Playing Around in Ke Nalu

I’ve been working a great deal on Kenalu.com, getting the page layout right, adding features like video and photo galleries. I’m learning how to code again, and it’s not easy on me. I’ve always been a dilettante programmer, learning the basics of the fundamental languages like C, assembler, and Pascal and regularly using simpler languages like dBase, Foxpro, and flavors of Basic. Trying to use PHP, CSS and MySQL without really learning them is a struggle. I might have to get real this time.

The magazine is still in flux, so a lot of things will look odd. There’s a lot of pretty slick technology behind everything and I’m still learning how to use it all. For example, the two content columns get their content in a similar way, but they handle it differently. Each content block has a category associated with it, so when I write a post and tag it with the “news” category it automatically appears in the news block. The far left column is the Feature section, and articles tagged to appear that have an image at the top of the article will have the picture show up, whereas the middle column that we’re calling the Sections column displays just the lead in text and it can display multiple stories that are tagged with its category. I’ve built two general layouts–one with a big double column feature box and one without. I suspect we’ll be using the double column most of the time.

We’re also designing a cover for at least the first issue–we might continue to do that, it makes for a nice creative opportunity. Diane is designing the first cover. The magazine will actually function more like a traditional magazine than a blog (though there will be continuous news updates and breaking stories) in that new content will all be released at the same time–once a month.

It would be nice to get your comments–what you think of the layout, what kind of content would be valuable to you, how you like the proposed topics. I’m also looking for reporters–people to write about the SUP scene in their locale, where to surf, where to paddle, how to have a great experience (restaurants, bars, hangouts, etc.), about new equipment they try, or for any budding journalists or fiction writers, any form of article you like to see published. I can’t guarantee that we’ll take anything and everything, but there’s a darned good chance we’ll gratefully accept your work. Don’t worry about polishing your writing too much–I’m a better editor than a writer, I made my living at it more or less.

The tabs across the top of the header relate to other features of the magazine. Ask How will be a special page that contains a contact form. Readers can ask any question they like and we’ll dig up the answer from an acknowledged expert. Back issues is kind of obvious, except that it’s a very slick complete index to everything that ever appears in the magazine. The Forum and Blog tabs connect to RSS feeds from the best blogs and forums on SUP or related interests. If we’re missing your blog or forum, or there’s one you like that doesn’t show up, let me know. There are a few that don’t have RSS feeds. Bob tells me that the design sucks. I guess I need to pretty it up some.

Waves is an extensive collection of wavewatch reports presented on one page. If there’s an area you want covered, let me know. It takes a long time for this page to fully populate, it’s pulling a lot of data. Report! will be a page for uploading content. For now just email me anything you’d like to submit. I need to figure out a secure way to enable easy image and video uploads before I can finish this page. My first attempt was basically a free pass to hack my hosting–not great. My email is billbab at mac dot com. Sooner or later the spambot guys are going to make that little deception ineffective.

The Book tab connects to a book I’m writing/collecting on SUP surfing. I’m writing a chapter a week right now. It will get a lot more interesting when I get back to Maui, though I remain convinced that the biggest growth in SUP surfing, and it’s most passionate adoption will be in flatwater and river areas. You can SUP anywhere.

I don’t know what Scene is, I just stuck it in there as a placeholder.

There will be lots of photo galleries and videos on Ke Nalu. I have set up some really great photo gallery software. If you have a collection of photos on the web somewhere you can just send me the URLs and I can add them to the gallery. Eventually I’ll set this up so people can submit their own photos without my assistance (though in the interest of remaining family oriented I will probably always have to review them, there’s a lot of pornsters out and about).

So that’s about it. The site will remain goofy and in flux throughout February while we get the big board comparison done, and then will launch with a splash and all new content on February 25th. The Board comparison will create a huge amount of content, not just the comparison itself but also interviews with builders, paddlemakers, big name SUP folks (I have a few BIG surprises in store) and special features on things like shipping your boards and travel. I expect the comparison and all the associated articles will be linked to all over the planet. The dinky little comparison I did last year has more than 200 links to it. Heck, some of Ponohouse’s restaurant reviews have more than sixty links (google Haile Maile General Store sometime)

I’m signing up for a ton of work, and I’m doing most of it myself, but I’m having fun doing it. I hope you enjoy (and contribute your own creativity to) the end result.