Christmas Tree Delivery (Oahu)

Tomorrow (Saturday) between 10am-3pm Oahu residents can have a Douglas Fir Christmas tree delivered to their doorstep, courtesy of Uber and City Mill. Can't get easier than this!

Areas serviced: Central Oahu, Leeward side, Windward side and Honolulu. 

To request a delivery click on the Christmas tree icon on your cell phone Uber app. 

Christmas Parade of Lights (Molokai)

Molokai may be a small island but that doesn't stop the residents from holiday fun. This Saturday come out for food, crafts, games, tree and wreath decoration contests. The highlight of the day will be the Molukai town parade including a visit from Santa! 

For more info:  http://molokaiislandfoundation.org/calendar.html

Na Makua Craft Faire (Big Island)

Happening this weekend in Hilo, a chance to Christmas shop for specialty items made locally. Live entertainment and food makes it a fun day for the family. Dec 4-5 at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium on the Big Island. 

Cyber Monday Hawaii Deals

Look for Cyber Monday air flights deals to and from Hawaii from 19 locations mostly on the West Coast in the $219-199/ow range (eg Portland, Oakland, San Diego). Participating airlines include Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airline and Virgin Airlines. 

Many chain stores holding Cyber Monday sales will ship online purchases to Hawaii. Remember that midnight in New York is 6pm in Hawaii on Sunday evening. Get your shopping on!

Spam Mobile Collectible

Save those cans of spam and mail in the UPC codes for one of these die cast models based on the real Spam Mobile. 

Pidgin: The Voice of Hawaii (film)

"Pidgin: The Voice of Hawaii" takes a historical look at the origins of Pidgin--what some hope to have recognized as an official language, and what others question will survive beyond the current generation. The film was aired on PBS and won the Auduence Award at the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF). 

A four minute preview of the film by PauHana Films:

http://youtu.be/O7X9AAeDCr4

The HIFF, which is going on this week, showcases the work of local filmmakers situated a in broader narrative of stories from across the Pacific. Screenings are shown at the Dole Cannery on Oahu. 

Free Thanksgiving Meal - Kahala Whole Foods (Oahu)

Whole Foods at the Kahala Mall sets up turkey and ham carving stations, side dish samples, and multiple dessert tables to inspire your next Thanksgiving meal. No lines or purchase necessary--they generously give you a free meal just for stopping by. Look to the section on the right when you walk in the front door. Check their monthly calendar for dates and details. 

{mahalo Kahala WH!}

Virgin Airline $199 Flights to HNL and OGG

Virgin Airlines is promote its new flights from SFO airport in San Francisco to Oahu and Maui by selling $199/ow tickets for a limited time. Get your tickets for the holidays before seats are sold out!

Hawaii International Film Festival (Oahu)

One of my favorite past times--watching international films (mainly from East, South and Southeast Asia) at the Dole Cannery. This year's Hawaii International Film Fest will be held next week, from Nov 22 onward. Some interesting screenings this year: http://program.hiff.org/films/

Tattoos and Trucks

Where even automobiles are marked with a nod toward indigenous Hawaiian culture. 

Kona Coffee Festival (Big Island)

Headed to the Big Island this weekend? Check out the 45th Annual Kona Coffee Fest happening tomorrow through the coming week. Music, dance, workshops and of course coffee for the whole family. For more info: konacoffeefest.com

McDonalds Menu items in Hawaii

Piping hot Haupia Pie oozing with coconut filling, available as a regular dessert at McDonalds in Hawaii. For a dollar, I ate this while shopping at the Ala Moana shopping mall on Oahu. (Other McDs speciality items include the "Spam, Eggs and Potuguese Sausage" breakfast meal or hot bowl of "Saimin"). Specialty items available at most McD on all major islands.

Breast Cancer Awareness (Kings Hawaiian)

Kings Hawiian has teamed with the Susan G Komen foundation to raise awareness of breast cancer for BC Awareness Month. 

I flew Delta Airlines to Hawaii recently with flight attendants decked in specially designed pink uniforms. Delta also wraps it's airplane in a large pink airplane-long sticker for the month. 

Today's the last day to promote your pinkness. Happy pink Halloween!

31 Things Locals in Hawaii Eat (Huffington Post)

Not only was this list right on (yes to buying spam musubi at the local gas station), but it also made me hungry! 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/16/food-only-hawaii-understands_n_5326566.html

{Mahalo to my dad for forwarding this post from the Huffington post.}

Magic Island (Oahu)

Sometimes its just a Magic Island kind of a day. 

Honolulu Halloween Events (Oahu)

These crazy Halloween costumes. Hmmm... I choose the cup-o-noodle.

2015 Honolulu Halloween events:

Ward Theaters - black and white Alfred Hitchcock films throughout October

Chinatown Arts District - come in costume to an all city street party on 10/25 (15k people expected)

Hyatt Waikiki - Halloween costume contest with ($1,000 prize) on 10/31 

Eat the Streets - 40 food trucks on South Street, 4-9pm on 10/31

I had fun at the previous Hyatt Halloween bash, but this year I'd opt for Eat the Streets for a family friendly evening. 

Bloomingdales (Oahu)

Bloomingdales is under construction at the Ala Moana shopping center on Oahu. The store and its targeted audience will bring a nice balance to Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macys and Sears. Love shopping at this semi-open air mall on a nice day. Same chain stores as the mainland but much warmer people + Hawaii specialty shops. 

Sam Choy (Big Island)

Such a warm and down-to-earth guy, this Chef Sam Choy. I used to cook from his recipes so was a real treat to hang out with him and share a beer. 

{Mahalo to ML and S&T for the introductions.}

Hawaiian Quilt as Floor Tiles (Oahu)

Looking down I noticed a row of Hawaiian quilt patterns tiled unto the walkway. Appreciate that Hawaiian culture in embedded in the simplest everyday spaces. 

Disney Film "Moana"

Today Disney announced their selection for the lead voice of their next animated film, Moana--a story about a teenaged girl who voyages with the Hawaiian mythological character Maui to understand her Polynesian family roots. The voice of Moana will be Auli'i Cravalho, a Native Hawaiian from Mililani, Oahu. 

Smart marketing for the Disney Alulani Resort on Oahu. Looking forward to the film's release next Fall 2016. Here's an interview with the 14 year old Disney voice:

http://youtu.be/pylCYlsjEK0

Tree Umbrellas (Oahu)

Honolulu tree umbrellas to keep the sun away!

The Dumb Coq (Oahu)

At the soft opening in Chinatown our group stopped by to support the Dumb Coq, a 

Whiskey, Scoth, Bourbon and Cognac type of place ($8 avg/drink) with free street tacos to celebrate the event. Chinatown is being revitalized by young entrepreneurs looking for cheap rent and a community of business owners with niche ideas. Let's see if this place can survive their first year. Congrats and mahalo to the Dumb Coq. 

Starbucks Hawaii Coffee Mug

Hawaii mugs and tumblers at the Starbucks in Kahala. I like the concept of the Big Island mug with the volcanic smoke as the mug handle, but functionally speaking the handle isn't sturdy and balanced right; the weight of the mug ends up slipping downward...which means frequent coffee spills. Wish they had special mugs for each of the islands!

Elevate > Drink Aloha

Special Pepsi ads just for Hawaii elevators. Quiz for the locals: At which beach is this ad taken?

Padovani Chocolatier (Oahu)

Padovani, the retired Ritz Carlton executive chef, has found delight in his new hobby and second career perfecting the art of a chocolatier. If you want to meet a man of passion and someone fiercely dedicated to the art snd science of chocolate making, Padovani is your man. He will detail the intricate process he undergoes each morning at 4am just to bring Honolulu the best handmade chocolates made from the finest ingredients in the world--and he will personally tell you with pride where each of the ingredients in your pieces are from. 

Though a transplant, he's lived on the island for 40 years taking residence in Lanai when he built up the Ritz Carlton restaurants. Some say that Padovani's chocolates are the best on the island and comparable to fine chocolatiers you'd find in New York. And from my chocolate experience this praise is likely deserved. In his retirement years he is not interested in building a big brand and marketing widely (like Chocole'a) but rather focuses on doing what he does well and making chocolate for the likes of the Emperor of Japan or the U.S. White House. (And shhhhh...Some say he's the best kept secret on the island.) 

Padovani is located in the Dole Shopping Center across from Costco. 

Chocole'a - Free Gifts (next weekend)

So glad to have stopped by the other day. Chocolate covered Mochi, chocolate covered dried fruit (for gifts), and ginger, haupia, and Kona coffee truffles > Yum! 

Support local and these sweet gals. 

They were nice enough to give me a T-shirt and cooler bag. (Mahalo!) Both are free with $50 purchase next weekend, plus get a free truffle!

New Hawaii Starbucks Special Edition Gift Cards

Starbucks' special edition gift cards sported two new designs this year --the humuhumunukunukuapua'a fish (above) which I found this summer, and the tropical red torch plant (below) which I picked up in the winter. I personally love the card below but still stick to using the original special edition Starbucks gift card which is lined with vintage yellow hula dancers (see prior post). 

I brought these latest fish cards to the mainland to give away as souvenir gifts. They'd also make collectable holiday gifts for locals who mail Christmas cards/gifts to mainland folks, or for vacationing mainlanders looking for a practical gift to give with that special island touch. 

Poke Nigiri and Quick Places to Eat Near HNL (Oahu)

If you're hungry before or after your flight to HNL, there's a nearby plaza with a handful of quick restaurants on the corner of Paiea and Koapaka Streets by Nimitz Highway. The Poke nigiri at the Japanese joint hit the spot ($4 for three pieces) for me. It is located next to the "big kahuna's" (which serves warm and cheesey garlic knots--h/t to my cousin Nicole). There's a Jamba Juice and Starbucks in the shopping plaza as well. Parking is free for two hours with validation. It's also a good spot for drivers to wait if they are picking up guests from the airport. 

The Richest Chef in the World...is from Hawaii

With the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival 2015 having ended this weekend, here's a local food fact quiz:

Of the Top a Ten richest a chefs in the world, can you guess who the #1 richest is? Hint: The chef is from Hawaii. 

I won't ruin the answer, but among the likes of Rachel Ray, Ida Garten, Gordon Ramsay and Mario Batalli I was pretty surprised to see who came out on top...and how much he was worth.

Here's the Top Ten video sent to me by JT: http://youtu.be/ZzO4v1rgArI

When compared against more recent articles by Forbes or MSN or Money, chefs in Hawaii are interestingly absent from the national rankings. These popular news sources tend to showcase nationally recognized TV personalities like Batalli to gain popular readership and followers. My guess is that the richest chef in the world (the chef from Hawaii) made solid investments in ventures outside the food industry and turned the profits from his small local, non-mainland, non-televised restaurants into a diversified fortune. Congrats Chef!

Honolulu Art Nights (Oahu)

The extinction of Honolulu's First Friday community events provided an opportunity for the art community to open their doors to the general public. Once a month's the artist lofts and art galleries in Chinatown welcome people to browse their spaces and their works in a revamped yet simplified Art Walk held on the first Friday of each month from evening until late at night. You'll find pupus at most locations and a tame crowd dedicated to supporting the arts community. 

Above is the opening reception for the collaborative mural project for the Aina Aloha exhibit at The ARTS at Marks Garage, one of the main establishments that started and fought for the development of the arts district and artist lofts in Chinatown. 

For a schedule of their art workshops including this month's featured improv comedy classes see:

http://www.artsatmarks.com/calendar/?view=calendar&month=September-2015

Coca Cola for Hawaii (Molokai)

Visiting a dear friend with a drink in a McDonald cup made just for Hawaii.

Labor Day Weekend (Oahu)

It's a hot and humid day in Hawaii Kai but gorgeous nonetheless. The Okinawan Festival and various picnics going on across the island. Coming up this weekend--The Honolulu Food and Wine Festival. 

Duke Kahanamoku

Today's Google Doodle > Duke Kahanamoku, the king and grandfather of surfing. A five time Olympic swimmer, leis line his statue's arm in Waikiki. Today is the 125th anniversary of his birthday. 

Spicy Italian Pasta (Recipe)

Dine al fresco on a warm night and serve this pasta with warm garlic bread knots, Caesar salad (with lemon-anchovy dressing), an antipasti dish (or chartreuse and cheese platter), and a bottle of red Italian wine. End the meal on a refreshing light note with a scoop of homemade gelato.

Found this recipe online >it's easy and tasty. The spice comes from the sausage. Grocery cost is $15 at TJs on the mainland or $50 Safeway/Whole Foods in Hawaii. Cooking time 30 minutes. Serves a family of 4-5, good as a potluck dish too. (Buy the spicy Italian sausage from TJs for a perfect kick.) 

Waikiki Brewing Company (Oahu)

Waikiki Brewing Company, my second favorite craft beer joint, might seem to cater to tourists with its Kalakaua Street location and Waikiki branding in its company name. And perhaps that's it's downfall because the beer here should be enjoyed by locals as well. Not as good as Honolulu Beerworks, but not too bad either. I tend to like Porters and Stouts, but of the beer flights I tried I enjoyed the Ala Moana Amber most. 

A new company, they didn't have enough T shirts printed, new glasses to sell, or other tourist pharphenilia to unload. I do like their colorful logo design and there's an ample amount of picnic bench seating for groups and seats at the bar--especially considering its Waikiki location. Be forewarned that parking is zilch so be prepared to walk from your hotel, or Uber/taxi it over if you're local. 

It's exciting to see the craft beer trend being introduced and established on the islands. 

Waikiki Brewing Company

1945 Kalakaua, Honolulu HI

Good Evening Waikiki

Good evening, Waikiki! Ah, to soak in the ocean waves and a hazy sunset on a warm summer's night. 

CS Wo and Sons - Furniture Store (Oahu)

Founded in 1909 on Oahu, CS Wo and Sons sells transitional Asian furniture (or Oriental furniture as it is still appropriately called). The pieces are nicely curated for those looking for an updated look with a touch of Asian accents in the legs of a table or chair, the darker wood stains, fabric design selection, or Asian and Island decor pieces.

In a funny way, their showroom reminds me of my parent's home (photo above). I now see where how much their taste has been influenced by their years growing up in Hawaii. CS Wo & Sons also tries to cater to a crowd interested in a conservative modern/transitional look (below). The furniture lines are clean and angular (photos from their website) and the bed linens in the showroom are by Calvin Klein--as an example that highlights their taste.

For those who like this furniture style, it's nice to know where to shop. Customers should know though that the pieces are not hand crafted but purchased through large warehouses on the mainland and overseas. I've seen some pieces they stock in other stores but the prices at CS Wo & Sons are fair or even cheaper. Moreover I like supporting family run businesses that earn your trust through generations of personalized quality service.

(Oh, they have a cookie and coffee bar as a touch of hospitality; the peanut butter cookies weren't too bad)

Here's the info:

CS Wo & Sons, 702 South Beretania Street, Honolulu