DRUNKS

Pretty average night but the best part was that two drivers came in early at 5:00am and I was able to get off early. :)

Sorry, nothing of interest to take a pic of.

==============================================

Around 1:00am I was dispatched down to Mulligans, 4 miles away, to take two people to the Kea Lani, a total distance of 4/10ths of a mile. The walkway down the hill from Mulligans to their parking lot is a wide (easily handles 3 abreast), gentle stairway with rails on both sides. These two guys come down, bouncing off one rail and then the next. Thank God they weren't driving!

They had a running conversation the entire distance, none of which could be called intelligible, though they seemed to understand each other. They were speaking in American, drunk American.

Got to the Kea Lani and drunk #1 hands me a twenty and says "make sure my buddy gets to the Four Seasons okay."

Sweet!

Get the second drunk to the Four Seasons, total fare = $6.20, and he looks at the meter and hands me a ten.

"The other gentleman already paid the fare, sir."

"Naw, he just paid for his ride. This is for my ride."

Kewl!

$30 on a $6.20 run. Like I've said before, "pupu runs" are usually very profitable in Wailea.

==============================================

As a cop I developed a working theory about drunks and being a cabbie has only reenforced it.

The average IQ for a human is 100. The consumption of alcohol reduces that number by 10 points per drink.

In both occupations, I always seem to have contact with them when they've reached some point below 60. "Blithering idiot" status.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

TRAGIC NIGHT

We had a plane crash near the airport yesterday evening. It was a Cessna 414 air ambulance and all three persons aboard were killed. A lot of stories about it here.

And here are "on scene" stories from the Maui News.

One of the Honolulu papers posted a quicktime video from a cell phone at the scene.

I was by the area twice during the shift.

==============================================
Six Month Anniversary


These are my friends Jason and Heather. They were out celebrating their 6th month wedding anniversary last night. Congratulations!

==============================================
KALAMA PARK FOLLOW UP

To be fair, I need to state that in the daylight and early evening, Kalama park is a great place to visit. Fantastic playground for the keiki (little kids). A very challenging skateboard area. Baseball diamonds, basketball courts and a soccer (football to the rest of the world) field. Also a volleyball area, BBQs and picnic tables, both sheltered and open. There is no beach there, just a seawall. A nice place to sit and watch the sunset and try to catch a glimpse of that elusive green flash when the last of the sun drops below the horizon.

Kalama Park at sunset.


A soccer (football) practice at Kalama Park.

==============================================
KRISPY KREME


Krispy Kreme had to be evacuated due to the crash and fire last night. It is maybe 100 yards from the crash site.

When Krispy Kreme opened about two years ago, it sold 85,000 doughnuts in the first 24 hours. It was over three months before there was not a one-hour wait at both the drive-thru and walk-in. This location was the first mainland style doughnut store in the state. No Dunkin Donuts, no Winchells, nothing. And if you've ever been here, and tried to eat a local doughnut, you understand why this place is so popular.

And please, no "Cops and Doughnuts" jokes. I've heard them all before. ;)

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

KALAMA PARK

(aka "needle park")

As I am approaching the "triangle" last night, a really scruffy looking guy dashes out of Kalama Park across the street in front of me. Damn near hit him. As I pass him, I yell out the window "That's a good way to end up dead."

After turning into the "Triangle" and parking, my passenger door is jerked open by this dude. My first thought is trouble! He is standing there, out of breathe, panting "I got money! I got money!" While showing me his wallet choked with American "Greenbacks".

"Quick! Get me outta here!"

"No problem. Where do you want to go?"

He gave me an address at the south end of town.

"No problem. Hop in. What happened back there? A drug deal gone bad?"

"Some 'loca' punks tried to rob me!"

"Wow!, Really? Are you okay?" (True meaning of the question was "please don't bleed on my velour seats")

"Yeah, I got away from them."

Kalama Park, after dark, is bad news. Everyone who lives here knows that is where the "nightcrawlers" do their business.

When we drop tourists at the "triangle" we always tell them NOT to go for a walk in the park. No matter how romantic it may seem. We have had a couple of murders there, all drug related, over the past couple of years.

About two years ago, the members of MPD's SWAT team were having a family picnic at the park. Two scumbags came up to them and wanted to buy some drugs. The officers told them to "fuck off". Ten minutes later, these "Lex Luthors" come back with a gun and start shooting at the cops. BAD MOVE!! There was a ten minute running gun fight. The bad guys were captured a few hours later and, luckily, no one was injured.

Like most police agencies, the "nighthawks" can't be everywhere all the time. So the "nightcrawlers" just keep plying their wares.

Different faces and places but nothing ever changes. Sigh.

================================================


Everything Looks Different In The Daylight!


Sunrise begins to kiss the West Mau'i Mountains.

"Top Of The House" at the Grand Wailea.

The waterfall along the main entry driveway at the Grand Wailea.

The view from the east side walk to the restrooms.

The view from the west side walkway to the restrooms.

============================================

Moonset Over Maalaea Bay

This was taken about 0150hrs. Kinda crappy shot, but in reality it was beautiful.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

Do something BRAVE today

(and then run like HELL!)




==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

"BROKEBACK" JOKE

COWBOY FROM BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, WYOMING

A rugged cowboy from Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming, goes into the doctor's office and has some tests run.

The doctor comes back and says, "I am not going to beat around the bush, You have AIDS."

The cowboy tugs at his Stetson and sets his jaw and says, "Doc, what can I do?"

The doctor says,

"I want you to go home and eat

5 pounds of spicy sausage,

a head of cabbage,

20 un-peeled carrots drenched in hot sauce,

10 Jalapeno peppers,

40 walnuts and 40 peanuts,

1/2 box of Grapenuts cereal,

and top it off with a gallon of prune juice."

The cowboy squares his rugged shoulders and asks, "Will that cure me, Doc?"

"No, but it should leave you with a better understanding of what your ass is for."


==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

DINING OUT

Today is my day off, so I thought that I would share some of my favorite restaurants on Mau'i.
--------------------------------------------
SARENTO'S
Sarento's on the Beach is one of the few restaurants on the island that is actually "on the beach". One of two restaurants on the island (and one of eleven in the state) that received "Triple A's '4-Diamond' Award".

Not including alcohol, it typically runs about $55 per diner. Pretty reasonable for a "5-STAR" establishment. The food is excellent and the service impeccable. You get the feeling that everyone in Sarento's is there for your pleasure.

Sarento's is my favorite.
--------------------------------------------
MAMA'S
Mama's Fish House is the best seafood restaurant in the entire world. That's not just my opinion, it has been proclaimed as such by Bon Appetite, Conde Nast and Gourmet magazines. The fish is so fresh that they indicate the name of the boat and it's captain's name that caught that fish that day for each menu entre. The only way to get your fish any fresher than at "Mama's" would be to "hitch a ride" on one of the boats and bring your own hibachi with you.

While it sits right on the beach, on the east side of the island, there isn't much of a view after dark. But if you go there in the afternoon you can watch sail-boarders and kite-surfers having fun. Mama's is located just up the road from Ho'okipa beach, the windsurfing capital of the world.
--------------------------------------------
HALI'IMAILE GENERAL STORE
Hali'imaile General Store was actually a "general store" back in the plantation era. Now it is a world class restaurant. Don't bother looking out the windows, there is nothing to see but warehouses and cane fields. But with food like this, you'll be too busy savoring the cuisine to notice.
--------------------------------------------
SANSEI
Sansei has two locations on Mau'i. One in Kihei and the other in Kahana, on the "westside" of the island. If you like sushi, there is no better place on the globe than this. They also have karaoke, after 10pm, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Have some sushi, drink some saki and have fun!
--------------------------------------------
MULLIGAN'S ON THE BLUE
ERIN GO BRAUGH. Yup, we have our own "Irish pub" here on Mau'i. Mulligan's is the 19th "puka" (hole) at the Wailea "Blue" Course. A great place for drinks and "pupu's" after a round of golf or an Irish dinner anytime. They have one hell of a "to-do" for "St. Paddy's Day" (March 17th) and "Cinco De Mayo" (May 5th).
--------------------------------------------
MAU'I TACOS
Do you like authentic mexican food? Want an inexpensive meal? Then Mau'i Tacos is the place. As a former cop from California, I loved eating at the "taco trucks". This was authentic Mexican food. Well, Mau'i Tacos is exactly the same. Located in little "hole-in-the-wall" store fronts around the island, you can't beat it for "comfort food". This is not TACO 'HELL' crap.

***W A R N I N G*** -

If you go here, be careful about the "Sergio's Revenge" salsa from the condiment bar. Not for the"faint hearted". I eat jalapeno peppers like candy with no problems. "Sergio's Revenge" was even more than I could handle. Learned the hard way to just use it very, very sparingly, not ladle it on. It only took a couple of days for my eyes to stop "watering" and I had feeling back in my tongue/mouth/lips within a month or so. ;-)

As one of Clint Eastwood's characters said, "A man has got to know his limits." I learned mine.

I see from their web site that they are expanding across the "mainland". Check it out and see if there is one near you.
--------------------------------------------
ROY'S
Roy Yamaguchi started "Roy's" in Kahana years ago and has expanded nationwide. Besides the original, we have a second location in Kihei. Whatever you do, do not forget to order their "Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé" for dessert when you order your entre. You'll regret it if you don't.
--------------------------------------------
OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
Yes, I know that "Outback" is just another national "chain" restaurant, but it is a fun and inexpensive place to go. Around here it is hard to find places that serve shrimp or lobster at a reasonable price. They feature Foster's Beer from Australia (a product that makes most Australians grimace and Americans seem to love). Our local Outback even features "Australian Rules" football from a satellite fed TV. This sport makes rugby seem tame.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

QUEEN MARY 2

Had a visitor last week that I forgot to mention.

The Queen Mary 2 made a brief stop over at Lahaina. She is on her maiden Pacific voyage.

The pics are from the Mau'i News.

Here is a link to the article.
============================================

The Queen Mary 2 anchors off Lahaina on Thursday on a one-day port call to the Valley Isle as part of its maiden Pacific voyage. The Cunard liner is the largest, fastest, tallest and widest passenger ship in the world.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
============================================

With West Maui in the background, one of the Queen Mary 2’s five pools includes a dramatic vista. The ship also boasts eight whirlpools.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
============================================

The ship’s main dining room, the Britannia Restaurant, is three decks high and spans the full width of the ship.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
============================================

COMMODORE RONALD WARWICK
============================================

The Queen Mary 2’s library provides wireless Internet service among its amenities

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

"PURR-FECT"

From Art Bell's webcam at coasttocoastam.com

============================================

It was one of those nights when I could do no wrong. All the travails of the shift just slid off.

Started at 6:00pm and picked up the phone and reservations from another driver who was covering until my arrival. First reservation was at 7:00pm and there were 6 cabs queued up before me.

The calls came sparingly and then it was 6:45pm and I was first up. For "time calls", we dispatch a cab to the pickup location 15 minutes in advance. At 7:00pm I made my pickup from The Grand to the airport (OGG).

The round trip usually takes about 1 hour.

Queued up again at 8:00pm. The next time call was 9:00pm and at 8:45pm I was again first in line. So off to the Four Seasons and another run to the airport.

As I was entering Kihei, on the return, I received a call from Speedie-Shuttle requesting that we cover a pickup of two pilots at the Mau'i Coast Hotel in Kihei at 10:10pm and take them to the airport. All the rest of the cabs were in Wailea and I was the only "outside" (not in Wailea) cab. So another trip to the airport!!!

I cleared at the airport around 10:45pm and had just passed the car rental agencies when I received a call from a former driver, who now works as a rental agent at Hertz rent-a-car, wondering if I had any cabs in the airport area. He had some guests needing a ride into Kihei. So, 5 minutes later, I have a paid ride back to town.

Not bad.

At the end of the run the meter read $37.10 and, as he handed me a $100 bill, my fare said, "The smallest I have is this. I know you can't break it, so keep the change." My hand snatched that bill out of his hand like a raptor, as I thanked him and "beat feet" out of there before he changed his mind.

A $62.90 TIP!!!!

Did bar runs til 2:00am.

At 2:45am I took a gentleman across the island to see his lady friend, thus having my fifth long run of the night.

A couple of more "pu-pu runs" and then I was at The Grand, compiling the reservations for Sunday. One of their guests walked out at 4:30am wanting a taxi to the airport. So away we went on my sixth long run.

When I got back to the garage, my relief driver, Brian, asked if I had lost a roll of nickles the night before. I told him about the guy who had paid me in rolled nickles (see previous post). Brian opened the glove box and handed me a roll that he had found on the rear floor. Thus I had only lost $1 on that prior run

The perfect ending to a "purr-fect" day.

==============================================



This morning's sunrise over Mt. Haleakala, our dormant volcano.
==============================================



The departure terminal at OGG. I've mentioned before how small our international airport is.
==============================================



Today's gas prices.
==============================================



The fountain at the entrance to the Four Seasons.
==============================================



Brian
==============================================



Anna-Lisa, one of the "Triangles" many patrons
==============================================

Another Sunday morning and the end of another week for me.
==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

WHEW

A really busy night.

It started out really slow. I came on at 6:00pm and didn't get my first run until 6:45pm and that was just a $5 "pu-pu".

At 7:00pm the owner turned dispatch over to me (ugh). Stayed slow for the next hour. 8 cabs idle. Boredom.

About 8:00pm the phone started ringing. Zip, that 8 cab cushion is now down to one cab coverage for the entire southside of the island. People were headed to the airport, the harbor, dinner, etc. By 8:30pm I was becoming very selective in the calls I was accepting. With vastly reduced resources I had to husband what was available. By 11:30pm we were caught up on the calls and then were able to give a 10 minute response on request. And they just kept coming in.

The bar close was a madhouse, but by 2:00am, I was able to send the other drivers home.

And the phone still kept ringing, albeit at a slower rate.

Kept moving until my first two dayshift drivers checked in early at 4:30am. Passed over the phone and reservations and "got the hell out of Dodge".

They had two airport runs to start their day. One at 5:00am and the other at 5:15am. Their entire morning was booked solid.

============================================

WEIRD SIGHT

At one point during the night I came to a 4-way stop intersection. Just as I was pulling away, a movement caught my attention and I braked hard. Coming through the intersection was a mini-motorscooter with two riders towing three teenagers on skateboards. Each boarder clinging to the shirt of the one in front and the first one holding the hand of the scooter's passenger. There was no light on the scoot and everyone was dressed in black. I sat there in disbelief until they passed. I broadcast over the radio what I had seen to warn other drivers in the area. About 10 minutes later, one driver advised that the boys had been stopped by MPD on the highway about a mile south of where I had seen them. MPD was conducting field sobriety tests on the entire lot.

Ah, to be a teenager and believe that you are indestuctable. We have all walked that path ourselves. Amazing we have lived this long.
==============================================

"Buddy can you spare a nickle?"

Made one pickup a little after 3:30am at the south end of Kihei and took him north. The fare was $20. He handed me 1 - $5 bill and six rolls of nickles (for readers outside the U.S., there are $2 worth of nickles in each roll). Yup, just $17 total. $3 short. It was obvious that that was all he had. The company gets its 60% of the fare and I eat the rest. But it wasn't enough to stress over. Feces occurs and he might tip big the next time. Thats the way it usually seems to work out, more often than not, over the 4+ years I've been doing this.
==============================================

Sorry, no pics tonight.

==============================================

Later.....

Wil
=8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

GIRL'S DAY

Today (March 3rd) is "Girl's Day" in Japan. All females celebrate their birthday today.

"Boy's Day" is on May 5th.
============================================
Called off sick last night, so I'll share some links to the resort hotels in Wailea.

Four Seasons

The Grand Wailea

Mau'i Prince Hotel

Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort

Wailea Marriott Resort

The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui

Diamond Hawaii Resort & Spa

============================================

Later.....

Wil =8^))
"Let's all be careful out there!"

STREET / LOCATION NAMES

Some are difficult (why-mah-high-high)



Some just roll off of your tongue (key-hay & kay-oh-nee-kai)



Some don't (kah-lie Wah-ah)



Most fall in the middle (koo-lah-nee hah-coy)



When some tourist wants to be picked up at the "hey-kah-high", you have to find out if they mean the KIHEI AKAHI (ah-kah-he)



Or the WAILEA EKAHI (eh-kah-he)
BTW - EKAHI is Hawai'ian for "one" (1)



ELUA (eh-lou-ah) is "two" (2)



And EKOLU (eh-koh-lou) is "three" (3)


============================================

POLICE LIGHT BARS



I really don't like these "strobe" emergency lights. The flash is very effective when they are in your direct "line of sight" but that flash does not reflect well off the surrounding buildings or ground. The officer has had his "ring of protection" truncated around curves and other areas of limited visibility. The rotating emergency lights were so much better. Also, these "strobe" lights cause your pupils to constrict to pinpoints, destroying your night vision.

Thats my "two cent" opinion.
============================================

WHERE'D EVERYBODY GO?

12 hours = 10 runs.

Earned enough to buy my cat, "Bear", some kitty food and me a couple of packs of cancer sticks.

I've had worse nights.

=============================================

Later.....

Wil =8^))
"Let's all be carefull out there!"

YAWN

MPD checking out some problem at Neptune's, in the Triangle last night.
============================================
So-so night. Made money but never really busy.

After clearing a run at The Grand, I was departing on the exit driveway. Just as I approached the public street, some idiot turned off the street and proceeded to enter via the exit drive. I came to a quick stop and waited. He came to a stop facing me. Ah, a "mexican standoff". We finally worked our way past each other, exchanging mutual signs and words of respect.

Everyone drives here just like they do at home. Unfortunately, "home" is everywhere in the world.

I started thinking about all the drivers I have encountered while cabbing.

Our "left of the road" guests tend to have an initial problem on our "right of the road" island. Granted, these folks are tired. Some have been traveling for over 24 hours to get here.

This is most dangerous on the airport road. Two lanes inbound, two lanes outbound, separated by a double yellow line. It is very disconcerting to have them exit the rental agencies, turn onto the outbound lane and then immediately move to the curbside inbound lane. A lane that you currently occupy. Trust me, that strange sound you hear is your seat cover being sucked up your ass.

This happened to me about two weeks ago. I actually had to go halfway over the curb to avoid being hit headon. I could not read the lips nor hear the words spoken but the female passenger's wild gestures and aggitated manner seemed to indicate her dissatisfaction with the male driver's actions. But he was totally "zoned" and oblivious to her. Probably his natural manner.

The biggest problem about driving in a country that drives on the "opposite" side is when an emergency occurs. You instictively turn towards the nearside curb. That instinctive left or right jerk of the wheel will turn a minor incident into a major tragedy when in an "opposite" country.

Some guests here honk their horn when stopping, starting and turning. Probably while backing up also, but I haven't observed that. I wonder where they are from?

I do know that in NYC the horns on taxis are faster than the speed of light. Nanoseconds prior to the light turning "green", the horns behind you start blaring. Amazing. I wonder if the DoD has looked into this. Could also be useful for Homeland Security. ;)

=============================================
Later.....

Wil =8^))
"Let's all be carefull out there!"

SIGH

TSUNAMI'S AT SUNSET
This is the "Ballroom" or "Group" entrance at the Grand. This is also the entrance to"Tsunami's" on Friday and Saturday night.


============================================
Since it was Saturday, it was again my night to dispatch. Just read the previous post to get an idea of how the night went.

My second fare was a newlywed couple from Stockholm, Sweden. I took them to Delta at OGG where they faced a 26 hour trek home. Mau'i to L.A., to Atlanta, Georgia, to JFK, to Paris, to Stockholm. Whoa, thats building up a lot of frequent flyer miles.

I love newlyweds. Their smiles are so genuine. Their actions towards each other so caring. Shame it won't last.

Picked up a very tired lady, out of Chicago, from the hospital last night and brought her back to the 4 Seasons. Her husband had gone diving and miscalculated his assent rate/time and was suffering from the "bends". He was to be transported today to Honolulu, where they have a pressure chamber.

She was pensive but calm. They were here celebrating their 30th anniversary. They were "empty-nesters", their 26 year old daughter now living in London. We talked about life and marriage and grandkids (she didn't have any). You could tell that she still loved her husband, in a "comfortable shirt" fashion, but was bored by 30 years of "sameness."

When we arrived at her hotel the fare was $59.60. She handed $60 and apologised for no tip. I told her not to worry about it. She insisted that I wait while she went to her room to get more money. I told her that I really had to leave since we were "backed up" about 10 runs. She still insisted, so I suggested that if she really wanted to give me a tip, that she put the money in an envelope and give it to the night doorman (I know the guy) and that he would call me to pick it up. About 30 minutes later I got the call from him. As I picked up the envelope I handed him $2, without even looking inside to see how much it was. Thanked him for his kindness. Opened to find $20 inside. I hope her husband gets better and that some novelty comes into her life.

Not all marriages here end nicely.

About two years back, I picked up a newlywed couple from the Seawatch restaurant, about 11:00pm, after their wedding dinner. Took them to the Wailea Marriott. At 3:30am the Marriott called requesting a cab. It was the groom. Took him to OGG, the airport. The entire 30 minute ride he was on the phone with his attorney in L.A., where it was 5:30am. I wonder if the attorney charged double his normal hourly rate for this call?

He wanted his attorney to get a locksmith to immediately re-key his house, have the alarm company re-set all access codes, etc., and immediately file annullment/divorce papers, whichever was best.

He called his new wife many names. "Loving bride" was not among them. Sad.

============================================
This is my friend Robert. He used to drive for Royal but has moved to the "competition". I think he got tired of being a "nite owl" and dealing with drunks. Works "days" now. I think he made the face so that I wouldn't use his picture. He was wrong. :)

============================================
I classify the people out at night, after "bar close", into 3 catagories.

"NIGHTHAWKS" - Police, Fire, Ambulance

"NIGHTOWLS" - All of us who work the single digit hours of the morning

"NIGHTCRAWLERS" - The vermin of that crawl out of the shadows

============================================
Ah! It's Sunday morning. Off til Tuesday night :)



Later.....
Wil =8^))
"Let's all be careful out there"

DISPATCHING

Ring.
Ring

"Good evening, Royal Cab. This is Wil."

""Is this a taxi company?"

"Yes, This is Royal Cab."

"Is this a taxi company?"

"Yes it is. How may I assist you?"

"I need a taxi."

"Okay. Where are you at?"

"Kihei."

"Could you be a little more specific."

"South Kihei."

"Where in south Kihei?"

"South Kihei road."

"Sir, south Kihei road is 7 miles long. Where are you at right now?"

"I want to go to the 'Triangle'."

"Fantastic. We are more than happy to take you to the 'Triangle', we just need to know where to pick you up at."

"Oh yeah. I am in Kihei."
--------------------------------
Ring.
Ring.

"Good evening. Royal Cab. This is Wil."

"How long to get a cab?"

"Where are you at?"

"Kihei. How long to get a cab?"

"Ma'am, where in Kihei are you?"

"Cassorole Dunes."

"Do you mean Kamaole Sands?"

"Yeah, that's it."

Which building are you staying in?"

"I don't know."

Well, ma'am. Kam Sands has ten buildings and I need to know which one to send the cab to."

"Can I call you back?"

"Sure. Aloha."

---------------------------------------

And thats how it goes for the next 12 hours.

---------------------------------------

Apparently there is also a Royal Cab in Honolulu. I am always getting calls from tourists who dialed 4-1-1 from there and were routed to me. Honolulu is 100 miles and 3 islands northwest of Mau'i.

About a year ago, I got a call from someone wanting to confirm their limo reservations for the "Oscars". Apparently there is a "Royal Limo Service" somewhere in southern California.

---------------------------------------
"Aloha, where are we headed to tonight?"

"Take me to a 'tittie bar!'"

"Uh, sir. We don't have 'tittie bars' on Mau'i."

"WHAT???"

Yes sir. The only 'tittie bars' in Hawai'i are in Honolulu."

"Okay. Take me to Honolulu."

"Sir, Honolulu is 100 miles away..."

"I don't care. Take me there."

"... and there are no bridges between the islands. To get to Honolulu, you have to fly."

"What do you mean there are no bridges. What a fucked up place this is. Okay, take me to the airport."

"Sir, the airport is closed and the next flight to Honolulu isn't until 6:25 in the morning."

"This place is really fucked up. You come here and you're trapped. Take me to my hotel."

"Okay, which hotel are you staying at sir?"

"I don't know."
-----------------------------

Another Friday night.

OUCH!

BTW - All photos can be enlarged for easier viewing by just "left clicking" on them. :)
This happened sometime on Tuesday night's shift. The day driver found it on Wednesday morning. I called the owner Wednesday night after the day driver called me. He told me not to worry about it. We'll fix it if the hotel complains. No big deal. All I can figure is someone scraped me when I was away from the vehicle.

TAMMY


This is my friend Tammy. She is a bartender at Neptune's, one of the clubs in the "bar-muda triangle". Tammy is one of the most positive people I've ever met. I don't think anything will ever give her the "blues". Luv ya, sweetheart.

LAST NIGHT

Last night was the busiest that I have seen since the new meter rates went into effect on January 6th. I started an hour later than usual. Just needed that extra hour off to "recharge the batteries". One of my last trips from the previous shift were 3 ladies going to the airport, at 4:30am, for a day-trip to Honolulu and Pearl Harbor to see the USS ARIZONA, USS MISSOURI and Waikiki. I had given them my card and told them if they needed to be picked up on their return to just give us a call. And golly-gee, they actually called and wanted me to meet them at the airport at 7:30pm. The owner called me at home around 6:30pm, just as I was getting out of the shower (good omen - I wasn't IN the shower when he called) and told me about this "special request". I boogied down to the garage and me and ONE-NINE headed for Mau'i International Airport (I won't say our airport is small, but both the departure and arrival terminals could fit comfortably inside an average Wisconson milking barn). Greeted them at the bottom of the escalator and took them back to Kihei. They had had a great day and were exhausted.

They are departing the island on monday (my day off), so I made arrangements for another driver to pick them up and take them to the airport.

The more ambitious drivers in the company do that to help each other out. Also, they really do need a van. Three ladies, here for two weeks, do tend to bring a lot of luggage.

And even though my Soprano's car can hold four dead bodies in the trunk, it ain't big enough for that much luggage.

As the shift progressed, I was to make 4 more trips to the airport. Add that to 11 long in-town runs and the night ended very profitablely. GRIN

LONG vs SHORT RUNS

In most of the U.S., cab drivers pay a fee to lease their vehicle for a specific period of time. Once they earn back that fee during their shift they start making a profit from thereon. This makes the business very "cutthroat" for the drivers. Out of their profits for the shift they must also buy their own gas, usually from the "company store", since the cab must have a full tank at the beginning and end of their shift.

On Mau'i, very few companies operate that way. Here the drivers total up the trip dollars at the end of the shift and pay the company 60% of that amount, keeping 40% and their tips for themselves. Any monies expended for gas/oil/etc. are deducted from the company's share of the proceeds. This is actually a pretty good deal for both sides. The busier you are means both the company and driver share the shift's profits. Conversely, the driver doesn't get "the shaft" if the shift is slow.

Long runs mean a higher total meter but a lower tip percent for the driver. Short runs earn less on the meter but people are more generous with their tip percentage. A run from The Grand to the airport takes about 1 hour for the round trip. The fare is $53.30 and most people give you $60 "and keep the change". During that same hour, a driver staying in Wailea could do 5 hotel-to-hotel runs, for an average of $6 per trip. The passenger usually gives them $10 and "keep the change". Thus the driver who went to the airport earned $28.02 for the hour and the driver who stayed in Wailea earned $32. The company earned $31.98 off of the airport driver and $18 from the driver who stayed back.

Unlike New York, where a driver who makes a run to one of the airports will then queue up at the taxi terminal there for a run out of the airport, thus earning money in both directions, we have to "deadhead" back from the airport.

The State of Hawai'i, Department of Transportation, has an exclusive contract with Mau'i Airport Taxi for all non-scheduled taxi departures. Any other cab company and/or driver trying to poach in their domain will lose their airport usage permits. Outside companies and drivers are only authorized and permitted to make pre-arranged pickups from OGG (Mau'i's FAA designation).

Most drivers at Royal Cab do a blend of both types of runs during their shift.

Night shift drivers do have one advantage, and disadvantage, over the day shift drivers. We deal with drunks most of the night. Drunks can be a real pain in the ass but generally tend to be very gregarious when tipping. Obnoxious drunks are the main reason most drivers hate to work at night. Those of us who do, are very adept at making a legal profit from them.

Day shift driver have the ability to take tourists on tours of the island. Before the rate change, we charged $50 per hour (2 hour minimum) to do this. I think the rate is now $75 per hour. This isn't really as expensive as it sounds. The tour bus companies charge $200 per person for the same service. A typical tour is about 10 hours long.

A family of 5 would spend $1,000 if they went on the tour bus or $750 dollars with us. And we will stop anywhere you want on the tour rather than only at designated venues. Our drivers (Jim and Susan) who specialize in this service are really knowledgeable and personnable.

BTW - If, perchance, you are headed this way and this sounds interesting to you. Just call us at 808-874-6900 and ask for Jim or Susan to call you back. We'll need your name and telephone number to do this.


And as the Moon and Venus watch, the sun begins to creep up on Mt. Haleakala ("house of the sun") and brings another of my shifts to a close.

Aloha!

FOLLOW UP

From Maui News about the guy who rammed my cab.

http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=17191

ALL DRESSED UP....

And nowhere to go.

Another gorgeous Mau'i sunset, (click to enlarge)

as we queue up. Waiting to take somebody somewhere. (click photo)

FIRST MATE

On one of my early runs last night I took a sweet family to the airport. The were from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Dad told this joke:
============================================
Setting, mid-Atlantic in the 18th century, aboard a merchant vessel.
Suddenly a pirate vessel is sighted. After assessing the situation the captain turned to his first mate and said "Mate I want you to go to my cabin and fetch me my red shirt." The mate did as ordered. The pirate ship was engaged in battle and defeated by the merchant ship.

The next day TWO pirate ships were spotted and again the captain ordered his mate to fetch him his red shirt. The bad guys were engaged and the merchant ship prevailed in battle.

At dinner that night, the mate asked the captain why he always wanted his red shirt just before a battle. "I wear a red shirt so that if I am wounded in battle my crew will not be able to see the blood from my wounds and thus will fight to win.

The following day the sea in front of them was filled with hundreds of pirate ships, stretching from horizon to horizon. The captain turned to his first mate and ordered, "mate, go to my cabin and fetch me my brown pants."
============================================

Later I had a few dinner runs. Then, at 10:30pm, it died. Went home for about 1-1/2 hours to kick back. Came back out for the bar close. Had a lot of runs during the overnight, including another airport run. Overall, a pretty decent night.

SMASH MOUTH

On a friday night early last autumn, I made a closing time pickup from Tsunami's. Three young men, crew members of the cruise ship "Pride of Aloha", and took them back to the harbor. The two guys sitting next to the doors were quiet and reflective of the night's fun. The one in the center was trying to impress them with how tough he was. Kept saying he was a "homeboy" from Compton, CA. This went on for 12 miles. The more he talked, the more aggitated he became. He definately had consumed something more than alcohol during the night. Suddenly, he lunged over the seat and grabbed the steering wheel. It was a life or death struggle for control of the car. I reached down and grabbed my mag-lite, which is always against my right hip, and smashed him in the mouth 4 times, as hard as I could, until he released the wheel. He fell back into the rear seat, bleeding from the nose and mouth and missing his front teeth. I cussed him out in my best "Irish" and told him and his buddies that if he even moved I was going to pull to the side of the road, yank him out of the car, break both his legs and arms and leave him in a sugar cane field to rot. And to cover his face with his shirt, since I didn't want any blood on the velour seats. Ten minutes later I dropped them off at the ship. Got paid, with a nice tip included, from the "quiet boys". As I pulled away, the two nice kids looked at their buddy and walked away. You don't screw with Deputy Dawg.

ADDENDUMS

Update on Nathaniel "Bobo" Russell, the guy who rammed my cab back in 2003. He was formally sentenced this week to 5 years in prison.
Then the Feds get him for 20 years after that.

Correction on the quanity of "ice" he was caught with. It was 6 pounds, not 64, as I typoed earlier.

Have a great day. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

Later......
Wil =8^))
"Let's all be careful out there"

A 50/50 NIGHT

The night started really great. Lots of dinner runs and their returns. Even had one trip to the airport. About 8:00pm we had drizzle but it only lasted an hour. Right around 10:30pm the phone stopped ringing. Nothing, nada, zilch. Maybe just two runs per hour until bar close at 2:00am and it was a wash out. Two drivers called it a night and the last one left at 3:00am. Two runs after that and then I left at 6:00am when the second of the day drivers checked in.

We don't do a lot of cruising for fares. Gas is too expensive. In the first half of the night we run a rotation out of Wailea. Later in the night we shift our focus to the bars in Kihei. Especially the "bar-muda triangle" (5 bars about 200' apart from each other in a small shopping center).

About 4:30am it began to actually rain. The islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu and the western half of Moloka'i were under flood watches yesterday and last night. I guess we are getting the fringe of the storm. Rain is rare in Kihei (key-hay). About 10"s per year.

$100 DOLLAR BILLS

My first fare of the evening was a short 8/10ths of a mile "pu pu" (Hawai'ian for "tid bit" or "small bite") run from the Grand Wailea to Joe's Bar and Grill. Total fare of $5.60. He hands me a hundred. Geez, I only start my shift with $25 in my pocket. Luckily he was a guest at The Grand and we have a voucher pay system with them. He included a $4.40 tip.

This isn't the first time that this has happened. The Grand is not a cheap place to stay. Room rates run from $800 to $12,500 dollars a night. I've always wondered why people do this. If they're trying to impress the "common man" with their wealth, its a failure. Or maybe they are inured to the inaneness of the action.

THE UGLY AMERICAN

Well, that would be me, I guess.

A while back, on a Friday night, I was queued up first at "Tsunami's", a disco located at The Grand's ballroom entrance. I watched hotel security officers and a couple of Tsunami's "floor hosts" (fancy word for "bouncer") escorting a man from the club. They flagged me forward. Obviously there had been some trouble and I knew exactly what his problem was less than 1 second after he closed the door. He was from Australia and hated Americans. His general opinion was that Americans were lazy, shiftless, bullies and thieves. You can insert your own coarse adjectives for these words. I wasn't half way out of the driveway when I knew that this ride wasn't going to make it to the Mau'i Prince Hotel, his detination, 4 miles to the south. As far as I was concerned, it wasn't going to make it to the end of the drive. Then I realized that I had to at least get him off of The Grand's property. And that is exactly what I did. I turned onto the public street, drove two car lengths and pulled to the curb. Exitted the cab, opened his door and told him to get out. When he asked why I told him that "no guest has the right to insult their host". He refused at first, then I asked him "sir, you can either exit the cab like a gentleman or I can remove you with great pain on your part and great relish on mine. Your option". I was emphasising my statements by tapping my 5 D cell mag-lite in my hand. He took the hint and I pointed the direction to The Prince out for him.

I am not a "flag waver" or "drum beater" by any means but sometimes "enough is enough".

ONE-NINE

With the bad weather, it was hard to get any really good pics last night. So here is one of my cab parked under the entrance of The Grand this morning.



One-nine is my cab's number and radio call.

Hopefully, tomorrow will produce better things to write about. If not, I will dredge up some more past runs to share. Sorry also about no scenic views but I basically work from sunset to sunrise, which greatly limits the "photo ops".

Another "Blast From The Past"

MAY 17, 2005

About 3:30AM I received a call from the Grand Wailea that a sick infant and her parents needed to get to the hospital ER. I picked them up at 3:34AM.

The baby was in obvious respiratory distress (asthma?).

The trip is normally 35 minutes but since it was late and the roadway was empty I was rolling about 20MPH over the limit. (60 in a 40)

Right after we left Kihei, the baby stopped breathing.

I gave the parents shouted instructions on infant mouth-to-mouth.

I called 9-1-1 and advised them what I had.

I activated my 4-way flashers and floored it. Doing between 100 and 110 mph. Nice to have had a lot of training in this area.

Baby started breathing again within one minute.

About 1 minute out from the ER, the baby quit breathing again.

Entered the ER waiting room screaming "CODE BLUE!"

Immediate response from everyone.

Baby is fine now.

Made the 35 minute trip in 19 minutes.

Dad gave me $200 and a quick "thanks".

Had "the shakes" the rest of my shift.

ROYAL SEDAN AND TAXI SERVICE (aka:"ROYAL CAB")

On the island of Mau'i, the company I drive for is about average size. 12 cabs. On a global scheme, we are small.

We are based out of one of the major resort/spa/hotels in Wailea (why-lay-ah) and provide primary service to south Mau'i from Maalaea (mah-ah-lie-ah) on the north to La Peruse Bay on the south. We are the only cab company that operates 24/7 on the south side of the island. Most of the other cab companies down here stop operations at sunset. There is one that continues on until 11:00pm.

We do things a bit differently here. We have driving dispatchers. All requests for a cab come in via a cell phone and then are dispatched. I handle the dispatch duties on Friday and Saturday nights. On those nights I usually start the shift with 8 or 9 cabs on duty. By 10:00pm I am down to just 4 or 5. After 2:00am, it is just me until the first dayshift cab at 5:00am.

I never realized how unique this was until I took a Fortune 500 CEO and his wife to the airport one evening. It was a busy Friday evening and the phone wouldn't stop ringing. On our arrival at the airport, the man said, "Wil. I thought that I knew what 'multi-tasking' was until I met you. You're driving the cab, answering the phone, dispatching your other cabs, taking reservations for the next day and having a conversation with us. You never wrote anything down. You knew exactly where each of your cabs were and when they would clear their current assignment. I am impressed. Do you want to work for me?"

"Do I have to move to New York?"

"Yes."

"Thanks, but no. After spending 20+ years as a cop in hell I plan to spend the rest of my life in paradise."

At that time the fare to the airport was $36. He gave me $100 and "keep the change."

I guess all those years on patrol with multiple radios in the car was good training. :)

I work Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00pm to 6:00am (or 8:00am if we are busy in the early morning hours). My favorite "off-duty" activity is SLEEP.


This is Art Pidot (pie-dot), the owner. He has been in the taxi business in Hawai'i for nearly 35 years. Most of that on Mau'i. He can be a real pain at times but I like the guy.

If you ever come to Mau'i, call us ahead of time and we will pick you up at the airport. 808-874-6900.