On Thursday, September 1st, Oceanic Time Warner Cable, in partnership with Clear Channel Radio Hawaii, hosted a VIP party for 30 lucky qualifiers, to give away a once in a lifetime trip to attend one of the biggest music events in radio history: the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas.
Held at the Road Runner Music Hall, these 30 hopefuls (and their guests) waited with bated breath to find out if they would be 1 of the 3 lucky winners to attend the sold out concert event featuring some of the biggest names in music: Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, the Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, Carrie Underwood, and even local, Hawaii boy Bruno Mars, amongst many others.
Here are some scenes from that night.
Emcee Kutmaster Spaz shows off our IntelliGo hotspot before getting things started
KSSK personality Sweetie Pacarro doing giveaways with our guests
Star 101.9 personalities Hudson & Scotty B doing giveaways
The Kevin Jones Effect entertaining the crowd
And then it was time to announce the winners!
Our first winner cheers her head off
Our second winner is in shock
Our third winner can’t contain his excitement
Kutmaster Spaz with our three happy winners
These three winners and their guests will fly away for an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas, including airfare, hotel accommodations, and VIP access to the concert event happening on September 23rd & 24th. Congratulations!
I knew that title would get your attention. 8) But fo’ real! It’s legit… and just one of the many things I like chat with you guys about today. They are…
Oceanic Time Warner Cable Mobile is having a neat little photo contest that asks you to show off your “Hotspot” (wherever that may be) using a “My Hotspot” graphic. The winning photo will get a FREE Netbook and 1 year of Oceanic Mobile Internet service! Check it out here: http://andhere.com/hotspot/, but you better hurry because the contest ends this Friday!
With my first post up, I am now officially a Time Warner Cable approved blogger for the corporate TWC Untangled web site. Woo hoo, reppin’ us here in Hawaii baby! Here’s my first blog, covering a recent iHeartRadio VIP event at the Road Runner Music Hall.
Hawaii’s Backyard writer Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi wrote a feature article on the Rice Fest in this past Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Travel section). Great coverage!
I know I sound like a broken record about this, but as a co-founder of this event, I guess I feel it’s my duty to help spread the word. Hope y’all can make it down! 🙂 Look for all details in a post tomorrow…
Since mid-September, high schools across the state have been feverishly storyboarding, filming & editing home-grown videos in an attempt to answer the burning question:
“What does Road Runner do for you?”
Why?
Well, you see, the good people at Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Road Runner put together a neat-o competition called the Road Runner High School High Speed Video Contest in which the team with the winning video receives $10,000 for their school’s multimedia department. 10 Gs!?!? Holy Guacamole!!
Needless to say, the contest was a rousing success garnering over 16,700 total views on its Youtube channel during the short 2 month period. Of the over 30 entries, ten finalists were selected and invited to attend the live finale event – held last night at the Road Runner Music Hall – where this year’s winner would be crowned. Below are some of the sights and sounds of the evening. Check it…
Oceanic Time Warner Cable VP of Marketing Alan Pollock doubled as the entertaining emcee of the night. Here he is welcoming everybody to the event.
On the screen behind him was Kauai High School checking in via Skype. They were the first high school to present their video, which was entitled “Just About Everything”.
Kauai High team members: Kristen Sugihara, Meghan Fujimoto, Courtney Ochoco, and supervising teacher: Leah Aiwohi.
Next up was Hilo’s own St. Joseph School, who also checked in via Skype.
St. Joseph team members: Christian Borris, Kapualani Jacunski, William Scanlan-Leite, William Livingston, Evalani Walton, and supervising teacher: Nathan Yocum.
ARA’s entry was entitled “What Road Runner Does for American Renaissance Academy”.
American Renaissance Academy team members: Gray Goodhue, Erika Kang, Keean Braceros, Rachelle Wai, Lindsey Takeuchi, and supervising teacher: Wayne Grimes Hirakawa.
They presented their entry called “Go Granny, Go!”
Farrington High team members: Sugar Foronda, Jon Ibarra, Christopher Ellazar, Kristen Cabang, Marie Claire Magallanes, and supervising teacher: Christine Ho.
Perennial football powerhouse Kahuku High was up next. Presenting their video was members of their media department.
Kahuku High team members: Pono Requilman, Jasmine Hall-To’omalatai, Leialoha White, Sashakoko Lee, Zion Barcina, and supervising teacher: Debra Barenaba.
Myron B Thompson Academy team members: Honey Polido, Benjamin Menashe, Mark Kahuena, Nathaniel Menashe, Jayson Hayworth, and supervising teachers: Mr. Mike Pai and Mr. Danny Pai.
Waipahu High team members: Rion Takasaki, Masahiro Atsumi, Kevin Marin, Alisha Vendiola, Mark Pilar, and supervising teachers: Lori Murakami and Johann Montero.
Then, it was time for the judges to submit their scores. Here’s special guest judge Tony Silva – from OC16’s Da Bruddahs & Friends – critiquing a video.
‘Grats also to the team from Mililani High School (“Wake Up Call”)! With 26 points, they were the first (Road) Runner up and each won their own netbook to go along with their 2nd place plaque!
Late yesterday afternoon, my homey at the Star-Advertiser asked me if I had a blog ready to go for today as they were planning on posting my mug in the print version of the paper again. Apparently, the demand to see my face again was that overwhelming.
CHEEYEAHRIGHT!
I wish. But yeah, a fella can dream right?
Regardless, bruddah ovah hea had to be ready with a blog, so I did what any red-blooded American would do in a crisis situation. Cry.
After wiping away my tears, I was able to regroup and figure out what I was going to blog about…
Last week Thursday, Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Road Runner Mobile held their Official IntelliGo Launch Party – at the Road Runner Music Hall – to introduce their newest wireless product to the public: The IntelliGo. The IntelliGo is their shiny/sparkly wireless device that acts as a personal mobile hotspot, providing a WiFi signal for up to 5 of your friends. (Click here for more info about the IntelliGo).
Various members of the media (both traditional and social media), current customers, contest winners, etc. were invited to this exclusive event which included free giveaways, ono kine grindz, and live entertainment from two killer local bands: Busekrus and Elephant! Check out the scenes and commentary below!
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Sixty bags of goodies went just like that! Apologies to the late comers who weren’t able to score one! 😦
60 bags of goodies to be given away to everyone who attended
And here’s a shot of the bags (with the IntelliGo poster in the background) from one of @ParkRat‘s tweets!
Photo from @ParkRat’s tweet
What kinda goodies were inside? Check it!
Goodie Bag Contents
The calm before the storm. Busekrus doing sound check before the Road Runner Music Hall gets packed!
Busekrus doing sound check
What we were all there for: the IntelliGo (and Road Runner Mobile) signage.
IntelliGo and Road Runner Mobile signage
The Road Runner Mobile logo getting some air-time on the big screen.
Road Runner Mobile logo on the big screen
The scene from the other side of the Hall: Two staffers relaxing before show time.
Big Mahalo to Lanakila Pacific’s Xpress Chefs for doing an amazing job with the eats! Based on what I was hearing, the Stuffed Mushroom Caps were probably the biggest hit of the night. 🙂
Catered food from Xpress Chefs
@johngarcia snaps a twitpic of the stage just before showtime. The anticipation mounts!
Photo from @johngarcia’s tweet
With the room packed, we were ready to go! Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s VP of Marketing Alan Pollock kicks off the show!
VP of Marketing Alan Pollock with some introductory statements
Standing room only! Busekrus starts the night with some acoustic sounds.
Busekrus on stage
Here’s @johngarcia‘s shot of Busekrus from the front. Yep, that’s @Mel808 tweeting away on her iPad.
Photo from @johngarcia’s tweet
@OceanicCable gets in on the (Tweeting) act with this crowd shot.
Photo from @OceanicCable’s tweet
Just outside, the media conducted one on one interviews with some of our guests. Here’s Maribel getting ready for her interview.
Back inside, @ParkRat and @maliachu get their hands on the IntelliGo!
Photo from @HawaiiIRL’s Facebook
Then it was time for the second band to take the stage: Elephant. Wow! Lead singer Kevin Jones (who, oh-by-the-way, is also a Star 101.9 personality) has gots some serious pipes!
Elephant’s front man Kevin Jones belting away
All too soon, it was over! Check out @HawaiiIRL‘s hilarious cartoon about the long hallways from the Road Runner Music Hall (featuring @Melissa808, @Mel808, and @johngarcia)! LOL!
Photo from @HawaiiIRL’s tweet
A big Mahalo to Oceanic Time Warner Cable’s VP of Marketing Alan Pollock and Road Runner Mobile’s Wireless Director Kiman Wong for helping to make this event a possibility. Also to the Marketing department (both locally and at the corporate level) for donating all of the great gifts and giveaways. Big ups to James Avis and Kevin Jones of Clear Channel Communications for the support, as always, and to Caroline Witherspoon and Malia Chung (and Marichris Diga) of Becker Communications for your media support as well. A special thanks to all of our guests spanning the local community… from our current Road Runner Mobile customers, to Hawaii’s social media leaders like @Bytemarks @DigitalSignGuy @HawaiiRealty @johngarcia @ktpoy @Mel808 @Melissa808 @ParkRat @peterkay and @ryankanno. Much love everyone!
* For more information about Road Runner Mobile, please see rrmobile.oceanic.com or AndHere.com.
* Tune in to thehall.tv in a few days to watch the encoded version of the event in its entirety.
* Check out the 3:11 mark of the following video to see @Melissa808 reveal the swag that was given away that night.
First up. Gotsta give props where props are due. Bruddah kuya.d held it down the last two days with his 209 garnering WIH post. Holy smokes! Much love to all of you who participated in the convo as well! And with that said…
Jason Mraz‘s song “I’m Yours” (whose popularity can actually be traced back to Hawaii’s support) is probably one of the most over played/over done songs in recent history. We’ve seen it on American Idol, all over Youtube, and our very own band Ten Feet even covered it.
Not that that’s a bad thing. Mraz is probably flattered that so many people enjoy his music enough to want to redo it.
Jason Mraz – “I’m Yours”
One band I’ve been grooving out to lately is this a capella band called Straight No Chaser and they have a version of “I’m Yours” (which includes an Iz-ish version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”). Pretty cool. Check it.
Straight No Chaser – “I’m Yours/Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
And let’s not forget the cute, little kid who sang “I’m Yours” in this viral hit:
Little Kid on Youtube – “I’m Yours”
So today’s “Fave Friday” be on that very topic: Cover Songs. Rather than just listing the song name and the various artists who covered it though, let’s make things fun and a little more interactive.
Talk to us!
* Write the name of a covered song and wait for the next person commenting to guess who the original artist, as well as those bands who covered it, was/were.
* Write the name of a band, and wait for the next person commenting to guess the covered song(s) and who the original artist(s) was/were.
* Write the name of a song you wish would be covered and by who.
* Link to your favorite version of “I’m Yours”
* Anything else you like add.
K, your turn! 🙂
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Happy VHO7V Friday! Have a good weekend and I’ll see y’all on Monday! 🙂
My co-worker was laughing at me the other day when I told her that I’m really into Rockapella. Some also find it hard to believe that I dig on country music. What other secrets can we pull outta me? We shall see. But not without y’all sharin’ too!
Flo Rida or Twista – there’s just somethin’ about Flo Rida’s beat that makes me wanna get up and dance. Twista’s flow is insane! Respect.
Jason Mraz – cool cat with mellow, catchy grooves. Seeing that he’s a genuinely sincere/nice person when we met him at the Road Runner Music Hall just solidified my respect and admiration for him.
Colbie Caillat – kinda da kine for me to admit this, but sistah’s got some good kine jams. I like that she’s from Hawaii and that she seems to still be grounded after all of her success. Trying to line up an interview with her one of these months. Wish me luck!
Rockapella – can’t think of any other a capella group as talented as these bruthas! I need them to redo their lyrics to “Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego?” and sing “Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto?”! 😛
O.A.R. – My alt rock ear gets its fill with this group. Love the brass infusion! 8)
How about the local acts?
Ekolu – Lukela Keala’s voice is a thing of beauty!
Koa ‘Uka – ultimate party song band. Makes me wanna skank. I still wanna see them in person.
Justin Young – soulful voice with a laid-back, humble personality. Deservedly goin’ places now that he’s rollin’ with sistah Colbie.
Na Leo – spine-tingling harmonies, memory inducing hits. Don’t get no bettah.
Fiji – his live appearances are like no other! He knows how to get a crowd going fo sho!
Share your fave groups below yo!
P.S. Wish me luck in the Tinman this Sunday y’all! 🙂 The bummahz part is that we play the Advertiser that night in our Media Basketball league and my legs will be shot. D’oh! If we lose, I won’t hear the end of it from Queenie, WesNaks and Bruddah Kwon (and maybe even StevieT! 8) ) LOL!
Happy VHO7V Friday y’all! Have a good weekend and I’ll see y’all on Monday! 🙂
With a whoppin’ 7 comments on yesterday’s post (2 of which were mine!), I decided to postpone the oh so popular wedding related posts to next week (while I’m on vacation). That way, I won’t have to be in front of a computer when I cry my eyes out at the lack of comments. Haha! I keed. But seriously, let’s get back to some hard core postin’ shall we?
The prizes were compliments of Oceanic Time Warner Cable, the delicious food was catered both by Creations In Catering and the gang at Clear Channel Communications, and the entertainment was by a new group called Onward. The lead singer’s voice (Chad?) was pretty killah! Here are some scenes from the night (mahalo to Kiman Wong for the shots!)!
Stage at the Road Runner Music Hall
Some of the Night’s Prizes
Pupu Starter: Poke
Pupu Starter: Cocktail Shrimp
Onward, Rocking the stage at the Road Runner Music Hall
Shout outs!
* Mahalo to Charmaine and the gang at Creations In Catering for putting together an amazing menu for my peeps.
* Mahalo to the man Kevin Jones and the rest of the staffers at Clear Channel Communications, for helping to coordinate such a successful night!
* Mahalo to the killah reggae band Onward. You guys were awesome!
* Mahalo to Gwen, Maribel, Kiman, Alan, Noreen, Matt and everyone else at Oceanic Time Warner Cable, for helping to make this night possible!
On Friday, we headed over to the Road Runner Music Hall to check out one of my favorite artists: Jason Mraz. Now I know it’s very unbecoming for one dude to be a fan of another dude, but I’m comfortable enough with my dudehood to admit that I am indeed a superfan of this uber talented brutha. Not only is he a virtual wordsmith, can get down on the guitar, and can sang like nobody’s business, he has a personality to boot. After meeting him, he also seems as genuine and sincere as they come.
Before taking the stage, he actually took the time to go around the room and greet everyone in person. He made small talk, signed autographs, took photos and most importantly, was real and made you feel important. On stage, he went all out and probably sang longer than he should have (in a good way). He was also very appreciative of everything and everyone (fans, radio stations, etc.) It was such a breath of fresh air to see an artist of his caliber not tainted at all.
If it’s possible, I think I’ve become an even bigger fan of Mr. A-Z. You could even say I’m Mrazmerized.
Now, before you think I have a major man-crush on him, lemme get back to my power tools, grunting and shaving my back hairs. *grin*
Since mid-September, high schools across the state have been feverishly storyboarding, filming & editing home-grown videos in an attempt to answer the burning question:
On Friday, we headed over to the 
World Wide Ed 