Posted on: Monday, July 9, 2001
Left Lane
Indonesian mysteries
Pacific Blue Traders, which opened two months ago in the Queen Emma Building, is the latest entry in the suddenly crowded field of Indonesian import stores in Honolulu. The store, which emphasizes sculptural and garden elements from Indonesia, is headed by California landscape architect Douglas Aitken, who has a similar store and wholesale business in San Jose, Calif.
Aitken thinks a little mystery is behind the latest interest in all things Indonesia.
"When you look at Indonesia, you can see it's right between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and acts like a filter for trade between India and China and Japan," he said. "A little bit of everybody's culture dropped off there, making it something of a mysterious place."
Trying to set itself apart from other Asian import stores, Pacific Blue Traders concentrates on one-of-a-kind outdoor pieces, like an 11-foot-long bench made from the root of a teak tree or a complete rice storage house ready for backyard living. The store is at 1270 Queen Emma St.
— Mike Leidemann, Advertiser staff writer
The debate continues
In the new comedy "Cats & Dogs" Mr. Tinkles, the feline villain of the film, attempts to take over the world by making humans allergic to dogs. Cats and dogs are real-life nemeses in many cases, though the stakes aren't so dramatically high. And their owners don't always get along, either.
About 50 percent of Americans own a dog or cat, according to a recent poll conducted by Maritz Marketing Research, but there are almost twice as many dog owners as cat owners. Still, a USA Today reader vote-in found cats and dogs neck-and-neck in popularity. Final vote: Cats by a whisker, 196-187.
— USA Today
