Mold Removal
Aloha and mahalo for all the kokua from clients, friends and extended ohana through this tough Winter season and the dreadful state of our country’s economy. I’m just getting around to brushing the mold off this blog, posting and looking ahead, crafting strategies for calmer seas and the return of the trades.
It’s probably difficult to associate tough times and stereotypical images of life on a tropical island. Most visitors think of tropical destinations as places to unwind and have fun. They may complain about the crummy service or the cockroaches in their rental cars or the high cost of food at the corner grocery. For the most part though, they can strip off their heavy, fashionable clothing and shoes, grab swim wear, buy a pair of “Locals” Brand flip flops (aka slippers in Hawaii) oil up and hit the beach. With a Styrofoam cooler, beverages and snacks they plop down and encamp. Now a days you’ll see a few very pale men among the beach goers sitting up and jabbering into a Blackberry or typing on a Titanium Apple Laptop, but even they eventually are weaned from this frenetic activity by sun, surf and adult beverages. Soon the thick spy or conspiracy paperbacks appear as their skins start to redden and sometimes they find themselves looking at wives or girlfriends in a long forgotten way. The trades blow sweetly and the layers of armor necessary to survival in their working worlds starts to fall away.For those of us long time resident Ex-patriots, life in the islands is a different reality. Most of us have worked two jobs since before the current collapse and many work jobs and work and own businesses. Thick novels give way to hastily read periodicals, beach time is a special event and the high grocery prices which we must contend with year round are managed by purchasing sale items in quanity, shopping local farmers markets and sharing with friends and neighbors. The recent economic down turn has hit the islands and many residents even the die hards, are leaving or contemplating the possibility. Layoffs are rolling through the communities, homes and vehicles are being put up for sale and boredom and frustration have escalated alcohol consumption and the use of the smokable methamphetamine called batu or ice in Hawaii.
For those of us who stay here year round one constant is music, another is adaptability. Last and most important is the kindness and generosity of our friends and neighbors. These elements and the beauty of the land makes any struggle worth it in my opinion.
The website is finally ready for launching, new products and projects are on the way and in the works. Thanks to all of you for hanging in there and for your support and loyalty. Special mahalos to Zowee Web and Bruddah KFT and Gizmo Graffix for making it all happen. Patience awards to all my vendors and clients. 
If any mainland visitors are visiting this week please consider seeing The Mistress of Slack Key, talented singer and songwriter Ms Cindy Combs
performing Thursday, June 4 at The Trees Lounge. Showtime is 8pm. I Ran into an old colleague of mine Guitarist Bill Mello last week. Bill and his band Surf Jones are still performing regularly island-wide. For upcoming performances visit the Surf Jones My Space page here.
I’ll put the Clorox away for now. I think I got most of the mold. More guitar specific content will be coming along soon. Hang in their gangi and keep a song in your heart and a smile like the fat guy’s.
Aloha from Koloa,
T.J. Barnes
