My Favorite Cars at the 2011 Auto Show

The annual Motor Trend First Hawaiian Auto Show was held at the Hawaii State Convention Center this past weekend (March 18 to 20). Hundreds of brand new cars from various local dealerships as well as numerous classic and club cars were on display for the thousands of oogling eyes that came to view the vehicles. I don't know what the attendance estimates are, but it had to be in the thousands over the 3 day weekend. People love cars and they'll pay big money for one.

Believe me, most of the cars I saw there were out of my price range. However it is always great to see the new models because in a few years time, many will be on the used car market at significantly lower prices than what they are asking for today.

That all said, pictures of some of my favorite vehicles as well as all of the published photos I shot at the show are included in this post. Enjoy!

Top Photo: The unattainable Mercedes Benz SLS with the gull wing doors was probably the most beautiful car there. The price for it is way up there in the stratosphere, and largely off limits to most hard working, note paying mortals.



The State and the show sponsors are trying to push these expensive electric vehicles on the public. The Chevy Volt is one such vehicle that retails for about $45,000 and takes 10 hours to charge on standard household current. Electrics don't work for condo dwellers like me who have garages with rows of parking spaces for conventional powered cars and no electric outlets. I don't think condo owners would want to foot the bill for an expensive retrofit of condos to convert parking spaces to electric outlet charging stations.


2011 Lexus IS 250 - nice 4 door sedan that I would not mind owning.


2012 Ford C-Max - I just liked how this photo turned out.


The Ford Fusion seems to be a popular, practical sedan that has been around now for at least the last 5 years. Nice looking car from Ford.



The big block Ford Mustang Boss 302 V8 is back for 2011.


The 2011 Nissan Leaf is the latest electric car that is getting a lot of press in Hawaii. My comments about the Chevy Volt also apply to the Leaf.


Some people like funky styled vehicles. The 2011 Nissan Juke certainly fits that bill. Kind of funcky, somewhat affordable and maybe even appealing.



If I had some modest bucks to spend on a brand new vehicle, I'd probably get this practical 2011 Subaru Forester. Like last year's near identical model, I am impressed with the Forester's styling, size and interior roominess.

Here is a slide show of many of the 2011 - 2012 vehicles on display:



Many of the usual, local show cars from various car clubs were also on display in the classic car sections of the display. I loved the 1965 Ford Mustang fastback and the 1930's era Packard.



Additonal Links

• 2010 Auto Show
• 2009 Auto Show
• 2008 Auto Show
• 2007 Auto Show

Aloha For Japan

Aloha For Japan, originally uploaded by macprohawaii.

Shot this outside Don Quijote Store on Kaheka Street, Honolulu on Saturday near the travel agent's kiosk. Dozens of people signed this banner that I think will/was sent to someone or an organization in Japan or Hawaii supporting earthquake/tsunami disaster relief efforts.

The photo was taken with my iPod Touch camera and slightly enhanced in software.

A Fine for Taking Pictures

While it is not common practice for me to go around taking photographs of human remains, the following directive from the State of Hawaii Dept. of Land and Natural Resources is somewhat troubling. Surely most people will use common sense when confronted with such issues, but the threat of a fine for taking a picture is over the top in my opinion.

Letter from the DLNR:

March 17, 2011

To: All news agencies

From: William Aila, Chair, Department of Land and Natural Resources

Re: Photographing Human Remains for newscasts.

Aloha,

I am writing in response to decisions by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now, to photograph Native Hawaiian remains and then to publish those remains in newscasts and on-line.

State law strictly prohibits photographing any remains over 50 years old unless expressly approved by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, or in the case of Native Hawaiian remains, by the Island Burial Council. In this case we are not aware of any such approvals.

Please note that HAR 13-300-32 (c) also allows the department to levy fines, up to $10,000 per violation.

Although the law is very stringent, we believe it only requires that people treat human remains, particularly those of Native Hawaiians with the respect they would show their own ancestors. In this instance reporters did not show any sensitivity for the remains of the dead or for Native Hawaiian desires to protect the sanctity of their kupuna iwi. In the future, we request that all news agencies show due respect for the dead and refrain from photographing human remains.

We also note that burial sites are subject to looting and for that reason the department is allowed to keep information of burial sites confidential under specific circumstances (13-300-31). For this reason, we also request that news agencies refrain from publishing the exact location or identifying features of burial sites, especially before families have been notified. Again, this is a matter of respect for the dead, regardless of ethnicity.

Sincerely,
{signed on attached pdf copy}

William J. Aila, Jr.
Chairperson, Dept. of Land and Natural Resources

Video Clips - Tsunami, Hawaii & Japan - March 11, 2011

Hawaii Tsunami Video Clips

Sirens blaring at 1 in the morning, Waikiki, Honolulu


Kailua, Hawaii

This video was shot before 3AM, March 11 - Hawaii

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Japan Tsunami / Earthquake Video Clips

Pictures of Japan tsunami & earthquake from Flickr users.

Massive Destruction in Japan, Loss of Life



Tsunami Wave hitting Sendai Airport, Japan



Aerial View, from RT

Tsunami Warning in Honolulu

Hawaii as well as the entire Pacific Ocean is under a tsunami warning this morning. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck Japan yesterday shortly before 8:00 pm Hawaii Time. Heavy damage from the earthquake and tsunami's have been reported from Japan.

A Pacific wide tsunami is expected to hit Honolulu this morning. I am on the 8th floor of my condo building here in Honolulu on 8th floor. Our building is about 2 blocks up from the border of the theoretical tsunami inundation zone as indicated by the maps published by the Civil Defense.

I will be updating this blog later today with more information regarding the tsunami and earthquake.

More photos:


Tsunami wave striking somewhere in Japan. From live video feed.


Another screen shot from Japan.


More devastation in Japan.

Photos from various Flickr feeds.

The End of the Space Shuttle Era - Discovery

The Space Shuttle Discovery landed for the last time in its long career as the most traveled spaceship on Earth on Wednesday, March 9. The crew of the space shuttle took Discovery to the International Space Station (ISS) for the last time this month and supplied the station with a new storage module and a new humanoid robot among other things. The crew spent 13 days in space which included several days on the ISS to do installations, repairs and replenishment.

Discovery roared into space on its final launch February 24.

Here are some video clips of the last Discovery mission.


Discovery launch video.


Discovery docks with the ISS.


ISS gets new storage module.


Discovery press conference.


Space Shuttle wake up call. William Shatner.


Discovery landing video.

More STS 133 videos

Volcano Continues With Fissure Outbreak

Spectacular aerial view of the new eruption outbreak. Isn't this cool? The fissure has expanded and lava is spreading around. Luckily this eruption is occurring in a remote area of the volcano where the lava won't have much impact on homes and private property. There is also no public access to this other than through videos, pictures and text at the HVO website and videos posted to YouTube and other websites. Those lucky enough to afford a helicopter tour may be able to catch this.

Photo from the Hawaii Volcano Observatory.
Kilauea Eruption Update Photos

Crack in the World - Amazing Fissure Breakout

The ongoing saga of the 28+ year old Kilauea volcano eruption continues with this new fissure opening up away from the main activity area of Pu'uO'o crater. This video clip of just slightly over a minute captures the opening moments of a new "crack in the world" spewing hot lava from beneath the surface. Quite spectacular!

Additional Links:

• Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory
• Hawaii Volcanoes Update
• Hawaii Volcanoes Video Link
• Hawaii Volcanoes Webcam

Commentary

Volcanoes are quite fascinating. I've seen my share of eruptive activity when I was a lot younger and living on the Big island of Hawaii. Today I live on Oahu and rarely venture out to the area. My last trip to the volcano was in 2005.



Photo: Kilauea Volcano by macprohawaii. © 2005.

The Volcano is a hazard to many people living in Hawaii. Obviously those living down-slope from the volcano have been most impacted. Since the current Kilauea eruption started in 1983, hundreds of families have lost their homes in the Kalapana and Royal Gardens area on the Big Island's Southeast coast. Lava flows have covered up property and cost the state and landowners millions of dollars.

Earthquakes are also a statewide hazard. Most occur daily on the Big Island, but are too small to be felt. Big ones can impact any island, the most recent large earthquake having occurred in October of 2006. Check this link out for a list of destructive earthquakes in Hawaii.

People with respiratory problems suffer greatly from the "Vog" that often blankets the Big Island and the State on certain days (depending on wind conditions). The vog has created respiratory problems for many people who previously did not have such problems. It is an ongoing concern.



Huge plume of steam and ash rising out of Kilauea's Halemaumau fire pit in 2008. Photo by Alan Cressler.

More photos from my 2005 Volcano trip.