blues for the hawaiian pineapple

(elvis visits a dole pineapple plantion and stops for a photo op with workers during the filming of "blue hawaii." 1961.)

del monte has decided to stop growing pineapples in hawaii.

it probably isn't surprising to hear that it is cheaper to grow pineapples abroad rather than in our pacific island state, but it is stilldisappointing that a huge corporation like del monte would decide that because it would be "cheaper to buy pineapples on the open market" they would stop growing their own.

what it means in terms of layoffs:
700 people will lose their jobs.

what it might mean for the future of the hawaiian pineapple industry?

well, dole has stated they will continue to grow the crop on their 3000 acres, despite the fact that the "cost structures are high" because the believe that the demand for hawaiian grown pineapple remains high.
and maui pineapple has reportedly expressed some interest in the del monte property.

but some locals and labor experts are rightly concerned that del monte's decision could mark the beginning of the end for the pineapple industry in hawaii:

The scene in Kunia this week, with a company executive announcing the planned closure to hundreds of plantation employees, was eerily similar to ones over the decades involving the dying sugar cane industry, which also cited the high cost of doing business in Hawaii...
Hawaii's once thriving sugar cane industry is barely a presence now as companies found it cheaper to operate elsewhere.
Tens of thousands of acres of former sugar cane fields on the densely populated island of Oahu, where about 75 percent of the state's 1.3 million population reside, have since been developed into master-planned residential communities and shopping centers.

should the industry not survive, we will truly be buying "halakahiki"--the hawaiian word for pineapple--which ironically means "foreign fruit."

so, buy DOLE.
and, if you can find it, buy MAUI PINEAPPLE.

keep the hawaiian pineapple industry thriving!

anyway...in keeping with the hawaiian spirit, here's my weekend recommendation:
rent the blue hawaii DVD.

elvis stars as "chad gates," a dilettante whose parents are pressuring him to "grow up" and take over the family business, which happens to be the (fictional) great southern hawaiian fruit company. but chad has his own ideas...

angela landsbury plays his mom.

intrigued?

you can check out the fabulous 60s wahine wear. and just try to sit still during "rock-a hula baby." and try not to guffaw when elvis gets thrown in the slammer after a bar fight, and is forced to sing the lyrics:

"now i'm a kissin cousin, to a ripe pineapplee...i'm in the can."

awesome awesome stuff.

one door closes, a pricier one opens

gosh. grilled cheese nyc is closing (at least for now). i made it there only once, and had the "phoenix" --cheese and olive tapenade, on multi-grain bread. the melted cheese (if memory serves, it was gruyere) was sort of earthy and flat, and the olive paste perked it up and gave it a salty, smooth finish. it was really rich and terrific. they had good sweet potato fries, too.

but, there will be no shortage of cheesy options in the 'hood since apparently pala pizza romano is opening around the corner on 198 allen street (at houston). it's high-end stuff, though, made with organic flour and your choice of any number of fancy-pants toppings (pumpkin? eh, no thanks). and it's not cheap--$12-$18 a foot! i guess folks gotta help them pay the newer, higher rent that's killing the rest of the neighborhood.

quick bits

cindy adams gets her readers into the valentine’s day spirit by recounting love and dating anecdotes of some hollywood types. .

for personal reasons, this is my favorite:

Michelle Pfeiffer and David Kelley's blind date, bowling, wasn't good. She thought him attractive but, "I wasn't into cute. Fortunately, he'd broken his nose from playing hockey so that got me through." The bigger problem was he's quiet, she's quiet; they're both quiet. Conversation was hard work. In fact, when his agent heard they were so much alike and were dating, he asked, "So who talks?"

there’s also a heath ledger anecdote that (further) proves regis is ninny.

darn! i wasn’t planning on watching the grammys, i am definitely intrigued by the notion of madonna/gorillaz sharing the stage. i’ll have to dvr it.

nymagazine/nymetro just revamped their website. i'm not a fan. why make the type so darn small? it is more "newsy" looking, yet less distinctive and less "fun."

valentine's day dinner option...

if you act fast, you might be one of the lucky ones to snag a reservation at...

WHITE CASTLE!

the details:

"Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. participating Castles have been set aside for the special Valentine's Day event. Not only can Cravers dine under candlelight, but the tables will be adorned with decorations and customers will be presented with a special menu and receive table side service. "

full press release here.

ooh, and there are a lot lot lot of ny metro area locations participating...

hello, young lovers!