Menu

hawaii

Is That a Starbucks or Storage for Home Depot?

, , , ,

Now Starbucks is just playing with caffeine addicts like you and me. Go from two busy locations in Ala Moana to a single, always-slammed spot. But hey, look, a new kiosk graces the Center Court area, and it, too, is busy.

848625965

So Starbucks balance has returned to Ala Moana. But not so fast! What’s this?! The minuscule, always-crowded, Macys-in-store location is now closed.

848625891

Or is that really a Home Depot storage spot?

848625892

Above pictures courtesy of @yoda808.

What are you doing to us Starbucks??? Just can’t win.

enhanced-buzz-31748-1337803210-6
Winning

Heartbleed Hawaii

, ,

So you have to have heard about the Heartbleed vulnerability right? Where the security software used by many Internet services has a flaw that can allow protected information out into the public. This is an oversimplification, but just know that this flaw is bad, and the ramifications could be unknown for a long time, if at all.

Services and sites are quickly fixing this flaw by patching with updated software. But this flaw has been there for two years, so who knows what has happened during that time. The simplest recommendation is to change your account password for affected systems (and even non-affected systems just to be on the safe side) and only after the vulnerability has been mitigated – no sense change your secure password if the site can’t keep it secure. There are other tips as well besides changing your passwords.

Mashable has put together a good collection of popular online services and their stance with regards to Heartbleed. But what about locally? Are popular Hawaii sites affected? Seemingly not. By using Heartbleed scanning tools, you can get a quick assessment of the Heartbleed status of any site. I ran through some Hawaii sites, and here’s what I found.

All in all, pretty good. No definite vulnerable sites found, and the “unknown” results could be traps to stop Heartbleed attacks. But again, to be on the conservative side, you could inquire about Heartbleed compliance.

Any other Hawaii-centric service you want added to the list? Let me know by adding it to this list.

Update: April 10, 2014, 8:28pm HST

Added another Heartbleed test provided by Lastpass.com

Starbucks on #327

, , ,

After hearing about the future Starbucks kiosk at Ala Moana near Centre Court, I had to take a peek. This is the view from above on the third floor.

Starbucks opening on 3-27-2014
Starbucks opening on 3-27-2014

The kiosk is on the main floor of Ala Moana, technically level two. It’s not exactly where Aroma Caffe was, more towards Nordstrom, but it is huge for a “kiosk.” I’m guessing there will be outdoor seating but coverage from the sunlight would be needed. There may be some seating under the roofed area but can’t really tell yet as construction is on-going. And that nice black, shiny roof will be covered in bird poop soon enough.

I gotta say though, I love how Starbucks goes head-to-head with other coffee purveyors. Diagonally above this spot is the longtime Honolulu Coffee Company kiosk. If you’re seated in their outdoor seats, you have a clear view of this Starbucks. Coffee competition will get fierce starting on opening day of March 27.

If you have any pics of the progress, be sure to tweet them out using the hashtag #sbux327.

Starbucks in 10 Days

, , ,

Fellow caffeine addict, Yoda808, spotted this sign at the Macy’s Starbucks location in Ala Moana (yes, that crowded one). A new Starbucks kiosk opening on March 27.

sbux-ala-moana-2

There was mention of another Starbucks in Ala Moana near centre court, but if you looked in the area, you saw no visible signs of its arrival. There was the construction of Aloha Gelato that I thought could be a Starbucks, but it actually was Aloha Gelato.

So in 10 days, a new Starbucks will have risen. Keep an eye out!

Huffington Post Features 27 Words to Learn Before Visiting Hawaii

, , ,

Oh snap, the Huffington Post has just outdone me with today’s article 27 Words To Learn Before You Visit Hawaii. My popular Pulpconnection post only features 21 Slang Words You Should Know Before Visiting Hawaii. Oh wait, I can’t count it seems. I have Parts 1 and 2 of the series with a total of 24 words, but still I’m three short!

Let’s quickly compare our lists of words you need to know before visiting Hawaii. Here’s HuffPo’s 27 words with Pulpconnection matches bolded:

  1. Aloha
  2. Mahalo
  3. Kōkua
  4. Mauka
  5. Makai
  6. Poke
  7. Windward
  8. Leeward
  9. Pono
  10. Vog
  11. Haole
  12. Howzit
  13. Honu
  14. Ohana
  15. Ono
  16. Malasada
  17. Da kine
  18. Kamaʻāina
  19. Keiki
  20. Lanai
  21. Pau
  22. Wahine
  23. Kāne
  24. Lei
  25. Pupu
  26. Auntie & Uncle
  27. Shaka

So we have eight matches of our respective lists. My other local phrase contenders are:

  1. lua
  2. shark bait
  3. “small world”
  4. “where you went grad?” or “what school you went?”
  5. poho
  6. Zippys
  7. lolo
  8. pakalolo
  9. mahu
  10. malo, mawashi, or mankini
  11. sukebe
  12. brah
  13. B-52 cockroach
  14. fut
  15. ainokea
  16. talk story

Of course, I’m preferential to my Pulpconnection lists, but it’s all good or is it “it’s all pono.” 😉

Mo bettah, I stay go make Part 3 of da kine list wit dese ones:

  • Au-rite
  • Mean
  • Can/No can
  • Shoots
  • We go
  • No ack
  • Scrap
  • K den
  • Hapa
  • Bobora
  • K-bar
  • Small kine
  • Moke
  • Choke
  • Okole
  • Like/No Like
  • chillax’n

Did Peet’s Kailua Peter Out?

, , , , ,

This is purely speculation based on appearances only, but the new Peet’s location in Kailua seems to have petered out. Previously, there had been a banner announcing the coming of Peet’s. That banner is now gone (although hopefully temporarily). The store is still not in business, but there is a piece of paper posted on the door (couldn’t see the sign from the street).

One day, I have to peek in the window to see what’s up. Online, Peet’s job listings don’t show Hawaii (at all) so that’s not telling, and the locator listing doesn’t show any in Hawaii even though Peet’s is in Waikiki. I’m hoping Peet’s is still coming to Kailua.

The Meaning of Mahu Now Available

, , ,

Now available on local newsstands is the March 2014 issue of Mana. The feature – the meaning of mahu.

mana-mahu
The Meaning of Mahu

Seemingly, the subject of mahu is highly sought after, reviewing the analytics and popular search terms for Pulpconnection. Can’t believe how many visitors view my post, 21 Slang Words You Should Know Before Visiting Hawaii (Part 1), looking for a definition of mahu.

Shoots, den! Go take a look.

Thoughts About the Fence on Kamehameha Highway

, , , , , ,

So Hawaii News Now is working on a story about fence that splits Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City. You know the one. It was decorated in March 2011 but then it wasn’t in November 2012. Now, in 2014, the entire fence line is coming down for rail construction.

What was the impetus for the fence to begin with? To prevent pedestrians from perilously crossing anywhere along the multi-lane roadway? To minimize the headlights of opposing traffic? I’m not sure. But I can understand the need if there was a long history of accidents, deaths, and other mishaps that a simple fence would alleviate. I just don’t know the background.

Why the decorative fence? I admit that at first glance I thought the fence was tacky. Maybe if the pattern was the same throughout then it wouldn’t seem like it was trying to be “artistic.” On the other hand, a plain chain link fence would probably look worse, annoying the community. Go fancier with tiles, vinyl, or a rock wall, and costs would probably be too exorbitant. So this decorated fence was probably a livable compromise. With the rail construction going on, the “fence” now looks like this which is ultimately worse.

"Fence" on Kamehameha Highway
“Fence” on Kamehameha Highway

Those are my thoughts on this fence. What do you think?

Load More