So I don’t know what sparked this in my mind, but awhile ago when we still had the store in Waikele, I saw tons of people shoe shopping because there’s an abundance of shoe stores. Anyway, a kid came in and it triggered a memory, I started laughing a little bit because they looked like SOAP SHOES! Which has brought us to this week’s installment of THROWBACK THURSDAYS!!

Soap shoes were first introduced in 1997 and were basically made for grinding. Essentially derived from rollerblades and aggressive in-line skating, they had a plastic concavity in the sole which allowed the wearer to grind on objects such as pipes, handrails, and stone ledges.

A local kid from Hawaii Kai back in day

I remember being about 12, my older brother Ikaika and a bunch of his friends had them. They would be in the yard and driveway after school making pipe rails and things they could grind. I was always that younger kid who would always get in the way. lol. My parents didn’t want me to have soap shoes because they said I’d get hurt (but riding dirtbikes since like 5 and skating at about 3 isn’t dangerous I guess…) so still to this day I feel incomplete. Soap shoes creator Chris Morris lost his license to the brand in 2001 due to legal problems and soap shoes has since been lost…

BUT, after hours of no sleep and intense research! We’ve found a solution..
This guy. We don’t know his name, but we assume he seemingly has distinctive traits of a renasaince man, SHOWS you how to… MAKE YOUR OWN

THROWBACK!? not anymore…

BIG Aloha!

With the success of UFC and Dana White’s television show “The Ultimate Fighter”, where the participants fight to earn a UFC contract, a lot of very good lesser known fighters from around the world are getting great opportunities at the big show. And Hawaii boys have proven to be a force. Maui’s Kendall Grove participated in season 3 of TUF and fought his way to win the season and contract, and seasons later found more Hawaii locals making a name for themselves. Anthony Torres (s2), Troy Mandaloniz (s6), Shane Nelson (s8), Scott Junk (s10), Brad Tavares (s11) and upcoming season 14 is currently holding try-outs in where numerous fighters from the 50th state are trying to stand out above the rest and make it onto the show. Among them are Ecosystems’ friends Bryson Wailehua-Hansen and RUSSELL DOANE

Besides the UFC there are other events and brands that hold a great reputation and are considers big names for the sport. These mainland companies are offering great money to local fighters as well. YANCY MEDEIROS has been fighting for Strikeforce, where most recently he fought the undercard for the Fedor/Werdum matchup! Also Hawaii superstar and Strikeforce/UFC alum FALANIKO VITALE, who just smashed Dylan Clay to retain his X-1 belt a few weeks ago, decided to vacate his title and sign with Bellator! Niko already has a ton of heavy-hitters on his Sherdog list, including Aaron Riley, Matt Lindland, Jason Miller, Robbie Lawler, Jeremy Horn, Frank Trigg and current UFC #1 Middleweight contender Yushin Okami.

Basically Hawaii MMA is on the rise… Mainland, BEWARE!!! Support Local!!!

The March 11th earthquake was preceded by a series of large foreshocks over the previous two days, beginning on March 9th with a 7.2-magnitude event and continuing with another three earthquakes greater than 6.0-magnitude on the same day. The later 9.0-magnitude quake hit near the northeast coast of Honshu, trembling the cities and it’s people. Shortly after with only about 20-30 minutes of warning, possibly the globe’s most devastating natural disaster, a tsunami swept onto the island shores terrorizing everything in it’s path.

Japan said they don’t need donations. But Hawaii is the land of aloha, islands to islands, we’re happy to help. The Japanese people and culture have been solidified into Hawaii’s own culture for decades. They as tourists also play a huge role in our economy. That being said, their are a few different local brands who have taken it to another level. HiLife’s “Aloha For Japan” was the first out and has been supported by many. Defend Hawaii will soon be launching theirs and will be available on their webstore SHOP : DEFEND HAWAII. Both parties are donating 100% OF PROCEEDS to Japan Relief.

If you would like to contribute directly, CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO GLOBAL GIVING AND/OR TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR GIVING PROJECT(S)

ECOSYSTEMS – Hawaii’s Art|Music|Culture

Last year, 6500+ people populated Waikiki Shell for a concert called The MayJah RayJah. It was arguably the biggest island music concert of 2010..

THIS YEAR, Ray Jr. & Artist Groove Network bring reggae sensation KATCHAFIRE from New Zealand back to Waikiki Shell for their only concert on Oahu for 2011. Not only including their performance, it will be their newest album’s “On The Road Again” U.S. release party! Besides Katchafire, The MayJah RayJah will include a FINAL SET for local music legends HO’ONUA! Other promoters have been trying to get them back together to play again for years, with no one being successful, until now. Christian and Jarred will definitely be an act see. Also, rising stars KOLOHE KAI will be having their CD release party as well. With the Kaneohe natives now on their second album, “Lovetown” has been very anticipated by all of Hawaii and beyond. Adding to the musically genius line-up will be other island music big names, REBEL SOULJAHZ | OOKLAH THE MOC | CEASE FYAH & SHERIFF BROWN..

AND, tickets are finally on sale!!! APRIL 16TH 2011 you will not want to not be there.. I mean, you won’t not want to be there…. JUST BE THERE!!! 04/16/11 at Waikiki Shell

Tickets available at the Blaisdell box office, Wal-Mart Stores, UH Campus Center/ID ticket office, www.ticketmaster.com (here) or message us at facebook.com/ecosystems

]]> http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/03/april16th2011/feed/ 1 http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/03/chuesday2/ http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/03/chuesday2/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:30:30 +0000 admin http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/?p=500 Google won’t search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don’t find Chuck Norris, he finds you.

]]> http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/03/chuesday2/feed/ 0 http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/02/pennfitchlive/ http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/02/pennfitchlive/#comments Sat, 26 Feb 2011 06:07:23 +0000 admin http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/?p=526 One of the best pound for pound fighters of all time, local boy, BJ PENN has gone back to Welterweight. After a reign over the UFC Lightweight division for years, only losing close decisions to current LW champ Frankie Edgar, BJ is back at 170lbs and wants another chance at George St. Pierre. His first test was former WW champ Matt Hughes for the third time, Penn won the first match-up between the two in 2004 to take Hughes’ belt, then lost to him in 2006 in devastating fashion. But not as devastating as Penn’s :21 second KO over Hughes merely 3 months ago. Now Dana White and the UFC has given BJ a true test, Jon Fitch. Besides GSP, Jon Fitch has completely run through the WW division, with 13 wins in the UFC and only 1 loss (at the hands and wresting of St.Pierre) So BOTH will have an eye fixed firmly on a rematch with Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre! We think Penn/Fitch will be a battle!!

Of course we’re cheering for PENN

AND, we’ll be linking an online stream for those that don’t or can’t make it to a bar or order pay-per-view.. Saturday, February 26th. WATCH BJ PENN vs JON FITCH right HERE on THIS BLOG..

Here it is!!!!

BJ PENN vs JON FITCH

]]> http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/02/pennfitchlive/feed/ 0 http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/02/throwback-thursdays/ http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/02/throwback-thursdays/#comments Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:21:48 +0000 admin http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/?p=276 It’s always about the NOW.. like the saying, “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why we call it the present.” Cool, I like presents, even the ones I got yesterday. So why are we just automatically brushing off the “today” of the past? Yeah, I’m confusing myself, so long story short.. EVERY LAST THURSDAY FROM NOW ON we’ll being blogging about a THROWBACK (something reminiscent of the past)!! It could consist of a certain art or style fad that may have come and gone, perhaps a music trend that has died over the years, or maybe just part of our Hawaii culture that we’ve missed and/or forgot about as we get older.

So today embarks.. history? nevermind.

This Thursday we’re remembering DINOSAURS.

Dinosaurs was initially set in 60,000,003 BC with the years, months and days counting toward zero. (In the first episode, Robbie asks his father if he ever questions what they are counting down to.) The show centered on the Sinclair family, with regular American type names: Earl (the father), Fran (mother), Robbie (son), Charlene (daughter) and Baby Sinclair (the baby). The sitcom lasted 3 years on ABC.

Technically I was only about 5 or so when the show started, but I remember watching it and always trying to copy the baby’s catchphrase, “Not the mama!” Which often DIDN’T work out in my benefit.. haha.

It was a play off of the then current society problems and styles, which brings up the main reason we’re talking about it. These were dinosaurs, lol. Yet the dad Earl wore his construction-style plaid long-sleeved collared shirt. Definitely something you could find in the today’s stores or see someone wearing with some vans on possibly partying the weekend away at Restaurant Row at Oceans and Bonsai.. (quick plug. lol) And the son always had on a varsity jacket and shoes that resembled the always in, classic, Conserve Chuck Taylor’s. Converse’s are back, and they just opened a store out in Waikele. A dear friend of Ecosystems is actually the footwear manager there. Shout out to the homie Kai!

Anyway, basically what I’m trying to get at is.. DINOSAURS were rocking what WE rock since ever since. 60,000,003 BC to be exact. lol. and I think that’s as “THROWBACK” as it gets…

here’s a short clip from one of the episodes that shows everything you just read about.

STAY UP!!!

TEAM-C

]]> http://www.ecosystemshawaii.com/2011/02/throwback-thursdays/feed/ 0