Supersize Me

I’ve been sitting here with a blank look on my face for about 10 minutes now. There’s a lot of pressure to come up with that ever-so captivating topic for my first, “real” post. This is THE post that what will set the tone for what will be the greatest blog of all time. *cue evil organ music* Muhahaha! Ok, so I’m getting WAAAAY ahead of myself, but I hope you can empathize with the angst I face.

I thought about covering the MMA scene to start, but I’m really not sure how many fans of blood are out there yet (or ever?). Then, I thought about delving into the world of reality shows. What better way to start than to use the words Flavor Flaaaaaaav and Justinbobby in the same sentence right?

Instead of stressing myself out thinking about what will work best in the world of the yet unknown, I decided to start personal and feel all y’all out. From there, I can hopefully gauge what the interests are and write accordingly. In reading some of the other posts, I noticed that polls or open ended question-type posts worked pretty well, so let’s go with that shall we?

[start of real blog (in case you don’t want to waste your time with the above 😛 )]

So recently, our company completed a weight loss challenge. The winning team lost a whoppin’ 12.95% in body percentage, with one guy losing like 70 pounds. Good lord! Our team, on the other hand, didn’t do so hot (6.66%), but I was miraculously able to gut out 21 pounds. OK, so my weigh-in weight was an inflated amount, thanks to burgers and shakes the week before, but still, for dis skinny dude, 21 big ones ain’t bad right?

I wanted to lose as much as I could during the contest, but in the back of my mind, I knew that once it was over, your boy was gonna pig out and get back to normal. Sounds easy enough right? I guess I didn’t count on one thing. My metabolism is not cooperating with me.

Damn you metabolism!

The first 5 pounds were cake to gain back (no pun intended). It’s the next 5-7 pounds (where I probably should be at) that is giving me a heckuva time. While most plateau going down in weight, bruddah ova here is stuck going back up. What to do, what to do.

So my question to you cyber-peeps out there is how do you like to pound? I’m particularly interested in food that makes you go ughhhh! (2 bonus points for those of you who caught that C&C Music Factory reference)

I need to gain my weight (and sanity) back, and would like your best Kanak Attack tips on how to do so. Fatten me up folks, puhleeeeaz. 😛

Tonight’s Reality Show Lineup set to record on my DVR:

• American Idol (Top 5 Elimination Show: One of the five finalists is voted off; Neil Diamond and Natasha Bedingfield perform) – 8PM-9PM on KHON2
  – I’m picking Jason Castro to leave us tonight. You?
• The Ultimate Fighter (Jeremy May’s behavior rubs his fellow fighters the wrong way, putting him in the cross hairs as a potential opponent for Team Forrest; a controversial result causes one coach to unleash his fury.) – 7PM-8PM on SpikeTV
  – Rampage goes on a rampage. I can’ t wait to see it!
• E:60 7PM-8PM on ESPN2
  – No program info yet, but we shall see…

Lastly, no fo-get to give me some feedback on what you want me to talk about, yo!

Blogging for the Advertiser

I’m happy to announce that I’ve been “hired” today as a feature blogger on (what has to be) the most visited web site in Hawaii: The Honolulu Advertiser. It’s pretty exciting to be able to share the randomness that goes through my noggin’ with a very large readership. The blog is titled, you guessed it, World Wide Ed, and will be touching on topics ranging from MMA (and other sports in general), reality TV stuff and anything Hawaii (food, music, events, etc.). Check it out when you have some time, willya!?

worldwideed.honadvblogs.com
(World Wide Ed blog on the Honolulu Advertiser web site)

Aloooooha!

As I was wrapping up things here in my cubicle, ready to check out, I got the message that forever changed my life. Well, my day at least. It has been confirmed that I will indeed be one of the featured bloggers for you Honolulu Advertiser readers. Wow, what an honor. I just hope I can hold up my end of the bargain. (Thankfully, if I run into some trouble and get a mean case of writer’s block, I can always yell over this felt-y wall to fellow employee and established Advertiser blogger Dave Vinton for his words of wisdom. Much love Dave!) 🙂

So without further ado, I guess I’ll commence with my obligatory welcome message to y’all.

As my bio snippet says, I’m a 30*cough* year old who will randomly babble about just about anything. My interests include sports (mostly MMA, baseball, basketball, and football), nonsense reality shows, web “shtuff,” and anything and everything Hawaii (food, music, places, etc.), so you can bet your bum that I will indeed be babbling about these quality topics going forward. Flavor of Love, Kimbo Slice, Jose Canseco… Quality, I know you just can’t wait for!

Side Note: The editor wants my posts to be testosterone laden, so I will try my best to make them as hairy and as sweaty as possible. Stay tuned a-ight?

Wowie In Maui – Part III

Part I | Part II | Part III

In this third and final part in the Wowie in Maui series, we start our adventures in the clouds. After soaring through the air at Skyline Eco Adventures last month, we head to the highest of elevation at nearby Haleakala National Park to get a different perspective on heights, this time, while on solid ground.

Haleakala Visitor Center

As most of us already know, the best way to see the summit is at sunrise. So set your rooster for early o’clock so you can wake up and head there while it’s still dark. Depending on the time of year (check local sunrise info), the sun will come up at different times. Plan for a drive of about an hour and a half (from Kahului) prior to that sunrise time. You should probably plan a little more than that if you want a good spot against the railing (front row view).

Front Row Seating at Haleakala Visitor Center

(Tip – Weather conditions up top will be non-Hawaii-like – typically 20-30 degrees colder than sea level – so be sure to bring layers of blankets and warm clothing to protect yourself from the elements.).

If you can get through the early morning wake-up, long, windy drive, and frigid temperatures, you will take away the breathless memories from Haleakala that was meant just for you.

Sunrise at Haleakala (animation)

Haleakala National Park (map) (808) 572-4400

As you come down Haleakala Highway (Highway 378) poke your head into the Sunrise Market and Protea Farm (turn on Ponimoi Place). It’s a nice little gift shop where you can refuel on snacks and drinks as well as send Protea Flower arrangements to a friend or loved one. There is even a Protea Farm in the back that you can walk through for free.

Flower at Sunrise Protea Farm

Sunrise Protea Gift Shop 16157 Haleakala Highway Kula, HI 96790 (map) (808) 876-0200

Another interesting stop for omiyage (and I should have covered this last month when we were in Kula) is Tedeschi Winery/Vineyard. You can stop here and have free wine tasting (9am-5pm daily) as well as guided tours (10:30am, 1:30pm and 3pm).

Wine Selection at Tedeschi Winery/Vineyard

Tedeschi Winery/Vineyard Highway 37 Kula, HI 96790 (map) (808) 878-6058

You can’t talk Maui, without mentioning the 68 miles of twisty, windy, narrowness that is Hana Highway. So let’s take that dangerous, but scenic road, and see what we find along the way.

We first stopped at Kaumahina State Wayside, a small picnicking rest stop with exotic plants and scenic views of the northeast Maui coastline.

Kaumahina State Wayside (map) Open 6am-6pm Daily

We continue East and stop at a scenic point to snap some shots of Hana Highway.

We continue East until we pass mile marker 31 and turn left onto Ulaino Road. There, we will find The Hana Lava Tube at Ka`eleku Caverns, a self-guided, lava tube/cave tour, complete with stalagmites, stalactites and other naturally formed spectacles. The tube was formed naturally when lava used to flow through the earth. Today, it is an $11.95 tour of yesteryear.

The Hana Lava Tube at Ka`eleku Caverns – Visitor Check In

The Hana Lava Tube at Ka`eleku Caverns – Sign

Descending into the abyss, the mouth of the lava tube.

Approaching darkness. Thank goodness for the provided flashlights.

Ropey Pahoehoe Explanation

Lava walls resembling brownies

Volcano Vent Sign

Volcano Vent

Duck Under Sign

Head’s Up! – Duck Under

Beyond the duck under, you’ll find interesting lava/rock formations…

And then the tour ends.

Stop Here! Tour End Sign

So we turn around and head back, but not before posing for the camera.

Posing before heading back to the beginning

And then, you see the light. [insert heavenly “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” sound]

The steps back to flat earth (and sunlight) were never sweeter.

Steps out of the Hana Lava Tube at Ka`eleku Caverns

The Hana Lava Tube at Ka`eleku Caverns 205 Ulaino Road Hana, HI 96713 (map) (808) 248-7308

Nothing better than worshipping this long-time-no-see sunlight by hitting up the beach, so it’s down the street we go to Wai`anapanapa State Park.

Wai`anapanapa State Park Sign

In addition to picnic and camping areas, caves and a blow hole, this state park also includes a beautiful black sand beach.

Black Sand Beach at Wai`anapanapa State Park

Wai`anapanapa State Park (map)

And there it is. The entire island of Maui, jam-packed into three months of words and imagery. Hope you enjoyed the ride. At least enough to give you a Wowie in Maui, natural high…

Maui no ka oi!

Part I | Part II | Part III