Honolulu Star-Advertiser Opens Waikiki Bureau

A Star-Advertiser Vending Machine in Waikiki

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser recently announced the formation of a Waikiki Bureau, to be headed by veteran journalist Allison Schaefers. We contacted Ms. Schaefers, and she was gracious enough to take time from a very busy schedule to grant us an interview.

WW: How did the idea to start a Waikiki bureau come up, and how long has it been in the making?

AS: The excitement surrounding the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a high-level summit that will bring heads of states from 21 economies to Waikiki in November, was definitely a factor in the opening of the Waikiki Bureau. The opening also signifies the Star-Advertiser’s commitment to making sure that its readers are well-informed about what goes on in the state’s economic engine and how those developments affect their own lives. We’ve been planning this bureau since the beginning of the year, but we just opened the office in late March. Our coverage is a work in progress and will continue to evolve based on the needs and desires of our readers.

WW: What are the goals of the Waikiki bureau? What kind of reporting can we expect to see?

AS: We want to be the definitive source for Waikiki news. Coverage will range from business stories to features and news stories about the people that live, work and visit Waikiki. When you think about it, Waikiki is really the backyard for everyone in Hawaii. Since the district is ground central for tourism, it influences global perceptions of Hawaii and provides the bulk of the state tourism revenue and tax collections that are tapped across all islands. What happens in Waikiki affects nearly everyone in this state in one way or another so we want to provide substantive reporting that interests and informs readers.

WW: In the Star-Advertiser we read that the Waikiki bureau wants to be "the voice of Waikiki." What does this mean to you, and how will you accomplish this?

AS: Waikiki always has made tourism news; however, it has sometimes been overlooked when journalists are collecting fodder for stories about real isle people and topics that concern them. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is invested in Waikiki and we want to be good neighbors by making sure that we provide a forum for all voices in the district to be heard.

WW: What's your own background in Waikiki and Waikiki reporting?

AS: I have covered state tourism for eight years often focusing on Waikiki. I have gotten to know many of the leaders and workers in the district’s hospitality industry and now am looking forward to meeting more residents and guests. Last year, I completed a reporting package that looked at the impact of homelessness on tourism in Waikiki. The piece earned a national reporting award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) who selected it as one of the best explanatory journalism pieces submitted for the their 2010 best in business contest.

WW: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

AS: When I was a little girl, my mother told me to find a career that I liked and then it would never seem like work. She knew a lot about this topic because she too was a journalist... I grew up playing in newsrooms and learning about accountability as the fruits of her labors were discussed around town and at our dinner table.

I’ve been working as a paid journalist for about 23 years and I’ve never wanted to do anything else. I consider it a privilege to work for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and for all of our readers.

Our industry has suffered in recent years, but I still believe that I, and the young people who are coming after me, will have a future in this profession. The way that we deliver the news may change with the times, but our job continues to be important.

I’m proud to work for a newspaper owner, David Black, who is still bullish on print journalism and believes that newspapers continue to be a vital part of the democratic process. I’m thankful to work for editors who care about quality and alongside colleagues who give it all that they’ve got day after day.

Professional Biography of Allison Schaefers

(photo courtesy Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Allison Schaefers, a three-time national award-winning reporter, covers Hawaii tourism and Waikiki for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

She joined Oahu Publications Inc. in 2003 as part of the business reporting staff of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and stayed on after its consolidation with The Honolulu Advertiser. Prior to this, Schaefers was a staff writer for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, Fla. where she covered the Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach beat. Earlier, Schaefers served as News Editor for the Camden County Tribune.

Schaefers has worked alongside the White House Press Corps during President Barack Obama’s many Hawaii visits. She has been published by the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal.

She has been honored three times by the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW). This year her explanatory package on the impact of Waikiki homelessness on tourism was named among the best works in business among American journalists, as was her feature about the iconic Coco Palms. Last year, she was recognized by SABEW for her breaking news coverage of the last sugar haul at the now closed Gay & Robinson sugar mill on Kauai. Schaefers also has won more than 20 state journalism awards for writing, editing and photography.

An honors graduate of the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, Schaefers has earned several professional and academic scholarships. Last year, she reported from China after being selected as a prestigious Jefferson Fellow at the University of Hawaii’s East West Center. In 2006, she reported from Cambodia during a partner fellowship with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and East West Center. She also has studied journalism in Italy and England, where she completed a project on journalism ethics.

Schaefers can be reached at (808) 218-6718 or by e-mail at aschaefers@staradvertiser.com. She would welcome story ideas about Waikiki.
 

The Waikikiki Wanderer Comments

We were delighted to see the Star-Advertiser open a Waikiki desk, not because we feel the media have neglected Waikiki, but because we think that the additional focus on our district will be a positive factor in helping Waikiki move into the future. We're also glad to see recognition of the oft-overlooked fact that 20,000 people call Waikiki home. More than just a storied tourist destination, honest-to-goodness Hawaiian residents do populate Waikiki in numbers that surprise visitor and kama`aina alike.

The Star-Advertiser's commitment to Waikiki is further underlined by their appointment of a senior, award-winning journalist to run the new bureau.

We especially appreciate Ms. Schaefers' statement that "What happens in Waikiki affects nearly everyone in this state in one way or another ..."

This is something not often acknowledged or even realized by many Hawaiian residents, who know Waikiki is a major tourist center but don't understand the economic influence the district exerts. We too like to think that what's good for Waikiki is good for Hawai`i.

We wish Ms. Schaefers and the new Waikiki Bureau much success. Waikiki faces many challenges, but if we all work together the future can be a bright one. Having the Star-Advertiser on board with this effort will give a great  boost to Waikiki.

Dining in Waikiki: Marukame Udon

Marukame Udon is one of the latest additions to the Waikiki restaurant scene. It opened on April 1 at the old Jack-in-the-Box location at 2310 Kuhio.

The relatively fancy exterior might lead you to think this is an upscale Japanese noodle restaurant, but it's not; in the main, it's a moderately-priced cafeteria-style eatery serving varieties of udon and tempura.

In the first couple of weeks of operation, we observed very long waiting lines for such a small restaurant, so we let the fervor die down a little and went there one afternoon for a late lunch. In mid-afternoon, we experienced no wait.

Niku Udon

We decided on the Niku Udon (a beef dish) in the "regular" size for $5.75, and the Curry Udon (also beef) for just $5.25 in the same size. The servings were more than enough for lunch, perhaps even dinner, and you'd have to be really hungry to eat all of the "large" bowl.

The udon noodles are made on-premises and that makes all the difference. We found them to be utterly fresh and with incomparable flavor. They were cooked to perfection, having that combined softness and solidity that is characteristic of really excellent udon.

The broth in the Niku had a nice lightness and a pleasing taste; it didn't have the watered-down quality of broth found at "Americanized" Asian restaurants, but it wasn't so heavy and strong as to interfere with the enjoyment of the noodles. The beef was average; we thought it a little bland.

Curry Udon

With Japanese curries, knowing what to expect is usually an open question. Marukame Udon's version of curry was full-flavored and rich without being overpowering. The broth had the slightly muddy mouth-feel of many a Far East curry; we didn't find that especially pleasing but on the other hand, we didn't leave any of it behind, either. The flavor complimented the noodles nicely enough, but we liked the broth in the Niku a little more.

From left: Inari (top), Mushroom-ten (lower), Nasu-ten, Asuparagus-ten

The Udon bowls are a real bargain, and lunch for two can be had for as little as around $12 without drinks or tempura. But once you start adding in a la carte side items of tempura, the cost of a meal definitely goes up substantially.

But first we tried the Inari, which was well-priced at $1.25. The tofu skin had a pleasant flavor and was not overly sweet, and the vinegary rice filling contrasted nicely.

We also tried tempura mushrooms; a small skewer of three mushrooms sold for $1.50. The batter was light and crunchy but had definitely suffered from sitting under a heat lamp.

The "asuparagus-ten" or asparagus tempura sold for $1.50 per stalk of asparagus, a price we consider close to outrageous. The asparagus was fresh and good; the batter also suffered the depredations of the heat lamp.

The Nasu-ten, or eggplant, for $1.25, wasn't so expensive but it wasn't good; the eggplant was mushy and tasted old, and the usual comment applies about the batter.

We didn't order drinks, instead taking advantage of copious self-serve pitchers of ice water. Lunch for two totalled $21; tax is included in the item prices and there is no tipping. Be aware that only cash is accepted.

At the time of our visit, the interior decor was still not quite finished and some construction debris remained. But when everything is done, which we suspect will be soon, Marukame Udon will be attractive inside and out. If you skip the tempura-- and you won't be missing much if you do--- and just eat the Udon, you'll have a very inexpensive, tasty, and filling meal.

 
Marukame Udon is set to position itself as one of the best noodle places in Waikiki, and at some of the most attractive prices to boot. Those long waiting lines may persist well beyond opening week, and with good reason. If you're a fan of good, fresh noodles served in excellent broth, this is definitely a place you'll visit again and again.

Crime!

 

A recent story in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser spoke at some length about crime in Waikiki, particularly crime involving visitors. The upbeat story noted that crime is on the downswing. That's good news. No one goes on vacation to become a victim of crime.

The Star-Advertiser's positive spin was a welcome breath of fresh air, and we'd like to take that yet a step further. The newspaper story utilized the statistical reporting of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai`i (VASH) , which includes "unfortunate circumstances" in the stats. For instance, the 2010 figure of 1,701 incidents, down from 1,882 in 2009 but up from 1,613 in 2008, included 396 instances of illness and injury, and 120 instances of airfare/relocation (we're not really sure exactly what these are). This is a total of 516 incidents--- almost one-third--- that were not crime-related, and could and would have taken place elsewhere. We don't have year-over-year figures for true crime-related incidents, but we think that the net number for 2010, which comes out to 1,185, or roughly three per day, is hardly scandalous for a tourist destination as busy as Hawai`i.

Furthermore, these figures are statewide, so the impact in Waikiki is less, though we don't have a specific breakdown.

According to police reports, Waikiki is quite far from being the most crime-ridden area on O`ahu; this may come as a surprise to those kama`aina who sometimes view the district with what we feel is unwarranted disdain.

But it's even better than flat statistics indicate. Reducing personal risk in Waikiki is mostly a matter of common sense. Walking the streets at 3 AM is probably not prudent (though even then, the risk can be managed). Drinking into the wee hours in bars and clubs noted for brawling isn't a required activity on a visit here. While some crime victimization results from sheer bad luck, awareness of surroundings and simple prudence go a long way. We'll wager that nearly all tourists who observe these simple practices have very little trouble in Waikiki. And if unfortunate circumstances lead to a regrettable incident, that could have happened anywhere.

Enforcement and vigilance has certainly improved, as the newspaper points out. Plain-clothes and uniformed police regularly patrol Waikiki, and these days they seem more interested in crime prevention than busting jaywalkers (as they unfortunately appeared to be a few years back). Private security activity has stepped up. And we note that the visibility of prostitutes has declined--- we used to wonder why they walked the streets with near impunity not that long ago, easily spotted in their characteristic clear shoes by tourist and police officer alike.

We don't want to sugar-coat things excessively; there is crime in Waikiki and there are ongoing problems. But we can't go along with the view expressed by some locals that "Waikiki turns into a bad neighborhood at night"; and we wonder at the mainland media who characterize Waikiki as a "dangerous" destination.

Waikiki is beautiful, American, exotic and familiar all at once. And by and large, it's safe and secure. Let's make sure all our visitors and potential visitors know it.

Briefly Noted

We begin the month with a few photos and some brief commentary.

We're delighted to say we've seen real progress with a few of the vacant properties we wrote about in an earlier column. Remember this, the old home of Jack in the Box on Kuhio?

It's now ready to become this, and we're anxious to try it out.

On the other hand, we found this on the mauka side of the Ala Wai near the canoe club. Not terribly attractive but at least it's in an area where most tourists won't see it.

  

And then there was this, at Makittii on Kuhio.  Appreciation for earthquake support by giving North Americans 10% off while Japanese pay full price?

 

Though it's been photographed many times, who can resist another beautiful Waikiki sunset? 

 

Did you identify last month's mystery photo? This lonely but elegant and well-tended palm tree is on the upper story of the International Market.

This month's mystery photo isn't much of a mystery. The challenge is instead to identify where it was taken. Do you know? We'll tell you next month.