Friday, September 30, 2011

Our Little Corner of Kalihi.

On Saturday, October 1st, KVIBE and KKV’s Roots Food Program will host “A Kalihi Melee.” The event will take place at KVIBE -located at 1638 Kamehameha IV Road- beginning at 10AM and ending at 2PM. The purpose of the event is to showcase KVIBE and Kokua Kalihi Valley’s various programs promoting wellness for the people of Kalihi Valley.

KKV’s Roots Food Program will have cooking demonstrations with foods grown in the Ho’oulu ‘Aina Nature Park’s community gardens in the back of Kalihi Valley. Roots Food inspires the community of Kalihi Valley to be harmonious with food, land and the ways they bring us together. KKV’s Family Strengthening Program will have sewing demonstrations and information about services offered - such as ESL support. Regular KVIBE volunteer and wrench junkie Galen will assist KKV’s Tobacco Cessation Program in a demonstration.

Meanwhile, Cycle Manoa - UH Manoa’s Bicycle Education Advocacy Program - will be on site with a bicycle-powered blender. KKV’s Roots Food will bring fresh food for the blender and KVIBE will supplement with frozen fruit. Smoothies will be free for youth whom want to pedal for their smoothies. HNL Bike Polo and The Kickstand will have bicycle polo basics and perhaps mallet-construction.

BMX Hawaii will sponsor all BMX activites organized by KJ and Cuyler Yogi. McCully Bicycle has sponsored A Kalihi Melee with a complete Giant Method BMX bicycle that will be given away via raffle - information and eligibility available during the Melee. Courtesy of KKV’s Family Strengthening Specialist Gracie Suaglar, the Honolulu Police Department’s Bicycle Fleet will make an appearance at A Kalihi Melee at noon to confirm that there are indeed law enforcement careers for cycling enthusiasts.

Ilana Nimz - artist of A Kalihi Melee’s flier - has hand-painted a one-of-a-kind-KVIBE hat. A silent auction will be occur during the Melee; donations will benefit the cycling youth of Kalihi. Please consider supporting KVIBE by submitting a bid for an elegant hand-painted KVIBE trucker hat. Please note that all traffic at A Kalihi Melee is limited to pedestrian and bicycle ONLY. Ride a bicycle, walk, run and live like a champ.

Monday, September 26, 2011

It Started With A Melee.

Italian Fausto Coppi was once asked what it takes to be a cyclist in the pro peloton. Coppi uttered the now famous, “ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike” reply that forever cemented his status in cycling history. Coppi ended his career with five Giro d’Italia and two Tour de France wins. Coppi’s track bicycle hour record was held for nearly thirty years until Eddy “the Cannibal” Merckx decimated the cycling world in the 1970s.

Coppi’s humble beginnings were in lieu of being the fourth child in a five child family. He quit school at the age of thirteen and became an errand boy for a butcher. Eventually Coppi would save enough money to acquire a bicycle and win his first race at the age of fifteen.

KVIBE is dedicated to providing Kalihi’s youth with bicycles. Through cycling, it is the program’s hope that youths develop good health and sound futures. Local cycling team Cambio-Core will have members attending A Kalihi Melee on October 1st. A few of the attending members are currently residents in the Kalihi neighborhood. Please feel free to approach Cambio-Core members to see if road bicycle racing may be a suitable endeavour.

KJ and Cuyler Yogi will be hosting BMX bicycle activites. Confirmed is a bunny-hop competition with potential for other BMX-related shenanigans. BMX Hawaii will be sponsoring the events with booty. Cyrus Camp (formerly of KVIBE) will be in attendance at A Kalihi Melee as The Kickstand bicycle shop will be a prize sponsor.

Additionally, several members of HNL Bike Polo and Cycle Manoa will also make appearances at A Kalihi Melee with activities and information. And KKV’s Roots Food Program (the co-chair of A Kalihi Melee) will be on site demonstrating healthy living through good food - note “good food” not Jack-in-the-Box. Food is a life-source and the body is a temple, treat them accordingly.

KVIBE | October 1, 2011 | 10AM | A Kalihi Melee

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

There Will Be A Melee.

“If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan cities for people and places, you get people and places.” Dan Burden, the director of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute was in town last week showcasing how Honolulu could become a place for people, bicycles, and life. Burden believes in “complete streets” where humans and bicycles are a street's primary occupants and automobiles are the intruders.

While the idea of “complete streets” may sound as far-fetched as a unicorn it is really as believable as a narwhal. It may be that the youth of Kalihi today will be the cyclists of tomorrow’s “complete streets.”

KVIBE and KKV’s Roots Food Program will host “A Kalihi Melee” on October 1, 2011. Celebrating the community of Kalihi, bicycles, healthy foods and living well. A Kalihi Melee will take place at KVIBE at 10AM until 2PM. The crew of HNL Bike Polo will make an appearance and likely host bicycle polo activities. UH Manoa’s Cycle Manoa bicycle program will have a tent with a bicycle-powered blender and information about their organization. BMX activities such as a bunny-hop are currently being worked out by KJ and friends. KVIBE’s founding father, Crisdean Blumenstetter is also slated to make an appearance.

KVIBE was recently granted a functional land line; the new office number is 808.843.1545. Please be aware that emailing is still the best option to contact KVIBE. Remember that community donations are always appreciated and will directly impact the youth of Kalihi. Finally, volunteer Larry Victorino would like to remind kids that footwear is always required at KVIBE’s warehouse.

A Kalihi Melee is on October 1, 2011.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Faithful Anchor.

On a Friday afternoon eleven-year-old Joshua DeJesus walked into KVIBE. Joshua appeared bewildered at first but then began digging around the rows of donated bicycles to find a black bicycle frame. Only the handlebars and cranks remained on the black bicycle frame as all other parts had been salvaged.

On a Saturday morning Joshua returned to KVIBE yearning to work on the black bicycle. Joshua still appeared rather puzzled by the mechanics of the bicycle but instinctively knew he had to find wheels. While Joshua dug through the mounds of mismatched wheels, fifteen-year-old Prince Gamaio rode into KVIBE. Prince began helping Joshua dig through the mismatched wheels in hopes of finding a coaster brake rear wheel.

Soon Joshua and Prince had most of the pieces of the black bicycle put together. All that was missing was a suitable chain. Courtesy of the generous donations by the community, the boys were handed a brand new chain to make use of on the black bicycle.

By Saturday afternoon eleven-year-old Joshua DeJesus was riding the black bicycle up and down Kamehameha IV Road - the road that KVIBE is located on. Soft-spoken, Joshua said that he was happy with the bicycle “because I can ride with my friends now.” Shortly thereafter Joshua and his friends rode their bicycles off to enjoy the rest of their Saturday.

KVIBE exists to service the youth of Kalihi. Riding a bicycle is perceived as an enjoyable and evolved form of transportation. Bicycles are built, ridden, and discussed with the youth as a path to grander pastures. Donations are greatly appreciated and will directly impact the youth.

As a side note, KVIBE will be closed on Wednesday, September 14th to attend the Complete Streets for Honolulu Workshops by Dan Burden. As the executive director of Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, Burden believes that, “active living is the partial healer of many negative effects that have led to isolation and decreasing health of people. through our work, we show that walkability and livability lead to more attractive and functional communities, which helps improve individual and community health.”

KVIBE is Open. Ride a Bicycle.