dakinetalk...Live from Kaua'i,Hawai'i: 07/14/13

Sunday, July 14, 2013

"The Greatest Alternative To Flying..!" 'James "Kimo" Rosen'

Shabbat dinner with my sister Linda, Brother-in-law Marvin and Nephew Jason via a Skype video call. I t was 12:15 my time (lunch time, and 6:15 east coast time in Buffalo N.Y. We lit candles said the blessings over wine and bread and just talked story (kibbutzed) while we ate. Much cheaper than the $1200.00 rt. airfare from Kauai to Buffalo N.Y.

My sister Linda and brother-in-law Marvin visiting Kaua'i in 2008
when airfares were still affordable. They found a roundtrip from Buffalo
including 5 nights hotel in Honolulu for $700.00 each. There have been
no good flying deals since.

This blog also appeared as my column in
The Kaua'i Garden Island News on
12-16-13

http://thegardenisland.com/news/opinion/guest/enjoy-the-holidays-with-the-greatest-alternative-to-flying/article_9dd8cf90-6606-11e3-9f57-001a4bcf887a.html

The Greatest Alternative To Flying

Where I live is one of the most expenses places to live in the United States. A loaf of bread can cost $8.00, a dozen eggs $7.00 and a simple meal at a food-truck can cost $15.00, more than a sit down restaurant in most cities.

Airfares from Kaua'i, where I live to Honolulu an 80 mile trip can cost upwards of $350.00, a round-trip to go a mere 80 miles. All this because a few years back a select group of who we call "contrarians." (misplaced yuppies and hippies protested a ferry system Hawai'i was about to embark upon)They said it would bring drug dealers and the homeless to our island, like drug dealers do not fly? So now with the airlines having a monopoly they charge what they want and get it from the tourists, while locals on limited budgets can only dream of getting off island.

I have been wanting to visit my sister for quite a while, she lives in Buffalo N.Y, and the cheapest airfares are upward of $1200.00 to get to Buffalo from Kaua'i. The last time I was off island was in 2006 to attend a friends wedding in Honolulu. Back then Go airlines had specials of $25.00 round-trips, no such thing anymore.

How does one compete with expensive airfares? Well here's what my sister and I did, we got together for a Sabbath dinner via a Skype video call. The best part, Skype is free computer to computer anywhere in the world!

Last Friday I had Shabbat dinner with my sister Linda, Brother-in-law Marvin and Nephew Jason via a Skype video call. I t was 12:15 my time (lunch time,) and 6:15 east coast time in Buffalo N.Y. We lit candles, said the blessings over wine and bread and just talked story (kibbutzed) while we ate. Much cheaper than the $1200.00 round-trip airfare from Kaua'i to Buffalo N.Y.

What a perfect way to use technology. I did not have to deal with some bratty kid kicking my seat, did not have to deal with the perverted TSA agents scanning and feeling me up, did not have to deal with some drunk or smelly person sitting next to me, or some 400 lb person cramping my space.

Skype not only saved me over $1200.00 in airfares but saved me a dog sitting fee, the cost of medication to relieve my anxiety of flying and days of jet lag.

We avoided all the negativity of flying and travel, and the best part, when dinner was over we could sleep in our own beds.