Tuesday, December 27, 2011

When We Were Younger & Better.

There is a screen in front of a bicycle’s handlebars. The screen displays people, machines, and weather in-motion. The view varies from familiar neighborhoods to uncharted foothills. Often enough the screen is interactive, allowing the operator to pause and converse with surroundings. Highly technological illuminated screens have yet to achieve the simple joys of riding a bicycle.

Thirteen-year-old Mark Fagaragan rides a bicycle outside of Kalihi twice a week. Until recently Mark has made journeys via a trusty 20-inch BMX bicycle. Last week Mark earned a 700c/29er track bicycle at KVIBE. Courtesy of a generous donation by UH Manoa graduate student Annie Hollis, Mark will now have the ability to venture further.

A larger wheel allows for longer wheel travel. Mark describes his newfound bicycle experiences as “awesome...I feel more comfortable to ride.” There are plans to ride as far as Waikiki and as nearby as Aloha Tower. Mark rides bicycles “because it is a lot of fun, and you can go anywhere without paying...you can just use your bicycle.”

KVIBE/Kokua Kalihi Valley is proud to welcome two new volunteers: Mark John Mangayayam and Eilif Knutson. Mark John is a Farrington High School senior who was recently accepted to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Eilif is a bicycle advocate, artist, farmer, everyman from Corvallis, Oregon who is currently residing in Honolulu on winter hiatus.

As KVIBE positions itself for an eventful 2012, please remember that the program exists purely out of the public goodwill. Donations are graciously accepted to promote bicycling as a healthy endeavor for the youth of Kalihi.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mr. Cheever's Bicycle Emporium.

David Cheever is seventy-three-years-old. About two weeks ago Mr. Cheever decided to open a bicycle shop. Wiki Bikes is located in the Nuuanu neighborhood with noticeably large green “BIKE” lettering announcing the storefront. The “BIKE” lettering is recycled from Mr. Cheever’s former bicycle shop, The Bike Way.

Indeed, Wiki Bikes is Mr. Cheever’s second bicycle shop in Honolulu. With a mere two hundred fifty square feet of space, Wiki Bikes is adorned with beautiful vintage bicycles. Freshly painted storage containers - all recycled and/or salvaged - host a variety of shop tools and bicycle-related literature. Period cycling paraphernalia and souvenirs top off Wiki Bikes decor of timelessness.

“This is exactly what I wanted (Wiki Bikes), a small community store for people to hang out,” explains Mr. Cheever. There are many long-term plans for Wiki Bikes - including providing coffee for guests on morning commutes - but most progressively is Mr. Cheever’s hope to provide employment to youth in the neighborhood.

Mr. Cheever believes that youth can learn a lot from being employed. He envisions Wiki Bikes as a place where youth will learn the business of bicycle retail. On any given afternoon, curious middle-school students will peek inside the bicycle shop before scurrying away to purchase pop at the corner store. Mr. Cheever predicts that it will take a year for his plan to manifest itself.

For now, Mr. Cheever is Wiki Bikes’ only employee. There is an occasional volunteer; Mrs. Cheever and daughter Jill handle all the shop’s finances. But most afternoons it is Mr. Cheever wrenching away at bicycles and making connections in the neighborhood. Retirement is not on Mr. Cheever’s agenda anytime soon.

Wiki Bikes | 1951 Pacific Heights Road | www.wikibikes.net

Thursday, December 8, 2011

This Must Be The Place.

“I myself find that the physical sensation of self-powered transport coupled with the feeling of self-control endemic to this two-wheeled situation is nicely empowering and reassuring, even if temporary, and it is enough to center me for the rest of the day.” - David Byrne.

For the last six months, twelve-year-old Dallin Sossin has been frequenting KVIBE. Dallin began with a BMX bicycle until his bicycling interests began to outgrow 20-inch wheels. For months Dallin ogled at a donated vintage Fuji bicycle frame hanging idly inside KVIBE’s warehouse. With each generous donation by the public, Dallin began collecting parts to refurbish the tiny Fuji bicycle frame.

Weeks and months passed.

Dallin has spent his entire existence in the Kalihi neighborhood. Dallin lists “biking, video games, and sleeping” as his favorite activities. Prior to visiting KVIBE, Dallin had minimal knowledge about the nifty bits of a bicycle.

This week Dallin built his first fixed gear bicycle.

The kindness of public donations to the KVIBE program will empower Kalihi youth to discover a fervor for bicycling - human-powered transport at its finest. Ride a Bicycle.