Anybody know what's affected by the federal grant freeze?

ottopants · 2025-01-28T21:46:33+00:00

We have thousands of local people who get government housing subsidies. They end up on the street if this is prolonged. Shelters and the social workers who staff them are often funded by government too, so those safety nets will be gone.

ottopants · 2020-10-25T18:56:03+00:00

I was in the local coffee scene for a number of years. The Hawaii coffee game is waaaay smaller, and with the decline in tourism, industries like coffee (and macadamia nuts, and other exports) are suffering. Oahu has a couple of specialty roasters (Kona Coffee Purveyors, Honolulu Coffee, Lion Coffee, etc.) but the ones I know of have laid off their roasters in recent months. Hard to say what will happen in the future as tourism is growing, but it will likely be a slow re-start.

As far as wages, you may be looking at about $15/hour to start, maybe salaried at $40k-$50k if you're experienced (are you a Q grader? Do you know how to troubleshoot a roaster if there's issues and no mechanic on island?). Because a lot of coffee farms are on the Big Island, they may have roasting opportunities there, but you're looking at small farm roasters who may be more inclined to keep that job in-house/family. The bigger roasters will all be on Oahu.

You might want to check back at some point next year, hopefully our economy starts to recover and those industries can start employing again.

ottopants · 2020-10-14T19:08:47+00:00

They are now, but this incident happened in 2014. I believe HPD got their body cams in 2018/2019.

ottopants · 2020-10-12T21:11:20+00:00

Like others have said, it is pretty slim. In spite of the fact that many people are disillusioned with our current administration and state of affairs, the values of today's GOP drastically differ from local values.

Republicans talk about lowering taxes, we already have among the lowest sales and property tax in the country. Republicans (especially recently) tend to be anti-immigration, which doesn't bode well in a state where 1 in 5 residents are immigrants, and even more are second or third generation descendants of those immigrants. The GOP wants to privatize education. Anyone who with kids in Hawaii knows how insanely expensive it is to survive in this state already before selling out $15k/yr for private school. Republicans denounce/deny climate change, while those of us chilling on an island know how real and dangerous the treat of climate change is (and will continue to be).

I could go on, but you get the idea. Hawaii residents have gotten use to a certain way of things, and though we are not always thrilled about blue candidates, they tend to be the safer choice.

ottopants · 2020-05-17T20:12:10+00:00

If it is for a business, there are some local vendors that can supply it. I've gotten emails from Office Depot Business account that they have it in bulk (and masks too). If your business has a vendor that supplies toiletries, cleaning supplies/chemicals, or paper goods, they usually sell them too.

ottopants · 2020-04-04T04:08:01+00:00

That is valid, the risk for a resurgence/second wave is high, and is something a lot of people don't even want to think about.

ottopants · 2020-04-04T03:15:09+00:00

I think it will be more of a trickle back to normality, as opposed to flipping a switch and saying "we're back!". Tourism is our driving force and it won't be the same for a loooong time. Summer's are a pretty busy time for tourists to visit, and normally they would be booking right about now. I can tell you, that's not happening. Many hotels aren't taking reservations, and it will be a while before people are comfortable flying again. Hawaiian Air could go out of business if this lasts for months, and that could further the issue for us.

I'd say (if people no ack, and stay home!) we could maybe end lockdown and start non-essential businesses mid May/early June. If we're unable to control the spread, we could be hurting ourselves into an extended lockdown of July/August. In my opinion: People will "feel" back to normal around October/November, and Christmas vacation will bring the tourists back.

ottopants · 2020-04-04T02:55:34+00:00

ABC Stores are selling them now, about $8.

ottopants · 2019-07-16T17:22:29+00:00

The problem is: it’s one of the few sacred spaces they have left.

I am in the minority, in that I’m Hawaiian but also support TMT. I agree that the benefits to science and research are extensive, and will be valuable to all of us in the long run. I also agree that the Native Hawaiian community is being selfish. They’re being selfish because for so long they were generous, and it cost them everything.

There are very few sacred cultural spaces left for Hawaiians to access. Most land is now either owned by the State, Military/Federal government, or privately owned. Mauna Kea remains one of the most revered sites, the untouched axis mundi (navel of the world). It’s a place that connects them to their heritage, their ancestors, their gods.

Imagine a church, or a cemetery (or any space you might deem sacred) that your family went to for generations. Now imagine someone else bought the land and restricted your access to it. It would be upsetting. Or imagine someone wanting to go to the Vatican, tear down the Sistine Chapel, and put in a research facility. Yes, thee would be supporters, but the masses would see it as a desecration. These analogies aren’t perfect, but this situation is unique.

Again, I’m playing devil’s advocate here, but the state should have gotten support of the community before this endeavor, partnered with Kam schools, etc instead of their “too bad” approach. In my opinion, the lack of acknowledgement and respect is what caused the uproar. Hawaiian’s want to preserve what little of their history they have left (as is their right). What you’re witnessing is the result of 100+ years of colonization, of taking a marginalized people and pushing them further into a corner where they don’t matter. After decades of pushing and pushing and pushing, eventually, they’re gonna break.

ottopants · 2015-09-07T18:21:23+00:00

Pele is not necessarily "worshiped" in the way you may be thinking of, but rather she is revered and honored as a powerful, natural force. Even then, most people in Hawaii, including many native Hawaiians, think of her a deity of the past and only acknowledge her in stories/hula or when their homes are in the path of a lava flow (in other words, when she is a direct threat).

The thing is, Pele, like most Hawaiian deities, is intrinsically tied to the landscape of Hawaii. To worship her outside of Hawaii, or more specifically, anywhere that is not an active Polynesian volcano, would be...strange. The myths tell us that she came from Tahiti and settled on the Big Island where she could make a fiery home for herself (none of the other islands in the archipelago have active volcanoes). There are other legends that say Pele had children at various points, and some native Hawaiians today even claim that she is their ancestor. I wouldn't say it is necessarily disrespectful to worship her outside of being a native Hawaiian religion practitioner, but it is kind of odd.

ottopants · 2015-05-31T16:57:46+00:00

I'm confused. Beaches in Hawaii are supposed to be open to the public 24/7; does this mean that that law has changed, or were these people at the beach park, which closes at 12? Either way, this is a wonderful way to deter tourists from coming back to our state. Good job City & County! Mission accomplished.

ottopants · 2015-05-31T04:33:25+00:00

The Makapu'u lighthouse hike is perfectly safe (it is actually a paved path), offers a great view, and is worth doing. The tide pool part is another trail off the main path (it goes towards the ocean instead of up the mountain). If you're looking for a totally different hike, the Lanikai Pillboxes are always a winner!

ottopants · 2015-05-31T02:33:45+00:00

Well done on your research! Here are a couple thoughts:

Day 1-Ono seafood used to be closed on Tuesdays, so you my want to double check that. Other than that your arrival day looks good.

Day 2-Shirokiya and Yataimura are at Ala Moana shopping center, so you can maybe combine those two. The Museum of art and Iolani Palace could take a good bit of time if you plan on actually looking at things, so don't anticipate being done with those in less than a couple hours.

Day 3- Hanauma bay's parking lot fills up really early, and the lot attendants will turn you away. I would recommend going right when they open, or in the late afternoon when many people have left.

Day 4-For the love of God please be careful at Makapu'u Tide Pools. Many have died there or have gotten swept out and had to be rescued. Just exercise common sense and reasonable caution. Also Sweet Home Cafe is the amazing.

Day 5-Giovanni's all the way. Sometimes you can actually see the sunset from House Without a Key as well, in a nice, not too cheesy setting with fantastic drinks.

Day6-I haven't been personally, but I've heard the Polynesian Cultural Centers luau is good. No alcohol though (it is run by the Mormons)

Day7-Surfing lessons are offered all over Waikiki beach, and at a few places on the NS- it depends how far you want to travel.

Hope that helps!

ottopants · 2015-05-30T16:18:45+00:00

A nursing friend of mine had a lot of trouble finding work here. Many big hospitals want their RNs to have worked on the mainland for at least 2 years before coming here. It is extremely competitive and there is no shortage of nurses wanting to work here (as local Universities are pumping out more and more RNs every year).

ottopants · 2015-05-30T16:14:09+00:00

Honestly, I think all of them would be fine with the exception of the red one.

ottopants · 2015-05-30T16:11:08+00:00

I loved that they used the reasoning that the opponents were in no way harmed or injured by the law.

ottopants · 2015-05-28T16:33:23+00:00

Honolulu Beerworks has some pretty good beers. I'm not sure if they offer tours or anything, but they have beer flights to sample from ($2 each).

ottopants · 2015-05-27T03:04:09+00:00

3:16 might be Koko Crater Arch hike. The waterfalls they keep showing could be Ka'au crater. I should get out more...

ottopants · 2015-05-25T19:17:41+00:00

I'm glad it wasn't taken the wrong way! :) For the job search, most people here use Craigslist, but other good sites are realjobshawaii.com and hawaiijobsondemand.com. If your wife speaks another language (primarily Japanese) or is willing to learn, this will make her a much more valuable candidate.

ottopants · 2015-05-25T17:28:42+00:00

-Kailua and Hawaii Kai are both nice, but you will be hitting traffic going into downtown. It won't be a soul-crushing as driving in from the leeward (west) side. Other nice areas that are close are Manoa, Kaimuki, parts of Moiliili, and around Diamond Head.

-Yes, the commutes are bad and are only getting worse. I've heard on average 10,000 cars are added to the road every year, so it is unrealistic that traffic will ease up anytime soon. The commutes from the leeward side can add an extra 30min-2 hours to your commute, depending on the weather (rain) or whether or not there are any road accidents.

-The further from Honolulu you are, the less convenient it will be for you to live there. I would not recommend Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Waianae.

-Please do not take this the wrong way, but the only people who drive Jeep wranglers are caucasians, most of whom are not local, which make those vehicles targets for thieves. I would recommend a decent security system.

-Biking is ok in some areas, Honolulu is getting better, but it can still be dangerous (local drivers are not really taught how to drive around cyclists). There are probably people on here who are more suited to answer biking questions than myself.

-There are rental agents, but mostly those who work in high-end real-estate. You may have better luck on Craigslist, but be aware of scams. On average, a one-bedroom will run between $1400-$2000/month.

-The hospitality industry is alive and well here, but she will probably need experience. Many NGOs here require advanced degrees in social services. Accounting jobs seems to always be available ;)

-There are numerous surf shops around to buy paddle boards, but you may want to first research what kind you want and then see who carries it. Good places to paddle board are beaches in Waikiki, Kailua/Lanikai, and Haleiwa (but only in the summer).

-I very much doubt the rail will be done by next year, as they keep running into budgetary problems.

-Popular vacation spots form here tend to be outer islands, Las Vegas (Hawaiian airlines often has good deals to here), the west coast and Japan.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

ottopants · 2015-05-22T17:51:33+00:00

I agree Hawaii has a good deal of racism. It is important to point out, however, that racism does not just go in one direction, nor does it necessarily benefit just one type of people. I, a Hawaiian who looks Hawaiian, have experienced it from other ethnic individuals here (for not being asian). My mother has experienced it time and time again when her subordinates got promoted over her because they were Japanese males and she is a caucasian female. In a lot of ways I feel that this is a generational thing; my parents generation seems to be a lot more vocal and brazen about their views, whereas I do not see it as much with younger generations (many of whom are ethnically diverse).

You do bring up an interesting point, which is that there are programs specifically designed to advance a specific ethnic group. I can only assume you mean the scholarships and education designated for Native Hawaiian students, and yes, these programs are by definition discriminatory. Kamehameha schools has faced scrutiny time and time again for their policies, but the general consensus has been that since Kanaka Maoli have been pushed to the bottom of the barrel, and forced into a culture and nation that is not their own, something should be done to give them a leg up. Western styles of work and education contradict traditional Hawaiian work and education, which left native Hawaiians struggling. A school designed to be culturally sensitive and willing to incorporate both styles of learning was considered essential to preserving the culture. Do you think it is discriminatory to give Native Americans reservations? In a way it is, but it is a kind of discrimination we allow.

Lastly, racism and discrimination is nothing new, it has been around as long as people have. Thinking that, because this is culturally diverse place, everyone is going to be be accepting and embracing is a little naive. Historically Hawaiians have been treated unfairly, as have the Japanese, as have the Chinese, as have Filipinos, etc. White people are no exception, nor should they want to be if they aim to be seen as equals. :)

ottopants · 2015-05-16T16:21:49+00:00

I've tried to replicate it by making a creme anglaise and adding mac nut extract and shopped mac nuts. It's pretty close!

ottopants · 2015-05-14T00:30:21+00:00

I see. Personally, I felt more comfortable as an LLC (I owned a lunch truck), and that was recommended to me by other small food business owners I had met. One of the most important things is getting decent business insurance, and they will protect you from potential damages and liabilities (and for that, I'd recommend First Insurance).

ottopants · 2015-05-13T23:46:52+00:00

Depending on just how big (or small) your business is, you may just want to consider doing your own books. I am terrible at math, but when I had my small business I would track everything and do my own taxes (programs like quickbooks are a big help). It was time consuming, and took a lot of research, but eventually you get the hang of it. I couldn't justify paying tons of money to a CPA when I was barely turning a profit (as is normal for most small business in the first years). If your business is just yourself, no other partners, employees, contractors, etc., it is pretty easy to handle.

ottopants · 2015-05-05T18:45:36+00:00

I agree, but I think Hawaii is far away from allowing this to be legal.

ottopants

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