Celebrate the launch of MeTV Hawaii this Thursday from 6-8 pm at
Tiki's Grill & Bar in Waikiki! We'll have music from the Quadraphonix,
live painting from Micah Perry, raffle prizes, drink specials and
more. Plus 3 FREE hours of valet parking! So come down and help
celebrate Hawaii's newest TV station! — with Quadraphonix Hawaii.

One of my most memorable life experiences occurred in 1997 when I was running my own scuba diving company on Maui. On a routine day off of Molokini crater, I saved someone's life.

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 Aboard the Boat Maui Diamond II, I had just finished a second scuba dive with my students.  All of my students were back on board and out of the corner my eye I noticed some serious splashing going on. I could see two people in definite trouble, getting taken away by the current. My wetsuit was still on and I quickly spoke to the captain to let him know that I was going to go after them. The captain said he would go, but I responded, "No, I got it." 

 I wasn't trying to be a hero. I just knew it would be a smarter idea, if I jumped in the water versus the captain jumping in. If something were to happen to the captain, I would have had to handle the boat, with much less experience doing so,  pulling the anchor, starting the boat, maneuvering around to try to pick them up, and doing so without chopping anyone up in the propellers. I knew he had my back.

 Jumping in the water with my fins, mask, and snorkel on, I kept my eye on both of them, swimming my way over to them. At this point the couple had drifted away from each other and both of their masks and snorkels were missing.

 The female was definitely in full panic mode, you could see the fear on her face. "I’m here to help you," I yelled out and told her to turn onto her back. This was something my dad had explained in his own rescue stories that I had heard throughout my life. Sure enough she tried to grab me. My lifeguard and scuba training kicked in as I reversed kicked to propel myself away. I told her again to turn on her back with my big command voice and to relax, that I was there to help her. She listened this time and turned onto her back.

 Towing another person against the current and wind was slow, so it took some time to get back to the boat. Once I was able to get her back onboard I kept an eye on her companion. He was slowly making his way back and we threw him a line.

 Once everything calmed down, we drank some fresh water and got a chance to catch our breath. I found out that they were newlyweds and really didn't have a lot of open ocean swimming experience. They had slowly drifted away from the snorkeling area and the current started to take them away. He told me it was a horrible feeling, not being to get to his wife to save her.  As a sheriff in regular life, he felt he could handle almost anything, but had felt so helpless, especially with the thought that he might lose his wife before they had a chance to start their life together. He also told me his wife had stared into the face of death many times. I thought that was curious.

 A few weeks later I got a nice letter sharing their gratitude for my swift action in saving his new wife. Also enclosed was a plaque.

Engraved on the plaque was the following:

Emergency Service,
Shelby County, #61
Best Rescue of an Undertaker at Molokini
Michael Miller
June 10, 1997
We Love You

Each year, HONOLULU Magazine readers vote for their favorite restaurants in the Islands. Categories include Best New Restaurant, Best Service, Best Value, Best Wine Program, Little Restaurant You Love and many more. This was the 28th year for the award event to be held.

The winning restaurants were announced at a gala reception held November 6 at the Royal Hawaiian's Monarch Ballroom.

Tiki's Grill & Bar has won again with a:
Bronze Award of "Best Place to Take Visitors".

For the full listing of winners go to honolulumagazine.com.

Melissa Chang (@melissa808) was on hand with camera and tasting skills to cover the event.

Mexican themed tailgate & UH Drumline - not the same without the Rocks!
Mahalo Mike & Ronda for the tickets & parking pass...

http://on.fb.me/VIPcard. Download and Print your free VIP card.

Halloween at Tiki's is becoming such a tradition that it has become our biggest night of the year. For good reason, it's one of the funnest!2 Live Bands Hawaii's Top DJ's GiveawaysVisit our Facebook Page to Print out your FREE pass! Cover Charge will be $5 from 8:30 till 10:00 pm Cover Charge will increase to $10 after 10:00 pm PLEASE attend the Devil's Cut - Halloween 2011 event on our Facebook page and post YOUR past photos of Halloween at the event page.

Frank is an active duty US Marine.  He has been deployed 8+ times, from Somalia to Iraq, and most recently to Afghanistan.  On being stationed at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base, he met a “local girl,” got married and settled into living in Hawaii.  So this is where the story gets interesting… “local boy makes good” because now you see, he’s rooted as a local boy.  In Hawaii, the Ironman capital of the world (Ironman World Championships are held each year on the unrelenting hot lava fields of Kailua Kona), Frank started training for Ironman races.  After completing several events, the most recent being Ironman Cozumel, he was tragically hit by a car during a training bike ride.  Hospitalized, reconstructive surgery, rehab on his left shoulder, left him resting at home and unable to train.  So…  in the months afterwards, he used his time to complete a project he had been thinking of during his long hours of training.  A set of earphones for athletes that don’t get in the way of training, enhances the training experience through high quality deep sounds, and a waterproof version for hours of swimming laps in and otherwise quiet and uneventful pool environment.  Having more willpower than money, he spent three months on three patents, three trademarks and the trade name of iRun was born. 

 

 

He has worked with designers, negotiated contracts with manufacturers and shippers, constructed a first-class website and now…   just needs the capital to mass produce the next level of iRun Earphones.  In order to “take the leap” he needs help, and thus set up this account below on Kickstarter.

 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/irunearphones/irun-high-performance-earphonesuntangle-your-life

 

You know Frank, you know what a hard-worker he is and the amazing potential of this product.  Please forward to your friends and family for visibility, “Likes” on Facebook, and just plain getting the word out.  When making a pledge, the purchase is actually cheaper than a direct purchase through the website, with a  guaranteed delivery date in time for Christmas.  Thinking of a great Christmas present for people at work or for family members???  Please consider a pledge to get the products you want, at a “primo” price, while supporting a friend!

 

We really appreciate your support! 

Warmest and Best Alohas – Yumi and Frank

It was great to meet Honolulu Pulse Food blogger Lindsay Muraoka, the text and great photos bellow all came from her. You can find more at http://www.honolulupulse.com/category/blogs/food-la-la

Food La La: Tiki’s anniversary party

 

© 2011 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. All rights reserved.

On October 17th, 2011 Tiki’s Grill & Bar celebrated our 9th year in business! Mahalo to our friend Tom for catching the excitement of the night on video.

Wonderful photos were posted on http://www.honolulupulse.com

 PHOTOS BY KAT WADE / Special to the Star-Advertiser

Ray: A Life Underwater is a factual film telling the powerfully story about Ray Ives. A rogue with an eye for salvage – and the ladies – Ray: A Life Underwater, produced by Amanda Bluglass, is an affectionate portrait of one man’s deep sea diving career, told through his extraordinary collection of marine artefacts. Like a modern-day pirate, 75-year-old Ray Ives has been scouring the seabed for treasure his whole life.