The drive from Hilo to Pahoa is about to take much longer. The DOT is changing the speed limit from 55 to 45 miles per hour between Shower Drive and Ainaloa Boulevard.

Highway 130 is one of the most dangerous roads in Hawaii because it is a two lane highway with a lot of streets and driveways that enter it without stoplights.

The change is slated to take effect on May 1 and will hopefully make the road a bit safer. At least now you will only be going 45 miles per hour when someone decides to pull out in front of you and forces you to slam on your brakes.

Since 45 is a lot slower than 55, the drive will take longer. But if this reduces the number of accidents it is well worth it and will save lives. Also, accidents can bring traffic to a standstill, in which case moving at 45, sure beats moving at zero miles per hour.

So how do you think this change will affect you? Leave a comment below and let everyone know.

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