Smart Money
There’s a recession going on. Here’s how you’re making it through.
Best customer service
Kamaaina Acupuncture
Since they’re about to make your face look like Hellraiser, it’s wise for an acupuncture place to make you feel welcome and comfortable. Not only that, but with the Web site stating that the business’ goal is “to make high quality care both accessible and affordable to the community,” the snobby boutique veneer that acupuncture can have fades in place of offering people the help they need.
You said: “I will not make a Femme Nu joke, I will not make a Femme Nu joke, I will not make a Femme Nu joke.”
Best hardware store
City Mill
With this local institution winning time and again, you have to take the nickname “Sh*tty Mill” as a term of endearment. Be it during the height of hurricane season or in anticipation of another blackout, the 1200-watt gas generator and five-in-one power station available at City Mill has both island residents’ and the store’s interest at heart.
You said: “Apple.”
Best place to get furniture reburbished
Re-use Hawaii
Reclaiming materials and furniture from deconstruction projects, Re-use Hawaii opens its doors to let the public browse among gems such as clawfoot bathtubs and ‘ohia floors. Whether you’re ready to take your first home DIY plunge after two years of subscribing to Ready Made or equipped to use more affordable, second-hand materials to do your part to save the planet, let yourself go crazy like a kid in a candy store to support this visionary non-profit.
You said: “Dumpster.”
Best place to find a good, cheap bottle of wine
Tamura’s
Want a prosecco as a champagne substitute? Take your pick. Want a cheap, but decent-tasting red to go with your dinner at JJ Bistro and Pastry across the street? No problem. Those yellow tags with their low prices in bold black ink excite one enough to fill the basket to the brim with booze. Some wine snobs may prefer smaller wine boutiques, but you can’t beat the variety and affordability of Tamura’s.
Best street/ neighborhood to shop on foot
Chinatown
Like its street bazaar counterparts in Asia, but with less elbow shoving and pick-pocketing, Chinatown gives locals and tourists alike a chance to browse through kitschy fans, cheap kitchen strainers and fresh seafood. If you want to buy those brocade-lined slippers in bulk, some vendors might even be willing to bargain with you. Price tags be damned. Loud voices the norm.
You said: “They’re all in Europe.”
Best farmers’ market
Kapiolani Community College
This is the mother ship of Oahu’s farmers’ markets. If, as a vendor, you’ve managed to secure a spot in this crowded market, you’ve made it to the big time. With plenty of options of produce, prepared food and drink and other locally made goods, one can have one’s pizza, veggies, beef, greens, jams, tropical fruit and eat them, too.
Best place to buy cheese
Whole Foods
This mainland institution appeals to the bourgeoisie, healthy, self-righteous and hippie sets. But it’s cheese that brings everyone together. From fresh to the bloomy-rinded kind, one can easily find 250 to 1,000 varieties of cheese at any given time. Explore your world. Varie-cheese is the word.
You said: “You can’t buy cheese. You have to earn it.”
Best mechanic
Kyle’s Service
Even the name of the service is a throwback to nostalgic times, when you and your mechanic knew each other on a neighborly, first-name basis. “Just go to Kyle,” you might recommend to a friend with car trouble. With customers claiming Kyle to be honest and more affordable than other places, one might be urged to seek out his services soon, before the last of this breed of mechanic fades away.
You said: “Dad.”
Best affordable workday lunch
Subway
Some may be cringing at the fact that a locally grown and owned eatery didn’t win this category, but one can’t deny the internationally ubiquitous sandwich franchise’s affordability. It’s all about the choices and five-dollar foot-longs. And to boot, it’s healthier than that other fast food joint that starts with “Mc” and ends in “Donald’s.”
You said: “Checking the work fridge.”
Best place to take the whole family for dinner–on a budget:
Zippy’s
Prices have gone up, like they have in many restaurants, but the charm of Zippy’s and the friendly diner atmosphere is one that appeals to all generations. From the hearty Zip Pac to the Zip Min, one usually doesn’t come away from Zip’s still hungry. With so many locations around the island, it’s not so hard to get grandma in her walker and baby in his or her stroller to the gathering place.
Best place to shop for groceries
Safeway
While the aging Manoa Safeway pales in comparison to the shiny Kapahulu super-Safeway (Gelateria? Olive bar?? Make-your-own-peanut butter station???), one has to admit that customer service at most branches is great. It’s even rumored that a certain HMO bases its interpersonal training on Safeway’s model. One may feel guilty buying those Mexican vine-ripened tomatoes on sale, but Safeway has made a noticeable effort to carry Hawaii products, as well as the large signs pointing you toward them. Maui onions, Hamakua Springs’ tomatoes and the occasional akule are just some of the local goods available.
Best way to find a job
Craigslist
From “Web Cam Models” to “Experienced Autocad Drafter,” almost any job imaginable is on this site. Whether serious or freaky, full time or part time, contemplate your future and have a laugh (or serious consideration of) posts such as “fukity fuk” in the “rants & raves” section while dealing with the stress of finding work.
You said: “Don’t say you’re Caucasian.”
Best silver lining of this recession
Money isn’t everything
The saying is cliché, but now so many are living it and figuring it out exactly what that means. For some, it’s more time to surf or work on a tan. For others, it’s to create more art and spend time with loved ones. Lucky we live Hawaii: even if it comes down to homelessness, at least the Islands’ fair weather leaves more time to spend in the great outdoors.
You said: “OK to be drunk at noon.”
Best item to cut out of your budget without missing it too much
Starbucks
The original Starbucks may have had an edge to it, but many coffee aficionados complain that Starbucks, as it has become, has weak and overly sweet coffee. One can live without the brand name and money drain. Besides, are you sure the contemporary adult pop Starbucks compilation CD is really you?
You said: “Dependent adult children.”
Editors’ Pick: Best source of pocket change
Bar and restaurant dumpsters
Fish out those recyclables! Safety gloves and large vehicle recommended. Just don’t get shanked during the process. Like bars have their regulars, so do bar dumpsters and their scavengers. If you’re caught rummaging through a dumpster you haven’t yet claimed, there may be some broken bottle dancing in your near future.
