Here: The Luxury Collection

Before I became a flight attendant I used to work for the Sheraton Hotels in Waikiki which included the beautiful Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Also known as The Pink Palace, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel has been holding court on the shores of Waikiki Beach for 85 years. It’s one of the most beautiful and historic hotels I’ve ever stayed in and it’s currently being featured in the new film entitled Here.

Here has reunited Waris Ahluwalia with Luca Guadagnino, the director of their Golden Globe-nominated film, I Am Love, to create a cinematic experience that offers a glimpse into the hidden treasures of some of America’s favorite destinations. The short film, starring Agyness Deyn, co-written by Tilda Swinton with music by Jason Schwartzman, was shot at three of The Luxury Collection’s most iconic properties across the United States, aiming to inspire global travelers to explore and discover destinations in a unique and authentic way.

This haunting indie film is about a woman who is sent to three of the most beautiful resorts in the United States through mysterious notes and clues and arrives at her final destination in beautiful Hawaii. From the first note to the last scene, I was hooked. I couldn’t wait to see what the next property would look like or how it would all end. See it for yourself!

Stop by the Here website to find out more about these featured properties. You can even book the entire Here experience and visit these Luxury Collection hotels in person! What an experience of a lifetime!

Courtesy of The Luxury Collection

An Evening with Johnny Cupcakes

Saturday the 21st of January, Fresh Cafe? x Loft In Space will be hosting an evening with t-shirt entrepreneur, Johnny Cupcakes. This free event takes place at 831 Queen Street. Lecture event + Q&A from 7pm to 10pm, following a t-shirt pop-up shop and meet & greet from 10pm-midnight. Along with this free event there will be complimentary refreshments, cupcakes, giveaways & more.

Mr. Johnny Earle aka Johnny Cupcakes—tells the story of just exactly how he turned a simple idea into a multi-million dollar business using nontraditional methods. Starting his business at the age of 19, Johnny developed his company without a business plan, start up loans, investors, or even conventional advertising! Johnny has managed to launch one of the most recognized independent t-shirt brands in the US and Europe with retail locations in Boston, Los Angeles, and London, UK. While tricking many hungry people—all Johnny’s shops are set up like vintage bakeries except displaying limited edition t-shirts in refrigerators instead of food.

Johnny’s lectures focus on starting a brand + business (both web based & retail) with little-to- no start up money; entrepreneurship; small business management; product development, marketing, and communication; and graphic design.

From tips and tricks for approaching business in innovative and unconventional ways to useful advice, resources, and direction for those interested in starting a business, Johnny’s lectures provide a comprehensive blueprint for getting a small company off the ground.

Courtesy of Johnny Cupcakes

Happy Hour Hawaii Helps Find Great Food At Great Prices, Statewide in Hawaii

A local couple has recently launched a website that takes the guesswork out of finding the best happy hours in Hawaii. When Carey and Brandon Bennett launched their website, HappyHourHawaii.com, their dream of having a simple and easy way to get up-to-date happy hour information was brought to life. As the economy has become more challenging, everyone has been forced to tighten their belts.

HappyHourHawaii.com provides a quick and easy way for families, couples, and pau hana partiers to find good food and drinks at great prices. The couple also launched free iPhone, Android, and iPad apps that use GPS to help users find the best happy hours closest to their location.

HappyHourHawaii.com is unlike other restaurant related websites, which generally provide little more than an infrequently updated list of restaurants.Happy Hour Hawaii aims to provide an alternative, working like a social network that allows restaurants to manage their own content. By allowing restaurants to manage their own menus and hours, HappyHourHawaii.com offers users the most up-to-date happy hour information in Hawaii.

“We want everyone to be able to find great food and drinks at decent prices,” says Carey when asked about this project. “When people hear the phrase Happy Hour, they usually think of discounted drinks, but we’re not just talking about bars – we’re talking about restaurants too, and many restaurants offer ‘happy hour’ specials on great food as well.” HappyHourHawaii.com currently lists nearly 150 restaurants across four of Hawaii’s islands, with more joining nearly every day. “One of the most popular pages on our site is the Events page, which displays a monthly calendar of events hosted by our happy hours.”

People will find the variety of mobile applications particularly useful. The best part about the apps is that they are GPS-based, and automatically display the happy hours that are closest to the user. So whether it’s a martini at 1:00 PM in Lahaina or a burger at 5 PM in Honolulu, the Happy Hour Hawaii app points the user in the right direction.

Current website and app users are finding Happy Hour Hawaii to be extremely helpful saying, “The Happy Hour Hawaii app for iPhone is my new best friend! Great for foodies who like cheap and delicious eats when in Hawaii,” and “my secret is Happy Hour Hawaii they let me know all the cool places to go.”

Visit HappyHourHawaii.com or download their app by searching Happy Hour Hawaii in the App Store or Android Market.

Information courtesy of HappyHourHawaii.com

Toyota Hawaii’s “Your Dream Car” Contest

If you ask me what my dream car would have I would say great mileage, comfortable ride, and lots of room. If you ask my kids what their dream car would have they would say installed iPads, vending machines, and tray tables. Well, now they can put their ideas on paper in Toyota Hawaii’s Your Dream Car Contest.

From now until January 31, 2012, your child can enter a drawing of their dream car with all the unique features their imaginative minds can come up with. There will be 3 different age groups where 15 finalist will be selected to receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond. One grand prize winner will receive a trip to Japan!

Here are more details:

CONTEST INFORMATION

Entry Dates: From December 2, 2011 until January 31, 2012

Contest Theme: “Your Dream Car”

Age Categories:
(1) under 10 years old
(2) 10 to 12 years old
(3) 13 to 15 years old

Applicant Eligibility: Open to Hawaii residents under 16 years old

Artwork requirements:

• Size of artwork: Within an 11″ X 17″ (tabloid) size paper
• Official entry forms will be available at any Toyota Hawaii dealer.
• Colored hand-drawing with depiction of background (not only car(s), to explain the situation).
• Use of materials: Any medium (ex. color pencils, crayons, or paint etc.)
• Digital work is not accepted.

            Terms And Conditions: Click here for Terms and Conditions

HOW TO ENTER

 

1. Download the entry form. Entry Registration Form Download (Form includes the entry terms of conditions and the questionnaire)

2. The applicants must read the entry terms and conditions before submitting the entry.

3. Fill out the entry registration form (Applicants may not be eligible if all the information is not filled, or not correct.)

4. Set your artwork, entry registration form, and questionnaire together (in case applicants submit multiple entries, each entry must be submitted with an entry registration form and questionnaire)

5. Entries can be submitted:

• In person at any Toyota Hawaii dealer: Click here to find a dealer
• Or by By mail to:

            Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

            c/o Toyota Hawaii

            P.O. Box 2788

            Honolulu, HI  96803

So put your child’s imagination to work and let them have fun coming up with a dream car of their very own!

Information courtesy of Toyota Hawaii

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