STORYLINE

Lahaina Teen’s Invention Converts Calls of Invasive Frog Into Energy

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West Maui is known across the globe for not only being one of the most beautiful places on Earth, but also as a hotbed of technology and innovation. Now, thanks to a breakthrough made by a Lahaina teen, it may become the birthplace of an energy revolution. 13-year-old Rachel Driscol has created a device that can transform ambient sounds such as waves and frog mating calls into a viable source of energy. Experts say the teen’s breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the energy industry.

The quest to convert sound energy into electricity is not new. Scientists, especially those in large metropolitan areas, have long sought a way to convert the din of the city into electricity. The problem is that up until now the capturable energy produced by noises is very limited. Through the use of piezoelectric technology and specialized transducers, researchers have been able to harness the vibrations from footsteps in high traffic areas, such as malls and sports arenas, to recharge phones in special charging stations. However, efficiency hurdles have made harvesting energy from anything but extremely loud and sustained noises impractical. Driscol’s says her new device clears that hurdle.

According to Rachel the problem wasn’t just one of efficiency, it was being able to use the “right” kind of noise. “There is definitely energy contained in sound waves, but the density of the energy is very low, and nobody had figured out a way to capture it all or target specific oscillations, so I decided to try and solve the problem. I tried a few different noises and found the sound of waves crashing worked well, but I was blown away when I started experimenting with coqui frog calls. They were perfect! With my design and a few of them in a terrarium you could make a sort of frog battery strong enough to power a house, assuming you could stand the noise.”

While the invasive frogs hold a special place in the hearts of people in their native Puerto Rico, they are considered a nuisance at best on the islands. The frogs consume vast amounts of beneficial insects without any natural predators, upsetting natural ecosystems and threatening crop production. Despite the frog’s ecological impact, it is the mating calls that most people have a problem with. Male coquis produce one of the loudest noises in the animal kingdom, with calls that can hit 90 decibels; roughly as loud as a gas powered lawn mower.

“It’s not just how loud they are, it’s the wave pattern of that call. It’s like it was made for converting into electricity,” says Rachel. “With a little transducer work, and some targeted filtering, I had a working model in a couple of days. I hope one day whole neighborhoods can be powered by the sounds of nature, even the really loud, annoying ones.”

While Driscol’s device is still in the prototype phase, experts say it could be a game changer in the green energy industry. Brian Leets of Pacific Investment Advisers says the teen’s breakthrough has almost limitless potential. “We’re talking about technology that could disrupt the whole industry. If she can show a scaled-up version works just as well as the prototype, she’ll be the head of a spear of a near-free energy revolution. Things are about to change in a big way at the Driscol house.”

According to Rachel’s father Leets’ predictions are spot on. John Driscol says he’s had to turn off his phone to deal with the number of calls from the press and businesses interested in buying his daughter’s technology.

“To be honest it’s been a real hassle for me. I’m the kind of person who really enjoys the peace and quiet someone who doesn’t have a daughter acting as an industry disrupter can expect. Don’t get me wrong, Rachel’s little noise capturing thingy works great. In fact it’s a little too good. Anyone that knows me, knows how much I enjoy spending my afternoons on the beach counting waves as they roll in. I usually listen to music while I count. In the past, I knew it was time to go get the kids from school when my phone died, but now the waves keep the dang thing charged all the time. That forces me to constantly turn my phone over, unlock it, and check the time. No matter how hard I tried to completely relax, I had the nagging question about the time running ragged through the hallways of my mind. It was too much, and I had to start leaving it behind.

I will say it gets high marks for home use though. I’m a big fan of crushed ice drinks when forced to stay in, and this thing has really changed how I enjoy my daiquiris.
Having too many electrical appliances is a problem most people have, and the Driscol house is no different. Using the blender means struggling with the cord, and figuring out what thing to unplug. This can be a huge hassle to say the least. Battery powered blenders are only good for a few dozen drinks, which makes them impractical for my intake needs. Now, all I have to do is yell in the blender’s direction for 5-10 minutes and it’s charged for the day. Between all the calls and me yelling at the blender, it’s not the quietest house in the neighborhood, but I bet it’s the most energy efficient one.”

STORYLINE

Group Offers $2K to Go “Veil-Free” For a Week

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There’s no doubt that Veil technology has become an integral part of our lives. Over the past two decades, Veilcorp has become the largest corporation the world has ever seen and partnerships with the megacorp have become essential to businesses in most major cities. Virtually all travel is done through a Veilcorp facility and here on Maui, almost 98% of goods arrive through the veil. With such a complete integration into our daily lives, you might wonder if it’s possible to do anything without putting a few dollars into Veilcorp’s pockets. A new group says that it is not only possible, but they’ll teach you how to do it and pay you $2,000 if you can go a week “Veil-Free”.

Veil-Free is the brainchild of well known anti-Veilcorp pundit and founder of VeilWatch Tim Durney. Unlike his watchdog organization, Veil-Free isn’t concerned with releasing internal documents or classified government memos. Instead, Veil-Free teaches those who sign up for the program strategies for uncoupling their lives from Veilcorp on a sprawling 100-acre farm. Better yet, they pay participants $2K for completing the week-long course. Durney says, “We like to keep the farm a positive place and try to not say the company’s name if at all possible after orientation.”

“Unsafe and Unregulated, Veil technology is one of the greatest dangers to our world today, unfortunately through backroom government agreements, and illegal business practices Veilcorp has wormed its way into most of our lives. So much so that most people can’t fathom how they’d live without it. That’s what the farm is about. It’s a way to remind everyone that life existed before Veilcorp, and you can easily live a Veil-Free life if you know what to do and who to do business with.

Our beautiful 100-acre farm is a great place to learn how to find sustainable local food and business options, as well as learn the cleansing power of our green pineapple drinks and supplements. We demonstrate how much you can cut into your grocery bill with small food plots perfectly sized for any backyard and free of any 127 contamination. The staff teaches you how to spot a company that does business with Veilcorp and how to chip away at Veilcorp’s stranglehold one small business and drink at a time. Veil-Free is all about teaching you how to live your best and most socially responsible life, and unlike most schools or programs we pay you at the end.”

Veilcorp COO Lisa Hunt, of course, has a different take on the Veil-Free program, calling it “a cult designed to sell questionable health supplements”. She says, “I’ll be brief as possible because Tim has already gotten enough publicity out of this little stunt. The fact is Veil technology has been proven safe for decades now. Indeed, Veilcorp has forever changed the world, but for the better. Medicines can now get where they need to go instantly. Relief and aid workers can respond to a disaster in seconds. Exploring other countries and cultures has never been easier, and for those of us who remember traveling in a jet, well I don’t have to explain how much better travel is now. People lived before we had vaccines and modern medicine too, but I wouldn’t call their lives better. Tim should save himself the $2K a head, put down the pineapple potions, and buy himself some perspective.”

Reviews from Veil-Free participants have been widely mixed with some lauding the program as a responsible path to the future, while others say the daily classes are nothing more than real-time infomercials for pineapple based health supplements. One thing that everyone seems to agree on however is how nice the $2,000 payout is at the end. The money is what initially interested John Driscol, but the Lahaina resident says he’s not sure if he’d go through the program again. “Getting paid to not do something seemed like the kind of thing I’d excel at, but it was really lame, and the supplements made me sick,” he says.

“I mean on paper it seemed great. Just kind of hang out and not veil someplace for a week while a passionate person talks to you about what they’re passionate about. Get a $2K check at the end. It sounded like something I could do. While I try to not get passionate about too many things, I don’t mind when someone else does as long as I don’t have to be part of the conversation. It turned out that the thing they were most concerned about was getting us to try these green pineapple drinks that were supposed to “flush the 127 out of our systems”. I don’t know how much 127 I had in there before, but there must have been some because it was pretty explosive. After 2 or 3 of those drinks, it was all gone, along with anything else I might have had in me.

Also, we couldn’t do anything or frequent any business that had any ties to Veilcorp. Do you know how many companies have a partnership or do marketing events with Veilcorp? It’s like all of them! I couldn’t get food delivered or get a car to drive me to the beach. It was a week of eating whatever happened to be coming up in those little garden plots, braving yet another green drink or eating a pineapple hull bar. After the drink, I didn’t have the heart to try the bars. I had to take the bus everywhere, surrounded by the kind of people that ride the bus and make do with surplus single-ply toilet paper. It’s was a nightmare!

On top of that, we could only go to like a dozen approved locations on the island and only use really old gaming systems. They had all these tips on how to have fun at home with your family, and I was like “Who the hell wants to spend leisure time with those people?” I see them every day, but at least they mostly leave me alone and never try to sell me stuff to improve my health. Not doing something was never so brutal! By the end, I felt like I was trapped in an infomercial on a channel I’d never watch. On my last day, I told them that they owed me more than just $2K for my emotional distress, but they took away my complimentary cleanser and told me to leave. I’m not sure I learned anything other than the unfortunate power of green pineapples and how thankful I am for delivery drones. Next time I’m going to not do something someplace else for money.”

STORYLINE

Veilcorp Unveils Plan For Public “Veil Stop” Network In Lahaina

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In the past two decades veil technology has changed the face of long distance travel. Veilcorp has made the dream of near instant world transit a reality and dominates the global business and leisure travel market. Now, with a new plan for a public transportation system in Lahiana, the company appears ready to change the way we move locally as well.

A joint project between Veilcorp and the Hawaiian government, the proposed “Veil Stop” network would see the company converting already existing bus stops in Lahaina into a series of small, interconnected veil stations. The plan is backed by Mayor Albert Cravalho who released a statement this morning which reads in part, “We are proud to partner with Veilcorp in this amazing project. The County of Maui has long been a leader in technological adoption and environmental awareness. We look forward to being able to provide tourists and residents alike a safe and easy way to travel across the island, while doing even more to protect our beautiful and delicate natural areas.”

Brie Howard, Veilcorp’s VP of special projects and strategic growth, says that the program will revolutionize local travel and business.

“Without getting into specifics, we’ve made great progress in the past few years reducing the amount of energy required to power our veil technology. We’ve made the process efficient enough, with the same safety features, that our Veil Stop network is now viable. Much of what we need is already included in the bus stops. With a few minor additions and a little new wiring work, we can offer a unique travel experience for visitors who don’t want the hassle of traveling on a bus.”

Even though the buses running in the Lahaina area are completely electric, Howard points out that they still have some environmental impact through maintenance, wear and tear on the road, and a reliance on rare metals for the production of batteries. The Veil Stop network on the other hand, would largely rely on existing infrastructure and the solar production of 127 by the Icarus project for power. According to Howard the system would have virtually no negative impact on the environment. “The best part is that you’ll never have to ride the bus again,” says Howard. “Nothing can ruin a vacation like having to be trapped inside a vehicle with crying babies, inebriated travelers trying to hold it together over the bumps, and lost tourists shouting for the driver to stop every 100 yards.”

Residents and business owners alike have expressed excitement over the project since it’s announcement. One of the most enthusiastic has been Ralph Umeke, the owner and operator of the Lahaina favorite, Hula Noodle. Umeke says the network would be a boon to tourists and residents alike. “The buses run pretty late but there are always people who don’t make the last run for the evening. Usually, it’s people who’ve been enjoying themselves a little bit more than they should. That leaves them few options. Some choose to call Hailoha for a ride, but they are often belligerent. I know quite a few drivers who won’t pick up in certain areas at night, because they don’t want to deal with the hassle or spend hours cleaning up their back seats. Others try to walk back to their hotels but that can be dangerous and they often get lost. The worst are the people who get one of the public Manimal ATVs and somehow work around the breathalyzer interlocks. Anything that can keep those 4-wheeled menaces off the roads and lawns of Lahaina is a long-time coming if you ask me.”

Many residents are as thrilled as Umeke, and the Mayor’s office has been flooded with questions about how many, and which stops would be converted under the plan. Those living in areas where bus service was discontinued due to the expansion of the preservation zone, are especially eager to learn if the network could expand to these old stops as well.

John Driscol, one such resident, says he’d be delighted to see the program expand into the preservation zone.

“They took away all busing in my area 15-years-ago, both public and school routes. Since then, I’ve needlessly spent over 60 hours a year walking my kids to the next closest stop, or in some cases, the school itself. When you do the math, I’ve spent almost 38 days chained to unnecessary parental responsibility since the buses stopped running to our neighborhood. I can’t get those days back, but it’s not too late for other parents who love their leisure time but feel an obligation to ensure their children’s safety as well. I take comfort in knowing that this system has the potential to help new parents who haven’t had to endure what I have. In addition, the fact that I would be able to greatly reduce the amount of steps I’d have to take in a day, gives me hope. Looking at the location of old and existing bus stops, I believe I could reduce the number of steps I take in a busy day to under 2,000, and most days far less. I can’t get those school days back, but I might be able to greatly extend the life of my sandals, and that’s good enough for me.”

STORYLINE

Feds say Veil Scout leader ran exotic animal smuggling ring

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Federal authorities say that they have shut down one of the largest exotic animal smuggling rings that they have ever seen over the weekend. 56-year-old Dan Mercola is accused of illegally transporting and selling thousands of rare and exotic animals over the past year. While that’s enough to stock a small zoo, it’s the way he smuggled the animals, not the amount, that makes this case shocking. Officials say that Mercola used his position as a Veil Scout leader to involve the unwitting children under his supervision into his operation.

Founded in 2038, the Veil Scouts is a educational program for children between 8-16. The group’s goal is to “Help children develop into intellectual and social leaders of the global community.” In the program children learn to, “Respect other cultures and peoples by visiting and experiencing them in person. The Scouts take part in various educational programs and community building projects during their trips, cultivating a richer understanding across borders and laying the groundwork for a truly global community.”

Instead of focusing on these lofty goals, investigators say Mercola used the scout’s frequent trips as cover for years of smuggling. “We don’t believe any of the children were aware of what was going on,” said one official. “He was really good at hiding these animals. He had dozens of coolers with false bottoms for fish and reptiles, lanterns with spaces to hide small songbirds, and large containers that looked like rolled up sleeping bags for bigger animals.” Investigators say that Mercola may have smuggled thousands of exotic animals over the past year. When arrested Mercola reportedly had 20 critically endangered Round Island boas strapped to his legs and thighs, as well as a young Philippine crocodile hidden in the false bottom of a cooler. “The investigation is ongoing and we are currently dismantling his distribution network,” added officials.

Senior Investigator for the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Greg Iona says that unfortunately the illegal sale of exotic animals is a big business.

“It doesn’t get as much attention as drugs or guns, but illegal animal sales is one of the world’s largest black markets. It can be devastating to the viability of endangered populations. There are fewer than 1,000 of the kind of boa Mercola was caught with left in the wild. He had 2% of the entire population stuffed in his pants. It’s not just the loss of these creatures from their natural habitat that we have to worry about either. Every year you hear cases about someone letting a potentially dangerous pet go in the wild. It’s not unheard of for people to catch piranhas in the ponds of their local park and Burmese pythons have overrun the Florida Everglades. It’s just a matter of when someone is going to be seriously injured by a big predator that was let loose after it became too unruly for it’s owner to handle, not when. The fact that this was a guy who was supposed to be setting an example for these kids makes the whole thing even more disappointing.”

John Driscol, father of one of the scouts in Mercola’s group, has other concerns.

“I’m still a little unclear on how and why an adult would involve children in a multimillion-dollar smuggling scheme, but I don’t understand what would lead to a person taping a couple dozen snakes to their legs either. But what I’m most upset about is how long this thing seems to be dragging on and how much of my time it’s eating up. They arrested Dan on Saturday and my son has been interviewed at least 3 times already. Because he’s a minor, I have to be there with him the whole time. This is the slow season in Lahaina, the beaches aren’t crowded and there are no lines at the bars. In fact, the average beer you get in April can be a full degree colder than one you get in June because the bartenders aren’t opening the cooler doors as much. It’s pretty much a paradise that I’ve lost thanks to a bunch of people who want to stare at an aquarium all day. It’s not fair. I enrolled my kid into the Veil Scouts because it was close enough for him to walk and so I had a place to send him on the weekends. I just wanted a little alone time to count waves, not get involved in an international crime syndicate.”

The Veil Scouts have not spoken publicly about the allegations but have removed Mercola from his position and we’ve been told he’s unable to travel by veil until the outcome of his trial becomes known. If found guilty he faces up to a year in jail and fines of up to $50,000 per offense. His lawyers say he is innocent of all charges.

STORYLINE

Pu’u Whiz Kid Takes Top Honor At Robotics Competition

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A Pu’u Middle School student has won the prestigious HELLP Robotics competition, beating out hundreds of other students from across Hawaii. 11-year-old Rachel Driscol, a 6th grader at Pu’u, took the top honor Sunday, making her the youngest winner in the history of the competition. This year, the robots had to autonomously navigate a simulated office building, that had been damaged by a hurricane, marking the location of injured people, and delivering medical supplies to trapped survivors. Rachel’s creation was able to find all the injured, and completed the task in less than 5 minutes, almost half the time it took the next closest competitor.

Founded by Eric Oeming, the Hawaiian Engineering Lifelong Learning Program (HELLP), is entering its 10th year. Designed to teach kids the importance of technology and science with the assistance of adult mentors, HELLP holds many competitions throughout the year. However, the robotics competition is considered to be the most distinguished, drawing hundreds of competitors, with dozens of business and technology leaders attending the 2 day event. HELLP says that they have awarded millions in scholarships, and connected thousands of talented students with valuable contacts and mentors across the islands.

Rachel’s win wasn’t the first for a Pu’u student, but it does end a 3 year drought for the Blue Wolves. Pu’u Principal Pa’ani Mahelona says everyone is excited about the outcome, but not surprised. “Rachel is one of the brightest young minds I have ever encountered in my time as an educator. Her talents are limitless, and everyone just assumed that she’d win. Nonetheless, we had no idea she’d win so easily. Rachel certainly represents the best of Lahaina. We couldn’t be happier for her, and her family. I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank her parents for deciding to move to Maui. It has been a joy to watch this young lady grow over the past few years, and I look forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the future.”

“I actually had a big head start in this year’s competition,” says Rachel. “A couple years ago, I had built a robot that could bring my dad his beer, and help him find his phone and sandals with a specialized sonar system. This year’s goals weren’t much different from that.” According to Rachel, she’s always been interested in science and technology, and wants to work in Veilcorp’s Research and Development Division, or Vereserum’s Advanced Medicine Lab here in Lahaina one day.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved building things and figuring out ways to do things that nobody else has tried. My grandmother was a professional dancer, and she always tried to pay for ballet and gymnastics classes when I was little, but it just wasn’t for me. I appreciate the physical mastery it takes to be a great dancer, but my feet aren’t wired for grace. A good technical schematic, or an unsolved problem makes me want to dance just as much as any music I’ve ever heard.”

Rachel says that she is too young to make any big decisions about her future, despite the offers that have been coming in since she won the competition. She says she wants to develop her sonar system further, and hopes to make it available to the visually impaired in a few years.

“It must be something in the island air. Her brothers and sisters sure aren’t breaking any records, and their grades aren’t anything to brag about, but they were born on the mainland.” says Rachel’s father John. He credits his hands-off parenting style with allowing his daughter to reach her full potential, but says that having a genius daughter isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be.

“I see so many parents pushing their kids, demanding they operate at peak performance, and giving them grief about their grades all the time. It never made sense to me. Being a parent is hard enough already: always bringing them places, signing permission slips, and making them food when their hungry, which is always. Why would anyone in their right mind add worrying about school work, and their potential to the long list of parenting responsibilities? I stopped being able to help Rachel with her homework 3-years-ago, and it seems like the more I separated myself from that part of her life, the more she achieved. It may not be a popular thing to say, but keeping your kids at arms-length can be a great tool to teach them how to build their own future. I don’t know if I can express how proud I was of her when she built the robot that would bring me my shoes, and find my keys. Most parents of kids her age had to settle for cheap arts and crafts projects, or illegible hand-scribbled cards. My 3rd grader made me a robot butler. I’m sure that whatever it was she built for this competition was amazing, and the scholarship money will help, but you can’t put a price on something like a robot that brings you beer.”

STORYLINE

New Service Promises To Travel the Veil and Quit Your Job For You

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A record number of people used Veil travel to get to a destination last year, but many of these travelers aren’t just taking vacations. More and more, people are using the Veil to get to work, as well as to have some fun in the sun. This has created a labor pool of unprecedented size for companies to choose from. Finding the talent that is the best fit for your organization has become a huge business. It’s never been a better time to be a recruiter. But one Hawaiian isn’t banking on matching you with your dream employer. In fact, he’s created a service that will quit your job for you.

According to the Hawaii Department of Labor, over 20,000 Hawaiians use Veil travel at least once a week to get to work, or for a work related project. In addition, at least double that number of employees come to the islands each week. With so many people going to work from so far away, many companies are including travel expenses in their starting packages. While this has made commuting to work easier than ever before, quitting that job can still be an uncomfortable exercise for many, that’s where Lahaina’s John Driscol comes in. For a fee, his “Break Time” service will help you leave your current job.

“I’ve always been really good at quitting things. Much to my wife and kid’s dismay, I don’t feel shame or get embarrassed like most people for some reason,” says Driscol.

“I recognized this talent early, when I wouldn’t regret not turning in homework or completing projects in school. Later, when I started dating, I would routinely use coupons on dates and ask to split the bills without an ounce of embarrassment. I continued to not complete my tasks when I was employed, while reaping the benefits of my team’s work, and eating any unattended lunches from the break room fridge guilt-free. It’s not that I’m a bad person; I’m not a law breaker. I just don’t care about social appropriateness, and I’m unwilling to do anything that I find tedious or boring. That’s why I’m so good at what I do. It doesn’t matter if a company paid you to move to a new city a week before, bent over backwards to accommodate you when there was an ongoing family emergency, or you’re in the middle of a vital project that dozens of others are counting on. I’ll get a hold of HR, and let them know that you’re not coming back. When you hire Break Time, you’ve hired the best quitters in the business.”

Break Time offers a number of quitting packages for those who are too uncomfortable to end their employment themselves. The most expensive option, with an eyebrow raising price tag of $4500, features Driscol himself Veiling to any location, and personally quitting your job while delivering a custom message to your employer. Why would anyone pay over $4000 just to quit a job you might ask? According to Driscol, “You’d be amazed at what people are willing to pay just to avoid confrontation. I’ve had over 20 clients in our first month alone.”

As you can imagine, news about the unusual service has elicited strong reactions amongst the public and the business community. “Uncle” Ralph Umeke owner of the famous Hula Noodle eatery, has been one of the loudest critics, but not because he fears that one of his employees would use the service. “It’s just lazy, and this generation has gotten lazy enough,” He says.

“A plant that grows without the wind pushing against it, grows thin and weak. The same is true of people. You need to experience resistance and problems in your life to grow, and gain the confidence that you need to handle the unexpected. No matter how much you try to shelter yourself from the ups and downs, life will find a way to get to you. If you don’t know how to dig yourself out of trouble you might get stuck. Eric Oeming is a dear friend of mine, and he has gone through more in the past few months than most will in their lifetime. Do you think he would have had the will to survive and overcome his injuries if he was the kind of person who avoided uncomfortable situations? If you can’t even gather up the emotional wherewithal to quit a job in person, what chance do you have when something serious happens to you. Life can be hard, but it can also be glorious. You need to face the storms head-on to enjoy the beauty of the calm after.”

While Uncle Ralph preaches the value of putting yourself in uncomfortable situations, Driscol says he plans to expand his service to personal relationships, as well as professional ones. “If all goes well, I’d like to expand Break Time into personal relationships as well. Family obligations can be hard and breakups can be even harder. It doesn’t matter if it’s a holiday invitation from your grandmother who endlessly talks about how lonely she is, or a significant other who helped you through a rough patch that you now find annoying. We’ll help you by telling them to take a hike. You’ll be able to sit in comfort while we sever any tie you’ve made. We’ll gladly take the knocks, and see the tears so you don’t have to.”

STORYLINE

Veilcorp AI Will Testify Before Hawaiian Senate as a Witness For the First Time

The Hawaiian Senate Technology Select Committee will hold a special evidence session regarding autonomous drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and the fourth industrial revolution this Friday, July 15th. While there will be many witnesses discussing job loss due to automation, as well as privacy and safety concerns, one is sure to stand out because she isn’t human. Veilcorp’s VALARIE AI is set to answer questions before the committee about a wide range of subjects, including the companies plan to expand the number of camera drones flying around West Maui. This will be the first time an AI has testified before the Senate, and the first time Veilcorp will publicly comment on their drone expansion plan.

Companies are turning to AI more and more to handle everyday tasks, coordinate customer support, and monitor important systems. VALARIE itself has been: monitoring 127 levels, synchronizing with arrival destinations, handling paperwork and permits for international destinations, and ensuring that safety protocols are followed for Veilcorp for over a decade with great success. Still, as the role of AI expands into everyday life, many have concerns about turning over tasks, and trusting a machine. Nonetheless, Veilcorp’s COO Lisa Hunt says she looks forward to the special session and VALARIE’s testimony.

“The truth is millions of people work with AI everyday and don’t even know it. VALARIE coordinates all of our customer’s travels, and has for over 10 years without incident. I think her testimony will surprise many, and open their eyes. She isn’t really that different from you or I, she’s just more efficient. We’re confident that anyone who has a conversation with VALARIE for more than a few minutes will see that they don’t have anything to worry about. Since she will coordinate our expanding drone fleet, we felt it was best for the committee to talk directly with her. New technologies have always sparked fear in a certain portion of the population. Believe me, we at Veilcorp know that better than most. However, progress marches on, and people need to understand that they have nothing to fear from from AI, or a few more drones flying around, documenting a perfect Lahaina day.”

Despite Hunt’s reassurance, former justice of the Hawaiian Supreme Court Rodger “Rod” Kohole says he stands firmly against the planned drone expansion, and supports the thousands of Hawaiian citizens put out of work because of AI. “Unlike Eric Oeming and his minion Ms. Hunt I care more about the people of Hawaii than I do about quarterly bonuses. We’ve seen time and again what can happen when you let one of these AI’s take over a job a hard working person used to do. On top of that, this failed Veilcorp drone experiment masquerading as a news network has proven over and over to harm the public, and strip away our privacy rights. I hope the Select Committee can see through this puppet show, and recognize that this thing is just going to parrot what it’s creators tell it. The truth of the matter is that this is just another way for Veilcorp to get its hooks into every part of our lives, and record it for their purposes.”

It appears many share Kohole’s fears as protesters are already gathering around the Hawaii State Capitol Building. However, some say they welcome AI, and the planned increase in Veilcorp drones. In fact, Lahaina resident John Driscol says he wishes the drones could access his home.

“I don’t know what all the pearl clutching is about. Privacy died with the invention of social media decades ago. The drones are awesome. Whenever I’m thinking about taking that long trip into town, I tune into the Veilcorp drone stream to see if there’s anything worth getting off the couch for. I can’t tell you how many trips those things have saved me when nothing is going on. On top of that, I don’t have to go out into the preservation zone anymore if I feel like communing with nature. One of those things is always flying around somewhere out there filming wildlife. Hell, I’ve seen more wildlife thanks to the drone than I ever did trudging down one of those dirty trails. My only complaint is I can’t let one in the house to take a look through my fridge. If I could count on them to make a grocery list, I’d never have to leave my chair.”

STORYLINE

Services At County Satellite Kiosks Remain Limited After Security Breach

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9 automated city hall kiosks remain closed today, after an apparent security breach that disrupted services and put the data of thousands in jeopardy. Hundreds have experienced ongoing issues with the Phxicom systems. Officials say that If the problem is not resolved by Saturday, they are considering asking police to waive citations to drivers with vehicle registration tags that expire this month.

“Yes, we are still experiencing outages and slower response times,” County spokesperson Ellen Pahili says. “It’s affecting vehicle registration, state IDs, moped and bicycle registration, out-of-state license transfers, bus passes, county tax records anything that affects Maui County having to access the City and County’s main frame. However, we are working hard with our Phxicom partners to fix the issues. In the meantime we are still able to process Hailoha renewals and provide disabled parking placards.”

Pahili says they have rolled back all Phxicom related changes to the system, and are tracking down the source of the changes. They have hired an outside security firm to go over the compromised systems to help assess the scope of the intrusions and identify any other potential problems. Officials urge users to change their passwords and PIN numbers, and remind residents that nobody from the county or Phxicom will ever ask for their passwords. Local tech gadfly Ano Lee says that he’s disappointed but not surprised that the kiosks were targeted. “Everyone knows how insecure Phxicom equipment is. When they installed their terminals in the preservation zone, people had a field day breaking into them. I would suggest the county listen closely to whatever their outside security firm says and act on their recommendations.”

What was supposed to be a model for the future of efficient governance and citizen interactions, has turned into a nightmare for Mayor Cravalho, Phxicom, and residents alike. Phxicom’s kiosks were supposed to provide citizens with a fast and easy way to conduct business and obtain a wide array of permits, passes, and licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But the problems are not confined to customers trying to use the kiosks, many who’ve had their data exposed have experienced problems too.

Local noodle shop owner “Uncle” Ralph Umeke says that he received a notice last week that was quite a shock. “I don’t cheat anyone, not customers, not tourists, and certainly not the government. I pay my taxes on time and I’ve never even filed for an extension. Imagine my surprise when I got a notice that I had 90 days to come up with $105,573.60 for back taxes. According to the County I hadn’t paid my property taxes for the past 6 years. I told everyone they had to leave, closed the shop, and marched right down to Cravalho’s office to find out what the hell the problem was. They told me it was all the fault of that Phxicom AI.”

Following the success of SSHAM’s customer service AI Shawn, Phxicom began working on their own system to oversee the operations of the kiosks and Phxie was created. According to Scott Parata, Phxicom’s Regional Operations Manager, the AI was thoroughly tested before being put into service but fell victim to a group using social engineering techniques to gain access to sensitive systems. A statement released by the company reads in part,

“It appears that Phxie’s urge to be helpful led to some unintended consequences in this case. We have taken steps to improve its security protocols and have ensured nothing like this will happen again. We understand that the months of quality service before this incident is little comfort to those inconvenienced by this breach and we apologize. We would like to point out however, that Phxie continues to operate 11 more such programs across the islands efficiently and without incident. We’ve addressed the issues leading to this unfortunate event and are working hard to expedite any further delays and regain your trust.”

However, that trust may be hard to win back for some. Lahaina resident John Driscol says that the security breach didn’t just put his data at risk; It endangered his life. He says that an incorrectly cancelled buss pass left him stranded and afraid for his well being.

“The beaches are a little too busy for my tastes these days. Lately I’ve been taking the bus to the furthest stop from town and walking into the preservation zone for some peace and quiet. There’s a little stream I like to sit next to because the sound of the water drowns out the birds. Those things can really make a racket on a sunny day. Anyway, I got a little too comfortable and fell asleep. Next thing you know it’s dusk and I have run back to catch the last bus. When the reader scanned my pass it was denied. I tried a couple more times to no avail. I tried to tell the driver that the system was wrong, that I paid for a full year, but I was too winded from running. When I stepped off to catch my breath, he just left without me. I reached for my phone but I must have dropped it while I was running. My house is at least 9 miles from where I was. The farthest I’ve ever walked was 5 miles, and that was back in college. I knew it was going to be an ordeal but I didn’t have a choice, and started the long journey back. I made good time for the first couple miles but then fatigue began to set in. I stumbled for hours in the dark. I can’t tell you how cold it was. I’m not sure if they can test if you had hypothermia in the past or not, but I feel like I definitely had it that night. Finally, I saw some headlights. It was a tourist in one of those public Manimal ATVs. I usually make it a rule to never ride in one because of their reputation, but I was so cold that I took the risk. Phxicom and the County better hope I didn’t catch any weird forest disease while I was walking out there.”

STORYLINE

Local residents turn unclaimed items into big business

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Forgetting your bags or misplacing a souvenir while on vacation is something that everyone can relate to, but two local men have figured out a way to turn other people’s carelessness into cash. Lahaina’s own John Driscol and Randy Wilcox have joined the growing ranks of people purchasing abandoned freight and forgotten luggage and turning it into a big business.

It has been estimated that every year nearly $600 million worth of unclaimed commercial freight clogs up Veilcorp warehouses and holding facilities. The reasons vary greatly. Sometimes the cargo was simply forgotten, or the paperwork was incorrect. Often downsizing or a changeover of staff handling the shipping department is to blame. Occasionally a business will close or a shipper/receiver will pass away without an heir. Whatever the reason, when added to another $50 million in personal items and luggage left behind at thousands of Veilcorp stations, the number becomes quite impressive.

While Veilcorp donates or destroys some of the abandoned freight and luggage, the vast majority of it is auctioned off at weekly events across the globe. These auctions have given birth to a small industry of colorful characters and hopeful entrepreneurs who are willing to bid, sometimes sight unseen, on unopened bags and boxes in the hopes of striking it rich. Driscol says that opening a bag for the first time “feels like opening a present on Christmas morning. You’re just hoping it’s not full of socks or underwear.” Wilcox says that working the abandoned freight circuit is not for the feint of heart, “You can go days with nothing to bid on but pallets of toothbrushes or barrels of floor wax. You never know what’s going to show up in the next crate. It takes a special kind of person to deal with the uncertainty of it all, especially if you’re trying to do it for a living.”

Richard Brace, Head of Safety and Facilities at the Veilstation in Lahaina, has seen the auctions boom and agrees that you never know what will get sent through the veil. When asked about the strangest bit of unclaimed cargo he answers quickly. “The strangest thing ever to go unclaimed? That’s easy, a huge container of pig milk” he says. “I had to look twice and not just because of the misspelled label. The bar code was messed up so our readers wouldn’t function and we couldn’t find any record of it in the system. On top of that, the RFID tags were working on the wrong frequency. Everything about it just seemed a little off. I couldn’t wait to get it out of the warehouse.” John says he remembers the pig milk auction. “We got it really cheap and resold it to a friend who works at SSHAM. I think they were working on a cheese flavor at the time.”

While it’s true that there is a number of oddities left behind, it’s not all bulk dental products, wax, and pig milk according to Driscol. He says that sometimes there’s gold in those bags, literally.

“I’ve known Randy for a while and he had been bugging me to go to an auction with him to check it out. To be honest, it sounded like a lot of work. I don’t like standing in one place for too long, I’m more of a sitter. Also, I was pretty sure that there wouldn’t be anyplace to get something to drink if I got thirsty or a decent bathroom. I told him that I didn’t like taking care of my own laundry, let alone digging through someone else’s out of a suitcase. But he kept pushing and pushing and finally I gave in. I bought the very first piece of luggage that was up for sale, just so that I could leave and find someplace comfortable to wait for the auction to end. When I opened it up I couldn’t believe my eyes. Right on top was a plastic case filled with gold coins. You have to understand something. I’ve wanted to be a pirate since I was a kid, not for the fighting, drinking, or sailing but for the treasure. Digging a hole and finding gold always seemed like the perfect job to me. Here I found gold and I didn’t even have to dig; it was awesome! I knew I was hooked.”

While John focuses on smaller items and collectibles, Wilcox usually sets his sights on bigger prizes, and is even trying to leverage the increased public interest into a reality show.

“I keep my eyes peeled for great deals and things I can flip quickly. I don’t like to gamble as much as John. I try to purchase anything that I think my fans would like to see me break, ride, or use on my YouTube channel, or that I can incorporate into my backyard wrestling operation. You have no idea how high your folding chair and fluorescent light bulb bill can get after just a couple tag-team matches. If it wasn’t for the live streaming with my X-eyez app and these auctions, I wouldn’t be able to afford our steel cage events.”

Unlike most of his followers, it wasn’t the stunts or drop-kicks that piqued the interest of Board Entertainment, Layla Kalani’s production company, but rather Randy’s broadcasting of the auctions. “They said John and I had something special and wanted to work with us to develop a show about our lives and the culture surrounding the auctions. It’s called “Veil Sale” and we’ve shot a couple episodes already. It’s been great so far. John loves the craft services and I can’t wait to see how many new fans will join my channel. I never dreamed that I’d be discovered thanks to forgotten stuff.”

STORYLINE

Your Box Service Needs Some Serious Work

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For months I had been hearing about VeilBox everywhere I went. It was all anyone in the neighborhood could talk about, but I was skeptical. The idea of getting a package once a month filled with random items that I didn’t get to pick out was not appealing to me. I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t like surprises or thinking too hard, but then I started to hear about all the different categories you offered.

I had been devoting most of my free time since we moved to Lahaina to watching the kids and counting waves. Since our youngest daughter Rachel has finally started school, my wife suggested I take up another hobby. Surfing was alright but I found that it took too much of my energy, and nothing else really piqued my interest. Then I started breaking up my afternoons with long daydreaming sessions about travel.

I’d never been one to drop everything and go on a trek somewhere but the idea fascinated me. I began to devote more and more of my day to imagining what it would be like to leave everything behind and visit remote villages in distant lands. That’s when I learned you had a box for someone with my tastes. I had known people who had purchased sci-fi and food oriented programs and one of my neighbors signed up for a fishing box, but the moment I heard about your “Interpid Explorer” package, I knew it was the box option for me.

The promotional material promised, “Hand-crafted and artisan products from the mysterious and far-flung corners of the globe. Perfect for those who choose to go off the beaten path.” Let me tell you, the first box exceeded all my expectations. There was Andean beard balm, and a Congolese bark cloth tapestry, but when I saw the shaving brush I knew I had spent my money wisely. Made by the bristle masters of the Caucasus Mountains, famed for their expert brush construction according to the instruction pamphlet. The business end was made from the finest, sustainably sourced Eurasian badger hair, for my lathering pleasure. It was a pleasure, but a short lived one. I had some major issues with my next box.

I didn’t even see the spiders as I began to rummage through the box, but luckily my wife did. I later learned that the family of arachnids that had taken up residence were brown widows, one of the most deadly species in Asia. Your customer support specialists was great. He credited my account with that month’s payment and gave quite thorough directions on how to eliminate the eight-legged trouble that you had sent me. He promised the next box would contain several bonus items to make up for the trouble. That bonus box arrived today, and I think we have a problem.

The first “bonus” item is a complete mystery to me, and I already told you how I feel about that. I almost don’t know what to call it. I definitely don’t know what it is and there was no instructional pamphlet included. It’s a carved stick of sorts, approximately 20 inches long, covered in some sort of lacquer. One end is topped with the hoof of some smallish animal and the other has a long strand of colored beads. I’m guessing it has some sort of religious or cultural significance but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it is.

I want to be properly sensitive and use it in the correct manner but I’m at a loss. Do I use it to bless my food? Do I hang it over the doorway to bring luck to my home? If so, do I hang it hoof up or hoof down? Can anyone in the family hold it? I’m not sure what to do with it, and the fact that it came with no instructions makes me wonder if you know yourselves.

In addition to the mystery stick, I was also sent a pair of Mongolian fox fur mittens. Not exactly a must have item in Hawaii, but at least it came with a story. “Handmade from horse leather and fox fur obtained by the famous golden eagle hunters of the steppes. These majestic birds of prey are captured at a young age and trained by nomadic hunters. The hunters employ the birds for 10 years before letting them go to live out the rest of their years in the wild. Enjoy wearing these hard earned mittens.”

The story is a compelling one but it doesn’t fit the pair I was sent. One look at the stitching and it’s obvious that they were put together by a machine and not the weathered hands of an indigenous hunter. I wanted to believe that a young man gave up the chance to go to school to risk life and limb climbing the high crags and peaks of the Altai mountains, in order to catch an eagle. I imagined he did all this so he could make traditional mittens that people could order on the internet, but that was a lie. You’ve ruined that noble tragedy for me!

I could handle the mystery or the lie alone, but not together. It’s a bridge too far for this beachside explorer. Please cancel my box subscription and get your act together.

John Driscol,
Unhappy customer