I get compliments from time to time regarding out marketing that we do. To tell you the truth, I've learned to implement the age old strategy of surrounding yourself with talented people. In the process, I get what I desire and our marketing flows smooth. A big part of our efforts involves Edwards Enterprises, printers extraordinaire. They have been printing all of our collateral for years. Ever got one of our spankin' Christmas cards? Edwards.
This excusion took me into Kalihi Kai, right down the street from us in beautiful Kalihi. This is a shot from Nimitz Hwy.
Edwards Enterprises were previously located next to Bob's BBQ on the corner of Dillingham and Waiakamilo, just down the street from my pals at Menehune Mac. Now they're in what used to be Fuller O'Brien and Maytag. Nice beeeg place. I am soooo jealous.
It wasn't possible to take pix of their killer Heidenburg printing presses, but here's a snapshot of the power requirements to run such big machines. Some kind of jillion amps needed. Did you all know that I was once a print shop apprentice in middle school?
This machine was used to print our Christmas cards last year. It's pretty incredible. They were in the middle of printing customer response cards for Servco. Was initiated by my cousin, Lori Okami (Live Long, Be Strong blog). This machine can print runs that are totally customizable. you can have all the information and custom inset information and text.
Here's one of my main men there, Orlando Valdez. He's the lead graphic artist there and was the key factor in designing my brochure. Stay tuned for more about my excusion out to Edwards.
This is my first "Green" blog. With 3 V-8 vehicles, I'm not one to preach. I do recycle though, hate it as I do. I love the concept of recycling, just don't care for the filthiness of the redemption centers. Unless you like the smell of rotting fruit juice and beer. Japan has recycling bins throughout the cities, especially near the beverage vending machines. Anyways, on to my post.
Pictured here are my folks, dad's friend, Richard Sakoda - President of Hawaii Biofuels and Richard's friends from Japan. Richard's company manufactures biodiesel from old cooking oil. With fuel prices on the rise, lot's of folks are considering diesel as an alternative to gas. You can opt to go hybrid which is a good choice as well. Hybrids and diesels have hella torque, which is often mistaken as horsepower. The car lover I am (and old school), it's all about torque, baby.
The guys from Japan invented a reusable packing material. With the cooperation of your recipient, this thing can go back and forth forever. Here's how it starts.
With a little help from one of these little guys,
Voila! Self contained packing material. Who said styrofoam can't be eco friendly? Unfortunately for us, it's a bit cost prohibitive, but this displays the ingenuity of the human spirit when the need arises.
For the past 20 something years we have been in Kalihi, the waterfront has not exactly been known as a place to hang out. The piers are generally known to have big burly Stevedores that work the ports. Nowadays, with security high, I even need to leave my driver license at the front gate when I go to Young Brothers. Enter Uncle's. If you never been there, you'll see that the waterfront has indeed changed. Maybe just a little, but change nontheless. Pretty much the theme of Ka Leo O Kalihi, changing times.
Here it is, well kind of. This sign is visible from Nimitz Hwy at Pier 38. If you know where New Eagle Cafe is, then you're in the right place.
A little trek inward reveals this popular eatery. Two of our sponsored artists, Jeff Peterson and David Kamakahi, play music there on separate nights. The place turns into a hang out during the evenings.
Oops, there's my wife. Sure she'll be happy with me featuring her in the picture. Not as happy as when I bought my Mustang though. The place is very chill and has a nice feeling of action without seeming trendy. Lots of Aloha shirts there, mixed in with tshirts and skirts.
Everything is prepared fresh. Being right on the pier offers them the chance to get the freshest fish. Yes, that's their specialty. I had the fish tacos.
I wonder if the fish comes from these boats?
As you can see, two happy customers. I still remember the renovations at Aloha Tower and how it was once the only deal on the waterfront. Things still changing in Kalihi. Come on down and visit Uncle's. The food is great. Prices little high, but I was satisfied.
OMG, ha ha ha, Ok, I know that's chick talk online, but I am secure with my masculinity and feminine side, so I no care. A big part of my blog is where I eat. As our marketing guy, I get paid to eat lunch with my friends and stuff like that. Life is so hard, ha ha. Had the chance to check out a place not in Kalihi, actually in Kakaako. Buuut, Kalihi is being called the new Kakaako and it was with my former Kalihi banker, so....
Off to Imperial Plaza on Kapiolani Blvd. Their Galleria has a cure selection of shops and eateries.
Our touchdown was at Imperial Cafe, a katsu shop run by a Korean family. Hey, just like Los Angeles! Look at this menu, it's a katsu lover's dream.
Here's my brudder and Malcolm Lau of Bank of Hawaii. He's an executive VP of business banking and recently transferred to downtown in the past couple of years. He's been a big help to our business and sometimes our travelling companion to the annual NAMM show.
Mine was the combination katsu; tonkatsu, chicken katsu, shrimp katsu and scallops. Whew! Even that was a mouthful. I regret to inform you all that I completed my entire plate. So much for my diet. After getting my plate, I was too busy eating to the pix stopped. If you want to know more, you gotta head down to Imperial Cafe. You just might see me there.
Ka Leo O Kalihi travels man. At 40, I'm not what you would call a party animal, not by a stretch of the word, but I do tend to get around. My kids were "fairly" well, so we decided to take them to the 50th state fair. As a boy, I loved going to the carnival, but it was a special treat as money was tight. My kids, spoiled rotten.
Everybody loves a fair. Is that the cliche? Well, I do anyways. In my dating days, this was a staple for me.
You know you're a parent when you are relegated to the fair in the afternoon. Admission is lower and all that jazz. Not too many tweens there at that time too. People start to arrive when we leave.
Introducing my two to my favorite, the roller coaster. The venerable roller coaster is a must whenever I make it out to Anaheim's NAMM show. Hey! Cannot only NAMM it when we're there y'know?
As for this ride, nuts. No mo the stomach for this one.
The sun jammed up my desire to take more pix, so that's it for now. On top of that, I had two demanding little guys calling all the shots. Coming up next, more Ka Leo travels to more eats.
