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ThinkTech: Global Connections with Grace Cheng
ThinkTech: Business in Hawaii with Reg Baker – PBN and Hawaii Chamber
Get updated about the Pacific Business News events and Hawaii Chamber’s YP program. Emily Kleiner has her hands full and doing very well. So many ways to get involved with the PBN and Hawaii Chamber.
ThinkTech: Advocating for the Environment
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Thinktech: Power of Storytelling
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ThinkTech: Community Matters with Jay Fidell
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What You Didn’t Know About the Portuguese Man-o’- war
Origin and biology of this dangerous species…not just the usual debate about whether pee or vinegar is the better treatment.
You’ve excitedly grabbed your boogieboard. You’re sprinting down to the breaking
waves, and all you can think about is how refreshing the water will feel against your
sunscreen-coated, lightly sweating body. Mid-plunge into the ocean however, a sudden
sharp pain shoots up your leg. This time, it’s not a cramp. Something is wrapped around
your calf; a long tentacle attached to a clear bulbous body.
As we all know, this is not an uncommon occurrence. Everyone recognizes and fears
these trademark blue bubbles that pack a surprisingly painful punch. I often encounter
Portuguese man-o’- war washed up on the shore during those windy days at a beach in
Waimanalo.
But how much do we really know about them?
No one bothers to learn anything beyond the fact that you really don’t want to be stung by one of these suckers and that pee is the best traditional treatment. However, the Portuguese man-o’- war is, in fact, a noteworthy creature.
First off, the Portuguese man-o’- war gets its name from sailing ships. The unique
patterned ridge on the blue bubble part of the creature resembles an armed Portuguese
voyaging ship at full sail, specifically from the eighteenth century.
The shape of thebubble is also thought to resemble the helmets of the soldiers that rode in these ships. Although “Portuguese man-o’- war” is what we commonly call it, a couple of other recognized nicknames include “blue bottle” and “floating terror.” Self-explanatory, unlike the former.
Thought the Portuguese man-o’- war was a type of jellyfish? Think again; this little guy is
actually a siphonophore, a group of animals closely related to jellyfish. While jellyfish
are unicellular, siphonophores are actually comprised of multiple genetically identical
organisms that closely work together to constitute a single creature. Man-o’- war…more
like, men-o’- war. The venom-filled tentacles and the floating bubble are actually
separate organisms! The four individual animals that make up the man-o’- war are called
polyps, and they each have their own special functions.
Man-o’- war tentacles can get long. At Sherwoods Beach, you might see a one with a
blue-tinted, clear string trailing maybe a foot or so behind it. Oftentimes, we’ll only see
the bubble and a bunch of short dark blue tendrils. However, the man-o’- war’s stinging
strands often become detached or severed in the rough surf and after being dragged
over sand countless times. In open water, these painful tendrils are a horrifying 30 feet
on the average.
In fact, they have been known to grow some up to 165 feet long!
Imagine that dangling straight down just below the water’s surface. We’re talking taller
than the Disneyland California Screamin’ rollercoaster.
Who’s still up for a diving trip a mile off the coast of O‘ahu?
References:
“Portuguese Man-of- War.” National Geographic. National Geographic Partners, LLC,
2017. Web. 20 May 2017.
“Portuguese Man-o’- War.” Waikiki Aquarium. University of Hawaii, 2017. Web. 20 May
2017.
“What is a Portuguese Man o’ War?” National Ocean Service. NOAA, 27 July 2015.
Web. 20 May 2017.
8 Things Not to Do on a Hawai‘i Beach
Don’t turn your back on the ocean.
Large surf and strong rip currents can be deadly, or very embarrassing.
Don’t walk in anything but slippahs or barefoot.
One of the easiest ways to be identified as a tourist is to be wearing socks and shoes on the beach. And not even Jason Momoa can make sock tan lines look sexy. Ok well maybe he can… but only him!
Don’t bury trash.
Not only is it illegal,but bad for the environment. Not to mention, if you are caught by a local…yeah don’t do it.
Don’t wear tacky board shorts or aloha shirts.
You know those swim trunks with the built in underwear? You can’t even buy those in Hawai’i.
Don’t walk on coral.
Coral is a living creature vital to the success of all reef ecosystems. They may look like colorful rocks, but these organisms will die if we tread all over them. You can also step on Wana, a venomous sea urchin (pronounced vana) and then you have to find someone to urinate on your foot. Not kidding.
Don’t ignore warning signs.
Warning signs such as for dangerous currents and sharks are there for your safety.
Don’t leave your kids unsupervised.
The ocean is unpredictable, and can turn very fast.
Don’t touch sea life.
Aside from being very illegal, it is dangerous to you and the animal. For instance sea turtles can bite, and if you grab or try to ride them you disturb their natural eating and breathing habits. Sea turtles have drown when scared and unable to surface. Locals are also very protective and will not hesitate to let you know if you cross the line.
Hawai’i is a special place, have respect for the ocean and the people who live there and you will leave with cherished memories!
AAA Hawaii: Honolulu Gas Still Under $3 a Gallon
Gas prices either dipped or remained steady over the past week throughout the islands, according to the AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch. Today’s statewide average price is $3.05, which is one cent lower than last Thursday, a penny less on this date a month ago, and 39 cents higher than on this date a year ago, according to GasPrices.AAA.com.
In Honolulu, today’s average price is $2.90, which is the same price as last Thursday, the same price on this date last month and 47 cents higher than last year. The Hilo average price is $3.02, which is down two cents from last week, two cents lower on this date last month and 28 cents higher than on this date a year ago. Wailuku’s average is $3.49, which is one cent lower than last Thursday, the same price on this date a month ago, and 30 cents higher than on this date a year ago.
“The West Coast continues to lead the nation with the highest gas prices but motorists can temper those costs by driving their most fuel-efficient vehicle most frequently,” said AAA Hawaii General Manager Liane Sumida. “Demand in the region continues to dip into high oil inventories, but not enough to deplete the unseasonably high supplies,” she added.
Motorists can find current prices along their route with the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android, available at AAA.com/mobile. The app also can be used by AAA members to map a trip, find discounts, book aAAA-rated hotel and access AAA roadside assistance. AAA Hawaii reminds drivers that AAA continues to help travelers and the public with fuel information on GasPrices.AAA.com.
| Area | Regular | One Week Change | Record Price | |||
| Honolulu | $2.90 | No Change | $4.48 (5/8/2011) | |||
| Hilo | $3.02 | -2 cents | $4.76 (4/22/2012) | |||
| Wailuku | $3.49 | -1 cent | $4.98 (5/9/2011) | |||
AAA Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch is a weekly snapshot of gas prices. Price comparisons are offered as a community service. Prices are derived from fleet vehicle credit card transactions at more than 120,000 stations around the country. Prices shown are combined averages updated three times daily.
Trash cleanups and Diversity
Diversity, a word used to define a variety of different things. Often, it is used to describe cultures, food, and people, but what about trash?
Since its inception in 2014, 808 Cleanups—a 501(c)3 environmental nonprofit organization—has certainly stretched the limits of what some may consider, commonplace. Volunteers of the organization have collected and removed nearly 84,000 pounds of trash in 2016 alone mostly from areas where people and nature have been trying to coexist.
Aside from sheer volume of trash recovered, volunteers ask questions like: Where did this trash come from? Who put it here?
And, most importantly, how do we stop this from happening?
Questions that, like the trash found, have so many different answers and backstories. From the smallest items like cigarette butts, bottle caps and nails, to bigger finds like shoes, paper and plastic bags all the way up to large industrial rubber pipes used in underwater cable laying, items that have been collected and removed from the environment all have these backstories.
Empowered volunteers of this organization, everyday citizens, from different birthplaces, different backgrounds, and different communities, unite attempting to restore the natural beauty of Hawaiʻi through decentralized cleanups from mauka to makai. What started as a few people choosing to pick up trash along their favorite mountain hike, or on a special beach, has evolved into a multi-faceted, multi-generational, and multi-organizational effort focused on the preservation of Hawaiʻi’s unique beauty. Volunteers have trekked far into the the mountains, deep into business and commercial areas, as well as into individual communities, following both the trail of trash and searching for the answers to those questions.
From Kauaiʻi to Hawaiʻi Island, the impacts of 808 Cleanups volunteers have not gone without notice. Their stewardships have caught the attention of the general public, private businesses, schools and the media. The attention brought to the issue of trash is a positive but uphill climb as long-term solutions must be found and trash’s detrimental impacts are not yet fully realized.
Undeterred, volunteers take to the environment almost daily, averaging four cleanups per day consisting not just of trash pickup, but also graffiti removal, environment restoration, pallet bonfire debris removal, marine debris removal and general upkeep of public spaces like parks, hiking trails and beaches.
Through generous grants, volunteers are equipped with the necessary tools allowing them to fully address the issues they encounter, safely and efficiently. The collected item types, weight, location and volunteer hours among other things are documented and members are encouraged to report their cleanups and findings to the group’s Facebook Page, where volunteers come together to plan events, discuss opportunities and share their experiences. As diverse as the trash is, so are the members of this group, all driven to make Hawaiʻi beautiful place for years to come. Yet there is still so much more to be done.
3 tools for trash trekkers and beach lovers:
- Provide seed funding for a 808cleanup,
- Buy some tools and supplies; donate them to 808cleanups,
- Not in Hawaii? Start a cleanup in your neighborhood.
or, for more information, check out their website at www.808cleanups.org.
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Human Casualties at the Legislature
By Tom Yamachika – Our legislature this year has had several casualties. We expect quite a few bills to be tossed aside during the legislative process. However, in recent years we have had more than the average number of human casualties, the most recent being Speaker of the House Joe Souki and Senate Ways and Means Chair Jill Tokuda.
The casualties in this legislature were not limited to those two. Rep. Beth Fukumoto used to be the House Minority Leader, which made her the ranking Republican in our legislature (our Senate has no Republican members this year). She was deposed and replaced on February 1st. Rep. Angus McKelvey from Maui was chair of the influential House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, but was shown the door on March 13th in a three-way switcheroo of House committee chairs.
Significant shake-ups occurred in the Senate two years earlier. Senate President Donna Kim was given the boot on May 5, 2015, the last day of the 2015 session. Four days earlier, Senate Health Committee Chair Josh Green was stripped of his chairmanship in the thick of conference committee negotiations over the medical marijuana bill.
These politicians are still alive and well, and they all still hold seats in the current legislature. But it can’t be a pleasant experience having a Trump-type “You’re fired” resolution with your name on it being discussed and voted on in a large Capitol auditorium with the outcome predetermined.
The question I have is this. If there is a position taken by a committee chair on one bill or one issue that is not reflecting the wishes of the committee, why can’t the committee simply reject the chair’s recommendation and take the position they need to? Or why can’t the body come up with a different position in a floor vote, which is not at all uncommon and was in fact done this year (leading to the second Senate conference draft on the rail bill SB 1183)?
The legislative system is set up so we don’t need to expect the chair to be right 100% of the time. In these instances, all of the legislative leaders worked really hard, were familiar with the issues, and came to a reasoned judgment. Everyone went along with the chair 98% of the time. In Chair Tokuda’s case, for example, the “unreasonable” position of giving the City no surcharge extension was in Senate Draft 2, which was approved by her committee 8-0 and by the full Senate 25-0. Senate members who want to express concerns or displeasure have the option to vote “Aye with reservations” as well as “No,” but no one did either. And then, of course, literally hundreds of other bills passed through her committee with no visible indication of dissent. To be fair, we can’t see what went on in the back rooms, where the committee chairs can quietly kill bills by refusing to schedule a hearing or vote on them. If a committee chair is abusing power or acting despotically, stripping away the position may be appropriate; barring that, the strong committee chair system is designed to give chairs a great deal of discretion, and when that discretion is used to someone’s disadvantage both the system and the person using it bear responsibility. In most places, if you get it right 98% of the time you won’t get a pink slip. In our legislature, you can get the ax. It’s hard to imagine a more thankless job. Except, maybe, being on the board of directors of a condominium association.
If we want talented people serving us in the halls of our legislature, we can’t get in the habit of switching them around like the Flavor of the Month. We need to figure out a way to treat them with dignity.