JUL 22
2009
Roy one of Hawaii and Ko Olina’s première chefs was recently seen on Bravo’s TV series Top Chef Masters. Roy chose Imua Family Services on Maui as his charity for the TV show. He says, “It’s an organization of dedicated people who do really great things for the people of Maui County.”
Although he can’t say what happened on the show, we can watch and see what happens. Roy opened his first restaurant in 1984, 385 North, on Hollywood’s La Cienega Boulevard. Taking Hawaii by storm four years later, he opened Roy’s Hawaii Kai. There are now a total of 37 Roy’s worldwide.
Thought this would be of interest since all kitchens at the Ko Olina Beach Villas were designed by Roy.
JUL 20
2009
The HIBT begins today, Monday July 20th and runs through Saturday, July 25, 2009. The event celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with 41 teams from nine countries participating in the event. Daily fish weigh-ins occur at 4:00 pm at Kailua Pier. Fishing conditions are looking favorable for the anglers from South Africa, Kenya, California, Florida, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Japan, British Isles, and of course, Hawaii.
The night of Saturday July 25th is reserved for the awards presentation and dinner at the Hilton Waikoloa Village – Monarchy Room. There is no prize money for this event; however, it offers honor and prestige. Local teams are Waianae Boat Fishing Club DH2, Hawaii; Team Ko’Olina (Private), Hawaii; Alii Brothers Marlin Hui, California/Hawaii; and Hilo Yacht Club, Hawaii.
The 2010 tournament is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 8, 2010.
JUL 20
2009
A piece of history sailed into Honolulu’s Ala Wai Harbor on the eve of July 16, 2009. The wooden-hulled schooner was a contestant in the 2009 Transpacific Yacht Race; although no one expected the yacht to win the race. In fact, she came in 11 days after the Alfa Romeo and 17 days after the start of the race.
According to an article in the Examiner.com, “What was important was that she had all of the historic characteristics of the yachts that had competed in the first years of this 103-year-old race and that she had brought her crew safely to Honolulu in time for the official awards ceremonies tonight.”
She was built and launched in 2001 and is a historical adaptation of an 1812-vintage privateer. The 122-foot square topsail Lynx sails amongst ports in Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean.
Here is the Lynx’s schedule from KITV.com so you can visit this historical and educational wonder.
Ala Wai Harbor
July 21-30, 2009: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Adventure Sail 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Ko Olina Marine and Resort
August 1-9, 2009: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Adventure Sail 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
JUL 8
2009
Michelle Wei, although starting at the top of her golf game several years ago, went through a major downfall due to wrist injuries. She was on the Forbe’s top list under 25 in December 2007. However, in the Fields Open at Ko Olina in February, Michelle finished 72nd, last of all who made the cut.
The Honolulu Advertiser reports, “But the Michelle Wie story is far from over. She still powers the ball close to 300 yards. She has a repertoire of iron shots that rivals any on the LPGA Tour. She may never putt well enough to reach her goal of beating Tiger Woods or playing in the Masters, but Michelle Wie still has the swing and the smarts to be a major force in golf. And she has time.
Annika Sorenstam didn’t win her first LPGA tournament until she was 24. Michelle Wie doesn’t turn 20 until October.”
JUL 6
2009
Starting July 5, 2009, Oahu islanders, including those in Honolulu and Ko Olina, will be able to see the International Space Station as it orbits the earth about 220 miles above. There will be six passes over six days; so if you missed it the first night, you have other chances to view it.
According to Mike Shanahan, Bishop Museum education director and planetarium manager, the station will pass overhead at about 8:50 pm and will be extremely bright. He went on to share that the space station should move very slowly against a backdrop of stars and should be very easy to find.
Additionally, three of the passes will be before sunrise and Jupiter, Mars, and Venus will all be visible too; however, the space station will be brighter than Jupiter. NASA has said that many locations will have as much as five minutes to view the station as it flies overhead. Although the structure will be moving too fast for conventional telescopes, binoculars should improve the view, NASA said.
According to Space.com, “The International Space Station was finally launched on November 20, 1998 to begin its first 92-minute trip around the Earth. The first permanent crew of astronauts arrived on the International Space Station on November 2, 2000. Since then, there have always been at least two people on board. So far, the astronauts residing on the space station have been American or Russian.”
JUL 4
2009
After a failed attempt in 2008 to win the crown, Ms. Raeceen Woolford, from Ko Olina, has won the 2009 Miss Honolulu crown. She is a former University of Honolulu volleyball player and beat out some tough competition in the runner’s up Jalee Kate Fuselier, Lauren Cheape, Tioni Tam Sing and Crystal Lee.
Raeceen will be traveling to Las Vegas in January 2010 to represent Hawaii at the annual Miss America competition. Ms. Woolford won a number of prizes; including a system-wide pass on Hawaiian airlines, jewelry from JYL Jewelry and Flora Lu Designs, professional services and a complete wardrobe from Honolulu’s local designers and providers.
Raeceen shares, “My plan to create awareness of this issue stems from my marketing strategy. The Keiki Ohana Program, with the support of the Miss America Program will work in partnership with other established programs like the Boys and Girls Club, Police Activities League (P.A.L), and the Girl Scouts of America. It will also work with parents to strengthen the familial unit as a whole. Every aspect of a child’s development and environment is evaluated as being healthy and nurturing or not. We can then send our representatives into the community, reaching out to children and their parents through after school programs. I was raised in a single parent home and subjected to years of verbal abuse. If it were not for the love of my grandparents and positive role models in my life, I would have low self-esteem and look for acceptance in the wrong places. I needed the love of those people to realize that I am better than what my childhood defined me as and I have the potential to be a revolutionary woman.”
Cheering you on from Ko Olina and Honolulu!!
JUN 24
2009
A Hawaiian icon has gone the way of the sunset. TheBoat, which was a $2 ride, sailed its last voyage on June 30th. This ends the golden age of water transport for Hawaii and moves the islands into more current modes of transport, cars and airplanes. Currently, the only interisland passenger service is now by air.
Buses are being added to make up for the loss of the water commute but for the regular commuters who used the waterway around Oahu, which sailed out of the beautiful Aloha Tower Marketplace to Kalaeloa Harbor across from the Ko Olina resort on West Oahu. Many of the former passengers are not excited about going back to a bus service and will start driving instead of riding the bus, which could crowd the only major transportation corridor.
According to CNBC.com and the Associated Press, “Besides the spectacular shoreline vistas, the hour-long voyage on TheBoat offered amenities not found on Honolulu’s often-crowded bus system: a snack bar, free newspapers, tables for creating a traveling office, high-backed seats, wireless Internet and an attentive crew.”
Additionally, the article shares, “Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann said he still supports the idea of a city ferry and it could come back when it becomes more viable. A Web site has been set up for a grassroots campaign to “keep hope alive.”
“What I’ll always remember is the sense of peace I feel with the ocean breeze in my face — a perfect way to begin and end the day, a feeling no drive home or bus ride could ever match,” says the Webmaster, who identifies himself only as Mel, regular commuter and supporter of TheBoat.”
