Paradise Driver

Saturday, March 24, 2007

OUR TYPICAL

"SPRING BREAKERS"

~ Erin & Elizabeth ~
College "Juniors" from the Sea-Tac area
Here on "Spring Break"

***

Considering that we were two cabs short for the shift, TMR (#27) returns tomorrow and Hardin (#25) was a "no-show", we were never overwhelmed. Mosied into work at 7:09pm and the phone was in the cup holder, just waiting for me. Logged on and the calls were transferred within 90 seconds. I guess Art was hungry. By 9:00pm all three "day" cabs were pau hana. For a Friday night it was quietly active. The bars were full and people were behaving themselves. The wonderful trade winds we are enjoying may have sedated the population. Tina (#05) and "Crazy" Brian (#09) went "adios" by 2:05am. A couple of decent overnight runs. Relieved by Flor (#27) about 4:30am. Only had one reservation to pass on. That makes for a slow start to the day-shift.

***

The general reaction about the three young ladies from yesterday's edition has been universal. Everyone is flabbergasted that they were as young as they were. You should have seen MY face when I found out. I think my lower jaw bounced twice on the steering wheel

When they got into ONE-NINE, I pegged their age as early 20's. They weren't pulling my leg though. The conversation they engaged in was definitely that of their stated age. Girls in their mid-teens talk differently than their older sisters. There is a drastic change in topics with just the addition of 5 or 6 years of life experience. The main theme is still the same, BOYS, but modified by maturity(?).

I also hope that none of what I wrote be construed as criticism of the girls. They were being typical teenagers, on an adventure. Totally naive to the dark side of the real world. However, I think their parents/chaperons should be horsewhipped.

***

I finally met the new owners this past week. A nice couple from Sacramento, CA, USA. Larry and Darcy.

***

Well, today is Saturday and the "Professor" will be dispatching tonight. Lets see how it goes.

I can always hope.

Can't I?

***

Hey, I really enjoyed your visit.

See ya tomorrow?

MAHALO

ALOHA

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Haleakala

Silversword

Fairmont - Kea Lani

Four Seasons

East Side Of Mau'i

Maui Ocean Center

Sorry
I Forgot Which Hotel This Is

A Mau'i Red Sand Beach

Moloka'i

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Friday, March 23, 2007

WHAT IS WRONG

WITH THIS PICTURE?

~ Brittney ~ Lindse ~ Tara ~
I took it at 2:57am this morning, at The Sheraton, in Ka'anapali. I had picked them up from a private residence in Kihei at 2:09am. The oldest one is a "Junior" (11th grade) and the other 2 are "Sophomores" (10th grade) in high school. They are here on "spring break" from Dallas, TX, USA. All three girls were sober, for which the parents should be grateful, and not under the influence of any drugs. They were very polite and well mannered. This was their first visit to Mau'i.

So what is wrong with the picture?

All the facts I just related is what is wrong.

What were the parents, or chaperons, for these very young girls (15 and 16 y.o.) thinking? G-I-R-L-S this young, and especially this pretty, are fair game for the lowlifes that habituate Mau'i. People blindly come here thinking that Paradise is benign.

It isn't!

Oh, well. I did what I was hired to do. Get them back to their hotel safely.

It was nice to meet some well mannered teenagers for a change though. That is something seldom seen on Mau'i.

***

The earthquake last October caused some fracturing of the rock faces along the Pali.

The Pali is that section of SR-30 (Honoapi'ilani Highway) that runs past McGregor Point along the road between Central Mau'i and West Mau'i. You can check the maps on the sidebar. The north side of Ma'alaea Bay.

To prevent rocks from cascading onto the roadway, the State DOT contracted to have the face of the roadway cuts cleaned up and new steel netting placed on the cliff.

Took these images on "the fly" as I passed by on the detour.

It was a profitable shift. The girls were my final, most enjoyable and longest run of the night. Started the shift with "Crazy" Brian (#09), Maui Jim (#17), Prima Donna (#18), "Dipshit" (#05) and me (ONE-NINE). Alex-TMR (#27) will be back from vacation on Saturday. Tina (#11) was a "no-show" (feces occurs). At 9:00pm, I took over dispatch duties. Brian covered it last week, so it was only fair that I cover it this week. Normally, Thursdays are #27's night for the phone. By 9:15pm both #05 and #18 had folded up shop for the night. #17 stayed around until 10:30pm. After that it was just Brian and me. We were never overwhelmed but we didn't sit idle very much either. By the time Brian left I was pretty satisfied with my "meter". The Ka'anapali run was "icing on the cake".

Around 1:30am I get a call to pick up at a private residence in far north Kihei for a decent trip south to a private residence in Maui Meadows, a subdivision on the Kihei/Wailea border. I tell the caller that I will be there in less that 10 minutes. I was making a drop at the Maui Lu and wasn't too far away. Arrived 9 minutes after the call. It was obvious which house on the cul-de-sac it was. A party was going on inside and it looked like every light in and on the house was illuminated. I sit and wait. I waited for 7 minutes and no one ever came out. 10-13'd (no load-no show) it and headed back to the "Triangle", about 4 miles away. They call back a bit after 2:00am and were dumbfounded when I told them that I had already been there once and wasn't coming back again. The usual "four-letter word" banter occurred between us until they decided that I was extremely anal retentive, my parents probably weren't married on my conception and mom was a canine. When his lack of an adequate vocabulary became repetitive, I just went [click].

While cruising the "Triangle", a fight broke out, in the street, just outside of LAB. There was a MPD car about 25 yards away. The officer activated his "blues", tapped the siren, stepped out and ordered the guys to STOP. He was ignored. 5 "backup" units were rolling his way from 1 mile north. He brought the fight to an abrupt end when he Tazered one of the guys. When it didn't seem to have an immediate affect, the suspect was "zapped" a second time. A Tazer makes a popping, sizzling, staccato sound when used.

I wish we had those back in my "day".

No arrests were made and the cops eventually put the pugilist in Brian's cab, for his final run of the shift.

Prim (#22) logged on at 3:50am and I was back in Kihei at 4:00am. Refueled and handed the phone over at 4:30am, which is also when Flor (#27) checked on.

With a little luck, Friday will continue this week's trend of being active. Unfortunately, I also will have dispatch again.

Y'all come back now, hear.

Mahalo

Aloha

THE PICTURE GALLERY

West Mau'i

Maui Ocean Center
Stingray

West Mau'i Mountains

"Up Country" Mau'i

Ritz Carlton Resort/Hotel

***

"Let's all be careful out there!"

Thursday, March 22, 2007

PARADISE LOST

PARADISE FOUND

I am an absolute klutz!

Getting ready for work, step out of the shower and my right knee decides to go a different direction than normal. I'll leave it as "very painful". Could barely stand on it Packed the ol' patella up in ice and used my cane for the few times I tried to walk around the house. This is the same knee I injured a couple of years back, loading luggage into ONE-NINE. I have to wear a knee-brace because of that, just not when I am bathing. Spent most of the night with it elevated. Of course, when I called off, Kimo (#22) was frustrated.

ONE - he was going to have to cover the "overnight" hours.
TWO - They were extremely busy. That means I probably lost some significant money.

Its been about 12 hours since I twisted the knee and the swelling is almost gone, but not the tenderness. I should be able to do my shift tonight.

MAUI ACTION PHOTOS

www.mauiactionphotos.com
Van Plantinga
167 Iliwai Loop
Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753
(808) 205-0811
mauiactionphotos@hotmail.com

Van sent me these random shots, taken this week.

Mahalo Van!

If you see any images on his web page that you like or if you are coming to Mau'i and would like him to take some "action" photos of your activities, just contact him at the above address/phone/e-mail.

"QUEEN" NORA

Princess Leah sent me some new photos of the baby

Isn't it amazing that this:

Eventually becomes this:

I hope what I have presented today makes up for not having any "talk story" about the cab-biz.

Check back tomorrow to find out how this gimpy ol' fart survived another shift.

MAHALO

ALOHA

THE PICTURE GALLERY

Kahakuloa Head
Mau'i