Dad Man Blogging

Willie K and Israel Kamakawiwoʻole Remembered

May 20th, 2020Mark0 Comments

Willie K performance on ukulele at Sea Life Park

This is a bittersweet time for Hawaii. Today we remember two music legends, Willie K and Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. One just passed away, and the other has been gone for a while. Late last night we were all sad to hear the news about Uncle Willie K’s passing. It goes without saying that his talent and personality will be missed. But his spirit and memory will live on in his music. I recall the first (decent sized) concert that we took our son to was a few years ago at Sea Life Park. Willie K headlined the evening, along with Na …

Sheltering in Place is Our New Normal

April 1st, 2020Mark0 Comments

Shelter in place with laptop on toilet paper

Time is relative, especially while everyone is sheltering in place. Social distancing these last two weeks have felt both like an eternity and a blink of an eye. This past Monday made a full week since the coronavirus forced a mandatory order for Hawaii residents to shelter in place and work from home. So for now, sheltering in place is our new normal. It’s also been two weeks since my son started his spring break from pre-school. He was supposed to go back to school this week. Before the break, his class had just gone on a field trip to …

Pandemic Panic Buying in Hawaii

March 17th, 2020Mark0 Comments

Last week the World Health Organization has officially declared the coronavirus a pandemic. So pandemic panic buying has begun. The first time I started to pay real attention to the coronavirus was when Washington State reported its first case on January 20. But it wasn’t until three weeks ago that we started to get more concerned. Italy became the first country to implement a nationwide lockdown. Reports showed their rate of infection increasing exponentially. There were long lines at grocery stores where people were desperate to buy food, necessities, and supplies. We started thinking and planning what we might need …

How to Use a Penny to Check Your Tire Treads

February 6th, 2020Mark0 Comments

Hurricane season has ended in Hawaii, but the rainy season is still here to stay. What this means is that everyone will need to remain extra careful and vigilant while driving on the roads. Regularly inspecting the overall condition of your tires is very important for the safety of your family and those around you. One way to do this is to use a penny to check your tire treads. Out of the 50 states, Hawaii has the 9th worst traffic in America. Furthermore, there are erosion and potholes on many roads due to the tropical weather deteriorating the materials …

3 Camera Ideas for Better Family Photos

September 24th, 2019Mark0 Comments

As the saying goes, “the best camera is the one that you have with you.” This is especially true when it comes to capturing spontaneous family moments. I invited Ricky Li, a professional photographer onto my YouTube vlog channel, “Dad Man Vlogging” to discuss camera options. He shared 3 camera ideas for taking better family photos. Smartphone Camera with Moment Lenses The first camera he pointed out was none other than the modern smartphone. Ricky recommends using Moment lenses with your smartphone to enhance its optical capabilities. Today’s smartphones are equipped with very good cameras. Some even boast higher megapixels …

Rode Wireless Go Lives Up to the Hype

September 21st, 2019Mark0 Comments

The Rode Wireless Go lives up to the hype! I did an unboxing video in June on my YouTube channel, Dad Man Vlogging. So after using it for few months, I’m happy to report that I love this mic system. The Rode Wireless Go is an ultra-compact wireless mic that delivers broadcast quality sound at a great value. It holds a charge for several hours of use and has a range of about 230 feet. This is a grab-and-go system that you can just toss into your camera bag. It’s also so small that you can easily carry in your …

Already Looking Forward to the Next Farm Fair

August 16th, 2019Mark0 Comments

Whenever my son sees farm animals he always shouts out excitedly, “farm fair!” Such was the case last night when he saw cows and chicken on TV. His next question after that is usually, “Can we go to the farm fair?” He is already looking forward to the next farm fair in 2020. This year marked the 57th annual fair. It was held on July 13 and 14, once again at Kualoa Ranch on the Windward side of Oahu. They’ve had it at the ranch for the past several years and I can’t imagine it being anywhere else. Unplug at …

Six Benefits of the Kids Workshop at Home Depot

July 30th, 2019Mark1 Comment

The Kids Workshop at The Home Depot is educational, fun and completely free! In my opinion, this is one of the best events for kids and their parents. On the first Saturday of every month, participating Home Depot locations host The Kids Workshop. Families with kids of all ages enjoy this event. The Home Depot does a great job organizing everything and providing the project kits, tools, and supplies. Best of all, on top of being free, they do all the clean up after you’re done! All you have to do is show up and bring your enthusiasm. Children receive …

To TradeUp or Not to Upgrade

July 23rd, 2019Mark0 Comments

Popular tech gear today typically comes with the expectation that every year an updated model could be released. Such gear is like the GoPro action cameras. Seemingly every year new models for these are released with improved features to entice me to upgrade. These updates are great for the manufacturer and good for innovation. So recently I found myself asking the following question. To “TradeUp”, or not to upgrade? Put another way, “do I really need it?” Whenever there’s a special offer like the recent TradeUp deal for the GoPro Hero 7, it’s worth considering. Especially if you’re loyal to …

Contributing to Hawaii IRL

July 19th, 2019Mark0 Comments

I just recently launched Dad Man Blogging, and now to further expand the canvas of my creative outlet I am also contributing to another blog site, Hawaii IRL (In Real Life). Hawaii IRL is a Hawaii lifestyle blog that’s been around for 10 years and has an established base of loyal followers. The local contributors there each bring their unique perspectives and talents to weave into the fabric of that blog. Last month the brand itself went through an update with a new logo, a fresh color scheme and some new under the hood upgrades. I like the new image …