Posted on: Monday, June 28, 2004
Coping in the car
| • | Car dos and don'ts |
| • | Things to do in the car |
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
Jane Hopkins' 2001 Subaru Forester isn't just a means to get from point A to point B — not when she spends a significant portion of her life in it. The small, red SUV is practically a second home for Hopkins, 33.
"It's insane," said Hopkins, who in less than three years has put 60,000 miles on her sport utility.
Hopkins is among thousands of Island residents who spend a significant amount of time commuting, braving things such as road construction projects and the annual back-to-school madness. Add to the traffic mess rising gas prices and a booming Leeward development, and you've got one big commuter's headache.
Hopkins' drive to work usually takes about 45 minutes. That's on a good day.
Otherwise, it takes more than an hour — easy, Hopkins said.
But that's not her biggest burden.
"Gas is unbelievably expensive," she said. "It seems like I'm filling up my tank every two to three days, so I spend about $40 to $50 a week."
Hopkins has lived in 'Ewa Beach for nearly 10 years, so she's learned to make adjustments for her long rides.
"I definitely make sure to go to the bathroom before leaving," Hopkins said and laughed.
She drives to and from work with her fiancé, who works in Kaka'ako. The couple like to use drive time listening "religiously" to National Public Radio, doing crossword puzzles or playing word games together.
"But it's still a drag," said Hopkins, who thinks about moving closer to town. "The drive sucks up too much of your day."
Busy on the road
Many women do their makeup. Kids tackle their homework. Passengers have the luxury of taking a nice nap. We asked: How do you pass the time when you're stuck in traffic?
• "I talk to the kids. But we mostly sing, because we've got a bunch of kids' tapes in the car, like the 'Beauty and the Beast' soundtrack." — Rosalind Davis, 35, mother of Temari, 4, and Nahoa, 6 months. Davis is a full-time mom from Kailua.
• "I usually just talk on my cell phone to my friends." — Kristy Kamelo, 16, a Farrington High School junior from Kalihi. • "I eat food while I drive ... Jack in the Box-kinda foods." — Ikaika Arsisto, 21, an E.K. Fernandez ride attendant and operator from Wai'anae.
• "Sometimes I get frustrated ... so I listen to the radio, to Hawaiian music just to relax." — Paul Casaquit, 65, a retired hotel worker from Red Hill. • "I try to think about things I have to do, like preparing dinner, or something like that. Sometimes I do (take notes) of things I need to take care of." — Janet Kosaka, in her 60s, a retired flower-shop owner from Manoa.
• "If traffic's really bad, I beat on my steering wheel. Put some dents in it, you know? (laughing)" — Brenton Chun, 21, a University of NevadaiLas Vegas senior from 'Ewa Beach. • "We listen to music and play little singing games (about) colors and cars." — Grace Torres, 37, mother of Caleb, 4, and David, 2. Torres is a community relations representative from Kane'ohe.
Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174. Pity the child who must sit still and avoid annoying Mom or Dad while commuting to and from school or sports events. Yet our angels do it every day. Games help. Try these: • Twenty Questions (for ages 4 and up): One person secretly thinks of either an animal, mineral or vegetable. The other players then take turns asking yes-or-no questions, such as "Can it fly?" or "Does it grow in the ground?" After the players have asked 20 questions, each player gets a chance to make a guess. • The Theme Song Game (for ages 5 and up): One person hums the tune to a favorite TV show, and everyone else tries to name the show as fast as possible. The first person to guess correctly hums the next song. • The Animal Name Game (for ages 6 and up): One person names an animal. Then each person in order has to name another animal (no repeating!) that starts with the last letter of the previous animal named. There are no winners or losers in this game. With older children, try the game with TV shows, or geographical categories such as cities or countries. — Source: www.healthykids.com • • • Car snack dos and don'ts The rule of thumb with car snacks is: Don't go for things that might spill and cause a mess or a distraction. Drinks with a spill-proof top — check. Hot stuff with drippy filling — uh, not a good idea. Here are a few suggestions: Handy, healthy car snacks Driving no-nos — Sources: www.fitnessmagazine.com and Hagerty Classic Insurance • • • Best driving songs Music is a great sanity-saver for gridlock driving. Whatever gets you in the groove — alternative, classical, country, rap or rock — car tunes can help make traffic time less torturous. An associate professor at Berklee College of Music — the world's largest independent music college — compiled a list of the 50 all-time top driving songs. The top 10, in no particular order: • • • Driving tips Follow these tips to reduce the amount of gas you use: To stay safe on the road, follow this advice: — Sources: www.drivealoha.com, www.fueleconomy.gov
She lives in 'Ewa Beach, but works miles away in a Kaimuki publishing company as a production director. So Hopkins is no stranger to traffic and a grueling, time-consuming weekday commute.
Illustration by Jon Orque • The Honolulu Advertiser
• "We have a DVD player in the car (a Toyota Sequoia), so (my son) likes to watch 'Wiggles' and 'Finding Nemo.'" — Hagoth Hannemann, 34, a flight attendant from Honolulu. Hannemann and his wife, Susie, are parents of Ashton, 1.
Hagoth Hannemann
Kristy Kamelo
Paul Casaquit
Brenton Chun
Car games
