2011, the State Senate had Slom (1) plus the State House had Thielen, Ling Johanson, Marumoto, Pine, Fontaine, Ward, Ching, and Riviere (8). One plus eight equals nine (9). Point to HIRA. Now, with the results of the 2008 election, the HRP claims again that HIRA's number is too high by 1 ("it should be 9 instead of 10"). Serving as Republicans in state government in 2009, there were Gov. Lingle and Lt. Gov Aiona (2), the State Senate had Slom and Hemmings (2), and the State House had Ching, Finnegan, Marumoto, Pine, Thielen, and Ward (that's another 6) which adds up to ten (10). Point to HIRA. Following the 2006 election, the HRP claims that there were eighteen (18) Republicans in state office, HIRA claims thirteen (13). Lingle and Aiona were in office, so that's two (2). There were a total of five Republicans serving in the State Senate: Gabbard, Hemmings, Slom, Trimble, and Whalen (5). That brings us to seven. Let's look at the official list from the State Capitol. There was Awana, Ching, Finnegan, Marumoto, Meyer, Pine, Thielen and Ward; that's eight (8) house members. That brings the actual total of elected Republicans in state government to fifteen (15)...and when you subtract the two elected Republicans who switched to the Democrat Party (Awana and Gabbard), that leaves thirteen (13). Point to HIRA. See where this is going? A large discrepancy exists between HIRA and HRP during the 2000 elections. The HRP claim thirteen (13), HIRA says twenty two (22). Quick roll call . . . Cayetano was governor and Hirono was his lieutenant. That brings us to zero (0). In the State Senate, there were Hemmings, Hogue and Slom. That's three (3). In the State House, there were Auwae, Bukoski. Davis. Djou. Fox, Gomes, Halford, Jaffe, Leong, Marumoto, McDermott, Meyer, Moses, Ontai, Pendleton, Rath. Stonebreaker, Thielen, Whalen. That's nineteen (19). That adds up to twenty two (22) elected Republicans in the State Legislature. Point to HIRA Ultimately, the question is: who do you believe? The history of our Republican Party in Hawaii is important. The reality is tragic. You cannot know where you are going unless you take an accurate account of where you are today. Success is a long way away, and we can get there through honest assessment, hard work, and conservative principles. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the Hawaii Republican Assembly (HIRA) which provides this conservative viewpoint for your consideration. Please forward this Code Blue to friends and family. 

Bruce Omori, owner of Extreme Exposures Fine Art Gallery in Hilo, received the Windland Smith Rice International Award for his lava photo titled “Volcanic Vortices HILO, Hawaii — Bruce Omori, owner of Extreme Exposures Fine Art Gallery in Hilo, received the Windland Smith Rice International Award for his lava photo titled “Volcanic Vortices,” which will be displayed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History’s annual exhibition in June. His winning photograph was selected from almost 20,000 submissions from photographers in 46 countries. “I’m humbled by this experience, to stand with so many other great photographers is an honor,” said Bruce Omori. “I love what I do and to be recognized in this way leaves me a little speechless.” “Volcanic Vortices” won the top honor in the Power of Nature category. Finalists from each of the 15 categories will be featured in the Fall/Winter edition of Nature’s Best Photography Magazine. “On an early morning shoot at the Waikupanaha ocean entry, lava from the Kilauea volcano poured into the sea. This created a huge escape of steam, and as it rose, multiple vortices began spinning off of the huge plume,” Omori described in his photo submission description. “A vortex or two is a pretty rare sight—but when one after another kept forming, my fumbling with the lenses turned into a panicked rush to switch my telephoto to wide angle lens to capture this awesome scene of seven vortices in a row.” Hawai’i Island’s premier master photographers, Bruce Omori and Tom Kualii, are the owners of Extreme Exposure Fine Art Gallery in Hilo, HI. They are photographers that live on the edge and go to extremes to create magnificent fine art pieces. They also lead exclusive private photography tours and workshops on Hawai’i Island. www.extremeexposure.com

Report from GasBuddy - Average retail gasoline prices in Honolulu have risen 1 cent per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.25/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 214 gas outlets in Honolulu. This compares with the national average that has increased 8.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.67/g, according to gasoline price websiteGasBuddy.com. Including the change in gas prices in Honolulu during the past week, prices yesterday were 12.3 cents per gallon lower than the same day one year ago and are 1.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has increased 16.6 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 3.0 cents per gallon lower than this day one year ago. "The last seven days have delivered some shocks at the pump for motorists in the nation's Midwest," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "I don't believe I've ever seen gasoline prices in the Midwest surpass California- areas of Nebraska, Minnesota, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota, and Kansas- have done that. Gas price records in these areas aren't being quietly replaced, they're being blown out of the water. I don't believe I've ever seen such crazy trends in gasoline prices occur all at one- prices spiking in one area, falling in another, and holding steady in others. What we're seeing today is certainly rare," DeHaan said. GasBuddy operates HonoluluGasPrices.com and over 250 similar websites that track gasoline prices at over 140,000 gasoline stations in the United States and Canada. In addition, GasBuddy offers a free smartphone app which has been downloaded over 25 million times to help motorists find the lowest gasoline prices in their area.

The Omidyar Fellows Report from the The Omidyar Fellows - HONOLULU - The Omidyar Fellows -- a program launched in May 2012 by the Hawaii Leadership Forum -- has opened applications for its 2013 class. Applications for the rigorous and comprehensive leadership program are now being accepted online at www.OmidyarFellows.org/hawaii through June 30, 2013. Developed by Bill Coy, director of leadership learning for the Hawaii Leadership Forum, the Omidyar Fellows curriculum is tailored to meet the unique and diverse needs of participants. The customized program includes a kickoff event and series of orientation activities, one full-day session each month, executive coaching, and conversations with current leaders. In addition, Fellows learn new skills, network with peers, self-reflect, and participate in personal growth opportunities. "Last year we were fortunate to receive more than 150 applications from many engaged and dedicated individuals seeking leadership development for the benefit of not just themselves, but their organizations and their communities as well. We were impressed by the strong representation from all islands and sectors and the overall level of understanding and commitment to Hawaii" said Kalei Stern, director of Omidyar Fellows. "We look forward to engaging with the community and the next generation of leaders to build a strong second cohort of Fellows." Omidyar Fellows is looking for applicants who represent a wide range of sectors including government, nonprofit, for-profit businesses, and labor unions. The ideal candidate for the Omidyar Fellows is someone who has: Demonstrated, as a leader, the courage, commitment, passion, and capability to get things done Solved complex problems within an organization or community Developed a working style that incorporates problem solving, original thinking, collaboration, and innovation Earned leadership responsibilities beyond his/her years of employment based on track record of accelerated achievement Demonstrated engagement in the community beyond professional responsibilities Arrived at an understanding of Hawaii's cultural, social, and political contexts As the current inaugural class nears the halfway point of the 15-month program, the Omidyar Fellows program hopes to build upon the momentum of its first year and bring these exciting opportunities to a new group of up to 15 up-and-coming local leaders. The program is designed with the goal to inspire and equip emerging leaders with the skills needed to affect positive, lasting change in Hawaii. According to Colton Ching, a current Omidyar Fellow and vice president of energy delivery at Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., the program is already succeeding. Ching said, "Through the Omidyar Fellows program I have learned important lessons on leadership and developed lifelong friendships with my cohort that will be invaluable in my professional career." The 2012 fellows will be graduating in November 2013. Selected participants for the second Omidyar Fellows class will be announced in September, and their program will begin in October 2013. For additional information about Omidyar Fellows and Hawaii Leadership Forum please visitwww.OmidyarFellows.org/Hawaii. Omidyar Fellows is also on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/OmidyarFellowsHI and Twitter at www.twitter.com/OmidFellowsHI.