Hot Dogs!

This morning, we finally settled on a long-standing bet. To recap: Dan and Dave picked the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA Championship, while Mahea and I picked the Cleveland Cavaliers. You’ll recall the Spurs swept the series. And it took this long to figure out what we would do, as the losers. Taking a cue from the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest on Coney Island, we tried to eat at least one hot dog from Great Hawaiian Hot Dogs.

Mike “Ramsey” Fujita cooked up the weiners, and I think I won, finishing my hot dog first.

Of course, seemingly on cue, there were two dogs and their owner on the sidewalk behind us, and one of them was a wiener dog. Of course I fed them, and the dogs enjoyed the dogs.

The crew didn’t mind that we only ate one dog each. Fujita stayed afterward to cook up some ‘ono steak hot dogs, which promptly disappeared. The dogs didn’t get those. Oh, yes — one was delivered to Dave Hisaka at the traffic management center a few blocks away, fresh out of the cooker.

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.

Star Wars!

If you’re a frequent viewer, you already know that traffic guru Dave Hisaka is a big Star Wars fan. He was gone the Friday before Memorial Day weekend because he went up to Los Angeles for a Star Wars Celebration (he says it’s not a convention) for fans, especially the hardcore ones.

So, here’s the photo we showed on the air of Dave with Jabba the Hut and a woman playing the captive Princess Leia.

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.

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