Koji Korean Taco Truck - Recipe

One food fad that is raging across the westcoast from LA to Seattle, is the Koji Taco Truck. It's crazy. People follow this truck on Twitter to see if it's in their area...and spend over an hour or two waiting in line...for this hybrid Korean-Latino consortment.

The truck has been on all the major media networks and newspapers from the LA Times, NY Times, and gourmet food magazines. The fad hasn't caught on just yet in Hawaii, so locals can try their own at home with the recipe below.

For this father's day weekend, our families are getting together for a Koji BBQ Taco grilling day. Will be fun to try our own hand at these easy-to-make tacos. Here's all you need....

Small corn torillas stuffed with Korean Kalbi, cabbage Kim Chee, shredded cabbage, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice per taco. The secret to Koji Truck's tacos--their clilantro-lime sauce. (Adding fresh twigs of cilantro and a squirt of lime is an easy alternative...it gives the Korean spiciness an usual hybrid twist.)

Here are other varieties for your own version of Koji's tacos from Gourmet magazine:

Korean Marinated Meat (pre-marinaded at Korean markets):
Kalbi (Korean short ribs)
Daeji Bul-Gogi (Korean spicy pork)

Kim Chee:
Baechu (napa cabbage)
Kkakdugi (daikon)
Sobagi (cucumber)

Extras:
Ssamjang sauce
Cliantro
fresh lime slices
Shredded Cabbage (in seasme-lime marinade)

More Optionals:
Bean sprouts
Blanched spinach
Sliced Cucumbers

Click here for the Korean bbq marinade recipes.

Far beyond Frail (Music Artist)

Like the songs on this album, "A Girl Almost"--soulful sound, lyrics that speak.

I like the album cover more than the songs on here--themes of butterflies flying freely and uncaged.

Don't Slip on the Banana!

Careful, don't slip!

I love funny finds and things that just make life oh-so-fun. Here's one of my favorite door stoppers of all time. Rather than slip, this banana is used to stop.

Still don't know where to buy it since it's a product from Japan.

For a background on how this idea came about watch the simple but amusing graphs on the Japanese artist's website: plus-d.

The translation from Japanese to English always cracks me up as well. Enjoy!


http://www.plus-d.com/banana_ds/

Best of Wailuku, Maui

I love Maui and know it like the back of my hand. It's the one place in the U.S. that I actually don't need a GPS system...and where I never get lost. Perhaps the only place.

One favorite way to spend a relaxing day in Maui is to take a stroll through Wailuku. Wailuku offers a taste of the Old Town mom-and-pop feel before Kahului and Kihei got commercialized. It's quaint, and has a nice small town suburban feel.

I start of by taking a morning Restorative Yoga class at my favorite studio: Body Of Light on Main Street. This type of yoga allows you to rest in different poses...almost to the point of sleeping. Now that's what I call "exercise." Nah. The idea is that the body is centering itself and that the poses offer blood flow and interal organ massages.
I usually then walk across the street to Cafe Marc Aurel, a bohemian cafe and wine bar, that offers oraganic, vegetarian healthy eats. Been here many times where changing art exhibits and and live music happens weekly. I like to sit outside and have a nice breakfast to start my day. It's much easier to be vegetarian on Maui than Oahu--perhaps the hippie revolution from Paia and Makawao still leaves its marks on Maui. Cafe Marc Aurel also has flights of wine to try.

From there I walk the streets to check out the up and coming shops and places to eat on Market street. Check out Gallerie Ha for live demonstrations on conteporary art in process or Sig Zane Designs for some local fashion wear. For lunch or afternoon tea, I do recommend Cafe O Lei. Spacious, clean and quite modern change for the area (love their Kihei joint too). Then head to Green Ti Boutique for one of the best deep tissues massages by Deborah.
I'll then drive to the Iao Mountains sometimes to walk around the valley. Other times I to drive to the nice suburban track that sits high up there overlooking the valley. I love sitting at the neighborhood park and enjoying the view and moment. Could live up there.

There's the smallest Farmer's Market I've even seen on Vineyard Street. The best place for manju is at Sam Sato's. Call in your order the day before or be prepared to wait long or be turned away. There's a donut place called Dad's Donuts that has donuts with Hawaii styled fillings (mango, lilikoi, guava)
For dinner try Tokyo Tei hidden under apartments or the famous landmark, Tasty Crust for some local food. Spam and eggs. Fried rice. Shoyu spare ribs. The food there was surprisingly okay! I tried their famous banana nut pancakes. And best of all--you must must must stop by Tasaka Guri Guri (in Kahului) for the best iced treat dessert of all time!

Green Ti Boutique
40 N Market St
Wailuku, HI 96793
808.242.8788

Cafe O Lei
62 N. Market Street
808.986.0044

Sam Sato’s, Inc.
1750 Wili Pa Loop
808.244.7124
Manju pick-up: 7am-4pm

Dad's Donuts
1910 E Vineyard St/Central
808.244.3303
Body of Light
1995 Main Street, Stuite 2
808.264.8263
www.bodyoflightyoga.com

Cafe Marc Aurel
28 North Market Street/Main
808.244.0852

Tasaka Guri Guri
70 E Kaahumanu Ave
Kahului, HI 96732
808.871.4513

Best of Paia, Maui

Paia is my favorite town on Maui. Love the shops, food and vibe here.

Besides my favorite stops at the Flatbread Company, Maui Hands (my favorite Paia stop--local art), and Mana organic market, I also enjoy the following places:

Lilikoi: Fun chic store for lotions and aroma candles and soaps
Nuage Bleu: has my favorite jeans "Fortune Denim" as well as Trina Turk, Oglen, Ella Moss and saint Glace.
Paia Contemporary Gallery: great paintings by local Maui artists
Biasa Rose: Spotted a cool Scout brand diaper bag for men here.
Cafe Mambo for spanish fare and bright colored walls.
Indigo: has a community board in back thumb tacked with business cards, local events, and such. Mana has one outside the market, but less filled than Indigo's.

There's suposed to be an Aloha Shirt Museum by the 76 gas station which I'll check out soon.

Other notables:
Fresh Mint: Vietnamese Vegetarian
Cafe des Amis: mediterranean and Indian food
Morning Glories: Organic internet cafe, free WiFi upstairs, $0.10/minute on computer
Moana Bakery & Cafe: their bakery items were good
Birken & Bailey's Pet Boutique: has couture toys from hautediggitydog (which i love)
Ono Gelato: with lots of stuff to look at on the walls

Where It's At
Lilikoi
18 Baldwin, Paia 808.579.6055

Cafe Des Amis
42 Baldwin, Paia 808.579.6323

Morning Glory
137 Hana Hwy, Paia 808.579.3336

Fresh Mint
115 Baldwin, Paia 808.579.9144

Cafe Mambo
30 Baldwin Ave, 808.579.8021

Laura Ling & Euna Lee

Got a phone call from my friend who is personal friends with Lisa Ling and Paul (Lisa's husband) and I immediately caught on to the heavy weight of concern my friend was carrying. She speaks much about Lisa and Paul and so I feel like I know them--distantly. Perhaps this connection, the fact that the two journalists are Asian American women, my concern for human welfare, and the overall political state of the two nations...has gripped my attention--heart, soul and mind. I'm struck with silence, but offer words of hope and comfort to those concerned via the voices of politicians and media personalities:

Gov Bill Richardson (NM) affirms that North Korea has actually been treating the women with decent humanity, and suggests the need to separate the humanitarian vs geopolitical aspects of the situation:


Grassroots vigils sprung as a result of facebook networks. The women's families speak out and Lisa Ling offers a call for international diplomacy and dialogue:



On the analytical side, it's been interesting to see Asian American media personalities rally together panethnically to use their influence to raise political awareness. Also been interesting to see that the media networks categorizes these two Asian Americans journalists as "Americans." Perhaps having an African American President is changing the ways in which Asian Americans are publicly and politically viewed.

Glass Waves

Just had to post this image...because I almost bought the print for $70. Was fascinated by the glass-like effect of the wave caught at a moment's time near sunset. Gorgeous!

Daily Surf Report

Deciding whether or not to ditch school or work today?

One of the culture shock experiences I had when I first moved to Hawaii was learning that while attending public school, my local friends would actually skip school on a regular basis to go surfing. Whaaaat?! Yup. Look out the window they may to watch the surf...and use that (not the idea of educational commitment, responsibility, or State law)...as the determining factor whether or not to hit the school yard.

I guess you need to take the surf opportunities when you can. For your up to date surf reports check out:

National Weather Service's "Oahu Surf Forecast"
I like this site the best because it's technical, detailed and yet easy to read and understand.

Surf News Network
This site is also easy to use.

Comment on your favorite surf sites...

Hawaiian Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I was sitting at Sandy Beach stringing my fingers through the grains of hot sand on a warm Hawaii afternoon when someone looked over and said to me: "You know, you're sitting on a boulevard of broken dreams."

I immediately knew it was a clever reference to the popular Green Day song, but I had to think about the connection.

My heart sank when I got it.

As we walk along the beach, we literally walk on top of millions of broken dreams. Dreams of shattered homes and shattered lives.

Each grain of sand is actually a shard of some little sea creature's shell or a dead piece of coral that was once alive underwater.

It was such a depressing thought.
Profound, but still depressing.

{Who throws those kinds of thoughts in your head when you're trying to relax and enjoy the ocean waves?}

Honolulu California

Not a juxtaposition but an actual location. Antiquated shops and restaurants can be found on a street named Honolulu in a little town called Montrose, California.

Out of curiosity, I wondered what types of shops were on that street? Little images of tiki torches, vintage hula dancer lamps, and iconic aloha shirts danced in my imagination.

So, I decided to do a little search and here's what I found: The most popular thing to do on Honolulu Ave is attend the weekly Harvest Market (a farmer's market mixed with artist stalls, petting zoos, food booths and other 80 sellers). It's located on the corner of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean Avenue. {Strange street names for a city that's only 6 miles from the Angeles National Forest.} Live jazz music and fresh food shopping make it a nice afternoon.

Montrose is a cute little town with an antiquated feel--as if you never left the 1950 and 60s. A few movies have been filmed here for this reason. Montrose is also home of an anuual Arts & Crafts Festival (June 6-7th this year) and a Christmas parade that attracts 10,000 people luring them with vintage cars, marching bands, and all of those old time Christmas parade feel-goods.

The scoop:

For more on Honolulu Ave in Montrose visit the city's visitors site Black Cow Cafe, Montrose Bakery and Coffee Bean are popular eateries that add to the area's charm.

Honolulu Harvest Market: Sundays, 9am-2pm (Honolulu/Ocean Avenues)

For Other Famers Market locations in So Cal see: www.farmernet.com

{ photo by babyastrid}

"Soles For Souls" - Donate Your Old Pair

Have you ever wondered what to do with all those old shoes in your closet? You know, those old bridesmaid shoes that you wore just once. Those pairs that are worn, torn and outdated? And those shoes that you just can't seem to part with though you haven't worn them in years?

Well, individuals and groups can now dedicate their shoes (all year long) to the worthy cause of providing shoes to those in need--locally and globally. You can drop off your old pairs at a participating shoe retailer (e.g. selected New Balance and 9 West stores)...and if the cause isn't incentive enough, many of the retailers will give you a discount for shoes in their store in exchange for your donation.

And still yet, if celebrity influence is what gets you going folks like Rachel Ray, Jessica Alba and Sharon Stone have already made their donations. Here's where some of your shoes go....
In the U.S.: Women's Shelters, Children's Camps, Inner City Hospitals, Homeless Shelters, Disaster Relief

Globally: Orphanages, Women's Villages and those who mine the Landfills in Central and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

They even give ideas and opportunities for churches to get involved. I don't think that they said "dedicate one day to walk as Jesus did--barefoot" but...they did suggest having a shoe fast or shoe drive or something like that.

How to Participate?
On the mainland you can find a drop off location near you, type in your zip code on this page. Hawaii stores are not yet participating, but residents can ship their shoes to these addresses.

Also see: www.soles4souls.org. In fact today, June 1-7 is the organization's "Barefoot Week"

Athleta by Gap Inc - Online Yoga and Sports Wear

Hawaii has limited stores for yoga gear. I had to search high and low to find mats, clothing and other products for my practice. There's now a new solution...

The Gap Inc (i.e. Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime) introduces it's latest acquisition and addition: Athleta. This online store offers female clothing for yoga, pilates, hiking, biking, triathalon, tennis and other sports. I think their yoga line is the strongest and most extensive...and of course in typical Gap Inc fashion, these items will always go on sale. The best part is, they have clothing sizes for Petites!

Another store I love and that caters to Petite sizes is is Lucy. Lucy is an athelic store geared for women looking to combine quality material, fashion (clean, simple look), and affordability. (They always have sales!) Unfortunately Lucy is only on the mainland but Hawaii folks can order Lucy items online at www.lucy.com


In Honolulu, other places to shop:

Yoga Wear: Lotus Lily in Kaimuki, and Lululemon Athletica in the Ala Moana Center. Lululemon is on the expensive side, but has free classes such as "Yoga in Japanese," "Surf into Yoga," "Immunity Boosting," and "Self Defense" classes during the week/ends. Some days they have goodie bags for participants and other give aways. (check out their calendar here). Two other places I check is Nordstrom and Sports Authority (limited collections).

Yoga Mats: Lululemon (high end quality, $70), Lily Lotus (also quality mats), Birkham Yoga in Koko Marina Plaza ($20-30 range), Borders bookstore and Target (generic Giam) and Ross.

Yoga Accessories: Blocks, belts, meditation cushions, mat bags, cleaning sprays, foot and hand gear, etc. are at Lily Lotus and Lululemon. See too www.hawaiiyogastudio.com for online places to shop. If you order from Amazon.com, you can use the Mainlandgirl store on the side bar of this webpage for searches and orders of any kind. (thanks!)

Yoga Studios: I practice in the Iyengar tradition. Two studio in town for this tradition are the Silent Dance Center and the Iyengar Yoga Center. Hawaii community classes are the most affordable way to go and usually in the Iyengar or Hatha tradition. Other studios are listed at hawaiiyogastudio.com

Namaste.

Healing Prayer - Oahu Churches

For those looking for physical, spiritual, and/or emotional healing through Christian prayer while on Oahu, here are a couple of churches to look into to:

Laulima Ministries International (Salt Lake)
Recommended by churches on the mainland, LMI has an international reputation for having one of the most powerful healing ministries in Hawaii. If I didn't see it before my eyes, I wouldn't believe it--I've seen people who can't walk...walk and run again. People with illnesses cured, people who can't move their arm have full motion range, and those with cancer scream in pain as if their internal organs were being fully repaired. When you see the look of astonishment, amazement and moved emotion (tears of joy and gratitude) on the people's faces, you know that what they are experiencing is real. It is faith building to see.

Meets on Monday nights at the Moanalua Gardens Missionary Church. The "service" starts at 6pm, but I recommend arriving around 8-8:30pm for prayer. (Another smaller "practice" prayer time is held on Wednesdays at 11am in Kaimuki at 11am). www.laulimaministries.com

Bluewater Mission (Palama)
Very friendly church with gifted congregants and pastor in the areas of prophecy and physical healing. I had church members who I had never met before, come up to me and offer some prophetic words and visions in the middle of the worship service--the words were timely, pertinent, and encouraging. Prayer is offered at the end of each service. Pastor Jordan has shared prophetic words and visions over my near future, and we'll see how it all comes to pass.

One of my favorite churches on Oahu. Contemporary music, casual vibe, and a warm and welcoming congregational culture. Jordan is smart, sharp, funny and insightful--he has a way of taking familiar bible passages and interpreting them from a fresh perspective, often infusing values of humility, healing, social justice and community as central themes in his sermons. (right on!)

First Presbyterian Church (Kaneohe)
The 8 and 9:30am Sunday church services here are laced with sense of serenity and simplicity. I appreciate the sense of tradition and formal liturgy that has been maintained here over the years, while most other churches try to mimic megachurch strategies or emergent models of ministry. Recently ridding the priestly robes worn by the choir and preachers, this church has one of the best Christmas Eve services on the island, mixing Broadway operatic singers, hand held silver bell ensembles, and hula for an overall enchanted evening.

Prayer after Sunday services are from congregants (mostly all women) who will pray with you --but not in regards to prophecy and healing. These are simply kindhearted folks who will spend a few minutes chatting and praying with you over your concerns. However, the church has begun to host occasional evening healing ministry nights over the past year (with congregants who are in-training for prayer), and will offer a mini-healing conference mid-August 2009 featuring speakers/workshop leaders such as Judith McNutt and Christy Pierce from the mainland.

Dedicating this post to two friends soon headed to Hawaii > may you find healing and rest while here.

Chocolate and Wine

Spaces still available at the Wine Experience's Evening of Chocolate event:

Award winning, locally made, chocoate truffles by Master Chocolatier Melanie Boudar (from Sweet Paradise Chocolatier) paired with the Wine Experience's very own vintage.

In addition to five types of chocolate truffles, let these additional bites tempt your palate:

Kiawe-smoked Sea Salt Caramel
Xocopili exotic spiced Mexican chocolate
Hawaiian Passion Fruit White Chocoate
Cru Savage dark Brazillian chocolate

Ummm...I'm getting chocolate cravings just thinking about it!

The Scoop:
$25/person
Wednesday, 6-8pm
808.738.0737

The Wine Experience
Kilohana Square
1016 Kapahulu Ave., Suite 1
Honolulu, HI 96816

Spiritual Eating - Flatbread Company, Maui

I love the small town feel of Paia. It's one of my favorite areas to visit day in and day out on Maui.

I'll usually shop at Mana market to get my organic foods, visit my favorite store, Maui Hands (handmade crafts by local artists), and then walk across the street to my favorite eatery, Flatbread Company for some lunch.

Flatbread Company claims that eating their food is a "spiritual experience." And before you think this is just a metaphor or marketing strategy to promote the business, their pizza dough is actually made of kosher salt, organic flour, cake yeast, and spring water (perhaps similar to the way flatbread was prepared in Jewish culture)...and topped with sauce made from freshly grown organic tomatoes (I believe they have a garden outside) and topped with whole milk cheese other organic vegetables.

What makes this joint unique is that the pizzas are cooked in a real stone oven...which sits in the middle of the restaurant and is always fun to watch. The interior (pictures to come) is a casual setting, with wooden benches and chairs for small to large groups, and a bar to the left.
One pizza I ordered was called "Punctuated Equilibrium" (a theortical critique of Darwinism) topped with rosemary, goat cheese, kalamata olives, red onions, organic tomatoes, fresh italian herbs and mozerella cheese. The pizza was good and the spiritual politics interesting.

The notion of Punctuated Equilibrium states (in a nut shell) that the evolution of species happens in punctuated periods rather than as one continuous flow as Darwin suspected.

Here's how one food philosopher links the theory of Punctuated Equilibrium to flatbread:

"It strikes me that the evolution of human food also exhibits a pattern of punctuated equilibrium. During the Paleolithic, humans and protohumans hunted and gathered. By occasional improvements in tools and hunting implements, the Paleolithic period was punctuated. 10-12,000 years ago the Neolithic revolution ushered in an era of farming which dramatically changed human activity and food patterns...

Today American food is in a new period of punctuation. The organic and natural food movement along with its variants biodynamic, sustainable, and localvore foods has rapidly changed the dialogue and economics of food. Increasingly people see food as important; that how it is grown and where it comes from intimately affects human health and the well being of the world.
Punctuated Equilibrium flatbread marks this important event in the history of American food and honors an advancement in our evolutionary view of life."

{And, by the way, before you think that was all hog-wash, food philosophy is a real legitimate scientific field. i met a woman in my photography class whose daughter is working toward a doctorate degree where she is combining her interests in environmental politics and the food industry to interrogate the impact of foodways on the earth's sustainable nature.}

One last bit...Flatbread Co claims that they have the best zucchini bread. In my opinion, I'd pass up on the dessert. It was dry, unflavorful, and uninspiring. A touch a cinnamon or cardamon would have added a spiced kick to the bread, and it's pairing with coconut ice cream...well, I just don't get that. Coconut and zuchinni...ice cream and bread? An odd culinary decision. Nonetheless, they give money away to charity, post their politics on wooden signs above the bar, and serve some good eats on the island.

Where's it at:
Flatbread Company, Maui
89 Hana Hwy
Paia, HI 96779
(808) 579-8989

Free Chocolate Fridays - Mars Company

The Mars Co. is hosting "Free Chocolate Fridays" for the first 250,00 people who register online at: realchocolate.com every Friday until the end of Sept. Online registrants can get their coupons from 9 am until 11:59 pm (EST).

Free chocolate? Yup, use the coupon for free M&M, Milky Way, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Twix or Dove brand candies. Yum!

From the LA Times business section.

Honolulu's Sugar Free Bakery - "Sweet Nothings"

This Honolulu bakery, located near the McKinley car wash, offers something sweet without the guilt and distress of added sugar. That's right, all baked goods at this small shop are made sugar free.

The store sells individual pastries ($1.70), cakes ($9.95+), and pies ($9.95+) for the health conscious and careful diabetic.

While folks say that the "Melba Peach" pie is delicious, I found the "Chocolate Lover's" cake too dense, chewy, and tasteless to consume. While the owner said that this is one of the best selling cakes, the texture was a bit odd and strange. I like my cakes to be light, moist, and at times dense or airy...but certainly not chewy and hard to swallow. The cake filling echoed "pudding" but the texture was off--a bit glassy. It needed more milk and cream to achieve a rich and creamy consistency, and could have used a large zap of flavor. Tastelessness aside, the overall texture in one's mouth was like eating a melted Barbie doll toy.

That said, I like the concept of having a sugar-free bakery on the island. It is surely needed and a valuable asset to the community. While some of the recipes need improvement, their efforts are certainly headed in the right direction.

Where it's at:
Sweet Nothings
1218 Waimanu Street, #102
Honolulu, HI 96814
808.593.1234

Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat (7am - 7pm)
Sun (10am-pm); Tues (closed)

Best Local Food - Side Street Inn

Yuuum. So good, I'd recommend this place to my dad--the connoisseur of "local kine grinz" and the all-around gourmet home cook. And too, Side Street Inn is sooo good that the top Hawaii chefs head out to this place after their restaurant shift is over.
It's a casual little hole in the wall identified by a white lit sign in an alley near Ala Moana Shopping Center, well worth the find, and do park in the structure--bottom floor only--across the way (or find alley street parking, or valet your car for safety.) It's what you'd expect of any local joint: veneered tables, vinyl cushioned chairs, and locals in shorts and t-shirts. And while the ambiance isn't anything to write home about, what most stands out is the food. Let me paint you a picture. The food is so good that when the party next to you gets their food...you can smmeellll the succulent aroma from the dishes that they order...and you just have to turn your head to see what they ordered, eye up the colorful dishes, and strike up a conversation to find out what they got--or betta yet, see if they offer you some good eats. I'd recommend going with two to twelve people...the more dishes you can order, the more you can try. Everything is family style and the portions are huge.

They are best known for their Fried Rice (I like the one with lop chong though some like the kim chee version) and deep fried Pork Chops (drizzled with spicy garlic, I believe). Their Pork Belly Slidahs were ono--Kahlua pork between Chinese steamed buns, and the table next to us ordered some type of fried spring rolls with amazing smelling garlic sauce. (I'll have to update this post with my notes on other dishes to try as well as post my own photos).

If I knew about this place earlier, I'd have taken my family here for some reminiscent local food. Beats Rainbows, L&L, Big City Diner, and even Kakaoko Kitchen (though I do like the latter for a healthy alternative). Some say that the dishes are over priced and the joint overrated, but if it's good enough for Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi...it's certainly good enough for me.

Side Street Inn
1225 Hopaka Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
808.591.0253

{update: June 1, 2009}

Most Popular dishes (shared family style):
Pan Fried Island Pork Chops ($21)
Fried Rice ($11) with Kim Chee ($12) or Lup Chong ($14)
Lilikoi BBQ Baby Back Ribs ($17)
Kalua Pig Slidahs: Kalua Pig Stuffed Chinese Buns w/ Grilled Pineapple Silices and Lililikoi BBQ sauce (3 for $8.50)
Nori Furikake crusted Ahi Filet (market price)
Chinese Style Steamed Hukilau Farm Raised Moi on Asian Veggies with Hot Peanut Oil ($24)
Spicy Garlic Chicken ($12)

The island gift of Time, Community & Beauty

I went to catch the sunset at Ala Moana Beach the other day. It was relaxing personally, and refreshing to see other people take a stroll around the park or families play at the beach. I wondered why I didn't take the time out to do this more often.

When I first arrived on the island, I made it a point to watch the sunset almost every day at the Hawaii Kai harbor. I loved watching the sun set, the sky turn it's Hawaii orange glow behind the ridge before Diamond Head, while canoes and stand up paddlers lined the light shore waves. But somehow over time, life crept in, and I found myself caught in a daily routine just the same as the mainland...eating, working, meeting up with people, or headed off somewhere...catching the sunset mostly through my car window pane as I drove off to my next destination.

Yet everything slows down in Hawaii. I forget sometimes that driving doesn't need to entail passing up a "slow" car--how much time do we really need to save anyway? And that chatting it up with a local market cashier allows us to appreciate people in the moment and enjoy life's present richness--it's not a wasted minute of time as folks from the mainland are accustomed to think. And while I do need to plan to double the amount of time to do my usual errands (the pace of work is indeed slower here) it's made up by the courtesy, assistance and personal attention given.

What I find is that I reclaim the gift of time whenever I'm in the aloha state. Slowed time allows us to appreciate the moment, the gift of the day, and people around us. If Hawaii were couched as a "spiritual retreat" the three healing aspects I'd say the island uniquely offers is: the gift of time (slowed life pace), community (warmth and ease of people; value of relationships), and beauty (nature's creation).

And that, is good reason for pause enough.

{lap top is broken. but stay tuned for coming photos and posts...}

Behind the License Plate

I remember having an identity crisis when I first arrived on the island. The crisis was spurred by the desire for me to vote in the Hawaii preliminaries for the 2008 election. But more specifically...it came due to a need to replace my mainland license plate with a Hawaii State one. How do voting, licenses plate, and identity crisis all tie together?

Well, the only reason why I wanted to change my plates was so that I could vote the in the Hawaii preliminaries. And perhaps in order to register to vote, I had to change my drivers license...and in order to do that I had to register my car...which entailed passing a state car inspection (a unique process to in Hawaii, btw)...which required putting on Hawaii State plates. I forget the whole shabang...but I know at one point I was like, "Man, do I really want to vote that badly this year?" The answer was...Yes!

So...I was really really sad to have to unscrew and take off my old mainland plates. I'm not kidding...I talked about the changing of the plates to so many people. It was such a sentimental moment and symbolic act of change, acceptance, and adjustment. I guess when one moves to a new place, city or country, the process of relocation forces one to consider what aspects of oneself and ones lifeways will be kept, discarded, altered or changed.

Since I arrived at HNL with only 2 suitcases in tow, I guess my car was the biggest sentimental thing I had on the island. And at the time, it was a sad moment for me to say goodbye to the one thing that so boldly represented my mainland ties--my home town state name written above the little numbers and letters that distinguished my car from all the other little Honda's out there in the world!

It's funny to look back at that moment, because now that I'm on the mainland...I hadn't even thought to change my Hawaii State plates back to my former ones. The little rainbow on the front and back of my car has become so special and meaningful to me...I don't know if I dare to take it off...just yet.

LAX to SF and Austin

Airfare wars make traveling that much easier...for those with expendable cash.

Los Angeles to San Francisco: $36 o/w if you fly before June 24th. Love SF for it's local charm, unique boutiques, and good eats!

Los Angeles to Austin: $70 o/w. Outside SF, Portland, and NYC, Austin is my favorite artsy town. It's a combination of Orange County meets the Seattle/Portland artist district...very cool city to live in if you had to move to Texas (photo above). Last time I visited Dallas and Houston a year or two ago, housing was VERY cheap there...places that go for 1.2 million in the OC are under $200,000. Holy moly! (Huge Asian American population in Plano...and with the same planned communities, I felt like I was Irvine all over again...most bizarre feeling).

Book on American Airlines at: www.aa.com

{I'm trying to keep these blog posts limited to Hawaii stuff...but every now and then I'll other stuff here until I get my new blog site up.}

The Dash

Today my aunty in Waipahu forwarded me a link to a touching poem called "The Dash" (by Linda Ellis).

When you look at a person's tombstone you the see the day they were born and the last day of their life...and the dash in between. The thing that matters most...is how we live that dash.

http://www.thedashmovie.com

{I dedicate this post to my dear friend, Jules, to whom I send much love and prayer during this difficult time.}

Earth Day in Hawaii

Yay! Today is Earth Day! I went to my first Earth Day celebration at Venice Beach in L.A. around 10 years ago. It was a small, little known event...about the size of a small half acre park. Today, issues of environmental sustainability have caught on...not just as a marginalized political movement, but as a consumer lifestyle. Earth Day is no longer for the "hippie" types but your average everyday person. Department stores and local super markets alike promote reusable shopping bags; organic food and clothing have become accessible choices; and fair trade/non-sweat shop made products are finding their place in the consumer market. We are the Green Generation.

There are a few ways that Hawaii is taking part in today's Earth Day event:

Oahu:

The University of Hawaii, Manoa hosts an annual Sustainability Fest celebration in honor of Earth Day. Thousands of people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests will be on the UHM’s campus from 11AM to 10PM on April 22nd to enjoy an open air market place followed by a free outdoor concert. Participants enjoy delicious food and multi-cultural performances as they browse 100 booths with socially and environmentally conscious artists, musicians, businesses, and organizations. Guests participate in booth activities to receive stamps on a score card which they submit for great prize drawings including bicycles, surf boards and a solar powered back pack. The day concludes in the beautiful Andrew’s Amphitheatre with a free outdoor concert featuring local favorites such as John Cruz and Pressure Drop. http://sustainablesaunders.hawaii.edu/

Kauai:
Kauai Community College is hosting a collective Earth Day 2009 event and invites all to attend from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The goal is to hold a student centered, community involved event on campus to promote sustainable action.

Big Island:
World Botanical Gardens in East Hawaii (Hilo and the Hamakua Coast) are gathering each day at the Gardens for free Garden Director Tours and reduced pricing for those that mention Earth Day as the reason for their visit. http://www.wbgi.com

Volcanoes National Park hosts two programsin the Kipuka of the National Park: 1) Help restore the native forest and learn the history of kipuka along Mauna Loa Road - 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday, April 22.

The public is invited to join park botanist Sierra McDaniel for a tour of the upland forest along Mauna Loa Road. There will also be an opportunity to lend a hand in on-going efforts to restore the native forest. Call McDaniel at 985-6097 and leave a message that includes a contact name and phone number.

2) Hike through a kipuka of rare and ancient plants in Kahuku Unit - 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22. Limited to 20 people. Pre-registration for both programs is required. http://www.hawaii247.org/2009/04/19/earth-day-at-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park/

Other
Feel free to post other events you know about from around the islands. {I'm sure other festivals and events will be hosted over the weekends. Check out the KCC Famers Market...at the very least I'd expect Earth Day to be recognized there.} Happy Earth Day!

Best Malasada's - Leonards vs. Champions

oooo...now this is a real toss up. Where to find the best malasadas, Portuguese donuts, on the island. The main difference between malasadas and regular donuts is that there is more egg and butter that's used--resulting in a more dense texture and egg based taste. They are a bit fluffier, have a hint of a sour tang to it (the type of yeast perhaps?), and most noticeably have no donut holes!

In Hawaii, "Malasada Day" is the day before Lent. I guess protestants and catholics want that last bite of Portuguese goodness before giving up sweets and fats before Easter!

Champions seems to be the local favorite ($0.60/each). These malasadas are dusted in grainy sugar. Served hot, they just melt in your mouth. I remember the first time I had my first malasada--I was enroute to the airport to deliver a box of hot ones for my parents. The warm, pliable donut was not too sweet, not too oily, and just yummy all over.

If I'm on my way home and need to catch the H1 freeway off of Kapahulu, I'll stop by Leonards for a malasada treat ($0.70/each). Mostly for it's convenience. Leonards is great because they have an assortment of malasada fillings (haupia (coconut), pineapple, guava and chocolate, among others.) Depending on the day, week or four seasons, the change of flavors brings customers checking back for more.

I think I enjoy malasadas from Champions best...and there was a no-named malasada truck in front of a supermarket in Salt Lake that wasn't too shabby. Some like the ones found at the yearly Punahou carnival best.

Where do you find your favorite malasadas?

Champions
1926 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
808.947.8778

Leonards
933 Kapahulu Ave
Honolulu, HI
808.737.5591

Best Cocopuffs - Liliha Bakery

When I got to the island and people talked about Coco Puffs--other than the chocolate round-balled kid's cereal {think: "I go cookoo over coco puffs}, I had no idea what they were referring to.

One the first time I had a cocopuff was at a potluck at sharon and joe's place. We had vanilla bean Coco Puffs and chocolate Coco Puffs. Yum!

Basically, a Coco Puff is your standard cream puff injected with vanilla or chocolate pudding. Different places garner certain reputations in Hawaii, and Liliha Bakery is the place known for these little treats. Supposedly they sell around 3,000 of these puffs a day (at $0.85/each). Beard Papa's has gained momentum on the mainland, but I haven't found a branch in Hawaii branch that rank like they do on the mainland. I find that Liliha's still has bragging rights for best cream puff on the island.

Liliha sells other baked items and offers a diner menu. Andy, Christian and I had breakfast at the diner counter one morning. Christian swears by the goodness of the UFO hot pink colored myterious flavored "fruit" jam (which was "radiation" scary looking if you ask me)...but I was thankful that I ordered their Cinnamon french toast. Andy got the traditional local morning feast--portuguese sausage, egg and toast combo. Long wait, so get there early!

Liliha Bakery
515 N. Kuakini Street (and Liliha Street)
Honolulu, HI
(808) 531-1651

Best Shave Ice - Matsumoto's vs. Wailoa

Who ever thought that sweetened frozen water could be such a delight?

In Hawaii it's called "Shave Ice"...not "Snow Cone" (ahem, mainlanders)...and that's Shave Ice without the "d".

For the past decade it's been a toss up locating the best joint for this yummy ice treat. The popular assumption is that locals head to town for Waiola, while tourists head to the North Shore for the historic Matsumoto's. The reality however is the line isn't always that clearly drawn. Locals and tourists alike give mixed thumbs up for both places. Here's my take...

The Pro's and Con's:

Waiola
+ The most fine shave ice you'll ever find in the U.S. It's so delicate it just melts in your mouth. Waiola has a patented ice razor machine that's certainly worth checking out. You won't find ice any better than this.
+ They have two local establishments in the Waikiki/town area which provides easy access for tourists and local residents. (In fact, a couple friends of mine walked there from their Waikiki hotel--that's some shave ice determination!)

- On the down side, I find the syrup less potent and flavorful than their Matsumoto's.
The syrup also doesn't "stick" to the ice as much, so on occasion I feel like end up eating water.
- When you sit down on an indoor stool (Kapahulu location), there are a ton of big bugs on the window screen--unappetizing.
- Hard to find parking, and usually must sit outside on the bench to finish off your treat.
- Served in Dixie cups.
- I don't recommend getting mochi-balls at Waoili--they are tasteless and hardens in the ice.

Matsumoto's
+ In my opinion, it has the best flavored syrup on the island. The syrups are distinguishable, potent and long-lasting. There's a ton of flavors so to keep things easy you can simply order their triple flavored combos: Rainbow, Hawaiian, or Matusmotos.
+ The shave ice good ole double layered white paper cones and wooden spoons--old school classic touches. (You can pay a little extra for the plastic protector to keep the syrup and ice from running down your hands.)
+ The ice cream used here is rich, creamy, and quality stuff.
+ The syrup colors are vibrant and the workers are trained to be generous with the syrup portions. Adding condensed milk and azuki beans adds variety to an old classic, but I still prefer plain shaved ice or shave ice with ice cream inside. (Yum!)
+ I personally like nostalgic and historic places--and Mastsumoto's is an old time grocery store that first opened in 1951. A North Shore landmark, they and are celebrating their 60th anniversary. Congratulations!

- On the down side, it's a far drive to the Northern part of the island just for shave ice.
- Parking is either on the muddy lot next door, or street parking on the street perpendicular to the joint.
- Long lines--not fun on hot days, and the last thing you want to do after the long car ride to the North Shore. (The long lines keep Matsumoto's next door competitors, Aoki, in business)


My mainland friends and I vote for Matsumoto's...but to be honest, I frequent Waiola more often to due it's convenience in town. Love getting shave ice after a day at the beach or after shopping at Ala Moana Center. Either joint you choose, don't leave Hawaii without trying this local favorite!

Which shave ice place do you prefer?

Full-screenMatsumoto Shave Ice
66-087 Kamehameha Hwy
Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712

Waiola Shave Ice (original)
2135 Waiola Street
Honolulu, HI 96826
(808) 949-2269

Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice
525 Kapahulu Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 735-8886

Killer Airfare Deals - $198 r/t

Los Angeles to Honolulu:

Got my ticket today for $198 R/T (plus tax -> $235) on Continental.

It's a good price considering that a one day conference I'll be at in a couple of weeks (on women and leadership) runs $150.

Hope to be back on the island every month!

Shout out to Nely whose photo is posted here. She's super talented and full of that warm aloha spirit! Hi Nely! :)

Reservation Tip:
For deals...check a web site like Travelocity (to see which airline has the best price), then go directly to that airline company's site to purchase your ticket. This way, you save on the booking fee, and if you run into any problems in the future (e.g. you need to change your flight, etc, you deal directly with the airline and not Travelocity--no extra fees for a ticket change...and no being put on hold while they contact the airline on your behalf.).

Nothing against Travelocity--they were great when I got to the airport in Paris and realized I didn't have my ticket on me! For $100 they got me on the next flight. But it was a 2 hour ordeal since they had to keep calling me back (I was at a pay phone in Paris) and since they had other phone customers to take care of. They also had to call the airline to make changes and than call me back multiple times for various confirmations.

Would've been easier for me to have just walked up to my airline counter at the airport and speak with an assistant there--but I needed to have bought the ticket right off the airline website, not a third party like Travelocity. Oh well, live and learn.

Hawaii Car Rental

The best rental car deal is at: Costco.com

I looked at discounts from various airline mileage programs (e.g. triple bonus miles), coupon deals, and Costco. I've done this a couple times for different trips, and find that Costco.com always gives the best rates with no hassle. Here's what I found:

Tip 1: Always book a car reservation. I have a friend who worked at Enterprise during college. He said that there are no regulations on how much to charge a person for a daily car rate when they walk in the door without a reservation--there's a suggested range, but no regulation. Employees are thus encouraged to size up the customer when they walk in the door and then estimate how high they can charge a person. The price of your rental may differ from the next person who orders the same car model and dates and hours rented. Pretty sneaky, eh? I called by phone today and found that by far, booking online gives you much better rates.

Tip 2: The cheapest rates are when you reserve a pick up at 12noon...and return time at 12noon. This may not be the most optimal pick up and drop off times for you, but here's what you do. If you book a reservation at noon, you can always pick up a car earlier than noon...just keep in mind that the time will just start ticking the minute you leave the lot. 11am say, instead of 12 noon.

Tip 3: So what happens if you want to return the car later than 12noon? Car Rental policies charge a late fee for the first 1-2 hours past your initial pick up time at the airport. Thereafter, they will charge for one extra day's rental. So you'll have to do the math...is the extra day's rate cheaper than booking for your exact desired drop off time? The average daily car rental rate is $30/day in Honolulu; $20/day in Maui. In my case, I'd rather pay the $30 extra day than the extra $60 cost if I were to book at the exact times I need.

For example:
Actual Rental Car Times Needed: Monday Pick up at HNL 11:30am; Friday Drop off at 9:30pm
My Costco Reservation: Monday Pick up at 12noon; Friday Drop off at 12noon (Cost $120)
Alternative Costco Price: Monday Pick up at 11:30am; Friday Drop off at 9:30pm (Cost $180)

So...I would pay $120 plus $30 late charge = $150 for five days (vs. $180)
The bottom line is that booking from noon to noon saves me $30.

Hope this helps. Happy car renting!

[For those not renting a car and needing hotel shuttle, please see my post on Airport Shuttle and Taxi services]

Tax Day in Hawaii

Not going to make that 4:30pm Post Office deadline?

There are a couple of major post offices that have blue mailboxes (the kind that looks like R2D2) where you can drop off your tax papers in. You'll see a sign on the blue metal boxes. Kaimuki post office requires items dropped in there by 11pm for example.

The airport post office closes at 2am but get there by midnight for the date stamp.

In Irvine there was a special table to drop off your taxes outside the major post office. Two smiling happy people were there to welcome the tired tax-doers. They hand stamped each mailer to assure you that your items were received on time. No line and super friendly volunteers.

{black and white photo of the old hawaii post office}

Where Asian Americans Live

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 66% of all Asian Americans live in just five states: California (12.1% of the state population), New York (5.6%), Hawai'i (63.6%), Texas (2.9%), and Illinois (3.4%).

Amazingly, 54.7% of all Asian Americans live in just six metropolitan area:

Metropolitan Area	Asian American Population	% of Total U.S. Population
Los Angeles	1,799,000	11.4%
New York	1,343,000	6.7%
San Francisco	1,279,000	18.8%
Honolulu	566,000	64.9%
Washington DC-Baltimore	373,000	5.1%
Chicago	367,000	4.2%

Favorite Comedian - Race & Humor

Russell Peters is my favorite comedian...if you haven't seen him, type in his name on YouTube. The majority of his jokes center around race, racial stereotypes, and racial conflict--but in a humorous way.

He's coming to the Brea Improv (April 30-May 3) $45

View YouTube clips with key words:
"Chinese People" or "Be a Man" (same clip)
"!xomble"
and "indian flying terrorist"

Stage Restaurant - 2 for 1 Special

To celebrate their 2nd Anniversary, Stage Restaurant is doing it once again...offering a 2 for 1 special...which means 50% of your tab is paid for on the house!

I missed it last year because reservations were fully booked. So call early. Here's the deal:

April 6-18
Stage at the Honolulu Design Center
call 808.237.5429


It one of the trendy-er-ish spaces to eat...or rather, since Hawaii is a casual place, creating an "ambiance experience" is not as high a priority as say San Francisco, West LA or New York. In that respect, this is as good as Honolulu gets. The decor is certainly traditional modern. And yo can even buy the table, chairs and fixtures you eat on. The food is gourmet good too! (read my other posts for Stage)

Intro to Meditation - Yoga Hawaii

meditation occurs when one find the balance to be able to steady the mind and breath

this takes practice, stamina and training

for an introduction to meditation, a local hawaii studio is holding an intensive weekend series. i personally cannot do meditation for longer than 50 minutes; i die doing it. i can't imagine doing 3 long days of it. nonetheless, for those interested here's the scoop:


Friday, April 24, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 25, 7:00-9:30 a.m.
Sunday, April 26, 7:00-8:45 a.m.

$135 at Yoga Hawaii in Kaimuki
call 808.739.YOGA for details

Hawaii (Gourmet) Places to Eat

Not full reviews but here's my bite sized take:

Roys (Hawaii Kai is my favorite nationally, was impressed; been to the Waikiki one three times--food and sauces are overdone; the presentation sloppy); SF comes top to the Hawaii Kai location). Hawaii Kai offers the best menu (classics and others) and best quality of food and presentation. Waikiki has some surf & turf set menus not offered elsewhere (LA and Texas for example).

3660 on the Rise (kaimuki) – Often overlooked by popular reviews but locals and foodies know this is another great place to dine. while Alan Wongs is the standard expected and safe in many ways, 3660 adds a little flair and excitement to their dishes. The word that I recall thinking was "exciting." The flavors are big, the spices high making the dishes pop in your mind and tastebuds. Paired with wine, appetizers and dessert this makes for a nice evening in an unexpected little town.

Alan Wongs (or Pineapple Room at Macys) : The restaurant on King Street is surprisingly informal; valet parking only; food quality is consistent and good; mostly safe. But this is what gave it it's earned reputation. Call ahead for special occasions and they will give you a special announcement scroll and dessert; the desserts are great. The Pineapple Room is good enough for me (salmon in ochazuki is good); I love taking and meeting friends here for lunch. If at the mall and choosing between Macy’s Pineapple Room and Neiman Marcus’ Mariposa, I’d pick the latter (though not Hawaiian food).

Sam Choys (The original restaurant was decent but disappointing. It’s now closed. The Sam Choys breakfast and lunch joint still open; a great stop to the airport). I'd rather just buy his cookbooks and cook at home.

Stage (Honolulu Design Center) - wants to get "in" on the scene, the first restaurant I ever saw that self identified itself as an "Asian American" resturant (what does that mean? hmmmn....the politics of food..!) with a pacific rim twist. It's entering it's second year on the culinary scene with innovative ideas, flavors and combinations. I enjoy the kitchen here...and for a quick sampler visit Amuse Wine Bar (they share the same kitchen). The desserts are great--wonderful pastry chef.

Plate Lunch:

Rainbows; L&L (the former for the 1970s effect drive in )

Healther:

Kakaako Chicken (Ward); brown rice and healthy options; owners are from 3660 on the Rise

My personal favorite is Roys (at Hawaii Kai in particular)--excellent quality; attention to detailing in preparation and presentation; nice atmosphere; and c'mon it's the Flagship spot don't ya know :)

Free & Fun things to do in Waikiki

Free Movies on Waikiki beach – "Sunset on the Beach" hosts a 30 foot screen and shows family friendly films; food vendors and musicians perform; table and chairs set up but bring your own towel just in case; Satrudays and sundays (check times/dates: http://www.sunsetonthebeach.net)

Free Fireworks (fridays) at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (can be viewed from the beach walk or any part of the waikiki strip)

Free live Hawaiian music in the evenings – Moana Surfrider is my favorite (outdoors under the big banyon tree; grab a drink and sit under the stars). Almost all big chain hotels (e.g. Sheraton and Marriott Waikiki good too) have live music; usually held around the hotel poolside areas.

Free Beach Walk Programs: free Cultural activities and lessons everyday (e.g. learn hawaiian chants, the hula, obake (ghost) story readings and more). ask local hotels near the beach walk for schedule.

Live Hula dancing and Hawaiian Music on the beach: Waikiki (across from McDonalds) put on by the city; just gather around; very informal.

Live Hula Hawaiian entertainers (DFG—Duty Free Gallery; 8:30ish on top level). The show is to "introduce" tourists to different Hawaiian styles of dancing--Polenesian, etc. One of the few places on the island to get French crepes can be found downstairs in the food court.

Waikiki beach – jump into the ocean and take a dive! Need I say more?

Walk on Kalakaua Ave and watch the street performers; browse the high end shops.

Nike runs on Wednesdays at 6pm (meet at the Waikiki Nike Store next to Tiffanys/BR)

Honolulu Festival – (Mid-March); last year was packed with people, the parade lasting until 9 or 10pm

Favorite Honolulu Lunch Spots

By this I mean good places to “lunch.” Great spaces, good food, and nice ambiance; places to meet for a nice afternoon with friends or co-workers.

Downtown (Hawaii State Art Museum)
Pavilion Café (Honolulu Academy of Arts; outdoor)
Mariposa (Neiman Marcus, Ala Moana Mall)

Casual Eating & Meeting:
Town (Kaimuki) – healthy, as urban-ish as Honolulu gets

I like the Pineapple Room too (Macys, Ala Moana)