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Monday, January 17, 2011
'Iolani Palace, independence and Dr. King
Jan. 17 has a special meaning in Hawai'i well beyond today's celebration of Martin Luther King Day: It's the 118th anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy by a "provisional government," led by businessmen descended from American missionaries and supported by the presence of U.S. Marines. Whether or not independence-minded groups camp out on the grounds of 'Iolani Palace in Honolulu today, as they have before, the late 19th century power grab will be on the minds of many.
As with any nation, the Native Hawaiian people do not speak with one voice politically, so "independence" (and "sovereignty," for that matter) mean different things to different people. But, from my humble perspective, Native Hawaiians do come exceptionally close to unity in revering their royal dynasties. And it's good for visitors to remember 118 years is a few blinks ago in the chronology of Hawaiian cultural consciousness.
With that in mind, I'd like to acknowledge the past while taking inspiration from the present. On the gates of 'Iolani Palace today are painted bronze plaques bearing the royal coat of arms, which were said to have been removed by the new regime in 1893, and like most of the palace furnishings, were sold at public auction. But 90 years later, they were found, extensively restored and replaced on the four gates, each of which bears the name of a member of Hawaiian royalty.
The gate used for ceremonial occasions is called Kauikeaouli, after the man who became King Kamehameha III. It was he who. after the British government rejected a takeover of Hawai'i by one of its naval officers, coined the motto on the plaques: Ua mau ke ea o 'ka āina i ka pono (as it's written today) -- "the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."
I wonder, what would Dr. King say is the pono, or righteous, response to today's sovereignty movement(s)? I honestly don't know, but I'm glad this palace and these plaques are there to prompt us to think about it. Aloha.
Jeanne Cooper / Special to SFGate
The royal coat of arms adorn the four main gates of 'Iolani Palace.
| Jan 17 at 09:30 AM
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Where in Hawai'i? Take the photo quiz
The natural wonders and cultural treasures of Hawai'i are favorite subjects for the Sunday photo quiz, but it's undeniable that resorts -- some over the top in luxury, a few more low-key -- are also part of its modern landscape.
Just before the holidays got into full swing, the resort featured in today's quiz turned 20, looking much the same as the day it opened: sprawling but set back far enough from the ocean that it doesn't crowd the rugged beach, popular with local boogie boarders. Its ornately designed gardens and koi ponds are patrolled by native herons and migratory shorebirds, while many guests never leave the multilevel network of pools.
Perhaps more impressively, the resort has some 150 employees who recently celebrated their 20th anniversary at what's said to be the island's largest private employer. The economic downturn has unfortunately led to fewer staff, but the resort has used fallow periods to renovate rooms building by building and is moving forward with energy-saving and eco-friendly green initiatives.
So what is the name of this resort and where in Hawai'i is it? Bonus points for knowing the Hawaiian name of the beach it faces. E-mail your answers, along with your name and a mailing address (to be considered for a small Hawai'i-themed prize), to hawaii.insider@gmail.com by noon Monday, Jan. 17, Pacific time. Please feel free to include any personal anecdotes, there you've stayed there, supped there or simply strolled by there (at least that is free, and well worth the effort.) I'll run the best responses later this week, along with details of its enviromental initiatives and a 20th anniversary special.
Jeanne Cooper / Special to SFGate
A cliffside perch offers a sweeping view of this resort that recently turned 20.
Mat Munstermann
A closer look reveals the lagoons that are a signature element of the resort's oceanfront landscaping.
Diann Hartman
Nearly a quarter of the staff recently celebrated 20 years of employment here -- since the resort's opening in November 1990.
| Jan 16 at 09:00 AM
Friday, January 14, 2011
Makaha Sons, John Cruz can help chase away the chill
Now that winter's really here (and in Hawai'i too, judging by the recent heavy rains), it's time to warm up with the sounds of the islands. And there's perhaps no group better to shower us in traditional harmonies than the Mākaha Sons, IZ's former bandmates and the 2010 recipients of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award. (For a sample, check out the Sons' live versions of "Nohili E" and "Kealoha" with hula dancers here.)
The trio perform two shows at Whittier College in LA Saturday (Jan. 15) before heading to Northern California for three more concerts. The first two are at the Montalvo Arts Center Carriage House in Saratoga on Sunday (Jan. 16); tickets to the 7:30 and 9 p.m. shows are $30 and $35. The Sons then make their way to Harlow's in Sacramento for a 7:30 p.m. show on Tuesday, Jan. 18; tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
Another Hawaiian music icon, contemporary singer-songwriter John Cruz (see video below), is also working his way up the coast. His tour begins today at Anthology in San Diego, visiting West L.A.'s The Mint Jan. 15 and Zoey's Cafe in Ventura Jan. 16 before reaching these parts.
His Northern California appearances start at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 19) at Don Quixote's International Music Hall in Felton; tickets are $15, ages under 21 admitted with parent. Local "lap steel goddess" On Thursday (Jan. 20), Cruz plays the reopened, revamped but still intimate Club Fox (formerly the Little Fox) in Redwood City. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show (doors open at 7) are $16 advance, $18 at the door.
Cruz's tour wraps up next Sunday (Jan. 23) in Newcastle (Placer County) at Constable Jack's, which will offer a special Hawaiian menu in his honor. Tickets to the 4 p.m. show are $15.
| Jan 14 at 12:06 PM
Thursday, January 13, 2011
New flight, TV show strengthen Hawai'i-Korea connection
A new nonstop flight between Hawai'i and Korea and an upcoming Hawai'i TV show devoted to Korean themes are highlighting the bond between the two cultures.
Hawaiian Airlines today began the first of its four weekly nonstop flights between Honolulu and Seoul's Incheon airport, which will add 54,000 seats annually to the existing service on Korean Air. (Interestingly, Hawaiian's Web site lists Korean Air flights as more expensive code-share options, although the charge on Korean Air's Web site for its flights is about the same as -- or even less than -- Hawaiian charges for its service -- about $1,000 round trip with advance purchase.)
The Korean market has been growing rapidly since the Asian nation joined the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2008, according to an airline press release, which cited Hawai'i Tourism Authority figures showing a 75 percent increase in visitors from Korea in 2010 over 2009 -- a total of some 79,000 by November 2010. The agency predicts that number will rise to 115,000 for 2011.
The Honolulu TV station KBFD, which broadcasts several Korean soap opera-style miniseries with English subtitles, will begin producing a weekly English-language TV show on Korean culture in March. The new series will include "celebrity interviews and features on food, entertainment, shopping and tour attractions," according to KBFD general manager Jeff Chung.
Chung's weekly synopses of the station's "K drama" appear in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, along with updates on Korean ties to Hawai'i. (That's how I learned that a new Korean show, "Athena: Goddess of War," recently filmed scenes on O'ahu. Maybe they'll imitate "Lost" and use the Byodo-In and Ala Wai Canal to replicate Seoul sometime.)
Also in March, the Honolulu Festival Celebration of Pacific Region Cultures will include free cultural and arts performances and displays by Korean groups (as well as ones from Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia, the Philippines, Tahiti and Hawai'i.) Events take place March 12-13 at the Hawai'i Convention Center, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Waikiki Beach Walk and Waikiki Shopping Plaza.
For more about the history of Korean ties to Hawai'i, see my Oct. 11, 2010, interview with Kailua native and Bay Area resident Sandra Park, author of "If You Live in a Small House."
Daniel Ramirez / Wikipedia
Korea or O'ahu? The Byodo-In on the latter served as a stand-in for the former on "Lost."
Rae Ho
Passengers about to board the inaugural Hawaiian Airlines flight to Seoul from Honolulu receive a lei greeting.
| Jan 13 at 04:55 PM
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Maui, Kaua'i plastic bag bans begin today
Time to break out tbe lauhala bags: A ban on plastic bags for customers of merchants in Kaua'i and Maui counties begins today.
Unlike San Francisco's landmark ban, which went into effect in November 2007, the Maui mandate includes both compostable and noncompostable plastic bags, presumably because the marine life that is at risk from swallowing or being tangled in them is not aware of the difference. The Kaua'i ordinance permits "biodegradable" plastic bags -- which means they contain "no polymers derived from fossil fuels, and will decompose at a rate comparable to biodegradable material" -- but the Web page of the county's Public Works Department notes "there are currently no bags that meet the definition outlined in the law." The Kaua'i department page also states:
Solid materials, typically waste, that has found its way to the marine environment is called marine debris. It is known to be the cause of injuries and deaths of numerous marine animals and birds, either because they become entangled in it or they mistake it for prey and eat it.
The world's "great garbage patch" can be found floating between Hawaii and San Francisco. This garbage patch is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and thousands of pounds of our discarded trash, mostly plastics.
Under the new laws, which include the islands of Lāna'i and Moloka'i (and technically Ni'ihau), vendors are allowed to give away or sell paper bags with high recycled content as well reusable bags. Some exceptions allow plastic bags for selling meat and other limited uses.
For visitors, it's good to know that Long's Drugs (as the chain is still called in Hawaii) and the islands' major grocery stores all have brightly colored bags, many with Hawaiian-inspired designs, that make great souvenirs as well as more environmentally friendly totes. The Outrigger hospitality group was also one of the early adopters of dispensing free reusable bags, providing them to guests of Ohana Hotels and Outrigger-managed condos, creating a great stealth advertising campaign by those who take them home.
Plastic bags will remain in use in other parts of the state. According to Hawaii Health Guide, "Ex-Mayor Harry Kim vetoed the Big Island ban in 2008 after it was approved by Hawaii's County Council, and Oahu deferred a ban in 2009, stating among the reasons that the plastics were converted to energy at Oahu's power plant."
Nevertheless, I'm hopeful this move to reduce plastics in the ocean and Hawai'i landfills becomes another of the top travel trends of 2011. Perhaps the islands will also follow San Francisco's example in banning plastic foam (a/k/a Styrofoam) boxes and cups. I'd love to order more of the delicious plate lunches without worrying that I was adding to the landfill as well as my waistline.
Share your thoughts about what environmental iniatives you'd support as a visitor to Hawai'i in the comments field, or by e-mailing me at hawaii.insider@gmail.com, and I'll include those in a future post. Mahalo!
| Jan 11 at 11:48 AM
Monday, January 03, 2011
Honolulu budget hotels plan makeovers under new management
Two well-known budget-oriented Honolulu hotels -- one of which has already been referenced on the new "Hawaii Five-O" -- will be getting welcome makeovers in 2011, thanks to a change in management and/or ownership.
The Pagoda Hotel and Pagoda Floating Restaurant were already local landmarks before their cameo appearance Dec. 6 on CBS' hit TV show. But a new owner plans to spend $2 million upgrading the restaurant, known for its teahouse setting amid koi ponds and a waterfall, and another $4 million on the 359-room hotel, known for being close to Ala Moana Center and another island favorite, the Like Like Drive In, as well as for having studios and apartment suites.
The hotel also has a bargain reputation: Hotel rooms start at $79, studios with kitchenettes at $89 and two-bedroom apartments that sleep five at $169 a night, plus tax. The burgeoning, Hawai'i-based Aqua Hotels & Resorts chain will now assist in managing the hotel, according to an Aqua press release.
But Aqua has also recently relinquished management of a prime beachfront property, the 79-room Waikiki Beachside Hotel, which is back under the Aston Hotels & Resorts brand (which itself was briefly called ResortQuest, for those keeping score.) The Kalākaua Avenue property, just across the street from nightly torch lighting and sunset hula by the beach, has begun an initial phase of renovations, with more details to be announced early this year, according to an Aston press release.
Online and AAA room rates start at $91 ($118 for ocean view), plus tax; for ages 50 and older (the "Hawaii 5-O" rate), rooms start at $82 a night ($106 for ocean view), plus tax. Aston also has lots of packages available; for details see the Web site (and be sure not to confuse it with one of Aston's six other hotels with "Waikiki" in its name.)
"Hawaii Five-O" alert: Tonight's new episode is the first to feature a surviving cast member from the original show. Al Harrington, who played Detective Ben Kokua in the series' later years, will make an appearance tonight.
The centrally located, 79-room Aston Waikiki Beachside Hotel will undergo renovations this year, marking its return to the Aston brand.
| Jan 03 at 08:57 PM
Friday, December 31, 2010
Up late on New Year's? Watch Honolulu pineapple drop, thanks to Marin
Hey night pueo (that's owls to you): If you're up at 2 a.m. Pacific time, you can catch the live streaming video of the first-ever giant pineapple drop at midnight in Hawai'i.
As previously reported in Hawai'i Insider, the Kahala Hotel on O'ahu is sponsoring the 10-story plunge of the 200-pound papier-mache/LED-lit pineapple, an island version of Times Square's crystal ball. And in case you were wondering why the pineapple -- which is disappearing as a commercial crop in Hawai'i -- was chosen, here's some background from the promoters with a name that will sound familiar to Bay Area ears:
Pineapple is a tropical fruit synonymous with Hawai'i hospitality. While the exact date of the first pineapples grown in Hawai'i is the subject of historical debate, most historians agree that it arrived on Spanish ships from the New World as early as 1527. Spanish horticultural experimenter Francisco de Paula Marin arrived in Hawai'i in 1794 after being shanghaied from San Francisco. Marin became a friend and advisor to King Kamehameha and is known to have experimented with raising pineapples in the early 1800s.
Given the Japanese-inspired penchant for fresh sashimi on New Year's Day in the islands, a giant ahi tuna may have been equally appropriate. But the pineapple is probably easier to lower down the hotel without frightening the guests.
Happy New Year to all my dear readers, concerned critics and casual observers! May 2011 bring you much aloha.
| Dec 31 at 07:37 PM
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Kaua'i doll captures American Girl title
See ya, Lanie; howzit, Kanani! In the sic transit gloria mundi world of American Girl, the first-ever Hawai'i-themed doll will replace a nature-loving model as American Girl of the Year 2011.
(If you're scratching your head right now, you haven't been around a little girl who saved her allowances or badgered her parents into buying one of the pricey but popular American Girls, who come with back stories as well as a host of equally expensive accessories. And you certainly haven't been to the flagship store in Chicago, which spawned eight other locations, where girls get their hair done to match their dolls and parents willingly empty their wallets for ever more tchotchkes.)
Though it's sure to raise the ire of independence-minded Hawaiians that American Girl is promoting the new Kanani Akina doll, I have to give credit to the Kaua'i Monk Seal Watch and Kaua'i Visitors Bureau for their role in creating her "message" in the two accompanying books by Lisa Yee. This fictional Kaua'i girl apparently wants to protect the endangered monk seal, which though rare is increasingly beaching in populated areas. And while she enjoys (accessory alert!) paddleboarding and making shave ice, she's also in touch with her cultural roots, dancing hula. Unlike her Disney predecessor, Lilo, Kanani has more of a hapa look, based on the photos below, which certainly represents a lot of today's island residents.
Kanani officially makes her debut Jan. 1 online and at the nine American Girl locations (Los Angeles being the closest to Hawai'i and San Francisco.) Once she goes on sale, the 2010 American Girl of the Year -- Lanie, the blond butterfly collector and gardener -- is no longer sold. Based on Lanie's pricing, I'm guessing Kanani will sell for $95, one book included. Prepare to pay plenty of kala for the extras.
| Dec 30 at 12:36 PM
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
How to stay in Obama's Kailua beach house--or a cheaper place close by
Want to stay in President Obama's Kailua beach house, a/k/a the Winter White House? You'll have to wait a little longer: After getting a late start to his Christmas vacation, the Honolulu-born president has elected to stay another day in the luxurious vacation rental. That means he won't leave for wintry Washington, D.C., until Monday.
But Glenn Weinberg, who's listed on the vacation rental Web site Homeaway.com as the owner of Plantation Estate at Paradise Point, wants you to know that it's often available whenever the Obama 'ohana aren't occupying it -- Jan. 20 being the next opening, according to the Web site's rental calendar. And in case you can't pony up the $3,500 a night tab (which the Obamas are said to split with two families who stay with them), Homeaway.com also lists another 136 rentals in Kailua alone (whether they're all licensed or not is another story.)
Here's a closer look at the president's preferred spread and two relatively penny-pincher options:
The presidential version: It's no wonder the Obamas stayed here three Decembers in a row. The 5BR, 5.5 BA mansion, which sleeps 10, features sweeping views of Kailua Beach, a heated lagoon pool with waterfall spa, a chef's kitchen overlooking a dining room and great room, a surround-sound media room and a lava rock wall on three sides. All but one bedroom have walk-in closets, and two bedrooms are actually in separate buildings a few feet from the main residence (a good place to stash your private security agents.) The pool has an outdoor shower with hot and cold water, a bar, dining area and cable TV. (Birther alert: The interior includes African mahogany carvings -- discuss.)
There's a one-week minimum for the $3,500 nightly rate, plus a cleaning fee of $850 and the local occupancy tax of 13.96 percent; take it for a month, and the rate drops to a mere $75,000. For a video tour andmore photos, see the link on ParadisePointEstates.com. You'll also find details on the HomeAway.com link.
The penny-pincher versions: OK, you can't exactly fit the First Family and their entourage into these two vacation rentals available on Homeaway.com, but smaller traveling parties will appreciate the savings, as well as the surroundings:
1. Allison Shadday's Hula Breeze is advertised as a legal, licensed bed-and-breakfast that consists of the Palm Room studio. A 7-minute walk to the beach, the 400-square-foot unit on a quiet road sleeps two to three people (queen bed and futon) and includes a kitchenette, lanai, wireless broadband and off-street parking, plus a shared pool (see photos below.)
Nightly rates are $125 (rising to $130 Feb. 1), with three nights minimum preferred, plus a $60 cleaning fee and lodging taxes of 13.96 percent. Late booking specials may be available. For details, click here.
2. Somewhat larger and closer to the beach, Hale Hali'a Aloha is a one-bedroom apartment that sleeps two to three (queen bed plus futon) and includes a living/dining room with kitchenette, granite countertops in the bathroom and kitchen area, and a heated saltwater pool. The 475-square-foot unit is three and a half blocks from the beach and overlooks the river.
Rental rates are $150 a night for two, $175 a night for three, with a $75 cleaning fee and 14 percent tax; there's a five-night minimum unless fewer days are available between existing bookings. For details, click here.
| Dec 29 at 11:12 PM
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
New Year's Eve on the Neighbor Islands
9 p.m. update: There will not be fireworks New Year's Eve at the Waikoloa Beach Resort as I previously reported (based on information from a Mainland public relations agency, which might explain the goof); state and local sources say the pyrotechnics are off this year. However, the Fairmont Orchid in the Mauna Lani Resort is advertising a fireworks display as part of its Beachboy Bash at Coconut Grove. For more information, see the new material in the original item below.
The outer islands of Hawai'i -- not just O'ahu -- will be moderately aflame, so to speak, with fireworks (not always legal) and festivities for New Year's Eve. The diminished local budgets for fireworks, security, liability insurance and cleanup mean there are fewer public displays, but a few shows remain:
Kaua'i: Watch the free fireworks at Po'ipū Beach Park at 9:30 p.m., courtesy of the Po'ipū Beach Resort Association. (Note: The Sheraton Kaua'i will start its beachside Surf to Sunset lū'au at 6 p.m. that night so that the fireworks serve as a finale.)
Maui: Mulligan's on the Blue in Wailea is advertising its concert by Willie K. and special guests as the "only fireworks this year"; an optional dinner buffet starts at 7 p.m. ($75, which guarantees seating for the show), while entertainment-only admission is $20 advance, $25 at the door. Mick Fleetwood, Rick Vito and local bandmates also perform New Year's Eve in a fund-raiser for the Maui Arts and Cultural Center and the Maui Food Bank at Māla Wailea; tickets are $500 (it's a fund-raiser, remember?)
Lāna'i: The fireworks display at midnight over Hulopo'e Beach can be viewed from the Kailani Terrace at the Four Seasons Lāna'i at Manele Bay, where there's no cover charge to enjoy the 12-piece band from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with cash bar. Dining packages at the luxury resort and its upcountry sibling, the Lodge at Koele, are also available.
Hawai'i: No public fireworks are planned for Kailua-Kona this year, but a spokesperson for Hilton Waikoloa Village says there will be midnight fireworks at the Waikoloa Beach Resort, along with hotel festivities that include a no-cover masquerade ball at the Hilton's Malolo Lounge. And as stated in the update above, the Fairmont Orchid includes a midnightfireworks display as part of its Beachboy Bash at Coconut Grove, starting at 7 p.m. and including live entertainment, a DJ and beachboys, of course. You should be able to see the overwater fireworks from several points along the shore and highway.
The Four Seasons Hualālai also hosts New Year's Eve celebrations starting at 10 p.m., with fireworks at midnight. (Note: The public access beach parking is very limited, so you may want to make dinner reservations or plan to watch the pyrotechnics at a distance, from the highway.)
Of course, island residents aren't above taking matters into their own hands, as the video below of last year's impressive private fireworks show in Kaunakakai, Moloka'i, reveals. Be aware if you're out at midnight that any neighborhood or beach may suddenly erupt with unofficial (and potentially dangerous) displays.
| Dec 28 at 01:27 PM
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