Colorful, humble Blackie; a boatyard and bar
July 26th, 2008
Article in the Lahaina News, July 24, 2008 edition. Written by Norm Brezane / Beyond the Beach.
LAHAINA – The best word to describe orange-shirted Blackie Gadarian – 87-year-old machinist, former bar owner, jazz buff and irascible writer of pithy letters to local publications – is colorful.
Growing up in New York City, Arsene Gadarian won the moniker “Blackie” because of his thick black hair (now entirely gone).
After World War II, Blackie started Blackie’s Boat Yard in Newport Beach, California, later opening a second one on Maui in 1979. To paint his new boat maintenance buildings in California, struggling Blackie got some strange, lead-based red paint for free. A year later it turned an ugly color, and Blackie was told the only new color he could paint over it was orange.
The orange buildings became a trademark and orange shirts followed, worn the last 29 years on Maui. (His closet now has 40 of them, and none of another color). Wife Sara drives him around in an orange golf cart and truck with an orange stripe and logo. Sara usually wears light blue shirts.
Blackie is most famous around these parts for Blackie’s Bar, an infamous hangout on land that once stood in the middle of his boat yard near the current Shell station across from Lahaina Cannery Mall.
To build his bar, the innovative Blackie bought the top of Windsock Lounge, well-known as the place to go have a drink before boarding a plane at the old West Maui Airport at “Airport Beach” in Kaanapali.
Blackie wanted the bar, which he put on a truck and hauled to Lahaina, because it was the stomping ground of renowned bartender “High School Harry” Given, revered for his powerful Bloody Marys. Blackie’s Bar kept the Bloody Marys and also added Sara’s famous, home-cooked meat loaf sandwich ($5.50).
To continue to read the full story click on the picture of Blackie … 
Part two:
Sara: It’s Blackie against the world.
BEYOND THE BEACH By Norm Bezane
LAHAINA – Soft-spoken Sara Richardson Gadarian, who has lived here for nearly two decades, has been married to “lovable, humble Blackie” for 48 years.
When they met, she said, “I saw a feisty man – tall, dark and handsome. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He made me laugh and he loved music and the beach. And he was a wonderful dancer who could do the Lindy Hop.”
The marriage has survived, in part, because Sara – owner of an infectious laugh – has a sense of humor, too.
Behind the rough, gruff, seemingly unapproachable facade of former Lahaina bar owner Arsene “Blackie” Gadarian is “a man who is extremely gentle with the people he loves,” Sara said.
“But usually it is Blackie against the world.”
Many KPOA listeners were introduced to humble Blackie by radio commercials featuring the iconoclast himself.
“Blackie’s Bar is for grownups. Leave your kids and dogs at the hotel. This is your wonderful, lovable, humble Blackie,” he would say.
Visitors to the beer, burger and jazz joint just north of town were first accosted by a special sign.
Blackie explained, “Most tourists used to be told that the streets of Lahaina were lined with free coupons. And everything was aloha. We had a sign that said, ’Aloha is a two-way street.’
“If you come here and are nice, we are nice. If you come here and are (unprintable), we will be (unprintable).”
Above a long stairway lined with photos of old shipwrecks, there were more signs and more rules:
“PROMOTE SAFE BOATING. STAY ASHORE AND DRINK AT BLACKIE’S BAR!”
“No pipe or cigar smoking permitted. Keep your feet and legs off the chairs.”
“IF YOU ARE NOT DRINKING, YOU ARE LOITERING!”
Blackie’s own drinking was supposed to be legendary, but he had a trick up his orange sleeve.
Customers would buy him drinks, and he would pour the contents down a convenient drain when they weren’t looking. He claims his other secret was having more than two drinks actually made him sick.
On jazz nights, Blackie would open the show with a monologue. Now, with the bar closed since 1991, he’s taken to baiting tourists – he does not call them “visitors” – many evenings at Leilani’s on the Beach.
Blackie, with a cane, and Sara stroll in. Bar patrons scatter, and the two get stools.
“What else am I going to do? I am not going to sit home and throw bread to the birds,” said Blackie.
Outrageous things come out of Blackie’s mouth all the time – best left unchallenged. Yet, for anyone who loves to debate issues, the cantankerous Blackie is a joy.
Once accepted, he’s fun to talk to, because he is well-informed and a self-described “news junkie.”
Obama? “If he can’t stop smoking, how is he going to stop the war?”
Development? “We have people who gripe about too much development. ’It is too crowded.’ When I was born, there were 120 million people in the country. Now there are 300 million – what are we going to do?”
At 87, Blackie Gadarian shows no sign of stopping. In orange shirt, when and if he reaches the Pearly Gates, he must remember one thing: “No loitering.”
Read and Use the Size Charts….Read and use the Size Charts… Size Charts are accurate
July 23rd, 2008
Here is a Yahoo Customer Feedback from a stubborn lady who needed to vent in the public forum. She did not place her own order on-line. She was lazy. She called on the toll free number and one of our showroom assistants processed the order for her. She was asked in no uncertain terms if she had read and understood the size charts. She lied and said she did. She couldn’t be bothered. She was a know-it-all personality. She was bossy and rude. This was her comments. The outrageous shipping charges, as she states, is of course, an exaggeration of her frustrations because things did not go her way. The shipping costs link is on the top of all 3,000 pages of the web site. There is no small print.
She failed to realize that each style of a dress, blouse, shirt will have different size measurements. She thought she was buying apparel made in China or Indonesia is my best guess. You know the stuff you find in all the department stores and malls. MauiShirts.com publishes a size chart explanation link on the bottom area, under each individual size chart appropriately called SIZE CHART INFORMATION.
There is nothing in sizes that is "normal". There are no two manufacturers on this planet that can agree on sizes. Period. All in all, this kind of person adds flavor and humor to my everyday experience in dealing with people.
Rating: Awful
Price Rating: Awful
Shipping Options Rating: Awful
Delivery Rating: Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating: Excellent
Customer Service Rating: OK
The sizes are all wrong – one winds up returning items because they don’t fit and having to pay the outrageous
shipping charges several times! I ordered an XL ladies blouse – turned out to be a size 14! not 16 or 18 as is normal.
There is no consistency amongst their different items. Once you buy – you are stuck unless you pay the $25 shipping
charge [$20 + $3.00 per item] again and again until you luck onto the right size!
Now... a few minutes later her is another person's comments about the size charts:
Rating: Excellent
Price Rating:Excellent
Shipping Options Rating:Excellent
Delivery Rating:Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating:Excellent
Customer Service Rating:Excellent
I carefully followed the measuring guide when ordering matching clothing for 19 family members. Everything fit on the first try and my children were impressed with the high quality of the clothing. Thank you so much for your outstanding service. - Linda
Who do you want to believe?
The stubborn exaggerating woman who bought one blouse or the level headed Linda who bought 18 items.
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Jungle Parrots Ladies Camp Shirt is a big hit at the Birthday Party
July 18th, 2008
Rating: Excellent
Price Rating:Excellent
Shipping Options Rating:Good
Delivery Rating:Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating:Excellent
Customer Service Rating:Excellent
Needed a Hawaiian shirt for a birthday party in less than a week. They packed in perfectly in tissue paper and it was received 3 workdays later. Shirt didn’t even need ironing. Thanks to them for a beautiful shirt in short order. Great service on the phone. / Lynn – Holland, OH.
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MEN’S 6 POCKET WHITE CARGO DRESS SHORTS
July 17th, 2008
Men’s white, Cubavera brand, imported SIX (6) Pocket Cargo shorts made with 55% Linen and 42% Cotton are now available.
White plastic back pocket buttons, two side slant pockets and two leg cargo pockets with flaps.
Regular price at $ 45.00 are now on Sale for $ 39.15.
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The print Melia (Plumeria) selected for a Women’s Camp Shirt was beautiful
July 16th, 2008
Rating: Excellent
Price Rating:Excellent
Shipping Options Rating:Excellent
Delivery Rating:Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating:Excellent
Customer Service Rating:Excellent
Excellent shopping experience. The shirt was beautiful and just as advertised. It’s exactly what I was looking for. Shipping was fast fast fast! Thanks so much!
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MauiShirts.com furnishes apparel for a happy wedding destination
July 16th, 2008
Rating: Excellent
Price Rating:Good
Shipping Options Rating:Excellent
Delivery Rating:Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating:Excellent
Customer Service Rating:Excellent
I ordered two men’s shirts, a pair or linen/rayon men’s pants and two dresses. I was contacted promptly, by phone, to tell me one of the shirts would not be available. This merchant assisted me in choosing another shirt that was even better matched to the pants. The clothing arrived very shortly afterward (same week). They are so soft and comfortable and fit perfectly. My fiance and I are so pleased to have such excellent quality attire for our destination wedding. Many thanks to Maui Shirts!
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Have camera will travel…
July 13th, 2008
Click on the images for larger views:
Hana’s Red and Purple rain
Green Bamboo … yes it IS real.
"Jake" a Napili Koi "Jake" and friends
"Bob" and "Mike", Maui Drinking buddies…
Lilies in the rain Kaanapali Bird of Paradise
Pink Flamingo at the Hyatt Two pinks at the Hyatt
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We do are very best in handling, packing and shipping every order
July 12th, 2008
Rating: Excellent
Price Rating:Excellent
Shipping Options Rating:Excellent
Delivery Rating:Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating:Excellent
Customer Service Rating:Excellent
Beautiful material, excellent quality and workmanship a real pleasure to wear, delivered so quickly and packaged strongly. A.S. / United Kingdom
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Buy Hawaiian ! WalMart who?
July 12th, 2008
Rating: Excellent
Price Rating:Excellent
Shipping Options Rating: Good
Delivery Rating: Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating: Excellent
Customer Service Rating: Excellent
This is the second shirt I have ordered from this company – great quality, prompt courteous service and good value! I believe in buying local, but since I don’t live in Hawaii, buying locally made, hand crafted items and getting them delivered seems like a good compromise. There’s no reason to buy a "Hawaiian" shirt from China at Walmart. Support local artisans – no matter where they live! S. H. / Gainesville, FL.
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MauiShirts.com ships to the U.S. Military
July 11th, 2008
Rating: Excellent
Price Rating:Excellent
Shipping Options Rating:Excellent
Delivery Rating:Excellent
Ease of Purchase Rating:Excellent
Customer Service Rating:Excellent
The shirts were excellent value and quality and the gentlemen went out of their way to email me and made a personal trip to the USPS to send it to me with a customs form since I am overseas with the US Military – OUTSTANDING customer support and appreciation. J. G. / FPO / AE
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