GANBATTE! Congrats and best wishes to this year’s Cherry Blossom contestants! Keahi and I had the honor of emceeing their final public appearance at Ala Moana Shopping Center Saturday. After talking with the ladies, I am quite impressed with the time and energy they spent learning more about their Japanese culture. The girls were poised and confident on stage and you could tell they were truly enjoying the moment.

The 58th Cherry Blossom festival Queen and her court will be announced at the end of this month.

YOU GO GIRL!

It was not just another day at work. We were ready for the weekend. It was Aloha Friday. Just one more late newscast to go.

SCREECH!!!!!

A bold bulletin flashes across our computer screens.

We go from relaxed to tense.

It reads: “The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a Tsunami warning for Hawaii”.

The entire state is now in harm’s way after a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the coast of Chile.

Keahi jumped out of his chair and yelled,” We got breaking news!”

Guy Hagi immediately did a live break-in to explain the threat that was coming our way.

Goodbye weekend. Hello, long night.

Hawaii hasn’t had a Pacific-wide tsunami warning since 1964. A “warning” is the highest alert and it means a tsunami is imminent and coming. We’ve all seen how deadly they can be and a warning is not to be taken lightly.

Producers Anthony Ferreira and Jason Austin quickly decide to send our photographer Glenn Tengan with our live truck to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach so that we could learn the latest information from the experts.

When the clock struck 10, Keahi and I went on the air to tell our viewers… a tsunami is coming.

In our live interviews with scientists and geologists, we were told to expect the first one at about 11:18 Saturday morning. The Big Island and Hilo would see it first. But our biggest question was — just how big of a tsunami should we expect? The answer was a pretty discomforting one for me and Keahi. We’ve never experienced anything like this before and have only seen video images of tsunamis and their widespread destruction in news reports. Chris McCreery from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center told us that it was too soon to tell the size of the tsunami. So, we asked him to explain the difference between a regular surfing wave (something we are very familiar with) to a tsunami. He went on to say a tsunami is more powerful, lasts longer and stretches out over far distances and that unlike sets that roll into one shore, a tsunami can wrap around the Hawaiian Islands and hit ALL shores.

“Because of the magnitude of this quake, an 8.8, there is a possibility we may see coastal damage and flooding,” said McCreery. “This is also a much more stronger quake than the one that devastated Haiti.”

Time was on our side to notify the public of the emergency because of Hawaii’s distance from Chile. We stayed on the air to keep everyone in Hawaii up to date by providing live coverage on all three stations (KHNL, KGMB, and K-FVE) from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. when anchors Tannya Joaquin and Steve Uyehara took over. What was unfolding in Hawaii was also being watched by people on the mainland who could see our coverage live on MSNBC.

I arrived home at around 5-30-ish in the morning feeling a bit loopy and exhausted from talking for several hours straight but I was still pumped from the adrenaline rush of the breaking news. My body begged for sleep, but the uncertainty of what was coming, kept me up. I also knew we were just 30 minutes away from the tsunami sirens sounding off.

So …. I stayed awake for the next several hours with one eye on Hawaii News Now’s live coverage and the other on the stretch of ocean fronting my home. (Not to worry friends, I was in a safe zone so I didn’t need to evacuate).

I can best describe what it felt like afterwards AS…. watching a really hyped up movie and waiting a long time for the big climax. We waited past the forecast arrival time and then, the tsunami finally arrived at around noon and the first signs of its arrival could be seen in an exclusive live picture of Hilo Bay. Guy pointed out the dramatic changes happening before our eyes, the rise and fall of the water level and the brown jagged reefs, once submerged, now exposed. I liked how Guy explained the ebb and flow was much like the ocean taking a big inhale and exhale. Although the changes were a bit subtle and nothing violent, it was still very amazing to see mother nature act in a way I’ve never seen before.

Jim Mendoza and Dan Cooke talked about the big crowds gathering in Waikiki and at the popular lookouts such as Diamond Head, all hoping to see something much bigger come our way. They waited and waited and in the end, nothing big ever came our way. The warning was eventually dropped. Soon, cars were whizzing by on roadways and a once empty Honolulu Harbor became filled with the familiar hustle and bustle of boats and one very big cruise ship that sounded off its fog horn as it proudly docked near Aloha Tower and let off hundreds of smiling tourists.

While it was a relief a destructive tsunami did not crash onto our shores, I suspect some people returned home pretty disappointed the February 27th event did not live up to “towering tidal wave” status. I can see why it was a big let down after all those warnings, live news coverage and the advice from State and City officials to take precaution.

Here’s my take: Better safe than sorry and it could have been much worse!!!

Let this day go down in history as the day … OUR state SURVIVED a tsunami WITHOUT a scratch! It is truly a blessing.

I hope we can learn from this experience so when the time comes, we will be better prepared.

A BIG MAHALO to the Federal, City & State workers, emergency responders, American Red Cross volunteers, everyone at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and last but not least — the entire Hawaii News Now team for working around the clock and sacrificing your sleep to make sure everyone in Hawaii is safe.

KUNG HEE FAT CHOY!
Thanks to our director Joy Hsu for reminding me that this year, Chinese New Year falls on the same day as Valentine’s Day! February 14th is a day that’ll be filled with lots of love and good luck!
Festivities will take place as usual. There will be plenty of entertainment like live martial arts demonstrations, yummy Chinese food like gau and jai, the loud popping of firecrackers and colorful dancing lions!
Here’s a look at how crowds celebrated the Year of the Tiger last weekend! Click on the article to see!

Hey guys!
I know this sounds weird. Two days before the Super Bowl, someone asked me who I thought would win. I said, “I have a funny feeling the New Orleans Saints are going to win… for some strange reason.” Then I continued, “I also think they are going to play a low scoring game. I don’t know why but I just think that’s going to happen.” Everyone shook their heads at me…but hey it happened!
It was an exciting game! Today, I went out to Royal Kunia with photographer Jon Suyat and our live truck operator – Glenn Tengan to do a report about a Hawaii Super Bowl party like no other! Jon Rau has been creating a makeshift Super Bowl stadium every Super Bowl Sunday for the past 8 years. It costs him thousands of dollars to make and 2 weeks to put together. In the end, it doesn’t matter who wins. The smiles and good times make everything worth all the hard work.
Click on the article to see this awesome Super Bowl football stadium in Royal Kunia!!!!

Hey guys!!!
I apologize for not writing. Been very busy. We’re carrying two of the most watched sporting events this month: the Super Bowl and Winter Olympic Games. It’s time to shine and put forth our best. With that said, it’s been crazy! Shooting promos, preparing special reports etc. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep this week and don’t think I’ll get any until next weekend. I have a shoot early in the morning tomorrow and then will be working throughout the weekend.
This Saturday I’ll be in Chinatown for the celebration of Chinese New year. Let’s welcome the year of the Tiger, shall we?! The Chinese University of Women’s club will be participating in the parade that afternoon. The next day is Super Bowl Sunday and I’ll be working as a reporter. On Monday, my special report airs and I am very excited about that.
Earlier this week, I had a photo shoot for a local magazine. Phew!
Take a deep breath…breathe in… exhale! Can’t wait to eat a hot bowl of portugese bean soup at the Punahou Carnival this weekend & my Uncle Clarence’s homemade gau. Kung Hee Fat Choy! MMM.

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year’s celebration with your family and friends!!! I worked on Christmas but I got to see my Aunty and Uncle from Kula, Maui as well as my cousin and his family from Oregon on New Year’s Day. I am also grateful I got to spend time with the rest of my family New Years Day at my Aunty’s in Aina Haina.
Before that, my brothers and sister were in search for a Christmas present they could really use. We took my parents to Ward Center after a nice brunch at Grand Cafe in Downtown, Honolulu and ventured into Brookstone. Next, we came upon the famous Birkenstock store and — wah-lah! Without warning, my mom and dad became instant fans! My mom has a collection of sandals, high heels, flats, slip-ons, slippers, boots and even Crocs. My dad, however, has only owned a pair of blue “Surfah” rubber slippers and a pair of white sneakers. So, when he put his foot on a Birkenstock, we couldn’t believe the look on his face! ** Click on the video to see what happened **

The President and his family are spending the holidays in Hawaii! We’re told they will arrive on Oahu sometime during the afternoon on Christmas Eve. It all depends on whether members of the U.S. Senate vote on his proposed healthcare reform bill. Hawaii News Now will bring the Obama’s arrival to you live on air and online once Air Force One touches down on Hickam Airforce Base. I remember covering his arrival back in 2008 when he was then Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Click on link to see pictures and video I took that day.

My all-time favorite singer Whitney Houston is back!
I’d sing in the shower all of her hits and I remember my dad always knocking on the door to the bathroom to end my long shower and (pleasant) wailing to conserve water. I think the bathroom tiles deceived me into thinking I was in a sound booth made for a professional singer for I would bale out high tunes for hours.
I’m happy Oprah invited my favorite singer onto her show and paved the way for Whitney’s comeback. She did this last month but I just saw the episode tonight. There was certainly a lot to be thankful for this weekend… including raising money for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive! Please see for yourself! Click on the link to see the video!

So the Warriors didn’t win…..
That’s ok … there were many good things that happened this past weekend.
Here’s a look…
**Click on the article to SEE VIDEO

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