Hard as a Rock

Ok so did someone not tell me that the Hard Rock is closing? I'm confused. Well that's cool, because Derek has an amazing article about its legacy today that got me all nostalgic too. TWENTY years. For me? Well, try five. Five years of Natural Vibrations, surfers, barely legals, the Vertical Junkies, the old skate dogs, and of course the night I went to jail trying to get Applenuts laid. *sigh*
It's been a good five years, Hard Rock.

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Not like...

...next door like the place next to your place. Like, Next Door the spot at 43 N Hotel Street in the heart of Chinatown. It's made a huge impact in this little town since it first opened and a major impact in my little world. Just a quick nosing around and i found that a lot lot LOT of memories have already been created and archived since its opening in 2005. Some of the best underground hip hop acts I've ever seen and even some major ones like Blackaliscous and Kool Herc. Matt Costa TWICE. Local people that I can't get enough of like Paula Fuga and the delicious Makana. Stuff like Cinema Paradise. Skate video premieres. Make outs. Private parties. Public parties. Urban Pacific. Smart bar. Discussions. Acid Wash.... I mean DAMN. Hard to even believe it's just TWO years old. Well, we're obviously going to join in the celebration all through this weekend.






So ya, come join the celebration. Tonight is a special fashion show by Dan and there's stuff happening all weekend.


Thank you for existing. Serious.
Love, Christa

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Subliminal Event message...

[it's about that time again. the iolani palace garden tea party....]

View Full ScreenView Photos on Kindfish




"Save the Date
Sunday, September 9, 2007, 5:30 p.m.

Please join us at A Royal Garden Party in the tradition of Queen Kapi`olani
to benefit the Friends of `Iolani Palace.

Dinner Dancing Hawaiian Music Genteel Lawn Sports

Patron tables and individual tickets are available for purchase.
For more information, contact Maria at (808) 522-0822.

As in the days of the Hawaiian Monarchy, parties at `Iolani Palace are eagerly anticipated events. Our goal is to provide a once in a lifetime experience for our guests by recreating a special occasion from the past. The Royal Garden Party is this year's major fund raising event for the Palace, and affords a special opportunity for those who wish to support this unique historic landmark. Attendees are encouraged to contribute to the ambiance of the occasion by wearing attire that evokes the past. Guests will be serenaded by Hawaiian music as they stroll the garden, take part in genteel lawn games and enjoy an elegant supper under lantern-lit trees. There will be carriage rides, dancing by starlight, and a small but unique selection of auction items. "

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Celebrity Status....

...well not really. I really just wanted to mention that the SPICE GIRLS are getting back together!!!! Can you believe it! Zig a zig ah! More on that, um, someday.

What else.... we drove by the place that had my van parked outside today. I guess I'll go ahead and tell the entire heartbreaking story. See... it involved something super. A super beetle. A 1971 super beetle. A 1971 SEA FOAM GREEN super beetle. I loved that car.

So ya... it was the best car in the whole world and I loved it to pieces for ever and ever until the day it didn't go. That's always the worst isn't it? Damn. GO car. ugh... So the guy that was nice enough to tow it for me and attempt a repair told me while avoiding my tear soaked eyes that it was going to need a new engine... but that's when I looked up and saw the larger, newer, more practical vehicle there pretty much smiling down at me. It's not the first VW Camper I had driven, and I really missed the upright stance you have when you're driving a bus with the wheel horizontal in your lap. It's so fun! I begged him to let me buy it. Which he did... at a reduced rate since I gave him my beloved super beetle to restore for his daughter. AW!

I immediately went to work letting my girl scout troop loose on it having "Craft Day" on the interior and turning it into a driving wonderland of fun and amazement. If you know anything about these vehicles, you know they are fully equipped to house 4 people comfortably in one of two convertible beds. There is also the card table fold-out option that works well at Sandy Beach for playing cards inside when it gets too hot [big John knows!], and the back couch was the perfect size for Hankie to watch the water or nap on. See below.

You can imagine why/how it was slightly upsetting seeing my car that I traded away for a computer, a PC even, because I had evil hybrid in the picture giving me all this false hope for my car future. Now, two days after evil hybrid has finally kicked the bucket for good I see the van that I loved so much just sitting there on Queen street with a fresh coat of paint.

Hold on to what you can people, and definitely let some things go.... but DAMN it make sure you know which is which!

ALSO: Happy Birthday Ara! Everyone is going to be in Chinatown tonight. GO! Acid Wash people!!

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So, Hawaii. Are you getting ready...

...for the HURRICANE?!?! Man I need a tv. Scrolling around the Starbulletin this morning and I see this:


Ya ya ya, we're all pretty certain it will take the same path more previous storms have taken and dissipate into a heavenly breeze by the time it reaches us.
Then again... nobody thought we were going to have that EARTHQUAKE last year either. Or did someone? I dunno... didn't have tv then either. DOH!


On another note, I have been getting a nice steady stream of feedback from some friends and people I've yet to meet but one in particular was pretty frickin funny, so I thought I'd incorporate a poll with it. Please don't be offended by this message and remember, for every note you DO see, there's about 30 that you never will, ok?



Ummmmm.... not sure how 'hot' the debate would be but sure, reader... I'd love to have the poll. So here you go. VOTE!



PS: the latest photo update is done.

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Public Enemy....

...was totally here a few years ago. Remember that? You might have missed it. Even though there was a ridiculously loyal fan base that turned out for this, I think the show was an overall miss but ONLY as far as profit goes. Ask Dave Hisaka, some people can stand to lose 50K here or there...but for the people that WERE at this show and WERE fans of Public Enemy it was an outstanding afternoon. Amazing even. I'll even stretch that and say it was the best show in terms of hip hop I've seen out here. Davie says it's the best show he's ever seen and he doesn't even LIKE hip hop.

The venue was perfect-- outdoors, plenty of room, bathrooms, choke parking. No bottleneck situations as far as entering or leaving. The vibe and energy of the crowd was top notch. Just a great well thought out plan. The only thing missing? PEOPLE. I seriously respect everyone in concert industry on Oahu. You never know what people will show up for. It's a gamble probably pretty much every time.

What got me on that? Oh, Jason's column mentioning Wu Tang's full lineup heading out here with Supernatural and Bone Thugs September 1st at the Blaisdell. Do they have enough Hawaii fans to fill that place? Will they actually buy tickets and show up? And WTF Living Legends?!?! WHY aren't you coming as well, you are part of the Rock the Bells but you can't make another trip to your 'second home' again? What's up. We love you... we THOUGHT you loved us. So anyway, ya there's no question that this will sell out. Right? RIGHT?

We'll see... I know I'm buying my ticket as soon as they go on sale just in case. You never know!

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One of the Seven Wonders....

...of the town, Miss Jeela Ongley and Ten are celebrating tonight. As are the rest of us. There's one heck of a lineup:
Paula Fuga
The Spacifics
Creed Chameleon
Giinko Marischino
Tassho Pearce
G-Spot
DJ Skid
Redeye Jedi (b-boys)
E.T. - SoulShifters, Circle of Fire
BassX
45 Revolver
NoMasterBacks
Siq Records
Kids Klub
VJ Clintone
Seeko
Jamal Kilowattz the Mongoose
B-boy Reunion
Enemy Anomaly
Angstwoebots
Kavet the Catalyst

Not to mention the circa '97 slideshow at 8pm. How amazing that these folks are going to take us back to that time with them. It's a journey I know I'll be taking for the first time, as I didn't 'necessarily' find my home here until like 6 years after that. This is going to be one special night people. See you there.

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Fundraiser Weekend....

...starting Saturday. Give back, people!


Saturday morning, after Fashionista's Market, check out The Contemporary Museum's Art Spree. It's free but you can certainly donate like I do. The gift that keeps on giving! Last year was pretty fun. This year the schedule is even fuller... if that's possible. Don't not go!

I already told you about Ten's fundraiser for Quadmag.com for Saturday night. TEN dollars for TEN years of TEN and friends making Honolulu happen in terms of the internet. Don't not go.


SUNDAY there is the first ever ever like ever FRESH Benefit from 5 - 7 p.m. Benefit as in Dress for Success. FRESH as in food from Phuket Thai [yummy!] and some chain Chinese bistro type place AND a wine bar [gasp!] and shopping...this is all going to the folks at Dress for Success, which is a charity that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

KIND OF a big deal people. You already saved out a $10 spot for Ten's party... go ahead and tack on an extra $25 for Valerie Joseph's FRESH and there you go... a better world for all of us.

Give back!

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You have TWO hours....

...left to go to the Friends of the Library book sale at McKinley High School. What doing. Go. GO. You need a walk anyway after eating all that bbq today. And hey! You never know what sort of treasures you will find. I went last year. The last few moments are when you will be able to get some very interesting additions to your book or record collection at very very very decent prices. Go.

PS: Happy Birthday Russell Tanoue! Honolulu's celebrity philanthropist extraordinarre! I'll see you as soon as I can get this hair washed. After all... you gotta look and feel your best around Russell. He accepts nothing less! That's why he's such a gem. Lovelovelovelove.
[midweek]

Happy Sunday evening friend. See you tomorrow!

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Happy Birthday Quiksilva!

Ha ha I still remember when Maleko introduced me to you at 1739 like four [hundred] years ago and your hair was in cornrows. Maleks was like "This is Jason. He's not black." HAAHAAHHAHA. But ya. I was there at midnight when his real birthday was going down. So was Lovely Lucy. We'll all be going for round two tonight tho. Because 80s music is ridiculously fun to dance to.



What else what else. OH! I ran into Ryan Kinemaura last night after his Tuesday gig at Thirtyninehotel. He told me he's gonna be filling in for Makana tonight at Indigo. The jazz. The jazz.


There are other options for your Hump Day hop as well. Lurk the barely legals at the O Lounge. It's never not good. Unless your definition of 'good' is 'boring'. You can go to the Hanohano room early and drink these amazing specialty martinis and watch the sunset from waaaaaay up there. OOOh! You can go online and register for the 2007 Olympic Games. I'm totally serious. And I'll elaborate on that one in a later post. OH! Another fun internet lurk to check out is Nate Sherwood's update on the Transworld Skateboarding Awards. Boy was trashed. With a camera.

Anyway.... OH HEY! check out Ctrl
Alt Del's coloring contest entry.:

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Fifteen Years. FIFTEEN Years. Congratulations Stereo.

if you're in San Francisco I would advise you to stop by and congratulate the guys. Milestone for sure. Wish I could be there.

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Never one to say I told you so...

...but I FUCKING told you so.


Remember Bruce Purcell? The dodgy guy behind Honolulu Streetwear that I had issue with after merely weeks working for him? Well, word on the street is he's totally disappeared.... and all of the employees he left behind are wondering if they will ever be paid.

I've actually gotten e-mail from people asking if I know anything. Do I?! How about this, Bruce Purcell, if that's even his real name, displayed borderline behavior since the beginning. The throwing out tons of cash before having any product or investors. The never wanting his photo to be taken. The odd way he would get super angry with waiters to the point where I would fear for their lives. The involving beautiful women with no real purpose. The shady ass requests to have his employees act as his "eyes and ears" for personal matters of his. Shit, man. The lucky ones peaced out before it got too crazy, but I'm seriously feeling sorry for the leftovers of this Phelony slash Larceny facade.

Don't get me wrong. There were some definite perks to being his skate team manager. I totally got to take the team on a trip to the big island that's still being talked about. Guaranteed you'll even see some of that footage in the APB video when it comes out. Don't even get me started on how rad it was to be his little personal spy/"production assistant" on Maui with all those Playboy models. I also won't even mention all the homeys I got involved that were able to get some good money loving out of the whole thing.

SO ya... word is he showed up on some wanted list in Florida for embezzlement and fraud. If anyone catches the photo please send it to me. I was never scared to voice my opinions about him. If I turn up missing ever, then I guess you know why.

Whatever happens... MAN hanging with those Playboy models was damn fun.

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Ron Jeremy. That Fucker.

I just learned on TMZ that Ron Jeremy is getting sued for doing exactly what he did to me.

The alleged incident occurred Saturday during the Exotica porn convention in Miami Beach. According to the police report obtained by TMZ, Leslie Sanchez approached Jeremy for an autograph, with her husband in tow.

Sanchez and her husband claim Jeremy was happy to oblige, but then he allegedly "reached towards the victim and stuck his hands under victim's blouse." Sanchez then claims Jeremy "reached inside her bra and grabbed her nipple. He pulled the nipple up and took out victim's breast and signed his name on it."

She allegedly even has photos of the indicent. ME? Well, I was posing in my usual fashion for a quick photo, not SUPER mad but slightly irritated with his hand placement. Immediately after the photo was taken he fucking pulled down my shirt and copped a feel. It's not like there wasn't tons of people around either. I felt lame. And angry. And did nothing. Because I am a wuss.



I actually hosted a party with him the next night. Not super stoked on it but man, it makes me miss the Wave. That photo blog is here. Note: I also went to jail this week. Yay!

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we took naumgay and keuntzng...

...to the swap meet.


the rest of that week is here... which includes shots from the Prada party and the ArtAfterDark event.

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faces in hollywood...

the face Derin fell in love with in hollywood...


the face I fell in love with in hollywood...


the rest of that week's story is here

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...the result of that Starbuck's Art Project

we collected our trash for the better part of a year. all those pineapple bran muffins and americanos proved to be the perfect medium. with the help of the office stapler.

the tree-top view in our new office provided the inspiration.

detailed view

we were even commissioned for an installation by famous hawaii casting agent Sue Larkin. i can't find those shots, but just trust me. starbucks trash is good shit, man.

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