Honolulu Gas Finder

One of the most useful sites I use in Honolulu:

http://www.honolulugasprices.com

Provides up to the minute locations of where to buy the cheapest gas.

Just type in your city, zip code, or gas station you service at, and the locator will do the rest for you. Yes, it's that easy. Worth taking a serious look!

Oakley Headquaters - An Archetectural Quest

Office... Retail Store...or Spaceship?

Love the design of this place. The building is unlike any I've seen in my global explorations. The nuts and bolts that hold the building in place are bigger than my face! True to the Oakley brand, their building follows in the same iconic artistic vision.

I guess I'd call it conceptual architecture--where brand marketing directly influences the design and experience of retail and office space.

{I only have point and shoot snap shots of this place, so sharing photos found online. The Headquarters is one of the few reasons that people head out to Foothill Ranch.} Enjoy:

And for real Oakley fans, check out this one of the kind Oakley baby stroller made special for the headquarters. Plus, this guy's blog is funny and fresh--mixes sarcasm, kid-finds, and politics from a dad's view--a unique blogsite: daddytypes.com.

{this post is my favorite architectural post. love this place!}

Foie Gras hot dog - Hot Dougs (Chicago)

So from the looks of this photo this post is obviously not about Hawaii. You couldn't be caught dead wearing wool knitted hats and puffy down jackets on the island.

So...here you have it: According to a recent article I read titled "Top 13 Places You Must Eat At Before You Die"....Hot Doug's in Chicago was one of them (among 5 star notables around the world including "French Laundry" in Napa, CA--where it takes 3 months to get a reservation...if you're lucky).

I already wrote about Hank's hotdog in Honolulu and their gourmet dogs created by a former Chicago chef. So now, let's actually turn to Chicago...

Hot Doug's sells gourmet hotdogs such as the foie gras hot dog (photo below)--and check out their other specialities too ($7.50-9.00). Sounds so good, I wanna fly to O'Hare right now! Of course, Hawaii's has hawaiian hotdogs at Puka Dog's in Waikiki...but this Chicago joint seems to take the cake.

Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Sel Gris:


Others on the menu:
- Blue Cheese Pork Sausage with White Peach Puree, Rum-Infused Dried Fruit and Roasted Almonds
- Smoked Crayfish and Pork Sausage with Cajun Remoulade and Goat Cheese
-Cherry Pork Sausage with Cherry-Blackberry Cream Sauce and Sartori Raspberry Cheese
-The Atomic Bomb Spicy Pork Sausage with Spicy Passion Fruit Mayonnaise and Smoked Gouda Cheese
-Spinach and Feta Loukaniko with Skordalia, Kalamata Olives and Feta Cheese
-Bacon Cheeseburger Pork Sausage with Coca-Cola BBQ Sauce and Colby-Jack Cheese

And of course, this is the best type of Chicago haute yet hot (and sweaty) dogs in town (poor dogs):

Where It's At:
3324 North California, Chicago Illinois 60618
773.279.9550
Mon-Sat (10:30am-4pm); Sun Closed
http://hotdougs.com

Polarized Sunglasses in Hawaii

Polarized sunglasses are the way to go in Hawaii. The strong sunshine and reflections coming off of the ocean waves necessitate that extra coverage to protect the health of your eyes.

Two lines I'd recommend are: Maui Jim and Oakley. I researched them both well, and found that they have excellent technology put into their product. They work with different levels of polarization and bake them into each layer of the lens. Other companies like Ray Ban (and women's fashion line sunglasses--e.g. Prada, DKNY, Channel) only spray coat a top layer of "polarization" so that they can officially quality as a polarized sunglass. Don't let the latter models fool you--the coat will wear off in time and through extensive use.
Maui Jim has one of the lightest wrap around frames ever--perfect for the avid golfer. Cuts out the glare for those winning shots, and won't fall off your face with your swing. They have other great pairs, and in my opinion have a strong line for men's sunglasses. You can visit their headquarters in Lahanina, Maui. (Great made-in-Hawaii souvineir for yourself as well).

Similarly, Oakley rises high on technology and has amazing life time warranty policies. It's sports a more athletic and urban sensibility, and their frames are more suited for mens--I have yet to find a women's pair that fits my face well. I did however, purchase the Whistler in a burnished gold frame and loved it. It was a bit on the heavy side due to the weight of the lens, but the metal frame itself was light. On Maui, the sunglasses got thrown off my head by a wave and I lost the pair forever. I was so sad. I lost my Anna Sui polarized glasses that week as well. I later bougtht a second Oakley Whitler in silver and lost this pair somewhere on Oahu. A couple months later I lost a Ray Ban pair on Hilo. I now just pick whatever is available at Costco. {Maui Jims, Oakleys and Ray Bans are all available at Costco in Hawaii only.}
Sunglass Hut has a special Oakley deal right now: Exclusive Oakley designs, Free Oakley cleaning kit, free shipping, and double American Express bonus points.

For those with REI membership, Oakleys and Maui Jims are sold there giving you double REI and Oakley life time warranties. (Maui Jim gives you one year). REI is wonderful about returns, warranties and membership points. It's the Nordstroms of sporting stores.

And if you haven't been to the Oakley Headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California (South Orange County) it's worth a visit...if you can find it. I think they filmed some sci-fi movies here. And you'll soon see why when you arrive. It's truly an architect's dream project.

Sunglasses as Marker of Cultural Difference

In sunny Hawaii, I was surprised to find that alot of people don't wearing sunglasses on a daily basis. I mean, don't get me wrong, people do wear sunglasses. But it's not as prominent, noticeable or necessitated as in other cities.

In L.A. for example, almost everyone I know wears sunglasses...every day and during every outdoor moment. And it's not that the sun shines brighter in LA than Hawaii--because it doesn't. So it seems that sunglasses play a different role in SoCal life than it does in the Aloha State.

There is a particular cultural attitude toward sunglasses in L.A. Perhaps it's Hollywood's influence that makes sunglasses a cultural necessity to the way we live. Afterall, when you see a movie star on the red carpet what's the first thing they usually do? Pull down their shades and smile for the paparazzi. And if they're lunching at a popular Beverly Hills spot, what do they do? Keep their shades on--to look cool, remain unnoticed, and signal a desire for privacy. So, it's not that people in LA are consciously trying to imitate this Hollywood lifestyle, but I do think that a subtle scent of this sunglass-attitude has infused itself into the fabric of So Cal's unquestioned social mores.

In LA, sunglasses serve first as a fashion accessory and second as a functional piece.

In my recent return to LA I smile whenever I and my friends whip out our sunglasses at the brink of leaving any building. In a recent photo I took with friends, the first thing I noticed was that we were all wearing sunglasses. My brother uses 13+ Oakley sunglasses on a regular basis, my friends spend hundreds of dollars for each pair they own, and I usually switch between three different pairs depending on the occasion (evening glam/day time professional/outdoor athletic)--although I usually end up loosing all of them and relying on one inexpensive pair day in and day out.

In Hawaii, I think that folks are just as fine with the naked eye as with a pair of sunglasses. The cultural attitude toward the framed pair, is more relaxed. It's a matter of personal choice and preference...and a role and matter of functionality. And it's kind of nice that way. After all, you get to see the whites of people's eyes when they talk...you learn to appreciate seeing sun rays in their natural beauty, and if you ever forget your pair at home, you never need to feel "naked" without them. It's freeing, really.

Hawaiian Freckles & Sun Spots

The warm tropical sun brings locals and tourists alike to the beaches and shores of Hawaii. But spend more than a couple of weeks here and one may end up getting freckles and sun spots on one's face and body. Oh, what's a girl and guy to do?

Wear: Sunscreen and hat.
Do: Stay out of the direct sun during peak hours (11-1pm).
Choose: To either not care, or to treat it with skin products naturally or chemically.

One natural skin care line that I've been getting into recently is Aveda. This line is primarily plant and herbal based. Two products (based on mulberry root and grape extracts) that I've been trying out to treat freckles and sun spots:

• Aveda Enbrigtenment Correcting Serum: This highly targeted treatment contains our most highly concentrated plant-powered brightening blend to diminish the appearance of dark spots and discoloration.
• Aveda Enbrightenment Correcting Creme: Intensely moisturizes with organic shea butter and contains ceramide 3 to help strengthen your skin's moisture barrier as brightening components work to diminish the appearance of dark spots.

Basically, these two products can be added to your basic skin care routine. That is, wash your face with your regular cleanser. Apply toner. Then apply the Serum. Followed by the Creme (as a moisturizer). The Creme is rich and best used at night. Aveda carries a moisturizer that is lighter for the day time.
A more chemically based way to treat freckles and sun spots is to bleach it chemically. For this, I bought the Shiseido "White Lucent Brightening Serum" ($165/1 ounce). The product is for targeted areas, that is, you just apply a small dot of serum on the sun spot or freckle only (not your entire face). The tube allows you to squirt out a tiny creme drop just the perfect size to cover even the tiniest freckle. It's costly but lasts a long time, and time and again I hear first hand how people claim it really works. Results are said to show within 4-6 weeks.

As for me, I've been using the product on and off over the past year. It helps to retard the pigmentation of new freckles and sun spots...but it's harder for me to bleach the darker freckles that popped up when it first arrived on the island. Then again, I'm not as avid as others who use the product daily.
Where it's at:
Aveda: Aveda store at Ala Moana Shopping Center (near Neiman Marcus top floor); booth at Kahala Mall; Elements Spa and Salon (on Kapiolani Blvd)
Shiseido: Nordstrom, Macy's, Neiman Marcus