What do the lyrics of the catchy Kapena tune, Masese mean? Growing up in Hilo, I heard this song all da time, but I never knew what it meant.

It turns out is it a Fijian song written by Sakiusa Bulicokocoko who lived in Hawaii and performed with Kapena way back in the 1980s.

The Masese Lyrics Sung by Kapena Go Like This

ao sara ra rao wara lao wako yao
ao sara ra rao wara lao wako yao
ao sara ra rao wara lao wako yao

masa esa eh masese
masese masese masese
oi masa esa e masese
masese masese masese
oi oi masa esa e masese
youngona youngona youngona
oi younga ona ah youngona
tavako tavako tavako
oi ta vah aka o ta vako

ao sara ra rao wara lao waka yao
rana wako yao rava wako yao
i sara ra rao wara lao
a laolaca lavical yao
eiu masese wara gu

Kapena kapena kapena
ka pa ena a ka pena
kapena kapena kapena
ka pa ena ka pena

What does Kapena Masese Mean?

Some people say that the song itself doesn’t have a true meaning. That it is primarily a play on words that are strung together in a way that sounds good.

But here is what the words translate to from Fijian to English:

• au sa rarawa rarawa ko’au = i’m a big disappointment
• kapena = captain (in Hawaiian)
• masese = matches to light your smokes
• rarawa vakalevu ko’au  = i’m so sad or i’m really bummed
• tavako = tobacco (which you light with your masese)
• youngona = kava or awa (in Hawaiian)

The beauty of the fact that the song itself doesn’t have a truly coherent meaning is that we get to choose what it means to us.

For me, Masese means that life sucks so I am going to get my matches, light a cigarette and then I’m going to drink kava with my friends. We start to talk story and listen to some tunes and everything that sucked so bad about life fades away for the evening.

Here are some of “da best” prices I saw recently at the Hilo KTA store.

• Heineken 6 Pack $6.99
• Spam 2 for $4
• Pork Butt Roast $1.59/pound

KTA usually seems to carry a better selection of local foods than the other mainland stores and it often has sales on ono local kine food. Since they are locally owned by the Taniguchis I guess it makes sense that they know what we like better than the mainland stores.

Prices at Hilo stores seem to keep on rising, but together we can help each other out by sharing the best deals that we have found at local stores.

Have you seen other great deals at KTA or other local stores in Hilo?

Kokua by letting me know, so that I can share them with everyone who visits my website and everyone can save some money.

Roger Christie got busted three years ago for raising and selling marijuana in Hilo. The feds have locked him up for 3 years while waiting for his trial. He can’t get bail because they believe that he is a great danger to society.

Senator Russell Ruderman says that Christie is not a danger and hence should be let out on bail:

Sen. Russell Ruderman from the Big Island says that he has known Christie for more than 25 years and that he is a peaceful man.

Our courts sometimes lets murders, robbers and various other criminals out on bail. Aren’t they a danger to society?

Recently some members of government seem to be coming around:

The Hawaii Senate committee on public safety has approved two resolutions urging the federal government to release a pro-marijuana reverend from federal prison until his trial.

So what do you think is Christie such a big danger to Hilo that he should remain locked up?

A $1.9 million Hilo water tank still doesn’t hold water 10 years after being built at the corner of Komohana and Kawailani. First there was a problem with water pooling up on top of it. Then there was a problem with blistering of its liner. Then there was a lawsuit with its designer:

The county had sued and then settled a lawsuit in 2011 with consultant Wesley R. Segawa & Associates, after paying Segawa $109,300 to design the tank and assist the Hawaii County Water Board during the bidding and construction process. The tank, completed in 2004, was paid for with customer fees collected by the department.

And then it was “completed” in 2004. But that wasn’t the end of its problems. It turns out that it simply didn’t hold water. It leaked and the County Dept. of Water Supply had to hire Jas W. Glover to drain it again and find the leak.

Source: http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/news/local-news/problems-persist-hilo-water-tank.html

Veterinary prices can vary widely. This is a rough guide to what you can expect to pay for these types of Veterinary procedures in Hilo?

Hilo Veterinary Costs

Office Visit: $35
Emergency: $100
Dog Neutering: $90
Cat Neutering: $100
Dog Spaying: $105
Cat Spaying: $100
Declawing: $125
Stitches: $75 (for a small injury)
Teeth Cleaning: $125
Microchip Implanting: $35

(Please keep in mind that the costs of these veterinary procedures are just estimates. These rates can vary significantly based upon your pet’s unique case history. But if the vet that you are considering gives you a number that is significantly higher you might want to get a second opinion.)

What Determines Veterinary Costs in Hilo, Hawaii?

Veterinary costs in Hilo, Hawaii can vary dramatically depending on the veterinary clinic that you visit, the veterinarian that treats your pet, the type of pet that you own and the veterinary treatment that your pet requires.

The average pet owner in Hilo can expect to spend $505, which is the national average that pet owners spend on veterinary care. If your pet is unfortunate enough to have a serious illness you can expect to spend an average of $1,092.

Surprisingly whether you own a dog or cat the cost of veterinary care is roughly the same. On average dog owners can expect to spend $537, while cat owners can expect to spend $558.

What Other Factors Influence the Price of Veterinary Care in Hilo?

The Type of Veterinary Treatment

The type of veterinary treatment that your pet needs has a huge bearing on your veterinary bill. If you were to go to a doctor, you wouldn’t expect to pay the same amount for open heart surgery versus a routine checkup, would you?

The same holds true for the cost of veterinary care. A simple routine checkup will cost much less than a complex and difficult veterinary procedure.

Advanced Diagnostic Testing

As veterinary care has progressed through the years more and more new diagnostic tests have become available. These new tests cost money and of course they detect new problems that cost even more money. Nowadays we have ultrasounds and MRIs for pets. While this allows us to detect more diseases and veterinary problems, they cost a lot of money to perform. These costs contribute to veterinary costs in Hawaii.

The Hidden Cause of High Veterinary Prices in Hilo

The single biggest reason for high veterinary prices in Hilo is the amount of school debt that veterinarians graduate with. In 2010 the average veterinary student graduated with $138,000 in student debt to fund their education. To pay back this massive debt they have to charge high prices for the veterinary services that they offer.

Low Cost Veterinary Care in Hilo

There are several ways to obtain low cost veterinary care in Hawaii. First, contact the Hawaii Humane Society. They often offer low cost spay and neuter programs vouchers. These vouchers can reduce the cost of spaying or neutering your pet. As you well know there is an explosion of feral cats in Hawaii and these vouchers can lower the cost of making sure that you are not contributing to the problem.

Second, ask your veterinary clinic if they offer payment plans. If they do this can lower the monthly cost of veterinary care for your pet. If your veterinarian doesn’t offer a payment plan, look around for another veterinary clinic. There are a number of veterinary clinics in Hilo, so there are other options for your pet’s veterinary care.

Third, look into pet insurance. This can be another good way to lower the price you pay for veterinary care in Hilo, Hawaii. You wouldn’t dream of walking into your doctors office without health insurance, now would you? The same can be said about veterinary insurance. If your pet needs advanced veterinary treatment, pet insurance can keep the cost of veterinary care lower.