Check it Out: Where from the Shaka Cometh

Okay -- the article about the little Mundi guy reaped one special benefit. Mandi Brown called us with the true story of the Shaka.

The Hawaii Railway Society reports in its March issue, in citing Barack's shaka to the Punahou marching band, that the shaka came to be when a popular railway machinst, Hamana Kalihi, lost three fingers in an accident.

They made him a conductor, and while he'd hold on with one hand he'd wave with his other, fingerless hand. Soon people along the route began to wave back, with their three fingers folded down.

Hence, according to the Hawaii Railway Society and Mandi Brown, the shaka was born...

Not by some little wierdo in a skirt with a surfboard...

Train shown here was built in 1889 by Baldwin Locomotive and was first one to be operated by Oahu Land and Railway. It is called "Kailua 6"

Shocking News About Shaka Sign

Mundi International, whoever they are, is selling the shaka sign. BSG commented on it for an article in The Honolulu Advertiser:

They note that shaka symbols have lived in stickerdom in Hawai'i for a long time — and as a kind of insiders' symbol of recognition connected with Hawai'i.

"So when our president and his daughters brought it to the world's attention as the Punahou marching band went by the grandstand, it was great for those of us who live in and all of us who love Hawai'i to see the symbol and feel like he was giving the state our special 'high five,'" Garvey said.

"The Puerto Rican firm which has developed the Mundi stickers saw the advantage of selling it around the world," Gramann said.

And while the Mundi company clearly recognizes the shaka symbol as belonging to Hawai'i, "their commercialization of it is all too obvious on their site, where they give Hawai'i no recognition whatsoever," Garvey said.

Gramann and Garvey would have liked to have seen some credit to the symbol's Hawai'i origin. In reality, the shaka can't be sold, any more than aloha can, they said.

And Gramann added, "let's hope no one thinks they can trademark it." That has happened in the past when transplants to the Islands lay legal claim to such local expressions as "chicken skin," a local description of the goose bumps that show up in spooky situations.

NOTE: Several commenters on the article noted that the shaka sign used by Mundi is facing
the wrong way: "so is it a real shaka?"

to read the entire article go to: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090330/BUSINESS02/903300314/1071


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Old Age Comes to Starbucks

For the first time in my digital immigrant life, I am using WiFi at Starbucks. I am rarely alone when waiting for my next meeting because Brook and I call on clients together -- two heads are better than one: even our business cards are two headed -- one side with her info and the other side with mine. Saving trees, making a point, being "green." Will business cards ever be replaced with synching?

As it happens, Starbucks is all its brand is supposed to be -- about congregation -- however, it is about individual congregation. That is -- it is packed with people who are, for the most part ,by themselves. Computers connected to WiFi are everywhere -- perhaps they are all social networking, thereby congregating virtually. People are doing homework, office work, listening to music (not Starbucks, playing over the loudspeaker, but their own, plugged into their unlistening to others ears.

There is a din of people buzz, so I am exaggerating about virtual congregation -- but it won't be long before people sitting across the table from one another twitter their conversation.

A Brand is Not a Name

Proving that they don't understand that their brand is not their name, AIG took down the sign that has been so visible on tv reports from their NYC headquarters.

They will replace it with A.I.U. -- the new name for the unit that operates our of that building --- which will no doubt fool everyone when it comes time to storm the castle.

Remember -- your brand is your promise to your customer and AIG broke that one a long time ago.

Buy Local Products

According to the news, the much discussed bill about Country of Origin has become law, and all of us consumers should find it easier to know where our food came from.

This is a good opportunity to think, and buy local. Our farmers work hard to give us fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats and milk that are as good and mostly better than what we get from far away.

Country of Origin matters. So buy from Hawaii.

P.S. Meadowgold's milk is not from Hawaii -- wonder if they will have to say that now. However, Foodland is selling a brand from the Big Island's Hamakua Coast that IS fromHawaii. The milk is called Island Dairy, and is from one of the two remaining dairies in the islands.