Malia k Harunaga, Author at Hawaii Bicycling League

Happy Holidays from HBL

Wishing You A Wheely Good Holiday Season!

We hope you’re able to enjoy time with family and go for a bike ride! Burn off those extra calories!

We’ve been on our best behavior this year – always riding with our helmets on, pushing for more bike lanes, and working hard to help more people bike. We hope that Santa or his holiday menehune could put a few of these things on our list under our Christmas palm tree this holiday season (or drop them off at the HBL office)! Mahalo and Mele Kalikimaka, from our HBL family to yours!

HBL Holiday Wishlist:

iPhones or 3G enabled iPads (new or gently used)

For course marshals during our large events, out of office credit card donations, and more.

Apple iMac desktop computer or laptop

As we grow, we need more workstations.

Mid-sized Refrigerator

More space for staff brown bag lunches! Need a bit more fridge space. If you have a fridge larger than a mini-fridge, but not exactly full size, we’d love it!

Silent Auction donations

For the HBL Annual Members Dinner & Fundraiser

Cargo bike or other unique bikes

We’re looking to create a bicycle-power system, which involves a cargo bike.

Good relationships between all users of the road!

Donate or Renew to help support our efforts!

Staff Light Picks

The Better to See You!

We all want to be seen whilst riding our bicycles here in Hawai’i. We know that an “invisible” cyclist is an unsafe cyclist, and that lights are one of the biggest deterrents against car-bike collisions, but there are so many lights on the market that it might be hard for one to choose the right one(s). Not only are lights on your bike smart, but they are the law! Hawai’i state law requires bicyclists riding 30-minutes after sunset to 30-minutes before sunrise to have at least a front white light and rear red reflector affixed to your bicycle (brush up on your bike laws at HBL.org/BikeLaws). Here’s what your friends at the Hawaii Bicycling League have tested and recommend for you to see, and to be seen!

Malia’s Light Picks:

Halo Belts. These illuminated LED belts give you 360 degrees of visibility, and 100% coolness. Utilizing fiber optic technology, this lightweight belt buckles around your waist/bag/body and features bright LEDs and 3M Reflective Adjustable Elastic so that you are lit up at any angle. Their site claims you can see the belt from 1/4th of a mile away! They come in many different colours (you can even get a matching pet collar for your furry friend), and are water-resistant and USB rechargeable for many more night ventures to come. Buy it locally for $45 at: McCully Bicycle & Sporting Goods, or directly from LED Systems Hawaii. Halo Belt online store: HaloBelt.com
NiteRider Solas Tail Light. This little back light packs a crazy bright punch! USB rechargeable and able to withstand any downpour (this has been tested, and tested again!), the Solas blasts 2 Watts of bright red light with four different flash-settings, with the “low-steady” setting lasting up to 36-hours! I like this light because is shines powerful and eye-catching light in 180-degrees, and comes with a seat post mount that makes it super easy to detach it with a flick of a finger if you’re locking up your bike. Buy it locally for $40 at The Bike Shop or Island Triathlon & Bike. NiteRider Tail Light online store: NiteRider.com/taillights/
BikeGlow Safety Light. Though this fun light accessory for your bike won’t help you see, it will help people see you while giving your bike that unique flare while riding a night! The 10-feet of durable, waterproof, glowing wire comes in eight different colours and is made so you can get creative with how you attach it to your bicycle. I suggest this for parades, Halloween, or if you just want to feel like you’re in Tron. Buy it online for $30 at: BikeGlow.com/#shop
Monkey Light. Want to be seen, turn head’s, and be super RAD while riding your bike?! Look no further than the Monkey Light. This waterproof, dustproof, and crazy exciting light party attaches to your spokes and creates over 40 different custom patterns. Choose a scheme that fits your mood and style: fireballs, paw prints, lightening bolts, rocket ships, and over 30 more! It claims to give you 360 degrees of visibility but I’ve noted that it is really great for side-visibility, which is helpful since I usually just run a front and back light. Buy it locally for $60 at Eki Cyclery. There’s more basic models starting at $30 as well! Monkey Light online store: Monkeylectric.com/
NiteRider Lumina. Oh man, this front light is BRIGHT! While a little on the pricey side for the casual commuter, I would completely recommend this super powerful white light to everyone and anyone. Seriously, don’t skimp on lights! Especially this one that is extremely tough, intense, and illuminates everything in your path on the road or on the trails. It has 5 different light modes and a handlebar mount with quick release feature so you can take off your light in a snap. Buy it locally for $55 (450 lumens), $80 (750 lumens) at The Bike Shop and Island Triathlon & Bike. NiteRider Bike Lights online store: NiteRider.com/road/

Travis’ Light Picks:

Lumos Helmet. The two bicycling accessories we say to never skimp on – the helmet and the lights – now combined into one beautiful (and safe) product. The Lumos helmet creators raised over $800k through their Kickstarter campaign to fund this super futuristic and awesome illuminated helmet, complete with turn signals, automatic motion-activated brake lights, an app to control your personal settings, and visibility like no other. Buy it online for $170 at: LumosHelmet.co/

General Staff Picks:

Reflectors! We know that lights are great to have, but what’s not so great is that sometimes they run out of juice. By adding reflectors to your gear you can ensure that you will always have something to shine bright. Reflectors can be great accessories for visibility if they are placed correctly, and often are seen at further distances than normal lights. Reflectors work by reflecting light straight back at the source. Pick up a free set of reflective anklets from HBL by swinging by the HBL office or coming out to one of our free workshops! You can stock up on other reflective gear, from shoes, socks, jackets, and tops, to reflective paint, stickers, pedals, bags, and more!

Have your own recommendations for light or reflector gear that keeps you seen and safe? Email Malia at Malia@HBL.org to share your picks!

Bikes, Trikes, and Holiday Parades!

Waikīkī Holiday Parade – Nov. 25, 2016 (Fri)

For pictures, check out our Waikīkī Holiday Parade Facebook album!

Come join us in the 2016 Waikīkī Holiday Parade on November 25th (Friday)! The Hawaii Bicycling League has been invited to celebrate the festive holiday season while honouring the Pearl Harbor survivors in the Waikīkī Holiday Parade! The parade starts at Fort DeRussy Park and follows Kalākaua Avenue till Kapi’olani Park (~1.5 miles). You can check out the parade route by clicking HERE.

The parade is expected to run from 7:00-9:00pm. The event is expected to have 4,000 marchers, 40 vehicles, & 38 bands! We are allowed to start staging as early as 5:30pm by the post office on Saratoga Avenue. Please plan to meet us there to decorate your bike at 6pm! I will bring some garlands and things to dress up our rides, but if you have some festive accessories (lights, garlands, etc.) to deck out your bike then please bring them! You can wear whatever you feel comfortable cruising along in (the more holiday spirit the better!), just make sure it doesn’t interfere with you riding safely.

“The Waikīkī Holiday Parade commemorates Pearl Harbor by honoring survivors and veterans in memory of the attacks from December 7, 1941. Local Hawaiian bands, marching bands from the mainland, military units, local officials and dignitaries march down torch-lit Kalakaua Avenue along Waikiki Beach. It is held annually the Friday following Thanksgiving Day and hosts thousands of spectators, residents and visitors alike. The 2016 parade will feature more than 30 bands from the mainland.” For more information, visit their website: www.musicfestivals.com.

Sign up to participate in the Waikīkī Holiday Parade: www.volunteersignup.org/QQLJB

Electric Lights Parade – Dec. 3, 2016 (Sat)

For pictures, check out our Electric Light Parade Facebook album!

This parade is sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu, and we are excited to be accepted in with the Department of Transportation Services’ contingent this year! They expect 2,000 marchers, 40 floats & 15 vehicles to participate in this popular Christmas parade. The parade starts at A’ala Park and goes down S. King Street, ending in front of Honolulu Hale. You can check out the parade route HERE. The parade runs from around 6:00-6:30pm, but the Honolulu City Lights Opening Night Festivities will be going on from 4-11pm! You can check out their schedule HERE. We will meet at the Fasi Municipal Building as early as 4:00pm by the fix-it station to decorate our rides, and then ride together to the start – between N. King Street & Hotel Street (near the Golden River Restaurant).

Pictures from last year’s Electric Light Parade:

Sign up to participate in the Electric Lights Parade: www.volunteersignup.org/QQLJB

We will have our decorated bikes and Senior Cycling Program recumbent trikes out to cruise along in both of these parades! Join in the cheer by wearing your most festive outfit and decking your bike out with lights, garlands, and whatever awesome decorations you want! Please join us for this fun parade by signing up below, and bring your friends and family out! 😀

Sign up HERE! www.volunteersignup.org/QQLJB

For HBL parade participation details, please email Malia at Malia@HBL.org or call her at (808) 735-5756! Once you sign up more information will be emailed to you 🙂

‘Ōlelo Video Training!

UPDATE (Feb. 2, 2017): A group of seven excited HBL members have gone through the Video Production Training, and now are certified to work with ‘Ōlelo’s equipment (video, audio, and more!)! We are now looking to put our video visions out into the world, and we would love your help! If you consider yourself a future star (or maybe you are a star right now!) and want to be in front of the camera, or if you want to lend your help behind the scenes, please email Malia atMalia@HBL.org!

Previous Post: (Oct. 19 2016)

Want more riders to understand bicycling etiquette, like passing on the left? Want drivers to give you more room on the road? Then like us, you share our passion for educating the community at large about bicycling and safety! Consider joining forces with the HBL staff and HBL Education Committee members in producing creative and snappy PSAs through ‘Ōlelo. We’re planning on participating in a three week training course with ‘Ōlelo’s Community Media Program to become certified in using their recording and editing equipment. The course will provide complete video production training and free access to ‘Ōlelo’s resources for a lifetime and occurs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6-9pm. Use your creative talents to make Hawai’i a tropical bicycling paradise! Contact Malia at Malia@HBL.org for more information.

What’s In My Bike Bag