Favorite Surf Artist (Heather Brown) & Honolulu “First Fridays”

My favorite local artist is Heather Brown. Brown captures Hawaiian surf life through a two dimensional stained glass style. Her acrylic paintings are bold, active and whimsical. A surfer herself, she captures the day to day activities of beach life. Her paintings often include native flowers, trees, and other recognizable landmarks.

The first time I saw her work, I was strolling through art galleries at the monthly “First Friday,” where the streets are packed with strolling crowds and the shops, lounges and stores stay open late in the gentrified Chinatown artist district.

Brown’s canvas oils were hanging on the wall of an obscure shop. I was so struck by the colors and designs of her work that I was planning to buy a painting on the spot. They didn’t have a canvas of the image I wanted, however, and I swayed back and forth on whether or not I wanted to purchase a print. With friends waiting for me outside, I decided to leave Heather Brown behind and enjoy the rest of the evening—including a live demonstrations of five glass blowers churning hot soon-to-be vases on a tiny street corner.

It was ridiculously dangerous to have five adults twirling hot molten on long metal rods within a small roped off area. As we shook our heads in disbelief, we knew there were looming accidents just waiting to happen. Indeed the glass storefront of Mark’s Art Gallery shattered from the heat of the molten glass. Oh well, that’s Hawaii for you. Easy come, easy go. Do whateva’ until something go broke.

[for background on Heather Brown click on my posted "comment" to this entry]

Photography - Streets of Chinatown

Hawaii Public Rail System

It makes me mad that those in East Oahu are fighting against a public rail system. One reason I hear most stated is that the rail system will not benefit the Eastside, since the line will serve central and western Honolulu yet raise the taxes of all residents. Motivated by self-interests and short-term sight, what these individuals fail to take into consider is a) the larger positive impact of the entire island (e.g. decrease in pollution, traffic congestion, etc.) b) and larger long-term impact on the global environment as a whole. They also fail to consider that their children, aging family members, and even they themselves will benefit from the rail system in the future. If the welfare of the state, its people, and the larger earth is at stake, I think it ashamed that Eastsiders are putting personal economic concerns over the long term well being of the world.

iilids – double eye lids

The secret to maintaining double eye lids? > Eye Tape

What is Eye Tape? They are sheets of clear plastic moon shaped pre-cut stickers to tape into the folds of one’s eyes, used to form lid creases. I use them for the mornings when I wake up and see that my natural eye lid fold has gone haywire. For a quick way to fix my eye lid crease, I put the tape on for 30+ minutes until they flip back to normal, then discard the stickers.

In college, this is the way one of my Chinese American roommates gave herself double eye lids. No surgery needed. She just scotch taped her eyes at night until they were trained to create a crease. She now has natural double eye lids.

Where to get it:
Japanese “Eye Tape” by Koji ($4 for 30 sets of two) – Shirokiya, Honolulu
Korean “Eye Tape” – Cosmetic stores in Koreatown, Los Angeles

(See video in today's other posting for commentary on Asian American beauty)

Travel Tip - Ground Transportation From HNL Airport

I was just explaining to my Auntie on the mainland that unlike most cities, Honolulu hotels do not offer complementary shuttle services to and from the airport. So what's a weary traveler to do? Three options are available: Catch a cab, take the Waikiki Shuttle, or have someone pick you up. Here's the inside scoop:

Waikiki Hotel Shuttle
Honolulu has implemented a Waikiki-wide Airport Shuttle Service (read monopoly). From the airport look for youngsters in yellow shirts who will direct you to the shuttle pick up just outside the baggage claim. Each passenger pays $9 (plus $2 per extra luggage) and hops on to the "Roberts Hawaii" bus. The shuttle will stop at each hotel in Waikiki. Listen carefully for the announcement of your hotel and get off. To return from the hotel to the airport, you'll need to call 24 hours in advance for a hotel pick up reservation.Taxi Cabs
I've been told that a short ride to a nearby Waikiki Hotel will run you at least $20. Hotels further east can run up to $40, depending on traffic and the time of day.
Call: City Taxi at (808) 524-2121

Personal Pick Up - Cell Phone Waiting Lot
For those picking up guests from HNL, there is a new designated "Cell Phone Waiting-Lot" just a minute outside the airport, just near the Nimitz Highway on ramp. The "Waiting Lot" is conveniently located and provides easy access to return to the airport. Another favorite spot of mine is to wait at the Starbucks, Jamba Juice or L&L on the street kitty corner to the "Waiting Lot." These stores provide free parking and serve food in air-conditioned spaces with comfortable chairs.

Cell Phone Lot:

• Exit freeway to Nimitz Highway (under viaduct)
• Make a U-turn at Aolele Street
• Entrance to Cell Phone Waiting Area will be on your right (Service Road A)

Open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Click here for a map.
To Queens Medical Center
For inter-island patients, there is a free shuttle service to and from QMC. You must call 45 minutes ahead of time to reserve a pick up and drop off at the airport.
Call: QMC Van Service at 808.547.4762 (Operates M-F, 7:30am to 6:00pm)

Monolos and 'Pearls' - My Stint as a Shoe Model

Strutting across the bar top in 4 inch heels at the Pearl Ultra Lounge, I found myself a contestant for Honolulu’s “Sex and the City - Shoe Contest.” Placing one foot in front of the other, I balanced my way across the long curvy and slippery counter with a hot pink umbrella in hand, did a few pivots and turns and hoped for the best. Although I didn’t win the grand prize—a trip to New York City for the SATC movie premiere—I did walk away with some nice parting gifts. To celebrate the movie's $55 million weekend opening, I thought I’d pay homage to the show’s favorite shoe designer: Monolo Blahnik.

(left, Monolo shoe horn) (right, the heel-less “Aquarium”, $3,145) )

Izukaya Nights

Last night a group of friends and I gathered at the izakaya Kohnotori to reminisce about our years living in Japan. In Japan, izakaya’s are late night drinking establishments that serve bite sized appetizer dishes to accompany the sake and cold beer. But in Los Angeles and Honolulu, izakaya’s have grown to become popular and trendy eating places among the hip and young who often head to these spaces for traditional Japanese food, and who rename the experience as eating “Japanese Tapas”.

The majority of our party ordered the typical izakaya fare: Bacon wrapped asparagus, scallops in ponzu sauce, karaage chicken, yakitori (skewered meat grilled over charcoal, topped with salt or sauce), and ahi poke (found only in Hawai’i izakayas). Mie, who was born in Japan, and Ken, who lived there for 11 years, were more adventurous in their orders--steamed daikon oden, baked lotus root stuffed with meat, and skewered chicken hearts.

Kohnotori is located in the same plaza as Imanas, another crowded and contemporary off-angular designed izakaya. Other popular places include Tokkuri Tei, Yamagen and Sushi Izakaya Gaku. The first izakaya that I tried in Honolulu was Gazen, a spacious dark-paneled restaurant serving dishes with a gourmet flare and health conscious twist. Izakaya Nonbei is another unique space with décor reminiscent of a home or inn found in Japan’s countryside.

Let me know what your own favorite Izakaya is!

Where It’s At:

Imanas | 2626 S. King Street, Honolulu | 808.941.2626
Tokkuri Tei | 611 Kapahulu Ave # 102, Honolulu 808.739.2800
Izakaya Nonbei | 3108 Olu Street, Honolulu | 808. 734.5573
Gazen | 2840 Kapikolani Blvd, Honolulu | 808.737.0230
Yamagen | 2210 S. King Street, Honolulu | 808.947.2125
Sushi Izakaya Gaku: 1329 S. King Street,Honolulu | 808.589.1329
Kohnotori | 2626 S. King Street, Honolulu | 808.941.7255

Epic's David Hoffman Shares his Culinary Secrets

I love a good place to eat...and more over trying to replicate the dishes that I enjoy. What a better way to do this than to watch the restaurant chefs themselves execute their culinary best.

Forget staying home to watch The Food Network and head out to the Ala Moana shopping center on Saturday, June 14 to join Epic restaurant's Executive Chef David Hoffman in a mid-day cooking demonstration. At 12 noon Hoffman will be tantalizing us with his St. Louis style Plum Szechwan Ribs, Prosciutto wrapped Jumbo Scallops, and other Euro-Asian delights.

Epic is a popular contemporary restaurant serving New American cuisine in the revitalized Chinatown district. (1131 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817; 808-587-7877)

When: June 14, 2008 12 noon | Where: Ala Moana Center Demonstration Kitchen, Level 4. | Free Admission