Hawaiian Interviews

Aloha Kakahiaka!

Today is Tuesday, first day after the MLKJr. Holiday. I saw yesterday Dr. King’s Last Speech before he was assassinated; I was moved by his speech, though I’ve seen it before. What an incredible individual. Surely like JFK, passing before his time. Or perhaps his passing brought things forward more quickly. Who knows. I just know he left us too soon.

Kinda like (in a sports manner) June Jones. in retrospect, do we thank him for leaving and picking the time and manner in which he did it? So much support for UH now. People ready to move (government and businesses), people ready to come out (ticket sales) or just that UH Football is now in the mainstream of conversation, and not just sports enthusiasts. Mom and Dad’s are ready to feed their son or daughter’s hunger for their favorite players when they go out for autograph signings, to watch practices and more. Do we thank June Jones for bringing all of things things forward and fast? and then handing us off to someone who EVERYONE supports?

There is a march tonight that has to do with 2 murders that happened in the worst way last week. Unbelievable that these would happen here; but we’re not immune. One is drugs and should be a lesson for anyone who has ever thought about trying it for the first time. The other is a lesson for our lawmakers that must find ways to help those that are searching for help. I’m really thinking about going out and walking tonight.

Mahalo for the emails - Massachusetts and San Diego - Thanks for the emails that corrected me on Junior Seau. He’s going to be in his next Super Bowl (last was 1995). He’s originally from San Diego, but he has lots of family here in Hawai’i…so you know how we do…”one polynesian? gotta be from here”…he plays for the New England Patriots! He was wearing Hawai’i and UH gear during all the press conferences he was in during the before the Sugar Bowl in support of Hawai’i. I’m not really a New York Giants fan. I was a fan of the patriots back when Steve Grogan was quaterback in the 80’s. So count me in for cheering for the Patriots…except that I’ve ALWAYS been an underdog person, so that would put me in for the Giants…boy I hope I figure this out before Super Bowl Sunday.

Gonna be windy all week…hold on to your hats….Glad it’s a short work week!

Filed by admin at 9:53 am under UH Warrior Football
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I’m today at the 2008 Cultural Festival for the Army Housing Family Center at Aliamanu Community Center.  It’s funny…I’ve lived here all my life, but I’ve never been down here.  Now when I say down here, know that Aliamanu is a military facility in Aliamanu Crater.  We’re out here giving Army folks a little Cultural experience…they’re sharing everything that we Hawai’i local people kinda take for granted, but putting myself in these folks shoes; they have everything they need right on base.

Entertainment by Ma’ohinui, Da Brown Boys and Cultural performances from Chinese Lion Dance Association of Hawai’i, Taiko Center of the Pacific, Los Amigo Ballet Folk Lorico Dance Team of Hawai’i…it’s nice to see people appreciating different cultures that we have here in Hawai’i.

Tomorrow is a holiday so I’m going to attempt to catch up on things I haven’t been able to get to this week in blogs…and I’ve got a little bit to talk about.  We’ll do that tomorrow!!

Have a good day!!

billyv

Filed by admin at 12:27 pm under Hawai'i Events, Billy V
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It’s the weekend!!

It’s been kind of a busy one…been spending all weekend getting things ready for next week; spending all weekend also on the computer as I’m finally getting all of my website stuff in order!! I haven’t spend any time (Nov/Dec) on the website, and decided to take it all down and start it from scratch. There are several sites that I’m actively administrator for…and have been working with several people for this site as well. So it’s been all weekend that I’ve been putting things together, digging code out of here and there and trying to put it all together. We’ll see how it goes.

Gotta say wassups to Mailani Makainai! She’s one of the few I’m privilaged to say I’m friends with; not only is she an awesome musician/singer and recording artist; she’s also very well centered and know what she wants to do and the things she wants to do with her life. I’m always impressed with her and enjoy when our paths get to cross from time to time. I also found out that she is a wonderful masseuse. She learned her craft from the Big Island; and has continued it under several kumu. She wasn’t afraid to “dig in”, but was gentle but strong. It’s a unique mix. She read from my breathing where it was hurting (mostly shoulders…and under the shoulder blades…whew we both had a work out) and reading the body to know or find other places that needed attention. I know I’ll go back for maintenance, but I didn’t know she does other spa things as well. I think I found a new way to get the stress of the workday out!! I’ll edit this and post the information when I get home to put in on.

Sunday night I was the emcee for the Official Miss Hawai’i Send off, which also served as a fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network and the Miss America Scholarship Program. I saw people I haven’t seen in a long time including several past Miss Hawai’i; Pam Kimura Placourakis (1992) has been busy, and is now involved with the Miss Hawai’i process. Jennifer Hera Pimentel (1998) is working and living in Ewa Beach; she’s teaching first grader’s there. She’s also singing in the Hanohano Room in Waikiki. Candace Meijide Gentry (1999) is working in the family business and also has a scholarship as she’s giving back to the University of Hawai’i Business college; I see Malika Dudley (2005) alot since we work together on KGMB9 where she works Weekend Weather and also works with the KidCasters and Hawai’i’s Superkids which means I get to see her during our Sunrise on KGMB9 segments! She just got back from India where she helped her father put up a Tsunami Museum to help educate the people there about Tsunami’s; right after I saw Malika then I talked story with Olena Rubin (2004), who is also a sweetheart! She mentioned she’s seen me on Sunrise, and I’ve seen her on KHON2 where she works as a reporter. Busy for her as she pursues her professional pursuits. Kanoelani Gibson 2003 is also singing and continues her career as a flight attendant with Hawaiian Airlines!

That’s just some of the people that I was talking to on Sunday, all there to support our current Miss Hawai’i Ashley Layfield. It’s the first time 2 sisters hold Hawai’i titles; her sister Jonelle is the current reigning Miss Hawai’i USA. I am glad to be able to know both girls thru the University of Hawai’i as they are both Rainbow Dancers.

I saw some of the upcoming girls in the preliminary pagents; I saw Raceen Woolford…I was especially excited to see her there…she was one of my favorite players to watch for Wahine Volleyball…I told her “sheesh almost didn’t recognize you..I’m so used to only seeing you in uniform!” She looked beautiful, was escorted by her boyfriend and friend/assistant coach Ryan Tsuji. She’s going to run in the Ko Olina preliminary in February which is a Miss Hawai’i qualifier. Go Get ‘Um Girl!

Tomorrow they will deliberate about the UH Head Coaching Position…we’ll see what happens!

Filed by billyv at 11:04 am under Hawai'i Events, Billy V
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Hiya everybody!!

Back here at Warrior Volleyball/Stan Sheriff Center @ UHManoa while volleyball team warms up, so I’ve got a couple of minutes to get todays blog out.
Coming up tomorrow night it’s going to be wonderful with “Concert on the Lawn”. Get a sneak preview of the Grammy Awards line-up for Best Hawaiian Music Album. Nominated musicians from Hawai‘i will come together to showcase their talents at a free Grammy Awards Concert on the front lawn of the Hawai‘i State Art Museum at 250 Hotel Street on Friday, January 5th from 5 to 9 p.m.

This second annual concert features artists from the nominated albums: Grandmaster Slack Key Guitar – Ledward Ka‘apana; Hawaiian Slack Key Kings – Makana, Milton Lau, Kevin and Ikaika Brown, and Paul Togioka; Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Live from Maui – Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Richard and Ululani Ho‘opih‘i, Peter de Aquino, and Paul Konweiser; and Generation Hawai‘i – Amy Hanaiali‘i, Sonny Lim, and Mark Johnson.

We’ve got new Bond Girls….YAY!! “Bond 22″ has filming underway in London!

Coming up on tomorrow’s show: Frank Delima did a little parody of his “What? Lucille? You going leave me now?” song…I’m sure the calls will come in and we’ll wind up playing it again tomorrow. University of Hawai’i news? Not a whole lot here…and there’s not going to be a whole lot for a little while. Carl Clapp is the Acting Athletics Director. He’s going to be working on getting people together to determine what we should be looking for in a coach. They they start actually looking for one. It’ll take them into next week to get the people together and to figure out what is important. The search for coach will probably be short; Greg McMackin should be in there from a sense of continuity to the fact that most if not all of the football department seems to be behind them. I think that UH Administration will listen to this staff, since they were a large part of the success this past year. It just makes sense.

Please keep in mind I’m armchair quarterbacking and this is personal conjuncture at this point. I’m also taking somewhat of what I hear in the athletics department and coming up with my own viewpoint Yes it’s a disclaimer!

Tonight and tomorrow will be Men’s volleyball, with men’s basketball returning on Saturday night. It’ll be good to have the basketball team back in the house here.

Today was hilarious…I was talking with the Mayor (Mufi Hannemann) on the radio and when I asked for his email address…he said, “Athletic Dire…..I mean mayor@honolulu.gov.

This morning was busy with KGMB9 items as wellDownload January 10, 2008 6:24 Report

Tomorrow is Friday!! and not a moment too soon…

Filed by admin at 7:35 pm under Hawai'i Events, Sunrise on KGMB9 Video, Univ of Hawai'i Athletics
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Hillary Clinton has a victory in New Hampshire!! YAY! I’m not a Clinton supporter…I’m just glad to see that our Presidential race is not a done deal at this point in the campaign. I’m hoping to see one of those down to the wire/we have to wait until the day after to find who our next President of the United States is. I still don’t know who I’m going to vote for or who I want to win…I’m going to be listening a lot and usually don’t decide until just before the primary in September…

Led Zepplin lead guitarist Jimmy Page is 63 years old today. I don’t think he’s on the “Stairway to Heaven”…it’s probably more like an escalator…

Carl Clapp is the Interim Athletics Director of the University of Hawai’i. I’m glad to have seen positive comments about him from a lot of the coaches on campus in the TV coverage. I don’t have any personal working knowledge about Carl to have an educated opinion that I could share…but the mood sounds like it’s changing up on campus. The focus will be on a new AD/Head Coach but hopefully all of this press and focus will go on our facilities so UH can get that out of the way.

But the realization is; we can’t rely on UH alone. Nor the Legislature. I would like to think so, but track record says otherwise. We need someone who can come in, or help to make people that want to donate money….making UH Donation friendly. So that individuals, companies or organizations will want to become a par of everything…not just athletics, but UH as a whole (although I would like to see UH athletics be a focus for some.

Filed by admin at 2:22 pm under Uncategorized
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I’m still @#(^%* depressed about the whole thing. Am I the only selfish bastard? All of these people feeling aloha and sending off coach to do his best at SMU. Don’t get me wrong…I’m happy for Coach. But I’m mad as hell about losing him. I guess I’m still mad about the whole thing…that it happened in the first place. I’ll eventually move on and look forward, but right now…I’m not a happy camper.
Our Hawaiian 105 KINE listeners weighed in on things this morning…

“The Bucket List” was a great movie! I give it 8 out of 10…there was laughs…it made the women cry…it’s 2 old guys who get cancer; one is rich white collar, the other black blue collar - but the 2 find commonalities in their disease and their impending demise. They go on a journey to experience the world….(bucket list refers to a list of things to do before you kick the bucket) and experience a new side of life before they die. It was nice to have a mental break from everything (see story above for things needed a break from) and enjoy and smile for a bit.

Back to UH for a minute. My direct supervisor for University of Hawai’i Athletics (as Game Day Activities Coordinator) is John McNamara who along with Carl Clapp will handle interim duties till a new AD is named. I figure I won’t be talking to him much till the vacancy is filled. I know he has enough on his plate…and now have to take on running the athletic department pro tem…sheesh I don’t know Carl enough to know how or what his job entails. But I do know they will handle things until a new AD is named. And will it be someone who understands the politics involved with a public university and its complicated geo-political workings? SMU is a private uinversity. They have a financial base with people that donate whole stadiums and buildings. I don’t know if we have that or not. This will be difficult, and may be a wake up call for all of us here in Hawai’i. UH is our professional team for many sports. Maybe we have to start treating it that way…*shrug*…a thought…

Hope your day is going somewhat better than mine….we’ll see….ask me in a couple of hours…things can change…

Filed by admin at 10:25 am under Billy V, UH Warrior Football, Movies Reviews
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Well, the unthinkable just a month ago has happened.  Coach Jones is gone to SMU.  He’s no longer in Green and White.  I saw the press conference from Dallas, and saw the hurt in his eyes when he would mention Hawai’i and what he left behind.  I also saw the fire in his eyes when he talked about rebuilding.  I’m excited for him; to see him energized about what he wants to do is awesome.  It reminds me about things that I do, and how radio and television energizes me.  But I’m also just so depressed to see someone like him do it somewhere else when he could have been happy doing it right here.  His press conference is going on while I’m writing this.  I know Coach Jones will do well.

Now focus is back on ourselves.  What do we do to get back going to where we need to be?  How many of the coaches are going to SMU?  Can’t blame them if they go wanting to continue to serve Coach.  But who will stay?  How will we get to the level where we can go forward not backward?

Then there’s the fallout at UH.  What happens and who is responsible?  Press Conference tomorrow at UH.  Things are happening so fast.  Why couldn’t they happen this fast before?

It will be awhile before we can feel good about all of this…but hang in there Warrior Faithful.  We know what success now feels like, what turning out in masses feels like and what happens when we all come together.  It will happen again, just…it’s been delayed.

Black Monday will pass…but today it feels so bad.

We’ll talk about it tomorrow on TV and Radio…stayed tuned…and better yet, call in.

Filed by admin at 4:18 pm under UH Warrior Football, Univ of Hawai'i Athletics
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Bobby Curran from our sister station ESPN 1420 said it this morning…he mentioned it to me while we were on breaks during our respective shows (his studio door is located just outside mine): He called it “Black Friday”. I have to agree. It’s 9:00am, still some 2 hours before the 11:00am scheduled press conference; I would have to believe there is still a chance leading up to the press conference.

Hawaiian 105 KINE listeners have had opinions on the matter this morning:

If this press conference is to announce that June is leaving, who will pick up the reins, especially knowing all of the press we got from ESPN about facilities and support? Who will pick up the leadership mantle and run? All this with recruitment time coming up shortly??

Today was the first day of 3 1/2 hours of Sunrise on KGMB9 which was wonderful, but it quickly turned somber with the news of June Jones reported departure: