Corn syrup, carbs, and crapola at Safeway

Of course I didn’t remember those coupons in my pocket until I was buried deep in the checkout line. The coupons that came in the mail from Safeway: one for 20 percent off of meat and seafood; one for 20 percent off produce -- a great (and rare) deal. Safeway must be overstocked. I should really be taking advantage of that. (cont.)

I looked down at my purchases shamefully. Not a single one even qualified. My items: bread, generic lunch meat, cheese, coffee, soft drinks, jelly, cookies -- mostly the makings of a bag lunch (I’ve recently been “lured” back into laboring and I need to bring one). Money is tight. These are the rations of a dietary-survivalist who knows he must toil in the days ahead. That’s my excuse anyways.

I looked at what the woman ahead of me was purchasing. She didn’t have any fruits, vegetables, fresh meat, or seafood either. She was buying mostly noodles in big, boldly-blue rectangular boxes and a few discreetly marked Asian spices. In turn, the woman behind me -- with two notably well-behaved young children -- had in her cart a cornucopia of various junk foods, sugary cereals, and other nonperishable items. 

No fresh food was in sight. 

Perhaps those soft, brown, motherly eyes were drawing the same conclusions as my own. Or perhaps she read my mind. Or perhaps still, a cautionary umbra of diabetes had settled over the entire store. But as I packed my purchases (I brought my own bag not that it’s a big deal or anything), she made a comment. It was so transparent and honest, I wanted to hug her.

“How are you?” the cashier asked.

“Conflicted,” she said looking down with a sense of worry (Did I mention she was pregnant too?). “I’m seeing way too many brightly colored boxes full of sweet things in my grocery cart and not enough green, fruit-and-vegetable things.”

I wanted to reach in my pocket, pull out the coupon for 20 percent off all produce, and hand it to her. I wanted to encourage her to go back and reevaluate the consequences of everything she ate. I wanted to tell her to break the cycle of junk food while her kids were young enough to have their eating habits impressed upon.

But I didn’t -- of course I didn’t. That would be rude. And it wouldn't have mattered. She knew. She wanted those things too, but subsisting off of carby, over-processed, liquid-sugar-soaked crap is affordable. Simple as that. Based on my own purchases, I was in no spot to advise anyways. 

Instead, I walked out with the beep…beep…beeping of the check-outs echoing in compartments of my mind which I prefer to ignore. Maybe Safeway was trying to tell us something: Whether because of Hawaii's isolation and a lack of local produce, nutritional education, or funds to do so, not enough people are buying fresh foods these days.

The coupons are valid until Sept. 18th. I hope I remember to use mine.

Oh the curious things you must’ve seen, Doc…

The Hawaiian sun may warm your skin, but the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park in Honolulu’s Chinatown is enough to make it crawl at times. Shrubby, brushy-looking ferns, foliage, and patches of grass match the dirty green reflecting pool. The rumbling, bumbling noise of buses and bums distract from the idyllic sounds of falling water. Even the pigeons bathing in the slimy swamp look down-and-out. (cont.)

Just imagine what late-night atrocities the bronze-eyed statue of a 13-year-old Yat-sen must have witnessed from his shadowy nook in the corner of the park at Hotel and Bethel. If he could talk, what would he say?

Yat-sen came to Honolulu from Zhongshan, China in 1879 to stay with his brother. He quickly adopted many Western ideologies, returned to China, and led an overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Many who walk past this spot everyday don't even know that this Chinese revolutionary --  first president and founding father of the Republic of China -- was educated and learned English at 'Iolani School. 

“This is my Hawaii… here I was brought up and educated; and it was here that I came to know what modern, civilized governments were like and what they mean.”

These days, flies amass in large clouds around the rubbish bins and houseless who mill on the corner. The smell of designer perfume coalesces eerily with urine as various pros and cons drift in and out of the scenery.  

There’s a duck floating around in the water, staring up with greedy eyes. If she could talk, she’d say, “How about a few crumbs, bah?”  Instead, she dives down and takes a nip of whatever murky, toxic muck lies at the bottom of the pool. 

It’s hard not to wonder what Dr. Sun Yat-sen would think of this place today -- the derelict park dedicated to him, Hawaii, and America in general -- as his statue, a bronze honu, and a few stone lions look on in silence at the bizarre beauty that is Chinatown, Honolulu today. 

Downtown @ HiSAM is closing?

Turns out, Governor Abercrombie is kinda fulla shibai... surprised?

Months ago, at the ceremonious opening of the Hawaii State Art Museum's (HiSAM) new sculpture garden, the 'ol Gov was waxing hopeful about the museum's popular lunch spot, Downtown. I was there.

An excerpt from my May, 4th post:

Interestingly, the governor also predicted that the HiSAM will become a centerpiece of Downtown, even hinting that the popular lunch destination therein -- Downtown, owned by local-ag advocate Ed Kenney -- will soon become a full-blown restaurant. “I’m absolutely certain that Downtown will be serving dinner very shortly,” he said, adding, “This will be the toughest reservation in town."

According to a story by Pacific Business News (posted one hour ago), Downtown chef and owner Ed Kenney couldn't work out a favorable deal with the state to renew the restaurant's lease. The story quotes a letter placed on Downtown's main counter (which I'm too lazy to go check out myself) as saying:

“After numerous attempts to renegotiate a favorable second five-year lease term we have reached an impasse and we will serve our last lunch on Saturday, Sept. 15.” 

Obviously Abercrombie had nothing to do with this -- at least, I would highly doubt it. He's way too busy with more important things to care which resaurateur is leasing space at HiSAM. He really was talkin' all lovey-dovey about the place though. Surely he could do something about this lease situation...

He should.

Still, there's also a chance that Kenney is bluffing, trying to pressure the state-owned museum into giving him cheaper rent lest he decide to take his business elsewhere. Perhaps not the most likely scenario, but I had to mention it!

Mostly, I just wanted to point out Abercrombie's flip.  

Use your head (and feet) to get a seat on TheBus

I was heading to a meeting in Waiks, standing amid a crowd of people at Hotel and Bishop the other afternoon, and looking on with disdain at the long, loose lines of people snaking half-way down the block waiting to board every bus that stopped. 

I began to imagine my forthcoming bus ride: standing in a crowded aisle between an old Chinese woman with like six bags of groceries and some guy on his way home from work -- his stinky, sweaty armpit emanating B.O. straight into my olfactory... ugh. 

I seem to find myself in some variation of this situation every time I ride TheBus these days. One reason why I rarely leave Town.

But on this particular day I was weary, didn't feel like standing, and was reluctant to accept the fact that I had no choice. I walked a block in the Ewa direction to Hotel and Bethel...

There was literally no one waiting there. I got on the bus, took a seat in back, and watched with glee as the masses piled in a block later. I couldn't help but feel pleased with myself. I'll never catch a bus at Hotel and Bishop again.

Riders of TheBus: If you're waiting at a crowded stop and you have time, just walk to the previous one. You'll get on before the crowd; you'll get a seat. 

Hawaiians would call this move akamai. 

You can also look oh-so-selfless when you have to give that seat up for an old man who won't even smile or say thanks for doing so. 

Cayetano is hospitalized for bleeding ulcer--get well soon Ben!

This is one of those rare occasions where I can take no real pleasure in even the possibility of being right.

Nearly four months ago, immediately after the second mayoral debate, I posted some comments and analysis up on this blog. I was mostly noting an interesting dynamic during the debate, but I also touched on the fact the former Governor Ben Cayetano was most likely being worn down by all the energy that goes into campaigning. Anyone who has been exposed in any way to a political campaign can agree that everyone involved is under a lot of stress.

Turns out even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then. According to a statement released a few hours ago by the Cayetano campaign:

On the advice of his doctor, former governor Ben Cayetano was admitted to Queens Medical Center late Sunday after he experienced symptoms of a bleeding ulcer. Preliminary tests confirmed the bleeding ulcer.

Cayetano will remain hospitalized until further tests and corrective surgery are completed. Barring complications, he is expected to be discharged by Wednesday.

The term "bleeding ulcer" is a bit vague. There are lots of types of ulcers. Most likely though, we're speaking of a peptic ulcer, most commonly referred to as a stomach ulcer. Causes are varied but generally attributed to some type of bacterium, regular use of pain relievers, or other meds. Undue stress can also contribute in many different ways to stomach issues; most people can agree on that.

Whatever reason for the health issues, I sincerely hope you get well soon Mr. Cayetano.