Events•
on May 27th, 2009•
The So Much More Hawaii Team will be visiting Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island in 8 days! Many have been asking me about a “schedule of events” and with Puka Shell Tour Guides for each of us on the different islands, at times the itineraries vary. But, I’ve listed the tweetups for each island. Please keep in mind that the dates and/or times may change. Also, Maui and the Big Island times are tentative*.
Oahu
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tiki’s Bar and Grill
6:00 p.m. – closing
$2 Budlights and Marketing Director, Michael Miller will be inventing a special SMMH Drink for the vent!
>>It’s open mic night, so this is the night to get some worldwide exposure.
Kauai
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Grand Hyatt Kauai
8:00 p.m.
Maui
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Grand Wailea
6:30 p.m.*
Big Island
Monday, June 1, 2009
Hilton Waikoloa
6:30 p.m.*
Spread the word on your islands and let’s see which island can have the biggest Tweet Up!
In late April, just before leaving for Chicago, Alltop received an inquiry from Christine Lu of Cilantro Media to develop a partnership for the So Much More Hawaii tour. As I discussed my strategy in a previous post, I created an opportunity for myself.
I volunteered to bridge the local social media and blogging community with the So Much More Hawaii team. I have always believed that the State of Hawaii’s best evangelists are its residents, its people. Additionally, one of the best ways to experience a new place is through the recommendations and conversations with the locals. Borrowing the concept from the late, Rap Replinger I put together a team of Puka Shell Tour Guides.
Oahu
Burt Lum is a self-proclaimed digital ronin; the co-host of Hawaii’s leading tech radio show, Bytemarks Cafe; and the social and new media expert at one of Hawaii’s largest medical insurance companies. Professionally, Burt seems to tip the scales heavily towards tech, however if you have spent time with him and have come to know him like I have you’ll realize that he has a very spiritual side of him. Burt is a member of Protect Kaho’olawe Ohana and applies Eastern philosophy practices to his daily life. His knowledge of Eastern spiritual practices are a good match for Leah Lamb’s curiousity.
Melissa Chang, Twitterlulu’s “pushy Chinee broad” is also an accomplished writer for Metromix and has one of the most popular blogs on the Honolulu Advertiser. So popular that her posts have been known to resurrect a “Little Oven” with oh, a modest 80,000 page views for a single story. She has inspired me to discover my inner foodie, and she will definitely serve Oahu on her finest China for Chef Mark Tafoya.
Who doesn’t love the wit and charm of @ParkRat? If you follow him on Twitter then you know that majority of his day is spent shuttling his children to their different sports activities. And, at times his twittersteam is so busy, if you didn’t know him in real life you’d think he has a dozen little parkrats! He has a terrific sense of humor which is why Sheila Scarborough will have a LOL IRL time with @ParkRat!
When I first met this man, he said that he had such admiration and respect for my father that he’d follow him into battle — powerful words that touched my heart. Olin Lagon, Director of Tech & Social Ventures, Kanu Hawaii; his passion is social entrepreneurship. I just heard from Olin and he and Aric S. Queen have planned a full day of activities on Oahu.
Bruce and Yaling Fisher owners of HAWAII-ALOHA.COM love in no particular order; Hawaii, social media, and each other. Being a Puka Shell Tour Guide for the So Much More Hawaii Tour was almost godsend. In truth, their generosity to the local community is godsend. Bruce and Yaling did not wait for the official start of the tour, they’ve already had lunch with Christine Lu!
Maui
Liza is the Kama’aina blogger behind A Maui Blog. She has been living on Maui since 1994 and considers Maui as her “home”. She’s a 40 something mom who likes exploring Maui with family. She’s a busy working mom to two tweens (11 yr old Hapa Boy and a 10 yr old Hapa Girl).
Sarah Burns is The Ohana Mama that traded traffic filled freeways and the cold west coast waters for a beach house in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. A Mom and Entrepreneur, she is building a place in the blogosphere that highlights and supports women entrepreneur.
Melanie Kosaka is the owner and founder of First Daughter Mediaworks a company specializing in culinary television production and interactive media. She is also the creator and Founder of Share Your Table, where food traditions, recipes and memories feast. Melanie, Melissa, and Mark have planned an itinerary for Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island!
Big Island
Leslie Lang is an award-winning business, book, and magazine writer whose work has appeared on NPR’s A
ll Things Considered, Hawaiian Airlines InFlight Magazine:
Hana Hou!, and
Homes of the Big Island to name a few. Her blogs include
Big Island on the Cheap and
Honolulu on the Cheap.
The So Much More Hawaii Tour which officially launches today was put together in six weeks. My upcoming posts will provide an opportunity for other local bloggers to engage with the So Much More Hawaii team, as well as have their content featured.
Tools & Training•
on May 27th, 2009•
In June of 2007 I read a news article in the Honolulu Advertiser about Ryan Ozawa livestreaming via his Palm Treo 700p. I became intrigued and began researching on the internet to learn more about this new technology that allowed anyone to create their own live show. One click led to the next and eventually I happened upon Twitter. According to Tweetdeck my registration date for Twitter is July 25, 2007.
Back then, there was no search feature on Twitter and the suggested users list was very small. I eventually found Ryan and went through the list of people that he followed and in turn followed everyone that either indicated they were from Hawaii or could possibly be from Hawaii. One of those people that didn’t list being from Hawaii (in fact he still lists his location as United but has now moved from 2B to 3B), but sounded like he could be from here was Guy Kawasaki. According to Tweetdeck, Guy joined Twitter on August 25, 2007.
In early October 2007 Guy had tweeted (posted to Twitter) that he was in Hawaii, and that he would be speaking at the S.T.E.M. Leadership Conference at the local community college. I had not met anyone from Twitter (Tweet ups were not yet born) and thought this was a great opportunity to meet someone that I followed.
I sent Guy a direct message to ask if I could attend, and he replied, “I think so, if not tell them you’re my bodyguard.”
I attended without having to flex any Samoan muscles and sat in the back row. By the end of Guy’s speech, I was ready to start something — I didn’t know exactly what, but he had added fuel to the fire that burned with in me and I was ready to dance in the aisles and scream choo hooo!
Before he left, I introduced myself and took a quick photo; our Lieutenant Governor was waiting behind me to also speak to Guy. As I walked towards the elevator I thought, “Wow, Guy must be important for the Lt. Governor to be here and waiting in line to speak to him.”
Fast forward to February 2008 (there’s more to the story, and those who have heard it will say that I’m leaving out the best parts, however it’s better to hear the rest of the story in person, like say a speaking gig!) and Guy, Will, and Kathryn (Two guys and a gal in a garage, otherwise known as Nononina, Inc.) launch Alltop.
I noticed Guy tweet that he needed help and I offered. I helped with the first project, and then offered again. I completed that task and offered once more. I noticed a pattern, and then began taking the initiative to complete tasks before being asked. By volunteering my help, listening and following directions, being open to learning and growing — I created my own opportunity to become a part of the Alltop team.
By following this same pattern I have created many opportunities for myself:
To understand all of this a bit more, prior to creating my own opportunity with Guy, I was the Property Manager for one of Hawaii’s most notorious public housing projects.
Volunteering, listening, being open-minded, and the willingness to grind it out has allowed me to create my own opportunities. But, I want to learn about how you. What’s your approach? How do you create opportunities for yourself?
Photo credit: Kenneth Yeung — TheLetterTwo.com
The So Much More Hawaii website officially launched early this morning signifying the much anticipated, first ever social media tour sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. There has already been a lot of buzz in the local blogosphere and on Twitter. Some are skeptical, many are anxious, but one thing I know for sure — the Hawaii Tourism Authority is poised to becoming a leader in the social media world.
Organized by Cilantro Media, its founding partner Christine Lu has a proven, successful track record in the social media sphere. She was named “20 Most Influential Individuals in Los Angeles” by NowPublic based on her influence and “publicness” in online visibility, presence on user generated content and social networking sites, interactivity and accessibility, and presence on microblogging platforms. She shared the impressive list with the CEO of Mahalo, Jason Calacanis; notorious gossiper Perez Hilton, and the Queen of Spain Erin Kotecki Vest to name a few.
In November 2008 she co-organized the China 2.0 tour, similar to the So Much More Hawaii, but on a much larger scale. And, even larger than the China 2.0 tour, Christine’s company, Cilantro Media is a partner in the upcoming Geeks on A Plane.
Over the next week, I will be blogging about my role in the So Much More Hawaii Tour; the role of Alltop and Pono Media; and of course highlighting so much more about Hawaii.
It seems ironic that an internet marketing startup, using social media to build communities would take nearly 90-days since establishment to officially launch their website. But, like most founders of startups, we build our passions and dreams in our spare time.
I am proud to officially announce my startup, social media marketing company: Pono Media. The entrepreneurial embers have been burning within me for decades, but it wasn’t until I began working for Guy Kawasaki that I found the right waters of life to paddle my entrepreneurial canoe. The ride has been complete with high tides and low tides; with smooth sailing and stormy weathers; yet through all of this learning experience my passion for marketing, social media, and building communities only burned even stronger. And, startups cannot survive on passion alone; lessons turned into learning and growing and through application of my newly found knowledge have I gained insight and wisdom. But, my personal philosophy is to always be learning, never cease to grow, and acknowledge my network, my community.
Web Properties
Consistent in being an unconventional startup, I launched (2) web properties before officially launching Pono Media. The first was launched at the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2009 to coincide with the start of the new year and Hawaii’s celebration of 50 years of Statehood.
- Hawaii Tech 5.0 is a history of research, science, and technology development in Hawaii’s emerging innovative industries.
Hawaii’s culture has evolved into a medley of traditions and values of migrant cultures. Pono Media’s second web property was launched on February 14, 2009 to honor Hawaii’s past, report on the present, and reach out to bridge those practicing the culture globally.
I am currently working on other web properties for the Pono Media portfolio, so be sure to subscribe to our blog to learn of the official launch.
Building Communities through Social Media
Social media is a mashup of traditional print, television, radio and film; with word-of-mouth, water cooler fodder, stoop chatter, coconut wireless, and tin cans on a string that can be delivered in a heartbeat using innovative technology. In a coconut shell, social media is communication. And, we’ve learned that effective communication involves keen listening, and keen listening will create action.
Your listeners, your action takers are your communities. Pono Media builds communities through social media.
Past, Present, Future
I have lived a fortunate life. The value is in the people that I’ve met throughout the years that cared enough to provide me with the tools and skill set to be successful both personally and professionally.
I am proud to serve as the Chief Evangelist for Alltop. The success of Alltop is of high priority, however my committment and relationship with Guy, Will, and Kathryn is priceless.
Pono Media is looking forward to working with other individuals and organizations wanting to participate in the conversation. Remember, the conversation about you and your passions are already happening – don’t hesitate, contact us today, and join the conversation!
