Advertising Fresh Off the Boat
As an Asian, I gotta give props to promoting the new television show, Fresh Off the Boat. Although I don’t think this form of advertising is permitted in Hawaii. Perchance a FOB is unaware and is responsible for this?
hawaii
Target Kailua Coming Soon
The sign is officially up – COMING SOON. And “Coming Soon” for the Target location in Kailua actually means two months with the opening set for March 8, 2015. It’s been a long time in the making with first rumblings of Target taking over the Don Quijote location back in 2009. Over this six-year journey, the pace has picked up greatly over the recent months to include neighboring road work to repave and re-stripe the lines and install a new traffic light. Only three months ago did the official Target signage go up.
While the exterior looks complete, the interior is still bare. The shelving is being installed, but there’s no inventory on the floor yet. Workers are busily getting the store ready and yes, there is police officer stationed there all the time.
Some highlights of this Windward location. The roadway entry is nicely decorated. There are touches of Hawaii to go along with the iconic red Target logo.
Speaking of that red Target logo…
The store itself is immense. You don’t realize how much real estate this location takes up until you walk from the Safeway side to the Post Office.
Accordingly, the parking lot(s) are huge as well. There are plentiful spaces on both sides of the main road entryway, and there are even more stalls on the Safeway side (maybe reserved for employees?). The paved grave material looks rough and rocky though.
No explanation needed for what this logo means. Looking in the window, the cafe area appears huge with space for lots of tables.
Living walls are only now beginning to take root.
Yes, there are two stalls for electric vehicles (sorry, there’s a coffee cup on top of the charger, but not mine).
The most significant change in my opinion? Connecting the Safeway parking lot. Yes, soon enough you can drive to the adjoining lots.
Just don’t mind the wild, free range chickens that’ll eventually roam the Target parking lots.
I can’t wait to check out the store in operation in March. Until then, here are a few more pictures of Target in late January.
Update: the Star Advertiser is reporting a March 4, 2015 opening date.
Car Fire on Lehua
Did you hear about the car fire this morning on Lehua in the Pearl City area? Thanks to his dedication to work, @locke02000 was already in the area when the car went up in flames and the fire crew arrives on scene.
As far as I know, there’s no connection with this car fire and the discrepant story of pro golfer, Robert Allenby.
I’ve Eaten at a Conditional Pass Yellow Food Establishment
And I’m okay. All around Hawaii, the Department of Health placards on are display at restaurants, and I actually found a location with a conditional pass aka “the yellow card.” The areas of improvement dealt with food temperatures and cross contamination of food (not sure what that means).
But I’m here to say that after eating a Thai Chicken Pizza and a BBQ Chicken salad, me and the family are fine. Did you know that even green placards could mean a single infraction whereas two infractions warrant a yellow? Restaurants with a yellow card usually get a followup inspection within two days so hopefully, a green card will be displayed this week.
Signs of Hawaii: @OKAZUYA
Remember back in the day before the Internet proliferated our daily lives that the @ symbol meant a physical “at?” Nowadays, whenever you see the @ followed by a word, you assume it to be an online identity or persona. But in this case, @okazuya really means “at okazuya.”
President Obama’s Annual Power Outage
Gotta love the coincidence. Each year when the First Family spends their holiday vacation in Hawaii, there’s typically a power outage. I believe this started happening from 2008. The start of 2015 is no different. On this stormy night, several locations are without power.
Good night and thanks to AT&T for their LTE network that’s still working.
Signs of Hawaii: Temporarily Out of Order
If you shopped Macy’s at Ala Moana during the holidays, you probably ran into this sign located on one of the upper floor exits.
What’s that? You can’t read that sign printed on 8.5×11 paper using a small font? You were one of those who approached the doors, straining to read the sign from afar. Only to see this.
I guess Macy’s has no way of printing something that doesn’t follow the template of their sale signs?
Night Visions at Bellows
What visions can be had while crabbing at night at Bellows? Let’s take a look…
You can find the closest thing to a snowman in Hawaii – a “snowman” made from sand.
And not just one, but here’s another sandman with some accoutrements. He does look happy though.
Personally, I was amazed at this pyramid. Very symmetrical, very smooth, and the detailing!
Speaking of smooth and symmetrical, these sandballs were just sitting there begging to be thrown. But because of their perfection, you just couldn’t bring yourself to launch one of these sandy spheres.
Anyone lost their shades?
Oh, and of course, the reason for being at Bellows at night? Catching crabs for fun. This was a big guy. When we first found him, he didn’t move at all, appearing dead. But then he went into action showing of his claws, snapping them as he tried to make his escape. Yes, he was released at the end of the hunt.
Signs of Hawaii: Save 10%
I guess I really can’t complain because a ten percent discount is still a ten percent discount. Although I think the tax and bottling fees essentially negates that saved 10% off the $1.95 bottled water.
Ninja Warrior Filming in Hawaii?
I’ve never actually watched the televised challenges of those vying to be a ninja warrior, so I’m not familiar with the show, either the original Japanese version or the American one. However, it seems like Ninja Warrior is setting up for a shoot at the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Sorry, I don’t have any more details, but with the number of Japanese workers on set, I’m guessing this is for the Japan series.
The Best Christmas…Rejection
Although the Hawaii-Wichita St. matchup was my overall favorite game, the best individual highlight came from the Hawaii-Colorado game on Christmas day of the Diamond Head Classic. Colorado’s guard, Askia Booker, was cleared for a break away layup before UH’s 6-2 senior guard, Garrett Nevels, met him at the rim for the rejection. Although I missed the actual block, I did manage to record the replay.
The Best Christmas…Basketball Game
The best basketball game I saw during the holidays has to be Hawaii’s narrow loss to the Wichita State Shockers in the Diamond Head Classic. Ranked #11 in the country, the Shockers’ offensive putback in the closing seconds of overtime sealed UH’s fate. Still though, the Warriors surprisingly went blow for blow in this matchup, and I was there to watch.
