Just an FYI to our Surfrider foundation friends on Oahu. 
This Wednesday, March 3rd @ 7pm, is the next general meeting. All are welcome, (even non-members).
Come join in the discussion to help Hawaii’s beaches, ocean and enjoy this potluck gathering.
When: Wed March 3rd, 7pm – 9pm Hawaii Time
Where: Tim & Ye’s home, 731 10th Ave., Kaimuki
An Iowa based company called Renewable Energy Group, (REG), is partnering with Hawaiian Electric Company to supply the state’s utility with 400,000 gallons of biodiesel for their new Campbell Industrial Park Generating Unit.
REG will produce biodiesel from used cooking oil and waste animal fat for testing on the 110‐megawatt combustion turbine generator.
“Being able to use liquid renewable fuels in our generating units is one of many steps ‐‐ including more electricity from other renewable sources such as solar, wind, biomass and the ocean ‐‐ to meet our goal of providing reliable electric service while reducing Hawaii’s dependence on fossil fuels”, said Hawaiian Electric executive vice president Robbie Alm.
We here at Buy Hawaiian Seat Covers salute Hawaii’s efforts at going green.
If you’re one of the lucky few who can still afford to take a vacation in this struggling economy then Hawaii is the place for you.
Facing the 4th straight month of record low occupancy they dropped rates an average of 13% in May and the outlook doesn’t look good so more rate drops may be in store as the summer drags on.
At 62%, the average hotel occupancy rate for the entire state of Hawaii is the lowest it’s been since it began being surveyed back in 1987. If you want to find the best deals checkout room rates on the Big Island where the occupancy rate has fallen below 50%, to 49.3%.
Bad news for hotels means good news for travelers looking for a Hawaiian vacation – aloha!
Honolulu’s famed Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium which was erected in 1927 as a memorial to those who served and died in World War I, is in danger of being demolished, according to city officials.
The city’s famous saltwater pool has been closed for over 30 years now due to the dangerous condition of it’s crumbling deck and deterioration of the pool itself. Now city officials are trying to decide what to do with the famous structure, (not sure what has taken them so long!).
Opinions vary from total demolition, to demolition of only the pool and restoration of the decorative facade.
You can read more about the fate of the natatorium here at the Honolulu Advertiser website…
In what some residents and politicians are calling a model for how communities and government can work together, the city of Oahu, Hawaii, worked with local residents when planning upcoming improvements on the island’s busiest roadway: Kamehameha Highway.
Instead of the traffic planners coming out and telling residents what was going to happen and how things were going to be done, the residents were asked FIRST for their input. Residents who live along the highway are happy because their community played a major role in the decision making process.
“This project, the first of its kind in Hawaii, is the result of long-range, consensus-based planning processes that involved entire communities,” said Rep. K. Mark Takai, who co-chairs the Kamehameha Highway Improvements Task Force and has been a driving force behind the direction the project has taken.
“The community-driven approach gives area residents a sense of ownership as well as a willingness to assist in its implementation”, Takai said.
The planned improvements will keep all those Hawaiian cars and trucks moving along Oahu’s busy highway.
For those of you planning a trip to Hawaii you may want to check your moon calendars before making your reservations!
There’s a monthly phenomenon that occurs in Hawaii that most tourists don’t know about, but which has the ability to ruin even the most perfect vacation: invasion of the box jellyfish.
Believe it or not these stinging sea creatures hit the beaches of Hawaii, (mostly Oahu including Waikiki and Hanauma Bay), like clockwork each month approximately 8-10 days after the full moon.
They’re there now with Hanauma Bay being closed to tourists today and lifeguards warning swimmers at Waikiki where 650 of the potentially harmful creatures were found yesterday.
Lifeguards advise people who are stung by the box jellyfish to flush the area with lots of white vinegar and most lifeguard towers keep plenty on hand.
Anyone experiencing breathing difficulty, muscle cramps, spasms or persistent pain is advised to seek immediate medical attention as you may be allergic to their venom, much like some people allergic to bee stings.
If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii we suggest you check this website first as they have a yearly calendar with the predicted invasion dates so you can plan your Hawaiian vacation accordingly: www.808jellyfish.com
It sounds hard to believe but with 80% of it’s energy use coming from imported fossil fuel, Hawaii is considering doing some studies on the feasibility and safety of bring nuclear power to the Islands.
Rep. K. Mark Takai, D-34th (Newtown, Waiau, Pearl City), authored a measure that would direct the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to develop a permitting process for nuclear energy generation facilities and State Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawaii Kai), said he introduced a bill to explore the issue with a panel of experts, including members of the energy community and the University of Hawaii, and set up a nuclear commission that would prepare a report for the Legislature.
According to a recent story in the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper it looks like the city of Honolulu, Hawaii maybe named 2008 Safest Big City in the U.S. FBI crime statistics released January 12th indicate a 22% decline in crime through the first six months of 2008.
In 2007, Honolulu had the lowest crime rate of any U.S. city with a population greater than 500,000. In that year, incidents of rape, robbery, assault, theft, car theft and arson declined.
“This is a nice trend and we certainly want to continue that,” said Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. “This is all about us working together to ensure this is the safest big city in America.
But if you can’t make it to Hawaii you can always feel like you’re on Hawaiian vacation buy buying a pair of our Hawaiian seat covers to spruce up your car or truck.
Aloha!
Organizers of the Women’s Billabong Pro Maui had to call off the competition again today as Honolua Bay is refusing to serve up swell for the ladies to compete on.
This is the 5th straight lay day and the girls are getting antsy so they traded their surfboards for snorkel gear and got in some water time UNDER the waves today.
They will try it again tomorrow but really aren’t expecting any swell to arrive until the end of this week – so check back and we’ll keep you posted!
Following yesterday’s full serving of action, Honolua Bay has gone quiet today, prompting event organizers to call a lay day for the Billabong Pro Maui.
The final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui saw the Quarterfinalists decided yesterday in pristine conditions, but today’s one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) waves were not up to the task of crowning a 2008 event champion.
“We were hoping yesterday’s swell would hang around long enough this morning to finish the event, but that hasn’t happened,” Dino Andino, Billabong Pro Maui Contest Director, said. “There are little pulses coming over the next few days so we’ll keep a close eye on swell direction and winds. Hopefully we can finish up in conditions similar to yesterday.”
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.
The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Maui will run through December 20, 2008.
The Billabong Pro Maui will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com
BILLABONG PRO MAUI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
QF 4: Megan Abubo (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)