Monday January 16th through Sunday January 29th.
Doc & Babs have submitted two payphone numbers and will be taking calls at some random time on Tuesday (the 17th). The phones are just South of Duke's Canoe Club on Waikiki Beach.
Tuesday, January 17th, 2006.
Two rings, a beep, a very high-pitch beep, then disconnection.
I am guessing you didn't refresh your browser window. I just called the main number and spoke to a young gentleman who indicated that he was from the nearby hotel. But actually from Berkeley. He also said that being in Hawaii is much better than calling Hawaii. I agreed with him. I told him I ate at Duke's last year and I could actually hear his relatively tiny portion of interest whither and die over the phone line.
Wednesday, January 18th, 2006.
Doc is back stateside and placed a call to the very phone he was at a day earlier:
[Answered after 3 rings; couldn't tell what he said when he answered. Poolside? Put inside? Puddin' Side? Stronger than dirt?]
Is this Waikiki?
This is Waikiki.
How are things going there today in Waikiki?
Oh, it's so sunny, and there's big waves today--actually, you can hear it. And there's a lot of women, man.
Well, I'm really unhappy, because I was there yesterday--
Oh!
-- and now I'm back in Arizona.
Back in Arizona. Hoooo! [To a friend:] He wants to know how the weather is, and all that. Oh, it's beautiful, pal, here, let me tell you about it.
Make me cry.
No change from yesterday.
You're making me cry. How do you happen to be there? Do you live there?
We're just kickin' it, hangin' out.
Do you live there in Honolulu?
Yeah, once in a while, you know. Here for the winter, you know.
Where do you live in the summertime?
Uh, just kickin' it here, but . . . well . . . we're headin' back, all right, gotta go.
Babs sent along a "reverse-view" photo:
Thursday, January 19th, 2006.
I called and the phone was picked up by a local girl and her friends who were out partying for the night. They didn't give a lot of information, but they thought I was a pervert or a prank caller or something and asked if my mom knew that I was playing on the phone. I told her I was 26 and that I guess I could always call my mom and let her know I just called somebody at random in Waikiki. She asked me if I call random numbers often, I told her that this was my first time and she said she doubted that. I said that she and her friends should have a good time and take it easy and that Nick from Flagstaff, Arizona says hello.
People are scared of the power of a payphone. You can tell.
sex
Thank you for the sex.
havent gotten through to anyone yet but found a live camera that should be very close by. if you get through to someone, ask them to go wave at the camera in front of the duke kahanamoku statue.
Excellent find.
Friday, January 20th, 2006.
Doc: i've been calling a few times per day. i'm surprised at so few answers. maybe the ocean and the people are too loud, & there are too many sights and sounds to drown out a ringing pay phone.
i talked to keiko, a japanese guy who's been living in hawaii for about a year. i think he said he was trying to strengthen his english; i'm not sure.
Hello?
Waikiki?
Yes.
How are things in Waikiki today?
I am using the public phone.
Yes. I was calling to see how things are in Waikiki today. How are you?
Good.
I'm sitting in front of a computer. Would you like me to look something up on the Internet for you?
Pardon me?
Would you like me to look something up on the Internet for you?
No.
No? What are you doing? Have you been out swimming today?
No.
Where are you from?
Japan.
Japan, wow. Is it your first time in Hawaii?
No. I live here.
You live there? I was just there a few days ago. I'm back in Arizona now. Do you know where Arizona is?
Pardon me?
Do you know where Arizona is?
Yes, I know.
That's where I live. I was in Hawaii earlier this week. And I wish I were there now. So what are you doing today?
I just studying. I study English. At the beach.
How long have you lived in Hawaii?
One year.
What made you decide to pick up a ringing payphone?
Huh?
Why did you decide to pick up a ringing payphone?
Oh, somebody call, so many rings [unintelligible] . . . I just, uh, sitting near . . . public phone.
I didn't quite understand.
Oh. I just sitting near the public phone.
I see. And you were just curious.
Yes.
Well, so was I. I was just curious who would pick up.
Huh!
What's your name?
My name is Keiko.
Keiko?
Yes.
My name is Doc.
Doc. Nice to meet you.
Likewise. Enjoy your stay in Hawaii. Good day.
You, too. Bye.
[Rings for 1 minute and 54 seconds]
Hello?
Hello there. Is this Waikiki?
Yes it is.
Who are you?
I'm Jessica. Who are you?
This is Doc. I'm calling from Arizona.
Good stuff! You're calling a random payphone, you know that?
Yes, I do know that.
Okay. Cool.
I was there earlier this week.
Really. Did you just jot down the number and call it?
I have a friend who runs a website called phoneswarm.com.
Uh-huh.
Every week he features a different payphone for people to call, from around the world.
Right.
So I have gave him that number. And I would rather be in Waikiki right now.
I don't blame you.
What's it like today?
It's gorgeous!
Nice and warm?
Yeah.
Doing some swimming?
I just got out.
Where are you from?
Originally? Hermosa.
Hermosa Beach, California?
Yeah.
I've been there many times.
Nice!
You're not from there now, though?
No. Sacramento now.
Sacramento? What got you out of Hermosa Beach?
I'm not sure.
You wouldn't happen to know Rob Cockerham, would you? At cockeyed.com?
No.
He's from Sacramento. He's hilarious.
Really?
Yeah. So, I'm sitting in front of a computer. Would you like me to look up anything on the Internet for you?
No, I'm good. You could check my Google mail. No. I'm going to the mai-tai bar now.
Okay.
Talk to you later.
Bye.
Monday, January 23rd, 2006.
Called at 1153 chicago time and a guy picked it up on the first ring, told him about the website, told him I was from Chicago, talked a little bit of baseball. HE seemed shocked that the payphone actually rang.
Wednesday, January 25th, 2006.
hay my friends and i cant call Hawaii so we are waiting for the next phoneswarm to start. when is the next number comming up?
January 30th, next Monday. It's another two-week phone this time. The next one (or actually, the next pair) will most likely be in the 510 area code (California). I just called the number and talked to Tom, "born and raised" in Hawaii. He had just gotten off of work at Duke's and heard the phone ring. Apparently it's been pouring down rain all day. A not-so-perfect day in Hawaii. He liked the idea of the website and promised to "check it out." Sort of slipped my mind to mention that it's actually my website. Hey there Tom!
Sunday, January 29th, 2006.
Hello?
Hello
Are you on the beach?
yea.
in hawaii?
yea, weathers perfect, girls everywhere, its great.
thats awesome
yea
talk to you later
bye
I couldn't resist putting this one up because ... well ... when I started this thing, I didn't think it would be powerful enough to link Dio fans together internationally. I have once again under-estimated the power of ROCK.
Hawaii: yeah
hullo is this gregs whorehouse?
Hawaii: this is gregs whorehouse my name is sarece
wuts ur name?
Hawaii: bruce
like bruce dickenson?
Hawaii: like bruce dickenson, im ted bear, wuts ur name?
my names ronnie james dio
Hawaii: RONNIE JAMES DIO LIKE A RAINBOW IN THE DARK "like a rainbow in the dark"
yeah rainbow in the dark
Hawaii: wuts that tiger song called? HOLY DIVER!
how do you have a whorehouse at a payphone?
Hawaii: do u no wut number ur calling?
random payphone
Hawaii: dukes in hawaii, 85 degress, where are you?
im in birmingham england
Hawaii: YOU'RE IN ENGLAND?
yep
Hawaii: we're in hawaii, me and jeff, aloha