Health, Wealth and Happiness

Rick E. Health, Wealth, Happiness Honolulu, HI

9/21/20

I gave them one star out of five.

I bought a brand new Elantra in WI.  When I shipped myself here to get married, I brought the Elantra, too.  I ONLY knew of Tony Hyundai and of course, needed to maintain my car, so I went there.

As I had my car serviced, I enjoyed coffee, the TV, the surroundings and they didn’t mind that I brought work in while  waiting.  A couple of times I used the shuttle, but a few times, it seemed that the shuttle seemed to be somewhat negotiatle, not on a hard schedule.  A few times.

I met one of their sales people and he’s fantastic.  Due to this reivew, I will not mention his name.  He did a great job of selling my wife and I a car for her.  We LOVE our Tucson.  My wife’s car had been giving her problems before the new purchase, she gladly offered to trade it in.  At that point her Kia Rio (admittedly a tuna can) had around 40K miles on it.  The body was not perfect and there was engine issues.  

They offered her 500 ONLY for her trade.  I understand we had the choice to accept or not, and we did.  It still was a ripoff.  Obviously we did not want to have to sell it on Craigs List, but I am sure that with a little work, Tony resold for it for at least 6k.  (We learned our lesson.)

As I continued to come to Tony I felt that they only wanted my business if they could charge me at least 500 each time.  Some of what I did WAS on Warranty, and that is one of the reasons I bought a Hyundai.  However, alomst every time I received a printout of all the things they wanted to fix, and had to make decisions to go elsewhere to save money.  Every time I did that, I saved money or found out that I did not need to have that work done.  Except one time, I believe.

One time I towed the car in for some work and it happened to be on Employee Appreciation Day.  I had to wait for hours, and they really did not want to fix it, it seemed.  I had a real good idea what the problem was, but they kept ‘checking or testing’ or whatever.  I had talks with the service person (lady) and then the Service Manager.  Finally, I stopped a manager from one of the other Tony Brands and he was helpful.  I finally got serviced, and the car was fixed ‘enough’ to drive back home to town.

The next day, I had to have another Service Person, at Kahala Shell take a look at my engine and he was surprised.  He asked me who had worked on it and when I told him the dealer, he seemed concerned.  He felt that the engine had been tampered with and even sabotaged.  We finally got the car fixed, but I had lost my trust for Tony then.

As I accompanied my wife to get her Tucson serviced (oil change) last week, I asked the Service Dept. to quote a price to fix my transmission issue.  I had gotten a diagnostic report from a friend who does service, (but was too busy to take it in.)  The Parts Guy was a nice guy and gave me two engine diagrams showing me the exact part, or what he thought was the correct part.  Shift Solenoid D was what the diagnostic had said.

The parts guy could not give me a quote.

I called back and was told that my car would NOT be under warranty.  Gavin, I believe, quoted 585.00 for the labor.  (I wonder how much they would have charged for the part.)  My friend who did the diagnostic said another Transmission Shop would probably fix it for “between 400 and 600.”  Knowing what I did I said no.

Today, I called another service guy, Eric at  Auto Air & Associates, who DID have the time & room to do the work.  He looked at it and thought that the car was under warranty.  As I assured him that I was the original owner, he also told me that there was another Hyundai Dealer on the island.  He took the time to read the warranty and double-checked.  It was clear.  It was under warranty.

As I called Hyundai Windward, Edison, in Service took care of me.  He checked the warranty, twice and asked me for the 3rd time at least, whether I was the original owner.  I assure him I was.

It IS under warranty.  Now, there possibly could be more work once they get in there,  BUT, if I had left it at Tony, I believe I would be out 1 thousand for starters.  I believe they knew the warranty facts, based on previous experiences with them.

I owe Eric for his help obviously.

Tony has lost my service business, the next new car I buy or lease, the next new car my wife buys (or leases) and any after that.  We LOVE Hyundai, but it takes more than a great saleperson to satsify my wife and I.

Well, yet one more about Rail on Oahu, right?  Yep.  But not a long one.

Why am I against Rail?  Do I have an agenda?  It seems like every union

that could possibly benefit from more temporary jobs from Rail has sup-

ported.  It seems that the politicians that got contributions from the unions

and then their support are solidly “All In” on Rail.  It seems like this is a good

pacifier to throw out to the thousands who commute:  “Rail will speed up your

ride to work.”  WILL IT?  Really?

And, of course BIA, the builders and also developers are strongly for it.  Are

you at all surprised?  THEY all have an agenda.  From the false hope that in 15

years the commute MAY go quicker to the companies that expect (or have

already gotten) windfalls.  So agendas everywhere and they all say BUILD,

BUILD, BUILD.  Let’s just welcome with open arms anyone who wants to BUILD

here on Oahu, especially out West.

Forget the Aina.  Forget the beautiful views that wiil be destroyed.  Forget the

fact that the ridership projections are just that-PROJECTIONS.  Who cares about

the money.  Will get it from somewhere.  (By the way that attitude didn’t work

so well for my dad back when we were younger.)

So, whet is MY agenda.  Well, my wife and I do not have kids, so if the state

basically goes bankrupt from the crushing debt and monies needed for this,

we’ll be gone.  I LOVE this Island passionately, but my wife and I can move

if things get too crazy with the road delays that will occur as Rail is built.  I

also care about the lifestyle here  and happen to think that this Rail Mistake

will have a negative impact.  I guess there is no agenda for me, now that I think

about it.  Rick Emmerich

The Rail Supporters and Pushers have said that Rail will “help us get from here to

there, Island Wide.

Last I checked, Oahu contains Kahala, Waialae-Iki, Niu Valley, Diamond Head,

Aina Haina, Kuliouou, Hawaii Kai, Waimanalo, Enchanted Lake, Lanikai, Kailua,

Kaneohe, Temple Valley, Ahuimanu, Punalu’u, Kaaawa, Laie, Kahuku, Pupukea,

Haleiwa, Waialua, Wahiawa, Mililani, Makaha, Waikiki, Manoa, Palolo, Makiki,

and I few I have missed.

OK, Rail Pushers, please fill me in on how Rail is going to help the people that

live in the above locations get from there to anywhere, let alone here.  I am waiting.

Besides the ridiculous price and then the unmentioned but real costs, and

what happens when the costs go up, and then the delays, the misinformation

and propaganda you all are attempting to shove down our throats is annoying.

Rick Emmerich

• Rick Emmerich…while I work.      I have a job now that won’t allow me to ever take Rail. I could see taking it once or twice out of curiosity, but I believe I will be 80 years old before Rail gets anywhere near where I live. Since I choose to live on the edge of Kahala, or Waialae Iki, I pay more for that choice. That gives me shorter commute times of course, which is also my choice. My goal is for my businesses to allow me to work completely from home. That is one of the many possible options to ease the issues that Rail could possibly help with.

  49 minutes ago · LikeUnlike
• 

  Rick Emmerich Those that choose to live out west have also chosen to live with that commute. Despite the many options that seem to have been ignored by Oahu, the state does NOT owe them relief from the commute. If there is a feasible option I would be all for it. But not with the trade off of bankrupting the state and destroying the views of so many. I think it’s unfortunate that no one will talk about the incredible delays that will happen when the Rail is constructed over existing streets.

Like

Rick Emmerich OK, don’t really know where to start. But these pie in the sky guesses are very optimistic, just not believable. That thousands of people that drive to work every day will now, buy or borrow a bicycle and pedal (sometimes in the rain) to a station where they hope no one messes with their locked bike-to then take the Rail is either going to be the victory for Rail OR the ugly downfall. I suppose I will be driving past these businessmen in their good clothes on bicycles with their attache cases

My email BFF Obama emailed me today.  Of course he was asking for money.  He always does.  I have said it before and I will say it again, he ran a brilliant marketing/internet campaign this last time.

But, he doesn’t pay attention to the emails his long-time AGO supporters send.  If he did, he’s know that I jumped off the Obamawagon quite a while back.  If I send emails and people answer, I read them.  I guess that’s another way that we part ways.

Although I was tempted to give him 5 bucks and tell him how he can save a billion bucks (don’t sign that Rail check for Oahu.)  Besides it does not have a stop at Punahou.

Here it is, and if you are an Obama backer, NO you can’t contribute on that button….  Oh yeah, he spelled my last name wrong, some BFF.

Rick Emmerich

Richard – I’m about to head to the Capitol to ask Congress to act on my plan to put Americans back to work. Before I do, I wanted to write you directly to remind you that the fight to create jobs — and provide the kind of economic security for middle-class families that’s been slipping away over the last decade — won’t begin or end with the speech I give tonight. What happens will be up to you. In the coming days and weeks, it will be up to you to pressure Congress to act — or hold them accountable if they do not. If you’re with me, let me know. And the campaign will make sure you are looped into our efforts to support this plan. Talk to you soon, Barack

Jade Moon, Moonlighting Column in Mid Week Paper on Oahu

I like your call to have Rail Supporters speak up. Let me help you.
There is nothing for them to say other than “Build it already.”

Everyone thinks that it will get riders,   just not them.  No one will
ride it enough to make it worth the disastrous financial conse-
quences it will cause to us, our children, and our children’s chil-
dren.

There is only HOPE that it will ease traffic.  A noted expert, Walter
(I believe) Yoshioka said that it will not, EVER.

There is the HOPE of thousands of jobs.  The article by the oppos-
itiion, or as Howard Dicus likes to call us, the ‘Asphalt Huggers’
said that there would be 633 jobs added, MAYBE 933.  That is
not thousands using my old HS Math.  I already know of mainland
people that have moved her for the Rail jobs.  They have opened
accounts at the Bank of Hawaii in Moili’ili.  Now rather than angrily
repeat old employment estimates, why not accurately break them
down for us Mayor Carlisle.  I know you inherited the bully techn-
iques from Mufi, but there are a ton of smart people and I believe they
are now waking up to what is real here.

Which brings me to one of the big concerns which is rarely debated.
Why??????
1.  Do we owe the world the opportunity to move to our, gorgeous,
paradise island chain here in the middle of the Pacific.  Do we just
roll over and say, yep c’mon in, we’ll pave over some more Ag land
and build some more schools for you, and hey, can you just SAY
you will take that darn Rail.
2.  Do we feel the need to relocate thousands or people and then tons
of businesses to EVENTUALLY have enough population near the
Rail lines to make it viable.
3.  Why do we OWE the construction workers the right to do construc-
tion jobs here on Oahu.  If there is no work, there is NO WORK.  Move
to Las Vegas and pour concrete and build stuff for the next 80 years,
already.  Or hey I have an idea.  Learn a new trade.  Are we that weak
and the unions that strong?
4.  WHY don’t we get to the bottom of the Rail Debacle anyway?  Many if
not ALL supporters are/were big contributors of CASH to Mufi and then
Carlisle.  I would love to live in a state that I did not feel was that corrupt,
but the proof is in the pudding.
5.  Why don’t you think about the reality of riding the Rail for yourself.
Remember take extra time to get up early to get to the station to park,
(if there is one for you.)  You may need change to pay for the parking.
There may be no spots, oh well, drive.  Allow for the extra time that you
will need at the other end.  Keep in mind you may need an umbrella
too.  You will be standing most of the way, no relaxing.  Enjoy the view,
knowing that thousands of businesses, and homes and people will have
lost their view to sacrifice for this monstrosity.)  There is no money to
pay for maintenance, how safe does it feel the 2nd year, the 3rd, and so
on.  There is no money for security at the parking lot (if there was one) so
HOPE your vehicle is safe there

By the way, make sure those that say they support it would actually ride
it OFTEN.  (I know of no one who will.)  And, be wary of those who are
supporting just because they have a connection to the trades that THINK
they will benefit, or may actually benefit.

Just Google ‘Rail Pushers Oahu’ or ‘Oahu Rail Pushers’ to see more.

PS I am not against Rail due to ’special interests.” I am not a father of kids
or therefore grandkids that will be negatively disadvantaged due to this.  My
wife and I are not poor, so we will have the option to move to Big Island, or
Maui, or wherever when things get bad here.  And lastly we chose to live
in a part of town that costs more knowing that we do not have to be int that
drive.  Our choice.  That’s why we pay more.  Our townhouse would be
cheaper (though not as nice) in Kapolei, but that is the choice we made.

That’s about it.  When my wife, Dr. Malia and I talk to people about their lives, two things keep popping up.  Now, she’s the Dr. and obviously her focus is usually nutrition, body structure, injury issues, weight and emotional concerns.  As Health & Wellness coaches, we both are interested in others’ issues.

You know how many if not most people are concerned about their health?  It’s true.  Whether they realize their diet is junk, or junk food.  Or they absolutely see that their weight has to change.  (Usually downward.)  Maybe it’s Diabetes, or the need to be more regular, or needing more energy, or wanting better moods and relief from depression.  Maybe they work out and want to recover quicker.

We can help.

A lot of people are truly behind the 8 Ball financially.  Backed into a corner, struggling.  They fall into two categories and often want to find another job.  OR, they have heard about, or experienced others that have their own businesses and want to do that.  It has been said that an extra 400 a month would help avoid most bankruptcies, car-repos and even some divorces.  OK, I added the last one, but it makes sense, doesn’t it?

We can help.

Today’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser: ‘Bankruptcies fall, but businesses, individuals still struggle’  I can relate, and that is exactly what Malia and I hear.  WE want to hear from you.  Not just listen for  a minute and then try to fix.  Perhaps it would not be a good fit anyway.  But, as connectors/networkers/coaches/listeners/Christians/friends/fun people we would actually pay attention.

We are going on a fantastic inspired journey.  Perhaps you or someone you know wants to go too.

Rick Emmerich     rickemmerich@gmail.com

(Now, I wish this would go without saying, but I am not recruitable for your deal.  I do NOT need SEO, I am quite well off in that dept.  I am not a good candidate for your juice, or gadget, or get rich quick scheme, I DON’T BELIEVE IN ANY OF THOSE.  I welcome correspondence, but hate spam and those that want to pitch me on some deal without knowing who I am.  I’d rather you did not send me a broadcast call, because I am tired of playing that game where I set my phone down and you are billed for the time that I allow it to play.  You then may even waste your time calling me back several times.  That game has lost its thrill.)

After all that, I guarantee some will do those things, but it is well worth it, if someone else that wants to share and have a listener, actually gets through this disclaimer and is not afraid to respond.  And yes, even ONE person makes it all worth it.

Aloha, all the best to you.