Global Travel Blogs

It’s time to pack up the gun from your quiver and head up to the North Shore.  Waves are expected to reach advisory level by Wednesday, with the swell arriving tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon!  There might be two pulses — each maxing out at close to 10 feet Hawaiian size.  I won’t be going anywhere near the North Shore with waves that big, but it’s still a sight to behold from the beach, so if you’re a beach flower bring a camera.

After mediocre if not pitiful Triple Crown conditions, I have a feeling the breaks up north will be packed so pick your spot and rip it up!

I’m finding it absolutely unforgivable that after a season of going undefeated UH is not willing to accommodate for its stellar football coach, June Jones. Jones’s departure creates a very uncertain future for UH football — complete with disappointment in the school, its administration, the team’s players, and their fans.

With this news, Colt Brennan graduating, and the recent news that Davone Bess is passing on his senior year to be drafted, next year looks grim.  It’s hard to think of replacements for these individuals.

Honolulu’s First Friday of 2008 was a fairly windy, chilly, and drizzly one.  As my friends and I walked around downtown to enjoy the galleries and general vibe, I was immediately struck by how dead it was.  Maybe people are recovering from their New Year’s Eve celebrations, but I was slightly disappointed by the slim turnout.

I think this city is suffering from a lack of enthusiasm due to the weather.  We need a major pick-me-up, STAT!

Those of you who are still complaining about the mediocre if not depressing weather we’re experiencing might just need to break out of the lethargic cycle and get in the water.  I’ve found myself stranded on the south shore for a solid week now, but I’m not complaining.  Small waves, rain, and clouds haven’t stopped me from enjoying completely empty breaks on the south side!  If you’re looking for a perfectly fun time in waves that are rarely empty, the time is now.

Believe me, you aren’t alone in waiting for good weather.  The time is now to take advantage of the surf.  Hey, it’s still exercise!

For all of you who used to watch Dog the Bounty Hunter, Dog’s associate Tim Chapman, was caught at the Ala Moana Center in the Bank of Hawaii parking lot with his clothes off in his truck performing lewd acts.  When witnesses contacted Ala Moana security, the security guard asked Tim to put on his clothes and get out of his truck.  Tim put on his clothes, then started his car, hopped a curb and almost hit the security guard.  Now, Tim is charged on suspicion of attempted murder for almost hitting the security guard, and indecent exposure in a public area.What I didn’t know was that Tim had separated from his Samoan wife and had been living out of his truck.  When police went over to his Hawaii Kai home, they were told that information.   But Brook Hart, Tim and Dog’s attorney, has said that this was an entire misunderstanding.  Brook had stated that Tim spilled orange juice on his pants and was looking for a private place to change his pants.  And when the security guard startled him, he panicked and drove away as fast as he can.  If this is true, I can somewhat understand that.  I mean with the latest cancellation of Dog the Bounty Hunter reality show, and with all of them almost losing their celebrity status, Tim separation with his wife is just another bad thing that has happened to the Dog ohana.Tim has already turned himself into police and was notified that he might be charged for only terroristic threatening instead of the other two charges.  He is currently in a cell block since last night.  Let’s hope all this gets resolved.

As we bring in the new year, it’s important to remember from where we came but also where we are going.  2007 introduced us to the new potential leaders in this country–one of whom spent his adolescence attending Punahou School.

This will certainly be a year of monumental change for each of us in one way or another and as we embark on this new year we need to inform ourselves of what kind of change we want.

Here are the links to the front-runners for the 2008 Presidency.  I hope you take some time to browse their views on important issues and decide for yourself who can serve you best.

Hillary Clinton

John Edwards

Rudy Giuliani

Mike Huckabee

John McCain

Barack Obama

Mitt Romney

Do you realize how lucky we are to live in paradise?  I returned from my first winter excursion to the North Shore and, as I sat on the shoulder of Laniakea’s, trying to catch a few waves of my own, I couldn’t help but gawk at my surroundings (and the MANY amazing rides by fellow surfers).  Even on a small day with overcast skies it’s easy to get lost in Hawaii’s infinite natural beauty.

So, as you ponder what your New Year’s Resolution might be, I would suggest one thing: stick with something small.  I’ve discovered it really is the littlest things that bring the greatest joy.

My resolution: To finish the writing project that I’ve had looming over my head.  It needs a deadline and it will be in the year 2008.

May the coming year bring you happiness no matter how big or small your resolution might be!

No, it’s not just an ordinary van.  The van belonged to a Nanakuli family which contained a bunch of gifts for Christmas as well as a child car seat and an asthma breathing machine.  I was horrified when I watched news on KHON who reported on this story first.

The Hodges family had parked their van in front of their home which contained all of the things listed above.  To their horror on Christmas morning, their van had been stolen with all the contents.  The worst part is that the 6 year old grandson is the one who suffers from asthma and needs the machine.  In fact, he has to use a nebulizer to help him breathe.  Now that New Year’s in creeping around the corner, they don’t know how he is going to react to all the smoke.  With an existing asthma problem, it’s going to be especially hard for him to breate without the machine.

On top of all this, the van was used to take the two grandchildren to school.  The school they go to is over a mile away.  Now they have to resort to taking the bus or even walking.  Since the grandkids are really young, the grandmother who is taking care of them probably has to walk with them.

I hope the thieves have what’s coming to them.  This family doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment.  If you want to look for this van, here is the info:

Chrysler Van
Silver color
Year 2000 model
License JFB 091

Call the police if you see them.  Those thieves deserve to go to jail!!!

Who knew that there were more possibilities than spending your gift card from the store it’s from!  Now, you don’t have to take the obligatory trip to the store and buy something you don’t really need.  At this neat online site, you can buy, sell, or exchange a gift card for something of more value to you.

SwapAGift.com allows you to take your gift cards and make it something worth spending.  You can even take it and donate it to a good cause–or trade it for something you really want.

http://www.swapagift.com/howitworks.aspx

This is a great alternative to the holiday gift card that you didn’t really need for Christmas!

Getting spotty coverage in the Waiahole and Kualoa area, and you happen to have T-Mobile as your wireless carrier?  Well, help may be on the way.  T-Mobile has applied for a permit to build another telecommunications antenna facility at Kualoa Ranch (Source: Honolulu Advertiser).  The tower will help to increase more coverage to T-Mobile customers in that area.

The facility will include a 105 foot tall tower with all the necessary electrical, equipment, and infrastructural support.  Best of all, it won’t be a tower sticking out of nowhere.  In fact, they are planning to build the tower to look like an artificial pine tree.  Pretty cool huh?  I’m sure you’ve seen them before, but it’s hard to notice unless you really look or catch something out of the ordinary up there in the tree.

We’ll see how the permit will play out.  So far the odds are against T-Mobile, since the district they want to build the tower has a 25 foot height limit.  Yups, that’s pretty much 4 times over the limit.  T-Mobile did apply for a waiver for this height limit, but you never know what can happen.

I know a lot of T-Mobile customers and they are kind of spotty everywhere, but it’s a pretty good wireless provider, especially since they have very reasonably priced packages.  Being that I’m using Sprint since all my friends have Sprint, and I get free mobile to mobile, I’ll still stick with Sprint.  So far no problems.  But I do feel that this tower will help their coverage and make more customers satisfied.  We’ll just have to wait I guess to see how this permit unfolds…

According to the Honolulu Advertiser, there will be a 2007 Holiday Science & Tech Fair taking place this Friday with many companies flying over to draw in possible full time positions as well as interns.  While currently working at a biotech company here, I feel that this is a good opportunity to draw local residents who want to work in the science and tech fields.

I’ve been to a few of these events myself was I was in Illinois, and it really is a good opportunity to know what’s out there, what it takes to get a job, what they are looking for, and ultimately, if the job is right for you.  Who knows, they might even grant you an interview and you could possibly start working for them!

Big companies are scheduled to attend, including Lockheed Martin, Oceanit, and Archinoetics, just to name a few.

The event will be held at the Japanese Cultural Center’s Manoa Grand Ballroom at 2454 South Beretania Street in Moiliili from 4:30-7:00pm.

If you are looking for a job in this type of field, like I said before, this will be a great opportunity.  To be able to talk directly to a company representative is also very invaluable.

Check them out, and good luck with your job hunting!