How Rude!

We got several responses to my “How Rude” segment on speeders behaving badly on the roads. In my story, I drove the speed limit in the fast lane since the Hawaii Drivers Manual says that drivers must keep up with the flow of traffic within the speed limits. Since almost all of us speed, many drivers were not happy with us following the speed limit exactly and I got some stink eyes and tailgating. One person who watched my story and did not want to be identified email saying I was rude because the story didn’t address the slow drivers in the fast lane and that I was ignorant for driving at the speed limit in the fast lane.

Here are some quotes from other emails we received.

“Thanks for viewing that segment on speeders this morning.. I personally drive the speed limit and have that same experience happen to me daily. It is very annoying and yes, RUDE of people to speed and tailgate me. If i am in the fast lane, i keep the speed limit too. There shouldn’t be any reason why i should move over to the slower lane if i am going the speed limit. I totally agree with you and you are right!” — Deanne Tangonan

“I watched the news piece about the “Rude Driving Habits” of Hawaii’s Drivers and realized that you were RUDE as well. The signs also mention for slower traffic to drive on the right side of the road. By instigating people in the manner that you did, I would have to take sides with the “other” drivers in this case. — Rude in Paradise

“Mahealani might want to inform that at driving the maximum speed limit of 55 you would be in the fastest lane- supposing that everyone followed the road rules!” Judy from Mau’i

“The segment on “how rude” Hawaii’s drivers, the traffic jams and accidents made me very grateful that I ride a bike every day to work. Getting around by bike is my preferred mode of transportation, so much so that I sold my Jeep. ” — Michael Proffitt

“Thank you for showing the city & county rig speeding by you past the speed limit. Drivers for rigs speed throughout the island. It’s frightening.” — Kaui Gregory

“What a waist time, money and energy. A report on rude people on the freeway? Setting the cruise control at the speed limit and see who is speeding?How long have you guys been on another planet? We live on a crowded island that is constantly bumper to bumper. And when traffic is moving it is best to keep it moving instead of slowing it down. It is no secret that the police won’t sop you if you are going 9 mile an hour over the speed limit. The police won’t admit it but they let people go who are under 10 mph over the speed limit. So most people travel over the speed limit in the fast lane. And as in the report she was in the fast lane traveling at the speed limit and was being past by ever car traveling in the same direction. And she was holding up traffic in the fast lane. If you want to travel at the speed limit move over to the for right lane for crying out loud! Going 10 mph over the speed limit is a necessary evil on Oahu. Excessive speed like 10 plus mph is not. What is rude is holding up traffic.” — Forced Intake

“In your overzealous attempt to describe rude drivers citing tailgating and lane change laws you may have not noticed signs on the freeway advising slower drivers to move to right lanes. In your irresponsible journalism you are going to perpetuate sh*tty drivers (get in furthest left lane and make everyone pass them on the right). You may have been going the speed limit, but your driving style in what causes accidents. If your not going to drive with the flow of the rest of the traffic “GET YOUR BUTT OVER TO THE RIGHT”. Don’t be such RUDE and UNITELLIGNT drivers.” — Bill Tibbetts (driving in the fast lane when approrpriate).

Aloha to all for emailing. I enjoyed reading your responses and getting the feedback.

Mahealani
mahea@kitv.com

I HATE It When This Happens

It turns out that the “correct” answer in the LOST trivia game was wrong.

Charlie actually wrote the word “FATE” on his hand in the pilot, not “LATE.” I’m not in charge of the contest, so I’m not privy to the full details of what went wrong here. But I do know we got it right this time around.

So, once again, we picked a winner at random from the correct correct answer. Congrats to Jodie Yee, who gets a LOST prize package worth $50. And don’t worry, the previous winner still gets to keep his stuff, too.

Ben.
ben@kitv.com

"Lost" in the Inbox

I opened my e-mail this morning and wondered, “Why are there a ton of e-mails in my inbox?”

The answer?: LOST.

KITV has launched a “Get LOST” trivia contest which began last night, with the first of 16 new edpisodes. And as it happens, the answers get sent to morningmail@thehawaiichannel.com. So there were a lot of messages which were contest entries. Thirty-six were correct, but only one person could win: Bryce Shima was chosen at random from the correct entries.

I guess Mahea, Dan and I will have to get used to having a ton of e-mails on Thursday mornings for the next few weeks.

Aloha,
Ben.
(you already know the e-mail)

Trying to Catch Up

No, we didn’t make a New Year’s resolution to stop blogging. It’s just been very busy, and we’re finally making some headway in putting up some long awaited posts.

One of them has to do with chicken and marunggay, the Filipino dish featured in the state Department of Agriculture’s monthly “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” segment. Viewers wanted the recipe, and I was able to get my Mom to tell me how she makes it. (This was a history-making event, because my Mom has never given me a complete recipe before. Usually, Mom just tells me measurements such as “You put in a little.” How much is a little? “Oh, enough.” Enough for what? “Until it tastes good.” And so forth.)

I wrote it all down, but unfortunately, last week’s strong Kona winds apparently blew the paper out of the house, onto the lanai, and to points unknown. I’m trying to get the recipe again, and as soon as I do, you’ll see it here.

Mabuhay,

Ben.

ben@kitv.com

We Had Tadd!

Moanalua High School sophomore — and unexpected Sony Open golf star — Tadd Fujikawa appeared on the newscast last month. Very cool young man. He came with his proud, down-to-earth, and at the time, slightly frazzled parents, who were still dealing with their son’s sudden fame and all the attention he was getting.

morningmail@thehawaiichannel.com

Super Bowl XLI: Dan 1, Dave OW!

The Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday. But what everyone cared about Monday morning was the bet between Dan and Dave. Under the rules established by Mahealani, the loser would get his eyebrows waxed by the experts from Pure Joy Day Spa, on the air. To recap, Dan picked the Colts, while Dave chose the Bears.

Dave was a good sport, and even asked for a small “racing stripe,” a la Vanilla Ice. A lot of people asked whether the process hurt. Here are some screen caps for you to judge.

morningmail@thehawaiichannel.com