Windline Pacific's Woodworks News & Articles
Dispatch from Hamakua 09/26/08
Things have gotten interesting here in Hamakua, on the windward side of the Big Island since I last checked in on my Home Page almost a year ago. On the home front I’ve been concentrating on rebuilding the back end of our house and, most importantly, a new kitchen for my wife Sarah. The shop has ticked along nicely with all the things I make selling at a brisk clip and now that we’re tying things up on the house project it’s time to pay more attention to our web site and our friends out in the world.
A lot has happened in that year. Our state has lost two major airlines and the cost of coming to and staying in Hawaii have gone up dramatically due to fuel cost increases. Most recently of course we have this massive countrywide/global financial crisis which is allready causing our very remote state lots of problems. As a for instance we have just had to cut our statewide school buget back by 20%, along with all other departments, and a proposed 600 million dollar state bond float has been postpone due to the insatbility of the market. So things are going to get tight in the islands and I don’t see most of our community recognizing the nature of these impacts yet. Not to worry though. We are a resourcefull crew out here and as I have always observed (having lived for five years in Southeast Alaska), no matter how tough it gets in Hawaii you can always deal with it in a tee shirt.
For most of you folks out ther in the big world, who love Hawaii and have or had plans to come visit I say go for it. The roads may be a bit less crowded and you probably won’t have to wait in line at restaurants, and we love our visitors in good part because through you folks we get to see our wonderful island home through fresh and enthusiastic eyes.
If you can’t make it out this winter and want to share the islands with a friend or relative (or just want something for yourself as a rembrance untill you get back) please consider some of the work we do here out of my small shop. We make everything ourselves. The wood we use comes from the mountain behind our house and I’ve worked for over 20 years perfecting my work and finishes and am very proud of what comes out of the shop.
We are going to be offering monthly specials, which will be shown on the site, at 10% off and I will be providing via my home page an update monthly on what is happening both in Hamakua and statewide for those who are interested.
We are living, as they say, in interesting times.
Aloha and all the best to all of you out there. Dave Anderson