DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Investing in Space special report: Starship succeeds, in spite of failure
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. As I sprinted for a flight in the Dallas airport near midnight last night, I didn't actually think SpaceX was going to light up Starship's engines this morning. And even with the Super Heavy booster successfully ignited, I still didn't think the rocket would get off the ground. Michael Sheetz is CNBC's space reporter – send tips, talent moves and more to michael.sheetz@nbcuni.com. Listen to CNBC's "Manifest Space" podcast, hosted by Morgan Brennan, wherever you find podcasts.

☆ Live Updates: SpaceX Prepares Again to Launch Starship Rocket
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( The New York Times | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

PinnedSpaceX’s first attempt on Monday to launch Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, was called off. During a livestream for a different SpaceX launch on Wednesday, the company noted that another Starship postponement was possible. Credit... Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesWhy didn’t Starship launch on Monday? Splashdown Near Hawaii Launch SpaceX Starbase Boca Chica, TexasStarship is designed to be entirely reusable. About eight minutes after the launch on Thursday, the Super Heavy booster will splash into the Gulf of Mexico.

☆ SpaceX cleared by FAA to launch first orbital Starship flight
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Starship prototype is seen stacked on top of a Super Heavy booster at the company's launch facility near Brownsville, Texas. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a Starship launch license to Elon Musk's SpaceX, a crucial final regulatory step that clears the company to attempt an orbital launch of its towering rocket for the first time. The company recently stacked Starship prototype 24 on Super Heavy booster prototype 7 in preparation for the launch. SpaceX for several years has been building up to the first orbital flight test of its Starship rocket, with company leadership stressing the experimental nature of the launch. While SpaceX had hoped to conduct the first orbital Starship launch as early as summer 2021, delays in progress and regulatory approval have pushed back that timeline.

Ever since it first released in 2021, it's been one of our top picks for the best smart display. If you're in the market for an Alexa smart display, the Echo Show 8 should be your first buy. Amazon Echo Show 8 Amazon's mid-range and mid-size Echo Show 8 is the best smart display in its current lineup. Everyone in your home will likely use a smart display a little differently. The Amazon Echo Show 8 is larger than the Echo Show 5, making watching videos a more enjoyable experience.

☆ I'm a 22-year-old Airbnb manager who charges guests a $250 cleaning fee — here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Jen Glantz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

"We raised the fee for many reasons, including to pay our cleaner a better wage," Laatz said. For the past year, I've been in charge of managing two Airbnb properties that my dad owns in Kauai, Hawaii. As the manager, I help guests with the check-in process, arrange for the handyman to come, and schedule cleanings in between stays. But luckily we do have insurance, which comes in handy for broken items that guests won't pay for. That would hurt our business more than a high cleaning fee.

$95 Apply now On Wells Fargo's website Apply now On Citi's website Apply now On Chase's websiteHere are the cheapest ways to get a family to Hawaii on points and miles. HiltonFor the highest Hilton credit card welcome bonus, look no further than the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card . You can also utilize miles from the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to cover the cost of activities. Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Pay these rewards with your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and redeem miles toward statement credits.

☆ A week in Hawaii on vacation with my toddler cost $4,500, and she'll never remember it. Here's why I'm glad we went anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Emily Hochberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

I ruled out my first island choice, Maui, and decided on Oahu as it was more affordable. Emily Hochberg/InsiderI've spent time on Maui before and love it for the variety of activities and ample natural beauty. But a standard room in a four-star hotel cost nearly $1,000 per night when I searched on Google a few months in advance. On Oahu, in Honolulu, on the other hand, I found standard hotel rooms for around $250 to $300 per night on Google. I could book a one-bedroom suite there for the same price as a standard room on Maui.

☆ Hawaii surf contest The Eddie returns with women competing alongside men for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

And this year female surfers will be competing alongside the men for the first time in the 39-year history of The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational. But author Stuart Coleman says The Eddie is distinguished by how it honors Eddie Aikau, a legendary Native Hawaiian waterman, for his selflessness, courage and sacrifice. Coleman said The Eddie is about the best of big wave surfing and the best of Hawaiian culture. “To see women — not only women surfing Waimea but women and men sharing the same event together, with mutual respect and equality — I’m just really thrilled at the thought,” Pennybacker said. Kathleen Pahinui, the chairperson of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, said it will be good for businesses, restaurants and shops.

☆ I compared poke on the continental US with the authentic version from Hawaii, and now I'll only eat the real deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

If you can't get to Hawaii but like poke, I recommend ordering ahi or salmon marinated in spicy mayo or soy sauce. And, most importantly, skip the toppings. Poke from Koloa Fish Market on the island of Kauai. Michelle Mishina

For decades, searching for such hard-to-reach plants and collecting samples was carried out by intrepid botanists who rappelled by rope down dangerous cliffs to hunt for what was lost. Now, we may have a little more time before extinction.”DIRE SITUATIONToday, two in five plant species globally are threatened with extinction. Kauai has 250 plant species that can be found only on the island. To protect species in the long run, botanists need to collect samples — seeds and genetic material — which they can cultivate in greenhouse nurseries. They might even use drones to bomb down collected seeds, packing them into sticky fertilizer balls that can adhere to steep cliffs.

☆ Hawaii Home Asks $24 Million
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( E.B. Solomont | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A newly built house on the Hawaiian island of Kauai is coming on the market for $24 million. The sellers are former film producer Scott Sloan and his wife, Brittany Sloan, who live primarily in California.

☆ A Tiny Slice of Kauai’s North Shore Holds Some of Hawaii’s Most Expensive Real Estate
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Jessica Flint | Photographs Shelly Simon For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Kauai, Hawaii’s northernmost island, is divided into five sections, including the North Shore. One of the North Shore communities is Hanalei, a small town on the edge of the two-mile, crescent-shaped Hanalei Bay, a world-famous surfing paradise set to the backdrop of green inland mountains. Hanalei’s 96714 ZIP Code has some of the priciest residential real estate in Hawaii, the state with the highest median house listing price in the U.S., according to Realtor.com. (News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, also operates Realtor.com under license from the National Association of Realtors.) “You could literally have a $50 million house next to a small cottage that’s worth a million dollars.”

☆ Analysis: First U.S. coral insurance marks the rise of the reef brigades
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Clare Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

On Monday, the global 'Reef Brigades' plan came closer to reality when it bought an insurance policy on behalf of the state of Hawaii, the first U.S. coral insurance contract, which will provide funds for repair work, building on similar policies taken out in the Caribbean. Apart from being a precious nursery for fish, coral reefs that fringe developed coastlines can limit flooding by providing a barrier against ocean storm surges, meaning insurers have every interest in protecting them. For the premium of $110,000 in Hawaii's contract announced on Monday, that state will get up to $2 million of insurance protection for its coral reefs until the end of December 2023. Just offshore from some of the country's most famous Mayan ruins, local tourism businesses and the government bought an insurance policy to cover their share of the Mesoamerican Reef. Willis Towers Watson, which worked on the MAR Fund policy and the Hawaii policy, said it is actively working on a coral reef policy for Fiji, and policies for coral reef bleaching, run-off due to excessive rainfall, and lost fishing days due to climate change-induced storms.

☆ Millions of fire ants threaten to 'rain down' on Hawaii residents and sting them in their sleep, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kauai's most extensive infestation of fire ants poses a health risk to Hawaii's residents and tourists, officials say. Welts caused by fire ants stings can "last for weeks," according to the Kauai Invasive Species Committee. Welts caused by the stings can "last for weeks," the Kauai Invasive Species Committee said, per SFGATE. The Kauai Invasive Species Committee has launched a significant media campaign to alert residents of the free-at-home test kits available to help them detect the presence of the invasive species, SFGATE reported. The Wailua River cuts through the lush tropical vegetation on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, Hawaii.

☆ How ‘White Lotus’ Creator Mike White Tries to Replicate a Reality Game Show With Every Season
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Donna Bulseco | Photographs Jenny Sathngam For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

AS A KID, Mike White had weird interests. That makes a lot of sense if you consider “The White Lotus,” the Emmy-winning HBO series he created: Its first season also involved quirky characters and disastrous turns of events in a glamorous setting, namely Maui. Promising the same heady cocktail, season 2, which premieres Oct. 30, unfolds in Sicily at San Domenico Palace, Taormina, a Four Seasons Hotel. “In Taormina, you see villas on terraced hills, Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea,” said Mr. White, 52. Mr. White brought his penchant for traveling, and troubleshooting, to his role as a director and showrunner, too, opting to film both seasons of “The White Lotus” on location.

☆ Five dads who bonded over trail running bought family vacation homes together in Hawaii. Now they jog under palm trees while their 21 children play.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Zoe Rosenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ryan Seare, 47, was the first of his neighborhood friends to invest in a Hawaii vacation home. He convinced four other families to join him at a property in Kauai where shares start at $445,000. For his precedent-setting investment, Seare chose Timbers Kauai, an intimate community of 47 homes tucked away on Kauai's southeast shore near a lighthouse, a marina, and a Costco. Between the Seare, Phillips, and Smith families, there are 13 kids ranging in age from 2 to 17. "Sometimes when you're on vacation, you don't want to see people you know, because that's part of vacationing.

☆ James Lastovic, ‘Days of Our Lives’ actor, found after going missing in Hawaii
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Former “Days of Our Lives” actor James Lastovic and his roommate are safe after his mother said they went missing while out on hiking in Hawaii. According to her post, the pair “asked for info about KOKEE state PARK so they could take the long trail hike.”Early Wednesday, the elder Lastovic posted an update saying that the two were “safe and sound” in Kauai. “UPDATE: my sister and james are okay, they got lost on their hike but made it back to their car and are on their way back to resort now,” the posting read. James Lastovic played Joey Johnson from 2015 to 2017 on “Days of Our Lives” and returned briefly in 2020. He also played Christian Keene in the TV series “Insatiable,” and Cane in the 2021 film, “This Game’s Called Murder.”

☆ Why an early investor in Blue Bottle Coffee and Sweetgreen says he's found the 'holey grail' in a Hawaii doughnut chain
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Founded by two siblings, Holey Grail sells doughnuts made-to-order with local ingredients. Since it opened, Holey Grail has attracted long lines of customers — and hungry startup investors. Holey Grail DonutsInvestors like True say they've sniffed out a multi-million dollar opportunity with Holey Grail, one that defies the norms of an industry that has focused on the more lucrative software market. With $9 million in funding from investors like Collaborative Fund and Lee Fixel, Holey Grail wants to change up the multibillion-dollar doughnut market. But Holey Grail isn't the only food chain to benefit from the cravings of tech's monied elite.

☆ How an entrepreneur started a doughnut chain in Hawaii and landed $9 million in VC funding from early investors in Sweetgreen and Blue Bottle
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Melia Russell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Since it opened, Holey Grail has attracted long lines of customers — and hungry startup investors. Holey Grail DonutsInvestors like True say they've sniffed out a multi-million dollar opportunity with Holey Grail, one that defies the norms of an industry that has focused on the more lucrative software market. With $9 million in funding from investors like Collaborative Fund and Lee Fixel, Holey Grail wants to change up the multibillion-dollar doughnut market. Hole in oneAt first glance, Holey Grail is an unlikely bet for top technology investors. But Holey Grail isn't the only food chain to benefit from the cravings of tech's monied elite.

Hyatt HotelsThe Platinum Card® from American Express raised its annual fee to $695. The Platinum Card is also offering a huge welcome bonus offer: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. CLEAR® locations Atlanta: Hartfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)Austin: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)Baltimore: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)Birmingham: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)Boston: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)Chicago: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), O'Hare International Airport (ORD)Cincinnati: Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)Cleveland: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)Dallas: Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Globe Life FieldDenver: Denver International Airport (DEN), Coors FieldDetroit: Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)Fort Lauderdale: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)Houston: George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU)Las Vegas: McCarran International Airport (LAS)Los Angeles: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)Miami: Miami International Airport (MIA)Minneapolis: Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport (MSP)Nashville: Nashville International Airport (BNA)Newark: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)New Orleans: Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)New York: LaGuardia International Airport (LGA), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Westchester County Airport (HPN), Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Madison Square GardenOakland: Oakland International Airport (OAK)Orlando: Orlando International Airport (MCO)Phoenix: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)Sacramento: Sacramento International Airport (SMF)Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)San Antonio: San Antonio International Airport (SAT), AT&T CenterSan Francisco: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oracle ParkSan Jose: Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), Earthquakes StadiumSeattle: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)St. Louis: St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)Washington, DC: Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)It can even speed up your access to the TSA PreCheck lines, if you're eligible. I'll be keeping my Platinum Card, as the value of these new benefits outweighs the additional cost.

Search resuls for: "Kauaʻi"

21 mentions found