Mahealani And The iPhone

Would you believe there were people in line at the Apple store at Ala Moana Center before five o’clock this morning to get the iPhone? Of course you would. Mahealani was there with some live reports.

LOST blogger and tech geek (I mean that as a compliment) Ryan Ozawa also has been posting about standing in that line.

I know we’re probably playing to the hype, but, did you get an iPhone? Do you like it? Hate it? Regret it? Let us know. Leave a comment by clicking just below the post. We may read some of your responses on the air.

Jill Cunniff: Here To Sing And Clean Up The Beach

Jill Cunniff, lead singer for the group Luscious Jackson, visited us this morning to do a few numbers from her new solo album City Beach, along with a song from her group. Here she is, accompanied by New York guitarist Singh Birdsong.

Cunniff’s also in town for the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue, an effort to clean up beaches around the nation. The cool thing about it is that you volunteer your time, and you get a concert and some stuff to drink afterward (which is why Barefoot Wine says you have to be of legal drinking age to take part).

The local effort is happening at Ala Moana Beach Park tomorrow. You have to RSVP to make sure the organizers can assign cleanup spots, and then have enough to party with afterward.

I’ve heard of Luscious Jackson before, but I’m not entirely familiar with them. But Dave Hisaka is, and even requested a Luscious Jackson song. However, Jill had only one segment left, and had already planned to sing a new song called “Wild Oceans,” a song about O`ahu, which is only available as a bonus track on iTunes. You should check out the song — and try to make the cleanup if you can.

Congrats to Dan’s Sis

Dan’s sister just tied the knot in Hawaii and his two girls became flower girls for the first time.

Congrats to Jen and Tod!

It was a station event. Our morning photographer was their videographer and one of our liveshot operator was their photographer.

How Long Would You Stand In Line For A 76-Cent Plate Lunch?

How about four hours and 15 minutes?

I got to cover this story, which is how I know that that’s how long friends Brandy Quinn, Debbie Loeffler and Suzie Yamamoto (pictured above) stood in line for a 76-cent plate lunch from the L&L Drive In inside the Ke`eaumoku WalMart. They also got commemorative t-shirts, which were given to the first one hundred people in line.

L&L first did this promotion last year to celebrate its 30th anniversary (if you already did the math, you figured out they opened in 1976). L&L’s president, Eddie Flores, Jr., said they had so much fun last year, they decided to do it again.
Just like last year, a line of hundreds snaked around the WalMart parking lot for the cheap eats, which were available only between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. today.

Once inside, people were able to get the food pretty quickly; L&L had prepared the three choices (chicken katsu, kalua pork & cabbage, and hamburger steak) in advance, so people just had to pony over their 76 cents, and get their lunch instantly. If you wanted a drink, it cost another dime.

By the way, all the proceeds go to Goodwill Industries of Hawai`i.

Will Flores and L&L be doing this again next year? “I’ll keep doing this every year until people don’t show up,” he said. Looks like this is going to be an annual event for some time to come.

Happy Graduation to Keala Richardson

I just got back from Federal Way, Washington which is south of Seattle for my nephew’s high school graduation. I must admit that I cried more at his graduation than my own wedding. Perhaps at my wedding I was too overwhelmed to get extremely emotional. For this graduation, my husband, Mike, edited a fantastic video. Those memories combined with Bruddah’s Iz’s music just got me going. I guess the tears were because my 18-year-old nephew, Keala, is reaching a major point in his life and the rest of us are just getting old.

My brother and sister-in-law put on a 200+ person lu’au in which they and an army of helpers prepared all the food! Congrats Keala. You’ve grown into a fine, smart, young man and I’m so proud of you.

Thanks to Mel Ponder for the photos.

Mahealani
mahea@kitv.com

Yes, It’s Jill

Dan and Mahealani are both away this week — and so current weekend anchor Jill Kuramoto is filling in. Here she is talking to Iris Catalani of Finance Factors about a “Shred It Day” the bank is sponsoring this Saturday at the future site of its Manoa Branch (the event itself is from 8 a.m. to noon at 2955 East Manoa Rd.; you can bring up to two filing boxes of documents to shred).

You remember she’s no stranger to these hours, having been the morning anchor before her current gig (she and Paul Udell were the anchors when I joined the morning newscast). But she probably thought she’d never be back! At least, for her sake, it’s not a permanent thing.

In any case, it’s been like riding a bike; you don’t forget how. And, nothing against my current cohorts, but it’s been a pleasant change of pace to be able to work with her again, since I normally don’t get to even see her with our current schedules.

The regular duo will be back next week.

Kamehameha Day Parade Win!

Thanks to James Miura for sending this picture in.

Some of you may not know that many of the units that appear in the Kamehameha Day Parade are in a competition. The pa’u riding units compete against each other and if you may allow me to brag a little. The unit that I was in this year, The Island of Moloka’i, won first place for pa’u units. Our Moloka’i Princess, Lu Faborito, also won for Outstanding Princess. We even got trophies!

I was really nervous this year since many of the riders I was with are true horse people and they take competition seriously. The judges come around and look at the quality of your lei and your horsemanship.

I was so excited to have won this year and I just wanted to say congratulations to all who participated in the parade.

aloha,
Mahealani
mahea@kitv.com

iNTREPiD And His `Ohana

For the first time, at least since I’ve been on the morning newscast, we had a hip hop rapper as a musical guest. His name is Jonathan Clarke Sypert, who goes by the handle iNTREPiD.

Of course, there are stereotypes regarding hip hop and rap, but this guy gives rap a different rep.

iNTREPiD brought his breakdancers for the newscast. But he also brought his family, including his wife, Nani (Mrs. iNTREPiD?), his two daughters and his son (who is the youngest dancer in the troupe). His brother in-law is also one of the dancers. He’s also a deacon at Central Union Church, where his CD release party is being held Saturday night. (He jokes that he’s the only deacon with an afro that he knows of.)

iNTREPiD’s act got quite a bit of attention, even from our other guests on the newscast, who stayed a bit to watch. He’s got a lot of energy and a positive message. And being a good rapper is harder than it sounds.

"Move That Bus!" Day

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Hawaii is almost over, and the Akana `ohana is scheduled to see their new home this afternoon between one and three o’clock. If you want to see the “big reveal,” organizers say you should park at Aloha Stadium, where a free shuttle bus will take you to the site in Kalihi Valley. If you’re a volunteer, bring your blue t-shirt to pier 38 at Honolulu Harbor for the shuttle.

This morning, none of us had to go up to the site. All the big stuff is happening this afternoon.

Our Moloka`i Pa`u Unit Took 1st Place