Wai'anae and Me

[ginabeena]

Hello to all and thank you in advance for your kokua.

We've been traveling to Hawai'i for the last 3 years from the east coast of the mainland. We are currently here for the last 3 weeks on our 10th visit. We have fallen in love with Wai'anae and have found a house that we like as well.

We understand the "issues" with the Leeward side (don't get in a traffic-related fight, for one), and intend to be nice, calm, neighborly----like comes natural to us. I believe we are Hawai'ian in our souls so I don't think we come across as crazy haoles. I expect a few eyebrows to raise as we are not typical Leeward residents, but I am not sure there is a "typical resident" anyway---we haven't gotten any stink eye at all and I am not expecting to. And we don't need to commute or find jobs (lucky/hardworking us!)---in fact, we would like to teach others how to do what we did to get into this kind of position without being born with a silver spoon----

Anyway, would anybody be so kind as to give me some last minute input before we sign our life away on a house? It should be kindof a fun thread!

Thank you for your help! :)

[SusieMisajon]

Champagne!

[Leo Lakio]

I believe we are Hawai'ian in our souls so I don't think we come across as crazy haoles.Only advice I'd give (understand, I'm NOT a resident of Hawai`i, but have family and other strong ties): keep the "Hawaiian in our souls" - no `okina in the English word "Hawaiian," btw - to yourselves as you settle in, or you'll set off many locals. No shame in being who you are with the lives you've led so far - even if you are crazy haoles. Be yourselves and your new neighbors will learn to respect you for you. Open eyes and ears (with a closed mouth, at least at first) can get you far. Congratulations to you both.

[ginabeena]

Leo! Now I just feel silly. :) I try for 100% accuracy and sometimes I just go too far! :)

[Leo Lakio]

Leo! Now I just feel silly. :) I try for 100% accuracy and sometimes I just go too far! :)No need to feel silly, it's a common slip - you're willing to try, willing to learn, and you should keep making the good effort; I didn't mean to shame you in any way. You're already doing more than a lot of new residents would do.

[Keanu]

If your house is located North of Makaha Vally road, you are somewhat safe. If your house is located south of Makaha Valley road, then you should build higher walls. :p

[tikiyaki]

And we don't need to commute or find jobs (lucky/hardworking us!)---in fact, we would like to teach others how to do what we did to get into this kind of position without being born with a silver spoon----

Thank you for your help! :)

PLEASE teach me how...I'm ALL ears. No Silver Spoons in my house, and I'd love to be able to do what you're doing, and still do what I do for a living too.
PM me, I'm really interested.

[WindwardOahuRN]

PLEASE teach me how...I'm ALL ears. No Silver Spoons in my house, and I'd love to be able to do what you're doing, and still do what I do for a living too.
PM me, I'm really interested.

OOOO! AMWAY? :rolleyes:

[manoasurfer123]

Only advice I'd give (understand, I'm NOT a resident of Hawai`i, but have family and other strong ties): keep the "Hawaiian in our souls" - no `okina in the English word "Hawaiian," btw - to yourselves as you settle in, or you'll set off many locals. No shame in being who you are with the lives you've led so far - even if you are crazy haoles. Be yourselves and your new neighbors will learn to respect you for you. Open eyes and ears (with a closed mouth, at least at first) can get you far. Congratulations to you both.
and you never corrected on Wai`anae?

[tutusue]

Where is the house, ginabeena? Please don't give an address but if you can give a street name or a specific area, that would help.

And, Keanu...I live south of Makaha Valley Rd...not by much, but south nonetheless! ;)

[Queenolu]

Aloha and welcome to HT.

I am sure many of use will be interested in finding out more about what you do.

[Keanu]

Where is the house, ginabeena? Please don't give an address but if you can give a street name or a specific area, that would help.

And, Keanu...I live south of Makaha Valley Rd...not by much, but south nonetheless! ;)


Maybe her house in on Water Street.

[Leo Lakio]

OOOO! AMWAY? :rolleyes:How about a uniquely Hawaiian offshoot of AmWay? You could call it --- HIWay!

[Leo Lakio]

and you never corrected on Wai`anae?What's wrong with Wai`anae? :confused:

[manoasurfer123]

nothing wrong with it...

I just never seen it spelled that way... and that shows you how much I know about the language! :o

[Leo Lakio]

nothing wrong with it...

I just never seen it spelled that way... and that shows you how much I know about the language! :oAs you've told me before - that's one of your wife's areas of expertise. Check it out, and you'll find that the `okina does go in there.

[ginabeena]

Well I don't really know north/south of Makaha road. Town of Waianae for sure on hillside off of Lualualei Hmstd. There is a gate and we have a big dog who loves to protect the house: I am not afraid.

Incidentally, I thought Wai=water and anae=mullet fish (http://www.waianae.k12.hi.us/virtualtour/oceania.html). No shame on me for trying though, Leo is right. :)

What do I do? Well, I have to say business is well established online after years of very very hard work, a lot of trial/error, and prayers. Not rich, but not tied to a job. Deliver a good product at a good price with good customer service and integrity. Find ways to work yourself out of a job---find efficiencies and ways to standardize what you do so others can do it for you. That way, you can provide jobs to people who want them, and free yourself from the treadmill of a job yourself (or a career if you have honed it to that degree).

I still work, but I work on a business, not for one. I preach this to my staff too---I am in full support of being your own boss, and further, not simply buying a job for yourself (such as a doctor, lawyer, plumber, etc.), but going beyond having to be in a specific place at a specific time to do a specific thing. It sounds like it may be the lazy way out, but really, it is tough to do and I try to be an example to others. It was not easy by any means, and business itself is risky, but having a job---even a government job--is risky too. I don't follow a lot of what this guy says, but it was an eye opener to me when I read it a few years ago (www.emyth.com).

Maybe I should write a book on how I went from doing everything in my spare room to moving to Wai'anae in 5 years while my crew on the ML is happily working in all those jobs I did myself??? Who knows..... :)

Pau!

[Jake's Ohana]

Speaking of Wai'anae, several famous people hail from there. Sid Fernandez (NY Mets Pitcher), Andy Bumatai (Comedian), and Na Leo (?)to name a few. Didn't the highschool football team have state championship titles once? Go Sea Riders! When I was just a small kid, my summers were spent on my uncle and aunty's farm. Great memories! Still have ohana there. :)

[tutusue]

Well I don't really know north/south of Makaha road. Town of Waianae for sure on hillside off of Lualualei Hmstd. [...]
Aha! That's kind of the 'Hawaii Kai' of Waianae! I have longtime friends (a haole couple) who lived in that area for about 25 years and loved it. They've since downsized and happily reside at the Towers.

North of Makaha Valley Rd. is heading toward Yokohama Bay. South is heading toward town.

Tamura's market rocks!

[LocoBoy]

I'm born and raised on the Wai'anae Coast, from Nanakuli to Makua and cherish every moment of it. All of my family & my wifes family live/love the Wai'anae. It's always been such a comforting, peaceful and still "country" home for me and my ohana. Now, I been given a very honored promotion which comes with an apartment in the Waikiki area. It seems strange & sad to be moving out of the area thats been my home all my life. Needless to say, I'll be making frequest weekend, holiday trips back home to see my friends and family. Aloha ia o Wai'anae, I will return.

Aloha ia o Wai'anae (http://www.huapala.org/Aloha_Ia_O_Waianae.html)


Chuck aka LocoBoy

[Leo Lakio]

Aloha ia o Wai'anae (http://www.huapala.org/Aloha_Ia_O_Waianae.html) Ahhh...a lovely song; our halau dances it, and it's the first song where I started learning to do the "flip" into falsetto singing in mid-phrase. (Didn't say I was good at it yet...)

[LocoBoy]

Let us be the judge Leo and post us a audio link with your best falsetto :D

[Leo Lakio]

Let us be the judge Leo and post us a audio link with your best falsetto :DThat day will come...there are few recordings of me in performance (to date), but when it happens...until then, live performances will have to do.

[lavagal]

Speaking of Wai'anae, several famous people hail from there. Sid Fernandez (NY Mets Pitcher), Andy Bumatai (Comedian), and Na Leo (?)to name a few. Didn't the highschool football team have state championship titles once? Go Sea Riders! When I was just a small kid, my summers were spent on my uncle and aunty's farm. Great memories! Still have ohana there. :)

I thought El Sid went to Kaiser? I just saw him at the Safeway in Hawaii Kai yesterday with his two little kids.

[Jake's Ohana]

I thought El Sid went to Kaiser? I just saw him at the Safeway in Hawaii Kai yesterday with his two little kids.

As far as I know, my aunty mentioned that he hails from Wai'anae. I could be wrong, but the point I'm making is just that Wai'anae is a piece of me that I will cherish from my childhood days, and several people who have made it big, come from Wai'anae and surrounding areas. It is a shame that Wai'anae which posseses such beautiful countryside, mountain ranges, and beaches, get smeared with a negative image to some. What can be done to remedy this? :(

[tutusue]

I'm born and raised on the Wai'anae Coast, from Nanakuli to Makua and cherish every moment of it. All of my family & my wifes family live/love the Wai'anae. It's always been such a comforting, peaceful and still "country" home for me and my ohana. Now, I been given a very honored promotion which comes with an apartment in the Waikiki area. It seems strange & sad to be moving out of the area thats been my home all my life. Needless to say, I'll be making frequest weekend, holiday trips back home to see my friends and family. Aloha ia o Wai'anae, I will return.
[...]
Just curious, LocoBoy...do you really need to make the big move? Is it possible to still keep Waianae as your primary residence and use the Waikiki apartment as a 'crash pad' after long work days or when you just don't want to face the traffic?

I ask because this is what I've done. I don't think I could stand the thought of moving away from Makaha. Ten years ago I found my current office; one with it's own bathroom with a shower, too! It also has a closet. And, soon, the futon sofa will be replaced by a more officey-looking sofa bed! I keep my work clothes in town and my beach wear in Makaha! I have doubles of products I use daily in each place. This kind of lifestyle might seem a bit gypsy-like <g> but I wanted to mention it just in case it might work for you and your wife.

Waianae no ka oi! Where there's a will... ;)

[LocoBoy]

Posted by tutusue:

Just curious, LocoBoy...do you really need to make the big move? Is it possible to still keep Waianae as your primary residence and use the Waikiki apartment as a 'crash pad' after long work days or when you just don't want to face the traffic?


I wish it were so, but unfortunately the job is 24 hrs/on call that requires me to live in the building I work for or atleast live within minutes of it.

[ginabeena]

Thanks Tutusue (I know the topic has broadened, but I missed the immediate chance to thank her!). Was interesting to see the crowd last night on their march for peace to combat the bad stuff that happened over there. I love it there and am looking forward to finally being home. Strange how you can live all over then one day some place---seemingly randomly---smacks you on the head and says "you are home".

I am reading a book on the ancient history of Wai'anae and it is really interesting. So much ancient history and a feeling there and now I know really why it is. This guy teaches at UH and at Nanakuli and Wai'anae high schools and gives a very well-written history of the area.

Thanks to all for your help!

[tutusue]

I wish it were so, but unfortunately the job is 24 hrs/on call that requires me to live in the building I work for or atleast live within minutes of it.
Bummers! :(

[ginabeena]

And then I feel bad because Locoboy has to leave and a foreigner like me comes over....

[tutusue]

And then I feel bad because Locoboy has to leave and a foreigner like me comes over....
Ah, but Locoboy is moving for a positive reason...a promotion. This is a good thing! At least it's not out of state (this is also a good thing!) and Waianae is a little less than an hour away...well, maybe at 2:30am on a Tuesday morning! Our traffic is never a good thing! :(