From Small Town Boy to International Engineer

The "I Love Kalihi" FB page and blog aims to promote the rich history of Kalihi, the institutions and businesses, and the people who claim roots, residence, and association to it.

I am happy that our first feature is no other than my friend who embodies many good things about Kalihi and more.  He is Engr. Paul Joe M. Alegado.

Preschooler Paul Alegado

         It was not too long ago when as teenagers, Paul Alegado and his cousins Carlo and Darwin Ulep would be popping a wheelie in their Kalihi neighborhood day in and day out.  Today, he often finds himself on a plane to different destinations popping out multimillion-dollar projects for world-renowned audio-visual consulting company Engineering Harmonics Inc.

Night BBQ with friends at the beach.

     Paul was born in Honolulu and had kept residence in Kalihi with his parents, Silverio and Mely Alegado until he moved to Canada to marry Myrtle Obcena in 1999.  Like many local boys, he was not strange to the ins and outs of Kalihi, trekking the Koolau Mountains, including those unpublished trails.  He enjoyed going to the beach, riding his BMX bike and singing along to local hits as well as his favorite Beatles songs.  As a member of the famous Honolulu Boy Choir, he spent many memorable moments with the group in his preteens.  In sports, he was proficient in basketball, bowling, and golf.

"He’s been exposed to the finer things in life and has mingled with influential people yet he has remained a local boy at heart, humble and easy-going, a reflection of his upbringing."

Little choir members, Paul with cousins Carlo and Darwin

      Paul was raised in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) faith, attending worship services in its house of worship on Valley View Drive in Kalihi.  He was a member of the choir and held other offices in the church.  Paul’s leadership and interpersonal skills were developed through the functions of the church’s youth organizations.

         He studied at the Hawaii Baptist Academy and graduated high school in 1989.  He then left the islands for college and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree in 1994 from the University of Florida. Although he was busy studying on the mainland, he would still find his way back home during the summers to hang out with his old friends and family.

With Kalihi Valley in the background, Paul is all suited up for worship service.

Me sending off Paul to college.

        Paul is on my short list of guy friends who I can always reconnect even after years of not seeing each other.  He’s been exposed to the finer things in life and has mingled with influential people yet he has remained a local boy at heart, humble and easy-going, a reflection of his upbringing.  His old friends are still close to his heart and he treasures his family even more, lightening up the eyes of his grandparents, uncles, and aunts each time he comes home to Hawaii with his own family.

        As an Electrical Engineer, he specializes in designing audio-visual technology and performance sound of opera houses, concert halls, multi-purpose theatres, boardrooms, universities and sports facilities. He has been involved with multi-million dollar projects throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. His latest exciting ventures include designing the sound, video and broadcast systems of the Philippine Arena (touted as the largest domed arena in the world upon its completion in 2014), as well as the nearby Philippine Stadium in Bulacan, Philippines. 

Me and Paul at his latest Hawaii visit.

The Alegado Family

      

As much of the world’s economic growth continues to happen in southeast Asia, Paul will surely be traveling often to that side of the world - each time dropping by to touch base with his roots because, after all, this Kalihi boy’s heart still belongs to Hawaii.

Paul Alegado

Paul Alegado is Manager, Western Canada Region, for Engineering Harmonics. In this role, he is responsible for managing the company's client services in British Columbia, Alberta and the US West. In addition, he carries out senior design and project management services for the company’s diversified client base in the region.

With more than 16 years’ design and project management experience in the fields of audio-visual technology and performance sound, he provides specialized consulting services for facilities ranging from opera houses, concert halls and multi-purpose theatres to boardrooms, lecture halls, casinos and sports facilities. He has served as a designer with Engineering Harmonics since 1999.

He has a unique understanding of each team member’s capabilities and responsibilities and uses a range of project management methods to ensure projects are successful. Over the course of his career, Paul has had the opportunity to experience every facet of a project, from penciling an initial design and providing precise calculations, to computerized measurement of final system performance. He is one of our busiest project managers and designers.

Portfolio

As project manager and designer with Engineering Harmonics, Paul’s portfolio includes the Trump International Hotel and Tower, Toronto; Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas; Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre; Mazagan Resort, Morocco; Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City; Broadway Rose Theatre for Universal Studios, Dubai; Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto; South Okanagan Events Centre; the University of Delaware’s Center for the Arts; Arts of Collin County, Allen, TX; Overture Center for the Performing Arts, Madison, WI; James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA; and Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, Calgary.

Education & Career Beginnings

Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida in 1994. Like many dedicated engineers, his involvement with electronic audio/video systems began in his early teens. He has since attained certification for BSS Soundweb and AMX programming, and his skill set includes computer aided design (CAD), programming of control systems, acoustical modeling using Enhanced Acoustic Simulator for Engineers (EASE) and SmaartLive© acoustical measurement software.

Memberships

A registered Professional Engineer in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta, Paul is a member of Infocomm, the Audio Engineering Society (AES), the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, and the Order of the Engineer (US).

Publications

As a project manager and designer, Paul has contributed to a number of technical articles and magazine features, including “Mandating the House Audio System” (Lighting & Sound America, April 2007), “Overture Center for the Performing Arts” (Professional Sound, February 2005), and “Install of the Month: Redwood Park Church, Thunder Bay, Ontario” (Sound & Video Contractor, January 2005).  

Here's an article on one of Paul's projects:

http://www.engineeringharmonics.com/sites/default/files/PS%20Aug13%20ChanCentre.pdf

Treasures of Kalihi Street

If Aiea has Aiea Heights, Ewa Beach has Ewa Beach Road, Waipahu has Waipahu Street and Waipahu Depot Road and Kahala has Kahala Avenue, Kalihi has its own Kalihi Street.  But what is special about Kalihi Street?  Join me in discovering what a 13-mile long street has to offer.  This street starts high from the Koolau Mountain down to its end at sea level near Sand Island Access Road.  It is not a very long drive but what I found was interesting enough that many of the establishments are worth having their own write-up.

You can find interesting food establishments in Kalihi Street: one that serves good old local favorites to the community for decades--Ethel’s Grill and 2 known to serve gourmet dishes--Monarch Seafoods and Kahai St. Kitchen.  And just across each other are the top 2 famous manapua bakeshops, Libby Manapua Shop and Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory.   You can also find Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC and Puka Café along this street.  And speaking of food, you can get wholesale eggs at Associated Producers Corporation-Farm Fresh Island Eggs (Ka Lei Eggs) and meats at Young’s Meat Market.  There are neighborhood markets such as the Valley Center Market, KC Market, Ono’s M Market, Kay’s Fish Market, Chong’s Market, and Dyke’s Market.

If you trace Kalihi Street you’d also find Kamehameha Shopping Center.  This shopping center is pretty much a one-stop shopping center where you can find everything that you need.  It has Times Supermarket and Long’s Drugs for groceries and household items.  For places to dine or to take out food, there are many to choose from such as Kenny’s Restaurant, Liu’s Chop Suey, Yummy Korean BBQ, Ba-Le Sandwich Shop, McDonald’s, Subway, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Sumo Ramen & Curry, Shogun Sushi & Kam Drive Inn, Baskin Robbins, and Pizza Hut.  In this center there are six banks or financial establishments such as American Savings Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Hawaiian National Bank, Territorial Savings Bank, Kamehameha Federal Credit Union, and Finance Factors.  For electronics needs there’s a branch of Radio Shack and a Mobi PCS.  For dry goods need there’s the Everblue Casuals and Payless Shoe Source.  The Fun Factory still remains in this center where generations of children in Kalihi have enjoyed.  And because video games are here to stay, there’s an added entertainment center—the Game Stop.  For health and beauty, you can go to Fantastic Sams, Bobby’s Barber, Pro Nails, GNC, Gold Plus, and Vision.

Photo:keikiokaina.org

If Kalihi doesn’t get much respect from the locals, it does get respect from the rest of the nation because of an institution called Keiki O Ka’Aina Family Learning Centers located along Kalihi St.  According to their website, Keiki O Ka’Aina Learning Centers aim to strengthen the family by communicating to them the importance of education, advocating for literacy, supporting parents as their child’s best teachers, and empowering families to undergo leadership roles in their communities within the context of Hawaiian language, culture and traditions. Because of years of community service, they were awarded the building of new classrooms and other buildings by the hit TV show, Extreme Makeover in 2007.  The property was the biggest project of Extreme Makeover out of the nearly 100 households awarded by the show with rebuilding of homes all over the USA.

Photo: Frank Langit

Kalihi Street tracks by 3 public elementary schools (Kalihi Uka, Kapalama, and Kalihi Kai), an intermediate school (King David Kalakaua), and a high school (Wallace Rider Farrington).  I found 5 religious establishments situated along Kalihi Street:  Daihonzan Chozen-ji, Central Samoan Assembly of God, St. Anthony Retreat Center, Jikoen Hongwanji Hall, and Church of Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  The office of the Seafares International Union is at 606 Kalihi Street diagonally facing a branch of Bank of Hawaii. There are also two medical offices tracing Kalihi Street, one of husband and wife’s Dr. Rodrigo G. Bristol and Dr. Zita A. Cruz-Bristol and the other is the Dr. Erlinda M. Cachola Medical Clinic.  Many of the large homes in Kalihi Street are also Care Homes.  There are 3 gasoline stations in this street—Tesoro, Chevron, and Aloha.  There are businesses that people like me haven’t had the chance to visit along Kalihi Street and they are Kenjo, Inc. and Super Threads, Thermal Engineering Corporation, The Video Store, A-American Self-Storage,  Lex Broadie’s Tire and Brake Service Center,  J & D Auto Body Shop, Hawaii Glass Block, Stonecraft, The Shaka Business Center which houses at least 7 businesses, the Print Proz, and Whittle Signs among others.  Along Kalihi Street you can also find the Kalihi-Palama Public Library followed by the Kalihi YMCA, and The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum and towards it’s 2^nd half you can find the Board of Water Supply’s Kalihi Uka Pumping Station.

Besides the Kalihi YMCA, there are places that’s free for the public to exercise in such as the 3 public parks that can be accessed from Kalihi Street: one by turning to Perry St and the park is at the end of the street, towards the mountain.   Another one is Kalihi Uka Park at 2329 Kalihi St.  And the biggest park along Kalihi Street is the Kalakaua District Park with indoor and outdoor basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, boxing and weight gymn.  Of course you can also hike up the mountain to Kamanaiki Hiking Trail which can be accessed from Kalihi St. by turning to Manaiki Place and the hike starts at the end of the road at the foot of the stairs on the side of a house with an address 1801 Manaiki Pl.  Actually, the local kids could tell you that there is also another trail around here but it’s not made public.  Another option and probably the more exciting one is to hike about 2 miles at the end of Kalihi Street and enjoy the best kept attraction in Kalihi, the Ice Ponds.

I just came to realize that Kalihi Street is actually self-sufficient with homes and apartments to live in, schools to go to, places for food and clothing supply as well as a little entertainment, places to exercise and even places to work in.  That is not bad at all for a street named after the whole section of Honolulu that seldom gets respect, isn't it?

Why we love Kalihi in video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsXCmWE8Qzg

KALIHI STREET DIRECTORY

Associated Producers Corp-Farm Fresh Island Eggs (Ka Lei Eggs)

439 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

 (808) 841-7695

Dr. Rodrigo G. Bristol      
General Practice
634 Kalihi St.  Fl 1
Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 845-3911

Dr. Erlinda M. Cachola

Internal Medicine

936 Kalihi St.

Honolulu, HI 96819

Chan Wah Kam Noodle Factory

505 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 841-5303

Chong’s Market

243 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

 (808) 842-5726

Dr. Zita A. Cruz-Bristol

Internal Medicine

634 Kalihi St., Suite 201

Honolulu, HI 96819

Dyke’s Market

298 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-0406

Ethel’s Grill

232 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

 (808) 847-6467

Kalihi-Palama Public Libraray

1325 Kalihi St,

Honolulu, HI ‎96819

(808) 832-3466

Kay’s Fish Market

2326 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 847-7298

Keiki O’ Ka’aina

3097 Kalihi St.,

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 843-2502

KC Market

2317 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-4170

Libby Manapua Shop

410 Kalihi St
Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 841-2253

Puka Café

2402 Kalihi St
Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-2828

Valley Center Market Inc

2803 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 845-2155

YMCA-Kalihi

1335 Kalihi St.,

 Honolulu, HI ‎96819

(808) 848-2494 ‎

Young’s Meat Market

303 Kalihi St

Honolulu, HI 96819

(808) 842-4277

The Sweet Spot of Hawaii

     Kalihi might just be called, “The Sweet Spot of Hawaii.”  And you might wonder why when historically it wasn’t even known as the sugarcane plantation capital.  It is because today, Kalihi has many if not the most number of bakeries or bake shops in Hawaii.  And having so many bakeries means an increased use and consumption of sugar in the area as compared to the other parts of the state. 

     Each time I pass by Nanding’s Bakery in King Street in the morning, there’s always a line spilling out of its door.  From what I understand, people are lining up because of its specialty, the Spanish bread.  And at any given morning, the same scene can be witnessed in front of Kamehameha Bakery in School Street with most people buying their specialty, the poi doughnut.  In Kalihi Street, people also line up in front of Libby Manapua Shop and Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory for their famous manapua and other desserts.  The regulars of Jesse’s Bakery and Golden Coin Bakery and Restaurant in King Street also flock to eat early breakfast or pick up dozens of their hot pan de sal as well as plate lunch on their way to work.  And although it’s open 24 hours daily except Sundays, Liliha Bakery is never low on customers, both locals and tourists especially those who are craving for cocoa puffs.

     Also in the neighborhood, you can pick up cakes, pies, cookies, pastries and desserts at St.Germain’s Bakery, Elvin’s Bakery, and Manny’s Bakeshop in Dillingham Boulevard.  Napoleon’s Bakery has 3 locations in Kalihi: corner of King and Mokouea, Dillingham Blvd., and Nimitz Hwy.  Let’s not also forget the biggest producer of breads and the like in the island that’s located in Kalihi, Love’s Bakery.

     Personally, I find it interesting that I came from a place in the Philippines dubbed as the “Sugar Bowl of the Philippines” and to end up living in a neighborhood in Hawaii I would like to call, “The Sweet Spot of Hawaii.”  Speaking of sugar, there are many more specialty stores in the neighborhood that sell sweets.  Being that there are many Filipino stores in Kalihi, it’s natural to find many sweet concoctions. From a Filipino restaurant like Max’s of Manila where you can find several desserts, there are also small Filipino stores that sell desserts like the 2 locations of San Nicolas Chicharon and Sausage Co. and 2 locations of North Star Deli and Sausage and even Jimmy’s Filipino Store. And speaking of sugar still, you can find Samurai Brand of treats in Umi St. and the Menehune Mac Chocolate Factory and Gift Center in Waiakamilo Rd.  Once in a while I’d drive to Pier 38 and if the line at Nico’s Fish Market is long, I’d eat at Uncle’s Fish Market and Grill first then go to Nico’s to pick up desserts.  Yes, Nico’s has the most scrumptious array of cakes and pies sold by the slices and are ready for pick up.

     Besides the popular bakeries in the neighborhood that create wonderful sweet treats, I was pleasantly surprised to find more when I searched the web.  Here’s the list but I found that it doesn’t include a branch of Ba-le Sandwich Shop and Starbucks located in Kamehameha Shopping Center and Costco in Iwilei where you can order cakes.

     So, whether you are mending a broken heart or nursing the blues, celebrating milestones, submitting to cravings, or just being a perpetual sweet tooth, come to Kalihi and indulge yourself in the great treats awaiting for you! 

Natural High

Lying across the horizon

Tender giant that you are

Rich, lush, enchanting

Spreading your arms, inviting

To embrace the little entranced maiden, me…

           

            The way I look at the Ko’olau Mountain Range 32 years ago and today has not change.  It was my saving grace back then when the place didn’t meet my expectations as a young immigrant who thought of the world about Hawaii.  Its beauty made me realize that after all, I still live in paradise.

To some, that might sound an exaggerated description of Kalihi. But really, nature is one of the few things that can take my breath away, making me even a little poetic.  Nature is alive, irregular, and dynamic.  It speaks to us if we only listen and it can affect us even at a glance.  I believe that nature constantly make an impact on us that is why we want to experience it and even attempt to conquer it. 

People from long ago were not satisfied staring at the sea so they built vessels to cross oceans.  When people saw colossal waves, they designed boards so they could ride them.  And why until now we hear people trying to beat the killer falls of Niagara?  It is because there is something in us that wants to experience nature no matter how treacherous it may be.

Nature is a favorite subject of photographers, painters, and illustrators.  Sometimes people become famous collectors of treasures from nature such as seashells, sand, preserved plants and animals, gems and precious stones.  While others use natural materials to create masterpieces that brings them fortune and fame.

In a highly urbanized neighborhood such as Kalihi, it seems that considering nature is neither instinctive nor realistic.  Some of us have lived here for a couple of decades now but how many of us could say that we have climbed the Kalihi Mountain let alone stare and admire it everyday?  I don’t blame you, I myself have always heard that there is a waterfall at the end of Kalihi Street but I never had gutsy friends who took me hiking back when we were teenagers.  Yet, I was grateful that my Church has a House of Worship in Kalihi Valley because from that vantage point, I have witnessed the Ko’olau Mountain Range that runs through Kalihi in its splendor and in different weather.  Among its lovely appearances, it would be beautiful in its vibrant green under the early sun, beautiful when blanketed with mist, beautiful when the sky above is bright blue punctuated with cotton white clouds, and beautiful when showered with light rain and crowned by a rainbow. 

Now I’m happy that besides admiring the mountain from a distance I was also able to climb it.  I finally hiked the trail that led to the Kalihi Ice Ponds or Na’ohia Falls.  Later, when I started the “I Love Kalihi” FB page I found the Kamanaiki Ridge hiking trail and trekked it, too.  There are also 2 other known hiking trails in Kalihi and they are the Kalihi Saddle and the Bowman Saddle.

Hiking comes in different levels so if you’re new to it, I recommend the first 2 mentioned above but even that it’s not without caution.  Go in a group especially with somebody who had already been there and/or with experienced hikers so that you can safely enjoy the hike.  And before going, it’s important to prepare by reading blogs and watching videos of experienced hikers such as these: http://notsogreathikingblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/kamanaiki-ridge.html

http://www.explorationhawaii.com/2011/09/18/kamanaiki-ridge-trail-views-from-kalihi-valley/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MArloTpbULQ

Swimming, fishing and picnicking at Sand Island Park and hiking the Ko’olau Mountain are ways to enjoy nature without spending money.  And this comes at an added advantage such as boosting our physical strength as well as feeding our soul.  Besides, enjoying nature is taking advantage of the gift and because this would become dear to us we would respect it and would be its advocate, not allowing that someday they would be taken away from us by commercialism as some of Hawaii had been.

Here is Counting Crows’ latest popular song, Big Yellow Taxi, a Joni Mitchell original that was inspired by Waikiki and her dismay of how paradise is lost through commercialism as she mentioned to journalist Alan McDougall in an interview in the early 1970s:

I wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvtJPs8IDgU

Go hike Kalihi!

The Good in Bad-minton!

Badminton is a racquet sport done by volleying a shuttlecock back and forth across a net.  It is played either in singles or doubles.  The roots of this sport can be traced back to mid-1800s, by British military officers stationed in British India. It's inspired by the traditional game called “battledore and shuttlecock” and was later formalized with set rules in England.  Badminton got its name from a country home of the Duke of Beaufort in southwestern England.

With Rutchel

Although this sport became popular world-wide, Asians have taken it to another level.  Today, the elite Badminton players in the world come from China, South Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.  Besides world championships, these countries also rack up medals in the Olympics since the sport was included in 1982.

For those who may think that Badminton is not a hardy sport because it uses a thin racquet and a little feathered birdie, this sport require aerobic stamina, agility, explosive strength, speed and precision.  And yes, players do get injured, too in high levels of play.  Just take a look at this Badminton game courtesy of YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ2k-tsX5KE

The friendly regulars: Albeth & Mercy, Tim & Renny

So, how do I inspire you to take up this wonderful sport and what is its connection to Kalihi?  Well, I found that there is such thing as the Honolulu Badminton Club, the first and only private badminton club in Honolulu and they are actually located in Kalihi at 1336 Dillingham Blvd.   You can sign up for membership at a very low price or you can just walk in to play for the night to see how it is.  The friendly owners are willing to give newcomers free lessons.

Here are reasons why it’s good to take up Badminton:

·      A very good form of exercise which, increases your flexibility, speed and agility

·      Low impact sport (unless played at high level)

·      Non-contact sport, less injury

·      Just need another person to play with (not a whole team)

Pheobe & Jimmy Yeung

·      No problem with weather, it’s played indoors

·      Uses affordable tools

·      You’ll meet other players and make friends

·      It’s FUN!

Honolulu Badminton Club (808-354-0146)

Mon to Fri - 6 to 10 p.m., Sat, Sun - 4 to 10 p.m.