Cell phones banned on Oahu roads

by Mark on July 1, 2009

Effective today, any driver caught driving with the use of a mobile electronic device (cell phone, iPod, etc.) on the island of Oahu will be fined $67 for the first offense.

Read the fine print here.

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Bravo Restaurant in Pearlridge

by Mark on July 1, 2009

If you love garlic, there’s always the Giovanni’s Scampi at the North Shore but closer to town, there is an Italian family restaurant near the Pearlridge Center called the Bravo Restaurant. This is the only restaurant I know on Oahu which serves complimentary “fresh baked” garlic rolls, and they are absolutely delicious!

We had their Eggplant Parmigiana and the lunch special of the day. If you are ever visiting this side of the island, I recommend to stop by and enjoy some good family Italian food. Even a group birthday party would be nice and you can always burn all you eat at the Pearlridge Center next door.

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TheBus fare increases on Oahu

by Mark on July 1, 2009

TheBus fare will increase $0.25 for a one-way fare to $2.25 and $10 for a monthly bus pass to $50.  The price increase will be in effect today – July 1, 2009. For more information about the fares, click here.

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Big Box Stores changing concept

by Mark on June 30, 2009

Not happening here yet in Hawaii, but mainland big box stores are already changing their business concept to stay in business than closing its doors.

During the current economic downturn, as many companies are closing stores and cutting costs, it might seem counterintuitive to be opening new stores.

Not here in Bothell, around 20 miles northeast of Seattle, where in January, OfficeMax opened one of its three new concept stores in the Seattle area that offer a pared-down selection of its most popular products. Each of the new stores, called Ink Paper Scissors, covers only 2,000 square feet — about a ninth the size of a typical OfficeMax — and offers basics like copy-making supplies and printer-cartridge refills.

Retailers like OfficeMax are opening scaled-down versions of their stores or inventing outlets entirely to test new concepts without a hefty investment. The stores are a relatively safe bet despite the recession because the space is cheaper and the stores require less inventory, fewer employees and smaller spaces.

(Via New York Times)

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Macy’s considering outlet business

by Mark on June 30, 2009

Terry Lundgren, CEO of Macy’s Inc., is considering outlet business to help boost sales. Saks Inc. and Nordstrom Inc. are amongst the retailers that operate outlets. Retailers are desperate to be creative and scrambling in this tough times.

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Kapiolani Medical Center, Hawaii’s largest specialty hospital for women and children, has gotten the ok to expand and rebuild its neonatal and pediatric intensive care units for all their locations on Oahu.

Hawaii’s largest specialty hospital for women and children has received state approval to start the first phase of a multimillion-dollar, multiyear renovation and expansion, its largest construction project in more than 30 years.

In a 12-page decision dated May 1, State Health Planning and Development Agency Administrator Ronald Terry granted a certificate of need to Honolulu’s Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children to start work on the $36.3 million expansion of its neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Both have outgrown existing space and need upgrades to accommodate the rising demand for services.

Construction on the first phase is expected to start in the fall of 2013.

(Via Pacific Business News)

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All about Kapolei

by Mark on June 30, 2009

If you are eager to learn more about the city of Kapolei in West Oahu, these 2 websites are geared about the current happenings as well as future plans. In a nutshell, the city of Kapolei is projected to be the next Honolulu which is already engulfed with residential and commercial developments.

The monthly newsletters are worth the read to learn the ongoing projects and also forsee the people’s voices of Kapolei. Kudos to the team involved in sharing the news about Kapolei!

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JALways cutting down pilots

by Mark on June 30, 2009

In this recession, pilots are also getting affected. JALways Co. Ltd. has announced to cut down the pilots, close its Honolulu office and layoff five local employees.

Hawaii Aviation Contract Services owner Alexander Bell, whose Honolulu-based company provided JALways with 18 pilots, said there was a reduction in pilots because “routes were canceled (globally) and airplanes were sold.”

“There are more pilots than were needed to do the jobs, and so Japan Airlines thought the best thing to do was the reduce the number of pilots,” he said. “And, obviously, the first to go would be the expats.”

Redwood City, Calif.-based IASCO said that 62 of its pilots were terminated, while Las Vegas-based World Aviation Systems Inc. said it lost about 50 pilots.

The five round-trip daily flights between Hawaii and Japan that the Honolulu-based JALways pilots used to operate are now being flown by Japan Airlines pilots who are based in Japan. A sixth daily flight between Hawaii and Japan already had been operated by Japanese national pilots for Japan Airlines.

(Via Star Bulletin)

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Nihon Noodle

by Mark on June 28, 2009

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Hakata Noodle and Gyoza. Read about it here.

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Hawaii Floral Parade

by Mark on June 26, 2009

On the weekend of King Kamehameha Day, a floral parade took place along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. This is one of the most beautiful parades on Oahu as countless numbers of colorful flowers are decorated. There were floats, horses and marching units honoring the King Kamehameha celebration. Coincidentally, I met Bruce, a long time surfer from Pops and a chef at Chili’s Restaurant in Waikiki. Nice day to watch and enjoy the Hawaiian breeze.

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