National Product, Local Exposure

This morning we had the group National Product as our musical guest. They’re based in California and have their first CD set for national release in August. And three of their members are from Hawai`i (two from Kalaheo, including their lead singer, and one from `Aiea).

I’ll admit that at first, I thought they sounded like many of the alterna-power-pop bands that are out there, but one of their songs (I think it may have been “Sean Song”) set them apart from the pack, with a little country-ish swing to it, at least in its acoustic state.

They also blogged, within a few hours, about their experience on our newscast. So, I’ll let them tell the story, along with their photos. They’re awesome guys, and they’re welcome back any time.

Pineapples And Roller Coasters

On Thursday, our newscast had a bit of a double punch: Fred DeAngelo, owner and chef of Ola Restaurant, dropped in for a visit, along with spokesperson Merrissa Uchimura of the Wahiawa Pineapple Festival. Fred was great, being able to make two quick dishes in the allotted time (which is frankly, pretty short). When the newscast started years ago, Fred was the first regular weekly chef. And even though it’s been a few years since that regular weekly stint, he was able to get right back into it, just like riding a bike.

I helped him with one of the dishes, involving crepes with hazelnut chocolate sauce, quickly fried with some pineapple and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It will likely hold the record as the dish that had the briefest survival rate after it was cooked. During the commercial break right after the segment, the crew and guests descended upon the crepes and pineapple like ants with forks. By the time the break was over, the food was absolutely gone.

Thursday was also the day Dan went for a preview of the 50th State Fair at Aloha Stadium, including the “Wild Mouse,” the roller coaster pictured here. It ain’t something from Six Flags, but it’s still pretty impressive. And we’re also impressed that Dan went aboard for a few rides — he’s not a fan of roller coasters. And while the Wild Mouse didn’t change his mind, he says he still had fun.

The Genshiro Kawamoto Parade of Homes 2.0

Japanese real estate mogul Genshiro Kawamoto held an open house of five multi-million dollar homes that he’ll rent to Native Hawaiian families for free. You can read more about the homes and his plans, and see video of some of the homes here.

4806A Kahala Ave.

Photographer Kevin Matsumoto and I arrived at the first house, 4608A Kahala Ave., a little early; the self-styled head of what he calls the “Kahala Avenue Mission” was trying to move some mattresses and box springs out of the front hallway into another room, with the only help coming from his diminutive interpreter. They were struggling a bit, so I decided to pitch in until the rest of Kawamoto’s entourage walked through the front door. While I’m doing this, I’m thinking, I’m moving mattresses with Genshiro Kawamoto; how weird is that?

4806B Kahala Ave. The pile of leaves in the foreground actually fills what was the swimming pool between the two homes.

Kawamoto was rather talkative during the tour, and I was able to ask him questions while walking around the homes, speaking mostly through his interpereter. But he was able to understand a few phrases in English, which he would try to answer; when I asked him at one house, “How big?” he responded, with a little hesitation, “Three bedroom.” Then he’d repeat it more confidently, nodding and smiling.

It was also something to try to keep up with him. Kawamoto keeps his own time, and we in the media are expected to follow it. We often barely had arrived at a home and started rolling tape when Kawamoto would walk quickly through the hallways, stick his head in the bedrooms, open a few windows, smile, and then head out the door, at which time his interpreter would announce, “Let’s go now to the next house.” Kawamoto would already be in his car, ready to be driven to the next destination. In all, we went to five houses (walking through three of them) in less than 45 minutes.

Kawamoto says he’s 90 percent sure who’ll be occupying the five homes, with the move-in scheduled for the end of June or beginning of July. He also says these five houses, along with the other three that were occupied in March, will comprise the “mission.” For now. As always with Genshiro Kawamoto, we’ll have to wait and see.

"Grease" Is The Word

Just wanted to show some props to members of the cast of Grease, the musical now playing at Army Community Theatre. They did a great job, considering it’s so early in the morning (and some disclosure, I’m also not saying that because I know a few members of the cast, including some pictured here).

They’ll be in the Richardson Theatre on Fort Shafter, Fridays and Saturdays until May 26.

On Tuesday, we had former Miss Hawaii Candes Gentry, who plays the title role in Gigi at Diamond Head Theatre, through June 3.

Go out and support local theatre!

She’s Part Of The Only Thing That We Had Actually Planned In Advance

This, of course, is Sweetie Pacarro, the Saturday morning producer for the Perry and Price Saturday morning show on KSSK. Sweeite was here as a spokesperson for Kraft foods, to show some summertime grilling tips.

Good thing she’s in broadcasting. Although her segments had been planned far in advance, breaking news made those appearances much shorter than they otherwise would have been. Fortunately, she understood completely why we were moving rather briskly through her segments, and adjusted accordingly.

One breaking news item, as you know, had to do with a drive-by shooting in Kane`ohe that left one man dead. Police were on a manhunt for two suspects in Hale`iwa while we were on the air. And we also had a two-alarm house fire that broke out before dawn, lighting up the dark sky with flames and leaving seven people homeless. Mahealani had live reports through the newscast to keep us updated. And then when the program was over, Dan headed to the North Shore, where police found a second suspect in the shooting. All in all, it was a busy day — and we’re glad Sweetie was here as well.

Locks of Love, Live On The Lanai

Aran Higa is one of our crewmembers. And Monday morning, you may have seen him get a haircut, live on the newscast, on the “front deck” (as we sometimes call it). And for charity, to boot.

To explain a bit, more than a year ago, Aran had shoulder-length hair. He was going to get it cut, but then another crew member told him he should keep growing it until it was long enough for the Locks of Love program. It takes donations of human hair to make wigs, which are then given to young cancer patients who have lost their hair during chemotherapy. Long story short, so to speak, he decided it was a good idea, although he probably didn’t think the final result would be so public.

More than a year later, Aran’s hair was long enough to be donated. Locks of Love needs a donation of at least ten inches of hair; Aran’s ponytail was 14 inches long. And Monday morning, stylist Richie Miao of the Chop Salon in Restaurant Row dropped by to cut it off, live on the air.

Iolani School Senior Sarah Matsui is one of the people spearheading the effort. She displays Aran’s donation.

Also, Richie stayed around long enough to style Aran’s remaining hair, free of charge.

Richie’s Chop Salon (500 Ala Moana Blvd.) will be taking donations for Locks of Love through Thursday. Again, hair has to be at least ten inches long. As for Aran, for now he likes having shorter hair.

A Story Behind An Island Image

This morning we had an Island Image from a viewer named Jojo, with the caption, “Mr. Paglinawan’s 5th grade class says alola to Ben.” Dan and I thought, well, they were saying aloha to me. Not so. A viewer, Cheryl, e-mailed and explained that the Ben in question is actually in the picture. (When you click on the link, look for the kid in the back with the sleeveless light blue shirt.) Ben and his family are moved to Arizona last Friday, and his fifth grade class threw him a going-away party. Thanks for the info, Cheryl.

Island Images has been a popular feature on the newscast and the Web site since it started. You really should check out the photos if you haven’t done so already. And it’s very likely that each one has a story to go with it.

It’s Not Real, But It’s Very Close

Photographer Kevin Matsumoto and I were sent out to cover a simulated car crash, staged at Kaimuki High School, to show students the consequences of drinking and driving. Kaimuki student Tracy Taniguchi, who played the role of a victim “killed” in front of the pickup truck, spearheaded the mock crash, which was the first of its kind on O`ahu (they’ve already been staged on the Big Island and Kaua`i).

While the students watched what was happening, there was a sense that it became less of a dramatization as it unfolded in real time. And as a reporter who’s been to the real thing, what they staged was very realistic.

I took this photo, which shows just how realistic the scene was (except that a newspaper photographer and I were able to get very close to the student playing a dying traffic victim). If a scene like this one could disturb you, don’t click on it.

The realism served a purpose: To show high school kids that the wrong decisions can have dire consequences, especially as we approach graduation season. Other schools are planning mock crashes as well.

Dan On The Run (And For A Good Cause)

Dan was one of the bananas this past Saturday in the Jamba Juice Banana Man Chase, benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Hawai`i. And here are the photos to prove it.

Congratulations to all the runners — and particularly to Dan, for taking part in a good cause. (No, he won’t be running the Honolulu Marathon in this outfit.)

Photos Courtesy Jamba Juice

Not Quite Cinco de Mayo, But Pretty Darn Close

We had one of our busiest broadcasts last week Friday; so busy that we haven’t gotten around to posting this until now.

That day was the day before Cinco de Mayo, and Don Murphy dropped in to chat about the festivities (fiesta?) that was to happen Saturday night at Murphy’s Bar and Grill. Think of it. An Irish pub holding an event for a Mexican holiday which has become an American excuse to drink cervesas. Even better, Don mentioned there would be “free sombreros for the keikis.” Very local style, to mash at least three cultures at once.

Inside, we had Vocal Spectrum, the National Champion barbershop quartet from St. Louis, Mo., in town for a barbershop quartet show and mystery caper last weekend at the Hawai`i Theatre. Another mashup there.

It was also the day Spider Man 3 hit the theatres. At the Honolulu Traffic Management Center, Dave Hisaka celebrated by rigging up a little Spider Man on a string that he was able to pull up and down on cue.

On the front deck, in what seems to have become an annual tradition, the folks from Jamba Juice were making and giving out free Smoothies (this year’s flavor: pomegranate) to motorists and passers-by headed to work.The big reason for the Jamba Juice appearance was to promote the 6th Annual Banana Man Chase at Magic Island, benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Hawai`i. If you don’t know already, it’ a 5K run/walk, in which people raise money by chasing people dressed in a banana costume around Magic Island.

Guess what? Dan’s going to be one of those people. Yes, he’ll be running in a banana man outfit.

If you want to see this, or are already participating, the event happens this Saturday, May 12, at 8 am, rain or shine, at Magic Island. It all goes to a good cause.