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Meetup on Community Engagement Tomorrow

June 28th, 2010 · Events, Social Media, Technology, The Web

If you build it, will they come? Today, the technology needed to create an online social network can be found anywhere, but filling it with an active, loyal community still takes something special. Tomorrow, I’m honored to say I’ll be moderating a conversation about “Community Engagement on the Web.” We’ll talk with the people behind several community-oriented websites, and get their insights into what works, what doesn’t, and what lies ahead.

The panel includes:

  • Daniel Leuck of TechHui, a thriving science and technology social network that just held its third-annual conference.
  • Randy Ching, president and head photographer for Civil Beat, an ambitious online news service launched by Peer News earlier this year.
  • John Tapper, e-marketing manager for Farmers Insurance Hawaii. Hawaii’s largest auto insurance provider has launched the My Farmers Hawaii community site.
  • Dan Zelikman, director of digital marketing for the Anthology Marketing Group and a social media marketing powerhouse.

The event is being hosted by Farmers at their fourth-floor offices in Restaurant Row (Six Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana Blvd.), with free validated parking. Check in begins at 3:30 p.m., with the conversation starting at 4 p.m. There should be plenty of time for Q&A, and afterward, there will be a pau hana tweetup with drinks and pupus featuring baked goodies from Liliha Bakery.

I hope you can join us! You can RSVP on Twitter and on Facebook, and please let your friends and colleagues know they’re invited as well.

If you can’t be there in person, the meetup should also be streamed live on the web.

For the latest, be sure to follow everyone on Twitter: @dleuck from @TechHui, @randyching from @CivilBeat, @tapperj from @FarmersHawaii, and @danzelikman from @AnthologyGroup. And don’t forget @LilihaBakery!

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Honolulu Among ‘Recession-Proof’ Cities

June 28th, 2010 · Business, Hawaii

BrookingsHonolulu was named among the top ten most ‘recession-proof’ cities in the country, according to a new MetroMonitor report out of The Brookings Institution. The capital of the Aloha State ranked tenth,  sandwiched between Texas cities El Paso and Houston. Albany, New York took top honors.

The report examined 100 large metropolitan areas for stable labor and housing markets and robust economic activity. (CNNMoney.com pulled out the Top 21.) Honolulu was noted for seeing strong job growth (the only metropolitan area outside of the U.S. south to gain jobs two quarters in a row), as well as for having recovered its “pre-recession levels of output.”

According to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Friday, the jobless rate in Honolulu was 5.2 percent last month, with employment in Hawaii as a whole down to 6.7 percent. This compared to the national average of 9.7 percent.

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Tippr Coming to Honolulu

June 22nd, 2010 · Business, Events, The Web

Tippr Honolulu

Tippr, one of the web’s hottest “group buying” sites, is setting up shop in Honolulu. Tippr already offers deals in eight other U.S. cities, including New York and San Francisco, and it will launch its Honolulu program on Friday with a launch party at Honolulu Design Center.

Mashable’s Pete Cashmore singled out group buying as a likely million-dollar web trend. And like similar sites, Tippr puts out great offers from local businesses… provided enough people join in on each deal. For example, you could get 50 percent off designer cupcakes, if 100 people buy in.

Tippr promises “discounts of 50-90% off at your favorite restaurants, bars, sweet shops, salons, spas, fitness studios, and more.” But Tippr’s secret sauce is that its deals are “accelerated,” meaning that if even more people buy in, the deal gets even better. So if 200 people go for the cupcake deal, everyone could save 70 percent, instead.

Daily deals are sent out via an e-mail newsletter, and you can sign up for Honolulu already. There’s also a @TipprHonolulu acount on Twitter, and a Tippr Honolulu page on Facebook.

Friday’s launch party is being put together by my friend Sakara Blackwell, who’s widely known for awesome events and who was key in organizing the big “LOST” weekend in January. There’ll be complimentary pupus and hosted cocktails and live music by DJ Rob Boller. So RSVP while you still can!

Tippr is going up against Groupon, the 800-lb. gorilla in the group buying space, and PLAYHawaii.com, which are already offering Honolulu deals. And LivingSocial is preparing to launch here, too. But Tippr has been on a roll, acquiring smaller sites and bulking up its patent portfolio. Fortunately, the competition can only be a good thing for local bargain hunters.

So sign up for Tippr, and Groupon, and PLAYHawaii.com, and LivingSocial, and get a ton of great deals delivered to your inbox every day.

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HMSA, Bankoh Go Mobile

June 22nd, 2010 · Business, Technology

Two of Hawaii’s largest companies have jumped into the mobile space. HMSA this week launched Mobile HMSA, and Bank of Hawaii unveiled its iPhone app.

HMSA MobileThe HMSA offering is a mobile-optimized website that appears at hmsa.com automatically (and only) for people using iPhones, Android phones, and the Palm Pre — with support for BlackBerry devices coming soon.

You can find a participating doctor or facility, catch up on HMSA’s various social media accounts (five Twitter accounts, plus a blog and YouTube channel), and look up discounts from businesses that participate in HMSA365.

The HMSA mobile site has no login or account-related features, so there’s no confidential information involved. I was curious at first as to why it wanted to know my location, but its GPS support allows you find the people and places nearest you. For example, if I were an HMSA member, I could get 20 percent off at Fit For Life, 0.44 miles away.

And if I were an HMSA member, I’d probably also know the name of my plan, which unfortunately you need to specify before you can look up doctors, dentists, pharmacies or facilities.

I think it would be interesting to be able to browse all doctors or facilities, or to look up a doctor I know by name to see if he works with HMSA. It’d sure be a great way to show off the size of the HMSA network to non-members like me.

Bank of Hawaii iPhone AppMeanwhile, Bank of Hawaii has invested specifically in the Apple ecosystem with its iPhone and iPod Touch app.

The app is directed primarily at Bank of Hawaii customers, providing them with a streamlined way to log in to online banking and perform basic banking tasks, from checking balances and recent transactions to transferring funds between accounts and paying bills.

Connectivity is via the app, rather than over the web, so I’m not sure how users can independently verify that their information is traveling via a secure connection… apart from the “Secure Mobile Session” lock icon that appears in the lower left corner of the app regardless of whether you’re connected to an account or not.

The app also takes advantage of GPS-capable devices by allowing users to find the nearest ATMs and bank branches. And you can do this without a Bank of Hawaii account. So even though I’m no fan of Bank of Hawaii, it’s still a useful feature because my credit union piggybacks on their ATM network.

According to the Apple App Store, the Bank of Hawaii iPhone app was developed by MShift, which specializes in mobile technologies for banks (and which has deployed similar apps for M&I Bank and Fairwinds Credit Union in Florida.

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Bookmarks for June 21st

June 21st, 2010 · Links

When I’m not blogging, I’m browsing. Here are sites and pages that I bookmarked on June 21st:

Check out all my bookmarks on Delicious.

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iSpencer Saved My Wife’s iPhone

June 19th, 2010 · Business, People, Technology

My wife got caught up in a stampede at Costco this afternoon, and her iPhone 3G landed on the concrete floor, screen first. It shattered, tiny pieces immediately lost forever. Impeccable timing for an iPhone disaster, with the iPhone 4 due out on Thursday. I had planned to get the iPhone 4 for myself, and she was happy to inherit my 3GS, so I was about ready to write it off.

Except it wasn’t exactly a cheap gadget. And my daughter had been looking forward to being its next owner.

I remembered that one of my coworkers had recently stumbled across a small local shop that did iPhone repairs as well as helped with “jailbreaking” and “unlocking” them — hacking the iPhone to run unapproved software, or to run on T-Mobile instead of AT&T.  The name of the shop was iSpencer Hawaii, run by sole proprietor Spencer Machida.

My wife handed me her shattered iPhone at around 3 p.m. By 4 p.m., I’d found Spencer’s website, which listed several repairs with prices, and offered an online booking form. Skeptical about just how “live” the site was, I requested the earliest available 3G screen repair appointment at 5:30 p.m. Ten minutes later, I received notification that my appointment was confirmed. Impressed, I headed into town.

iSpencer Hawaii is located at 831 Pohukaina Street, off Ward Avenue next to Pipeline Cafe. The tiny shop is located in Suite E of Building A of Pohukaina Center, and it isn’t very easy to identify. I’d just spotted a tiny Apple sticker on the window when Spencer opened the door for me. The walls were lined with iPhone accessories, and near the door, a desk covered with iPhone parts.

I gave Spencer my wife’s shattered iPhone, and he immediately started pulling it apart. His website said a 3G screen replacement would take ten minutes, but he was done in four minutes. It happened so fast, I felt like I needed to stick around for a little more small talk so my trip would feel more worth the time. He said he uses new, not used, parts in his repair, and sure enough, the new screen looked great. I paid $80, thanked him, and headed home.

Three hours after my wife thought she’d lost her iPhone for good, she got it back, good as new.

Yes, I know, I could have fixed the screen myself. Parts can be had for cheap on eBay, instructions are all over the web, and the required tools seemed limited to a jewelry screwdriver and a suction cup. But it would’ve taken me a nervous hour or two, and I’d have to wait for the replacement screen. There are also several repair-by-mail services out there with prices closer to $50, but again, there’s the wait. And sadly, the web is chock full of horror stories of eBay, Craigslist, and website scammers preying on frantic iPhone owners.

Spencer is a local guy you can visit in person, by appointment, and has obviously built a strong reputation for fast, friendly, quality work. He offers advice and help via e-mail, often for free. And he definitely made a believer out of me.

Cracked screen? Busted speaker? Hate AT&T but want an iPhone? Check out iSpencer Hawaii. And tell him Ryan sent you!

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The Big Used Book Sale is Back

June 19th, 2010 · Events, Family

Friends of the Library Book SaleBook lovers rejoice! The 63rd annual Friends of the Library book sale is back at McKinley High School, beginning today and running through June 27. The annual event clears thousands of used and donated books from inventory, and can pick up more books than you can carry for just a few bucks.

Over the next week, over 100,000 books will be put up for sale, with new books brought out every day. And serious readers and collectors can often find treasures hidden among the boxes and shelves. This year’s stars include an autographed book penned by Queen Liliuokalani and a journal owned by Captain Cook, which have been set aside for silent auctions.

The event is notoriously warm and often crowded, but there’ll be food vendors this weekend and next. And if you want to see how things are going, there’s a webcam streaming live video from the McKinley High School cafeteria.

You’ll want to go early for the best selection, but all books are marked down by 50 percent on June 26, and any books left on June 27 will be priced at 50 cents. All proceeds go to support Hawaii’s public libraries statewide.

Friends of the Library Book Sale Dates & Hours

  • June 19 – 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
  • June 20 – 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • June 21-24 – 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • June 25 – 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • June 26 – 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (50% off)
  • June 27 – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (50¢ each)

See Also:

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Loco Moco Smackdown in Waikiki

June 18th, 2010 · Business, Events, Food

Loco MocoThe loco moco is a famous (and infamous) island dish: white rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and thick brown gravy. Its presence on the menu is often a measure of how “local” an eatery is. And while the home of the loco moco is the sleepy town of Hilo on the Big Island, you can find a good loco moco almost anywhere. But in Waikiki?

The tourist mecca isn’t known for its “local” vibe, but several eateries along the Waikiki Beach Walk will try and prove they have what it takes to make a great loco moco this weekend. The “Loco Moco Smackdown” will kick off tomorrow with a loco moco eating contest. Actually, a blindfolded celebrity loco moco eating contest, which promises an epic mess. Contestants include Star-Advertiser blogger Cat Toth, HawaiiNewsNow’s Steve Uyehara, KINE deejay Billy V, former Miss Hawaii Raeceen Woolford, and photographer Charles Criscola.

Then, for the next three weeks (through July 10), six restaurants will put their best loco moco forward, and the people will decide which has the best loco moco in Waikiki… or at least on and around Lewers Street. To vote, you’ll have to post your pick to Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #WBWloco. The contenders are:

I imagine each restaurant will try to add its own twist to the traditional loco moco recipe, but for my money, the more classic, the better!

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“LOST” Truck for Sale

June 18th, 2010 · Hawaii, Lost

LOST

Looking to make deliveries in style? Got some coffins to transport? The Oceanic Air Cargo truck seen in the historic series finale of ABC’s “LOST” is up for sale.

The 1996 GMC P30 was rented from a local company, given a paint job and special Oceanic Airlines branding, and was ultimately used to deliver Christian Shepherd (and friends) into the great beyond in “The End.” Although “LOST” has since left the airwaves and Hawaii, the truck stayed behind, with its “LOST” look intact. And now, its owners are wondering whether any hardcore fans would be interested in buying it… before it’s returned to regular service.

Unsure of what the “LOST” cameo adds to its value, the owners tell me the ballpark price would be around $10,000, a little bit more than what the truck was originally worth. If you’re interested, drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch.

I’d love to see this truck survive as a moving (!) tribute to one of the greatest television show’s ever, and a major chapter in Hawaii’s film industry. You could use it as a truck, of course, but I’d bet just parking it in front of your store or restaurant would draw fans from all over.

Here are a few more photos, the first from the set at Sacred Hearts Academy, and the rest from the Hawaii Film Studio lot:

LOST LOST LOST LOST

I wish I had the budget or the space… but my wife’s dream set of “LOST” wheels remains a DHARMA van.

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Live Aloha on Saturday

June 18th, 2010 · Events, Technology, The Web

Kanu HawaiiTomorrow brings the second annual “Live Aloha” day of service and aloha, spearheaded by Kanu Hawaii. The local social network aims to bring positive social change through simple, achievable personal commitments, but its strength shines when the community comes together for a larger cause.

“With the economy down, budgets strained, and so many in a state of need, it’s easy to feel like aloha, too, is in short supply,” the group notes. “As a movement committed to preserving and promoting island values, it is our kuleana to help replenish the store.”

There are over a dozen individual projects across the state in which volunteers can participate, including building a plant nursery and aquaponics system at Waikiki Elementary School, cleaning and leading children’s activities at the Manoa Shelter for Women & Children, clearing invasive algae at Maunalua Bay, and a work day of planting, weeding and harvesting at MA’O Organic Farm. There are also events on Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, and Molokai.

What are “Live Aloha” projects like? Read Kanu Hawaii co-founder and organizer James Koshiba’s report on last year’s accomplishments. Over 400 people pitched in at one site alone. Despite the challenges still facing our islands in 2010, hopefully many like-minded islanders will answer the call.

If you haven’t signed up for Kanu Hawaii, you should. Whether it’s volunteering on Saturday, or just taking the first step with a small commitment, it doesn’t take much to contribute toward the greater good.

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