Tribute to Mayor Brian Baptiste

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The special edition of Wala’au with Dickie Chang covering the passing of Kauai Mayor Brian Baptiste is available for viewing. Mayor Baptiste will be sorely missed. He was a sweet man whose aloha for Kauai was apparent in everything he did. A hui hou Mayor.

Click here to view Wala’au.

Attn: Oahu residents with plumerias to spare

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From the KITV website:

The Ladies of Kaahumanu are asking for donations of plumeria flowers for the annual lei draping of the King Kamehameha statue in front of the Hawaii Supreme Court building.

There has been a shortage this year of flowers so the society is appealing to the public for help. They are accepting any color of plumeria flowers. The annual lei draping is a tradition that was started more than 50 years ago.

Volunteers will be at the Kamehameha statue Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to accept flower donations. The lei draping ceremony is later that evening.

Will road projects have you sitting in traffic?

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With the astronomical price of gas, a stop and go road project can put even more of a pinch in the gas budget of locals and visitors alike. The Honolulu Advertiser has just released major island road projects so you can plan your routes to work or your favorite island attraction.

Oahu Road Projects

Kauai Road Projects

Maui Road Projects

Big Island Road Projects

A reminder, you can go to HawaiiGasPrices.com to get a heads up on where you can get the cheapest gas on the island. Currently you’ll pay under $4.00 on Oahu but on Maui some areas are close to $4.50 per gallon.

Aloha to a Kauai cinema

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The Coconut Marketplace is now without its cinema. The movie theater closed last week leaving the only available theaters on Kauai at Kukui Grove Shopping Center in Lihue or Waimea Theater on the west side of the island.

I would love to see a revival of this shopping center as I think it has a certain charm but it seems like many businesses have a hard time keeping their doors open long term. Each time we go it seems another great store has gone out. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for you Coconut Marketplace!

Evacuation of Volcano area residents suggested

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Well it’s happened. The winds have shifted and now the ash belching out of Halema’uma’u is affecting the residents of the Volcano area. The residents/vacation rental tenants effected are those in Mauna Loa Estates, Ohia Estates, Volcano Village, Keauhou Ranch, Volcano Golf Course Subdivision. (Royal Hawaiian Estates and Hawaiian Orchid Isle Estates are advised to be prepared for evacuation) An evacuation shelter has been set up at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo. (See map below)

View Larger Map

Please be advised the shelter does not take animals so make other provisions for your pets! You’re advised to bring the following items with you should you evacuate: Bedding (blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.), a change of clothes, all medications or required medical equipment, any baby/toddler care items like formula, diapers, baby food and the like, toiletries and sanitary napkins if needed.

Should residents/tenants need special assistance to evacuate, you can call 808-935-0031

Another one bites the dust

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Not that this’ll affect anyone in Hawaii but Skybus airlines whose hub is based in Ohio has now folded as well. You should know the drill by now, check with the credit card company for refunds and if you’d like more information as it becomes available, go to Skybus’ website.

I find it mildly amusing that when Skybus was launching oh about a year ago or so, one of the big sponsors who owns the big local paper and a local CBS affiliate station was so sure this was going to fly that at the end of any story involving Skybus they would follow it up with “we should let you know that 10TV’s parent company is an investor in Skybus.” The SECOND any trouble started arising, I’d say about 2 months the writing has been on the wall for the public, whenever there was a Skybus story absolutely NO mention of how the tv station’s parent company was involved. Ohhhh okay, you’ll take credit for their success but not their demise. Gotcha.

ATA Airlines ceases operations…

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As if people needed less options to get in and out of the islands, today comes the announcement that ATA Airlines has shut down all operations. This comes just days after Aloha Airlines was forced to cease operations. Just as in the case of Aloha, those who paid with credit card or through a travel agent should have an easier time of getting a refund as those who paid with cash or check will have to file a claim with bankruptcy court.

For more information on ATA’s shutdown, you can go to their website.

If nothing else, the lesson here should be always pay with a credit card!

Aloha airlines ceasing operations

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If you’re scheduled on a flight on Aloha Airlines, you may want to call your travel agent or check this link to see if you’re still good to go for your 3/30-3/31 flights. After that, the airline will no longer be a part of the skies over Hawaii. It’s sad to see this great airline succomb to this fate. Those who paid with credit cards will have an easier time getting a refund as those who paid by check or cash for their flights will have to file a claim with bankruptcy court. This also means of course the AlohaPass Miles program will now expire March 31st.

Hey mainland ladies…wanna meet Leland Chapman?

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Ah yes, the chance many a-woman has been waiting for…to see Leland Chapman in person. According to Lyssa Chapman’s myspace (the only Dog the Bounty Hunter crew member with a real myspace page at current press time), they will be about 25 miles west of Chicago, Illinois on April 11 and 12 at a concert. Here’s are the details from her bulletin:

Duane Chapman, AKA DOG the Bounty Hunter from A&E’s #1 Reality TV Show, will be in concert with bands Echoing Angels, Emery, Inhabited, Flatfoot 56, and Will Duvall for two very different concert nights. He’ll speak for 45 minutes from his heart about his life, tragedies, triumphs, and faith. This is an extremely rare personal appearance. His wife Beth will also be in attendance. Come out and hear their incredible story of triumph as well as an evening of music and entertainment.

Also attending are Leland and Baby Lyssa
Concert Dates: April 11th and 12th At Mooseheart Child City and School, 25 miles west of Chicago, Illinois Presale date: Thursday, February 7, 2008 beginning at 9:00am.

Click here to buy tickets.

Earthquake recorded at Kilauea Volcano

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A 3.7 magnitude earthquake hit Kilauea Volcano this morning at about 3amHST followed by about a dozen smaller ones. It’s reported it didn’t really effect the sulfur vent at Halema’uma’u but it was observed that the glow seemed to disappear afterward. They are considering possible evacuation of the town of Volcano depending on Pele’s whims. Stay tuned, we’ll be watching this closely!

Update: Another section of Crater Rim Drive has been closed due to volcanic rocks found in the road and Halema’uma’u lookout/parking lot that they are attributing to the quake which caused the first eruption from that site since 1924. The road has been closed for safety reasons while the scientists try to figure out what the presence of those rocks mean.