THE HAWAII SUPERFERRY

AT LAST!

The Hawaii Superferry is finally operating between Mau'i and O'ahu on a daily basis. Eventually it will also provide service to the Big Island and to Kaua'i, when a second ship is placed in operation. Its start has not been without protest from certain factions on the islands. Here are the google results.

Photo Credit: Maui News

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Life getting a bit hectic?

Need a relaxing day at the beach to just get away from it all?

Yeah, right!









Lucky I live Hawai'i, I guess.

Have a great week everybody.

Christmas is a week from tomorrow.

MAHALO

ALOHA

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THE PICTURE GALLERY
Photo Credits: Mike Weldon

Kahului Cane Fields

Hana Town

"Let's all be careful out there!"

WHERES THE $20...

I GAVE YOU?

At that moment, I knew I had a problem. Alicia is a very attractive 27 year old who was very tipsy. She is related to someone at Life's A Beach (a/k/a/ LAB) and she was escorted from there by the bouncer to me about 10:20PM. Headed to her place in the far north, Hale Pi'ilani subdivision. We had a pleasant chit-chat about yatta and when we arrived I turned and said:

"That'll be $17."
"Wheres the $20 I gave you?"
"You didn't give me any money."
"Yes I did."

We went back and forth a couple of times and then I changed tack.

"This is getting us nowhere. You are refusing to pay the fare and that is theft. I"ll just call the cops and we'll let them sort it out. And I will press charges. Just ask around. I am a hard-ass son of a bitch."

Pulled out my cell to make the call and she asked if I accepted plastic.

Issue resolved. Scam artist database updated.

That was the worst of the night. The best was a surprise trip from Wailea to Ka'anapali at 3:25 AM. Nice way to end my shift and start my weekend.

A night of steady business without being overwhelmed and all 5 of us stayed active and it rolled right on through the dog-watch. Probably my best night since Halloween.

I am bushed. Bone tired.

15 fares / 180 miles / 4th quarter $200 bracket

See everyone tomorrow.

MAHALO

ALOHA

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

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"Let's all be careful out there!"

DRUNKS

THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE UGLY

It was one of those nights where the blithering idots were out in full force. Picked up #14 just before 7:00PM and was assigned 2nd up in town. Get my first fare less than 15 minutes later. A nice run from Hawai'ian Moons (health food store), in south Kihei, to Kihei Village (residential condos), at the far north end of town.

Roll back to FoodLand and two guys flag me to go to the Diamond Resort in Wailea, just up the hill from Mulligans and the Fairmont Kea Lani. Looks like a good night.

Wrong.

Sat in Wailea for 2 hours until my next fare. Picked up a party of 6 from the Seawatch Restaurant, at the Wailea Gold & Emerald Golf Course, dropped 3 at Mulligans and took the other 3 to the Maui Hill (vacation condos), in far south Kihei. Part of a wedding party and I think part of that same group that I was moving last night. Some of the folks were from Canada, some OZ and a large number from the UK. Mau'i was the logical (& romantic) midway point for a wedding. Anywho, just as I am entering Maui Hill, the lady riding shotgun turns green and begins scratching at the door handle. #14's right window motor is kaput but I brought the cab to an almost instant stop as she finally gets the door open and bails out, screaming for "Ralph" just a few seconds later. No contamination of the cab and thats where I dropped them, with a very nice gratuity.

The next run was an hour later, 2 very beautiful young ladies from Huntington Beach, CA, USA. The one sitting behind me was unconscious before I cleared the parking area at the "Triangle" and the other was a "jabbermouth". I think she took 2 breaths the entire 10 minute trip. Paid by credit card and the valet at the Marriott helped "chatty Cathy" out of the cab and I assisted "Sleeping Beauty" return to reality and begin the looong trek to their suite. I am amazed that women can still walk in 5 inch heels when that drunk. Nice view from the rear though. LOL.

After that it was a couple of routine drunk runs between 12:30AM and 1:30AM.

At 1:40AM I picked up 6 from Mulligans, with multiple stops. All part of that same wedding group. Just as they are all boarded, some third party leaps through the right sliding door and starts pounding the shit out of the guy sitting in the left center seat, right behind me. I tried to shove him away, to no avail, and "Maggie" was unreachable. So switch to "Plan B". Jabbed him, the assailant, in the throat with 3 stiff fingers, hard. That ended the fight immediately and he was dumped on his ass, in the parking lot. Off we went. Found out that TMR picked him up about 15 minutes later, after the bartender at Mulligans had kicked his ass down the long flight of stairs from the bar to the parking lot.

Just about 2:00AM, I get "flagged" in the FoodLand lot by three young guys. That ride lasted all of 30 seconds before I booted them out. They went from needing a ride to "lets fuck with the cabbie" in the amount of time it took to shift from "Park" to "Drive".

Rule #1 - don't screw with "Santa", he has an attitude.

I am just about ready to meet with my relief, Mary, to pass on the phone and call it a night, at 4:00AM, when Maui Jim calls. He had a "special" from the Maui Vista (mixed use condos) to the harbor, in Kahului, that he wanted me to cover. That added $45 to the meter.

Most schools on the mainland will begin their Christmas break around noon this coming Thursday and we should start seeing the tourists arriving on the next day. All these alabaster visitors with tinges of "Smurf" blue, looking for some Sun/Sand/Surf.

All I care about is the "green" in their wallets.

10 fares / 120 miles / 3rd quarter $100 bracket

***

I am not even sure why I am writing this post. Its the next to the last weekend before Christmas and very few will stop by. Oh, well. I just keep churning it out like a creamery.

A statistic I came across this week says that the average American family spends about $950 for the holiday. Thats a lot of moola to this po' ol' country boy.

It may be awhile before I post any images taken by me again. My sad lil' Sony CyberShot has bit the dust. I'll get a replacement after the first of the year when the cash flow is a bit more conducive to discretionary expenditures.

MAHALO

ALOHA

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

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"Let's all be careful out there!"

PRETTY PLEASE...

WITH SUGAR ON IT

If you want to ride your bicycle after dark would you, for your own health and safety, wear a reflector. Also, it would help all of us if you just possibly could add some lights. Those flashing strobe types are really pretty and come in so many stylish colors. Doing this makes it so much easier for us drivers of those gas guzzling automobiles to get a better shot at running you down. Do you know how hard it is to get a "sight target" on you when you have no lights or reflectors and insist on wearing black clothing? It makes you so much more difficult to locate.

Picked up cab #14 for the shift. It is parked just 1/2 mile, if that much, from where I live. Not quite as appointed as #7 but a decent ride. Since I was still in Kihei, I was made #1 up in town. At that time of night there are better chances for a fare than sitting on my ass in Wailea. Just a few minutes after logging on, I am sent to Maui Kamaole, a mixed use condo complex. It was a 7:15p time call and nobody came out. Walked to the door, knocked. No response. Called a "10-13" (no show/no load) and started to leave. Turned onto one of the internal private roads in the complex and my four people were standing at the edge of the drive, waving at me. They had left via the rear door and were wondering where I had gotten to. I guess being picked up at the front door is not the common mode of operation in their neck of the woods. Another pleasant group from Sydney, here for a wedding on the beach in Wailea today. The pre-wedding dinner party was being held at Mulligans. When I did the return a few hours later, had just one spot of trouble. We picked up two additional to drop at one of the resorts in Wailea. One of these extras had an open bottle of beer, which I informed him that it could not be brought into the vehicle. So, of course, he brought it with him anyway. Reached over and took the bottle from him and placed it on the parking lot curb. In the USA, every State has a law that makes it illegal for a vehicle operator to allow an "open container" in the car. Its not the person with the beer who is in trouble, but the driver. After dropping him and his partner at their resort, the remaining people apologized for him. They had heard me make my respectful request and were a bit dismayed that he had ignored it. They did explain that in OZ it isn't illegal to have a drink in the car. Is that true, DB?

The night wasn't slow, until 11p, but it also wasn't busy. Made the majority of my money on the dog-watch.

My next to the last run was from central Kihei to OGG (airport). He had wanted to be picked up at 3:30a but the driver dispatching had failed to get a callback number. I was already scheduled for a 3:45a, so there was a conflict. Just as I am picking up the 3:45a, the 3:30a calls. I explain why I hadn't picked him up but that I could get there in 20 minutes and, anyway, the airport doesn't open for passenger business until 5:00a. He insisted that he had a flight scheduled to leave at 5:10a. I told him that the earliest departure is at 6:25a. He didn't believe me. Hustled his ass across the isthmus and, sure enough, the departure terminal wasn't open. It was 4:28a when I dropped him. He still had 1/2 hour to learn that somewhere a mistake had been made.

I had just departed Kahului when "Maui Jim" called me with a request to pick up one of his fares from MMMC (hospital), back into Kihei. Called the cell number he had given me and the people wanted me to collect them from the Ale House, a bar, instead. Whatever makes them happy. The bar had been closed for almost 3 hours and is located in the middle of a large retail district. which won't open for another 4 hours. Oh, well. It was the largest run of the shift.

10 fares / 112 miles / 4th quarter $100 bracket

TGIF!

MAHALO

ALOHA

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

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"Let's all be careful out there!"

"FATHER CHRISTMAS"

OR "SANTA CLAUS"?


Sorry about the quality of the picture on the left. My Sony Cybershot was experiencing some Technical Difficulties and I resorted to my cell phone to get the image.

I thought the price of crude had dropped to the high $80s. Must have missed something. I hate it when that happens.

It was my night with the phone and 5 minutes before taking over, at 9:00 PM, myself, TMR and a "day" holdover got a large group from The Shops to the harbor in Kahului. Did the pick-up at exactly 9:00 PM. The band at Longhi's, an Italian restaurant, was so loud that I could just barely hear the owners voice when he made the transfer. As sensitive as the Blue Tooth headset is, he probably could just barely hear me also.

Three full vans with a bunch of Aussie's, from Sydney (mostly), doing the islands cruise on the Pride of Hawaii. Mostly in their 30's and dressed to the "nines". A few had imbibed just a wee bit too much but no one was obnoxious. They all referred to me as "Santa Claus" rather than "Father Christmas", which surprised me. I guess its only the older generation using "FC" on a regular basis.

They wanted to know why "I" was here, rather than cleaning up the "details" this close to the holiday.

"Well, sweetheart, what with global warming and the melting of the polar ice cap, I had to move my operations to a different location. And I thought, why not be warm for a change? I still use the North Pole address, but all the letters are diverted to Mau'i. Had to let the elves go. That was sad but I hired Menehunes from here. The reindeer didn't like tropical weather so I traded in the sleigh for a red surfboard. Hauled by 8 tiny seahorses, still looking for a replacement for Rudolph. Red noses on seahorses is as rare as on a reindeer.

Have y'all been good little girls and boys?"

"Bad!" they chorused.

"Well, the guys are going to get a lump of coal. Live with it.

You girls, Santa will be by to see you personally. Maybe we can work something out. Wink. Wink.

And don't forget, ladies, while 'GOOD' little girls may get to go to Heaven. 'BAD' little girls get to go EVERYWHERE!"

Everybody was in hysterics. They liked my "spiel". Gave me $10 on a $53.

One guy was my fare 3 times. From Sydney, also, I picked him up as part of a four-some from the "Triangle" to the Mana Kai. Gave him my card. 30 minutes later I get a call from Sarentos. Someone going to the "Triangle". I guess he walked over from the Mana Kai, they are adjacent, and found out that the bar was closed. Ended up taking him to Mulligans. An hour later Chris, the bartender and a "regular", at Mulligans told me that "Your crazy Aussie friend is ready to go".

Back to the condo? Of course not!

We made it back to the "Triangle" just before "last call". He may have gotten one drink. That is, if anybody would serve him. He was impaired. Badly, but still functioning. About 5 minutes later, TMR picked up a "flag" from the 76 (gas) station, on the south side of the "Triangle" It was him. His wife was very beautiful and sexy and he would rather be out alone? I know how I would be spending a romantic tropical vacation with my wife.

I filled up Cab #7 for the first time. On ONE-NINE (sob) it took 12 gallons when 1/4 full. It took 16.995 gallons to bring #7 to full from the 1/4 mark. Damn! That thing must have a 25 gallon tank. I've only used 1/8 of a tank each of the last two mights. I didn't look but it felt like it was a "4 banger". Possibly a small V6. #7 looks nice inside and out. And it felt weird not having to miss runs because ONE-NINE (sob, sob) could only hold four.

I won't know what I am driving tonight until after I wake up. The owner is supposed to send me an e-mail.

7 fares / 88 miles / 2nd quarter $100 bracket

Have a great day everyone and Happy TGIF to those west of me.

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

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"Let's all be careful out there!"