No; I only had to go as far as the BoConcept store in Santa Monica, California to see Tokyo in the window behind me.
Cool, eh?

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Why do people fly 1st Class?
Is it because the seats are bigger? Well partially, but for the price difference and short flying times that’s not the main reason.
It is not because the food is any better; it’s all bad. Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t even serve special meals any more, even in 1st class.
Is it because you get to board before everyone else? No; all that means is that you get trampled by the crowd as they come on board.
Is it to get off first? I don’t think so.
It can’t be because the headsets are free. What is it?
I choose to fly 1st class because of the level of service by the flight attendants. They think that you just MIGHT be someone important and usually treat you as such. Unfortunately, too many times it is just the opposite in the coach cabin. I’d like to think everyone is “important”.
Today I got “coach treatment” in a 1st class seat. It started when I noticed that there were no non-meat choices on the breakfast menu. I asked if there were any other options, and was told, “No it’s all pre-packaged”.
When I commented that I would go without eating, the flight attendant said, “Well we could take the sausage off of the eggs”. I said, “Thank you”. When it arrived there was some form of mushroom crepe with a “suspicious” looking gravy.
Being a 40+ year vegetarian, I have learned to ask. I asked what was in the gravy. She said, “I don’t know”. I asked, “Can you find out?” She snapped back, “We don’t have a list of ingredients”. I said, “There is no need to be sarcastic, I told you that I don’t eat meat, you should not have brought this to me if you didn’t know. Please take it away.”
Well, things got pretty cold after that until I tore a picture of Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerly out of the in-flight magazine, recognizing the Employee of the Year, and wrote “Nina” next to his picture and placed it on my tray. I’m sure that Nina does not know that Mark is my neighbor, but her attitude did improve for the rest of the flight.
I don’t think one should have to be so creative to get 1st class treatment in the 1st class cabin. Actually it would be best if the whole plane offered 1st class attitudes at the coach price.
Am I being too harsh here?

fall.doc
Remember when it rains that some things are very slippery.
This little experience during my morning walk will not make my upcoming mainland trip any more enjoyable.
At least I was able to see the chiropractor to get my hip and back straightened out.
Click on fall.doc to see what I am talking about.

Our good friend Uffe Kongsted; (photo journalist extraordinaire) blesses us with his candid work on occasion.
Today he sent me this photo he shot of Katie Holmes leaving Berlin.
I can post some more of Uffe’s great shots here on the blog if desired. I have some of Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton and others.

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Upon entering a very nice restaurant this evening, the reception was less that adequate. The staff at the hostess station was busy chatting and laughing. It was all we could do to get a seat, and when we did, we were taken to a tiny little table, and the person seating us grunted, “Enjoy your dinner” and ran back to the party by the front door. As she did, I stopped her and requested a larger table. She tossed the menus on the next table (slightly larger) and repeated in the same monotone grunt, “Enjoy your dinner”.
We were quite a ways back in the restaurant, however the laughter and talk at the front desk was more dominate than that at any table near us.
The worst part of all was the hostess who had sat us continuously playing with her hair, throwing it forward and back, tying it, then rearranging it into a different style. She repeated this no less than 10 times during our meal. The really bad thing about this is that she was within a few feet of the salad bar.
I couldn’t help myself from walking up and snapping this photo. I also felt compelled to have a chat with the manager, who was very embarrassed, yet quite appreciative of the feedback. He said there is a rule there that says “at anytime you touch your hair you must go wash your hands”. If only making a rule were enough!

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Lee Coulter entertained the best lawyers of Hawaii, as recognized by Honolulu Magazine on Thursday night.
The event was held at Honolulu Design Center’s Cupola and Amuse Win Bar.
Lee Coulter is an Australian singer songwriter producer who blends acoustic pop with surf and folk elements, over urban grooves, all topped with a distinctly smooth and soulful vocal.
As San Diego Troubadour Magazine says… “This is good time music that makes you dance and feeds your soul It is like someone turned a Tasmanian Devil into a man and put a guitar in his hands.
Lee will be there again on Friday evening; for information go here> events@honoluludesigncenter.com

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Eye contact when selling or servicing customers is essential.
As I checked in for my Island Air flight to Maui today there was a group of pilots and flight attendants congregated at the counter. They were laughing and chatting with each other.
I watched carefully waiting for one of them to make eye contact with me. I had already checked in on the web, but had a simple question. I just wanted to know my gate number.
As they all moved about it was obvious that the only customer (me) was being ignored.
When the pilots left, three other employees continued to chat as they performed some small duties. One was preparing some baggage claim forms for a future flight; one was making announcements, and the other just hanging out.
Eventually one of them walked in front of me, around the counter and started to leave. I turned around and asked, “Does anyone work here”? Her curt reply told me that she didn’t like my question. I asked about my gate, and she pointed to a small area on my boarding pass with the gate number, and walked off.
Our new inter-island ferry starts service next week. I wonder if this new competition will help existing attitudes.

Remember this post (It Is Still There! ) on June 25th.
Well it looks like it just may be going away. The sign has obviously been altered, making it almost unreadable.
I wonder if this makes it okay now, or if it will need further changing to meet the law.
Who’s guessing?

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Money is much easier to spend when it is in your hands. This is why proper adding on techniques can increase your sales.
Asking, “Will that be all?” won’t work any more than, “Will there be anything else?”
Those are lame questions that are more likely to be heard as, “Are you ready to leave now?”
Rather than relinquish control at this stage of the sale, be pro-active and suggest something specific that you feel will enhance the current purchase.
Be spontaneous, say, “Oh by the way, this would go great with that”, and put something in front of your customer at this precise moment.
It works… It’s Easy!

Every year the fireworks show at Magic Island by Ala Moana Beach Park gets bigger and bigger. I got back to Hawaii just in time to see the show.
The parking lot at Ala Moana Shopping Center fills to the max, and people walk from miles around to watch the gala show, which lasts about 45 minutes with a huge finale!
We have ring side seats here on the 29th floor at Uraku Tower and the only part that is better than the show itself is when all the car alarms go off at the same time.

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