 |
 |
Savvy Stuff!
 Savvy Coordinations official Site! |
 Follow Savvy Coordinations on Facebook! |
|
Aloha!
7/5/11 - Some of you already know that, for the past 15 years-plus, my "Day" job has basically consisted of setting-up properties for parties, weddings, meetings, and every other type of function and event imaginable. I think it's pretty safe to say I've seen my share of lavish and extreme soiree's throughout those years, featuring props and equipment designed for the biggest of rock stars, pro sports players, business executives, and even Presidents! Just when you think you've seen it all, however, something new and amazing manages to stir the pot and raise the bar even higher! My good friends over at Savvy Coordinations and Savvy Elements, Jennifer and Richard Kahunahana, have recently introduced an entirely new concept to the already extravagant wedding/party coordination industry here in the islands, and believe you me, this one is gonna rock the boat, big-time!
Savvy Elements and their heavy-duty pool cover under construction
Savvy Coordinations has steadily grown over the past two years to become a significant player in the business, while Savvy Elements has officially entered the scene only a few days ago, quite literally, with its heavy duty pool cover. Before delving any further into its many virtues, however, I need to first mention the luxury property the cover was specifically designed for. Located just East and Hawaii Kai of Kawaikui Beach Park, it is owned by Kathy Ireland's (yes, THE Kathy Ireland!) Oasis Worldwide Estates, and is the bigger of two properties the company owns on the island. It has become a magnet for those looking for a perfect Hawaiian wedding destination, and Savvy Coordinations is fortunate enough to have become one of the preferred vendors overseeing actual events here.
The courtyard and pool area overlooks a small lawn, which itself overlooks the Pacific Ocean and a surf spot called Toes, one of the awesome but relatively uncrowded breaks located along this particular coast (don't tell anyone!). Here's a shot from the lawn, facing East towards Hawaii Kai:
But rather than have me provide more inadequate shots of such a gorgeous place, please hit the Oasis Worldwide link above for much better looks at this 7-bedroom, 8-bath property. I wouldn't give it much justice anyway!
As far as the pool cover goes, here's Rich as we were installing the beast:
Pretty cool stuff, ey? And when I say heavy duty, I'm not kidding - we're talking Lexan bullet-proof plexiglass, extruded aluminium beams, and solid steel overhangs made to comfortably support, get this - 28,000 lbs! That's 14 tons! A bit of overkill, actually, seeing that a normal car only weighs 1.5-3 tons each! Hardware this tough isn't the easiest to deal with, lemme tell ya. Each separate section weighs close to 300 lbs. each, and there were 13 sections on this particular pool. Here's a few of 'em loaded on Rich's trailer as we broke it down:
That's quite a hefty load, by anyone's standard. No worries, though - da boy's on set-up pack a few pounds of their own! Rich is a plate or two shy of 300 lbs., while our other good friend and partner in crime, Greg, is a plate or two over 300 lbs! We're talking NFL lineman size! These are big, tough, burly guys, and both come stronger than more than a few NFL linemen, too! Only problem is - I'm a measly 190 soaking wet, and I wasn't given any special privileges! Ouch!
Seeing the finished product, however, was reward enough for all the hard work. I mean, Savvy Elements has officially launched the only transparent, up-lit, flush-mounted pool cover in the State of Hawaii! That's gotta be saying something special, yes?
As you can see, lights underneath can remain static or alternate between various colors, providing a one of a kind dance floor, stage, or show-piece in general, not to mention the huge benefit of providing extra space for the party! In a relatively small property like this, it opens up a whole new world of opportunities!
This particular evening was an invitation-only event held for caterer's, DJ's, rental equipment firms, photographers, coordinators, and others involved in the wedding/event industry in Hawaii. Several interested professionals took one look, made a few calls, and booked the pool cover right then and there for future events! A promising start, for sure, and the beginning of a possible new trend here in the islands!
Several vendors were also on-hand to provide services, as well, including Keith and his crew from Good to Grill's catering wing:
As delicious as these teriyaki chicken skewers were, their two other items, a seared, cajun-spiced ahi and a braised shortrib w/wasabi mashed potatoes, were absolutely addicting!
Another chef in the house on this particularly fine evening was Big G's Catering's Grant Sim, who featured one of his specialties, one of the best bread puddings you've ever had!
Tony So of The DJ Hawaii was also in the house, not only with his top-shelf sound and lighting equipment, but also with his very personable skills on the mic as a DJ and host. Accel Party Rentals also provided tables, high-tops, glassware, and other equipment; Spinning Web Florist put together some beautiful flowers and other decorations; Prestige Valet Service helped with parking; and Ryan the bartender, from Lift Your Spiritz, was on-hand to dole-out the drinks:
Thanks Rich and Jennifer Kahunahana of Savvy Coordinations and now Savvy Elements for a wonderful evening! If anyone out there needs a great wedding/party coordinator or is interested in their brand-new pool cover, please contact them through their site link above!
Here's another shot at just some of the guests, with Rich and Jennifer on the bottom-right:
Sorry I've been slacking on the Restaurant reviews! Only been able to post about one per week for a while now. Unfortunately, I can't promise anything more these days, as I've kinda got a lot on my plate. Thanks for everyone passing on your comments and encouragements, though! Always good to hear!
Take care, and Aloha till next time!
Aku
