Kimono Festival

Sharon, Naoko and I attended the Kimono Fashion Show at the Japanese Cultural Center in Honolulu. 86 people from Japan flew out just to participate in this cultural exchange. The room was packed with around 200 attendees (more than was expected), and never before seen dressings of the imperial kimonos were shown as well as obi-tying choreographed to music, and contemporary obi's (tied in a hibiscus for example).

After the show, the 3 of us feasted at the Big Greek Cafe. Took 50 minutes and three attempts to find parking. The outdoor setting was quaint and I almost forgot I was in Kaimuki. The food was good too(until the mouse and cockroaches came out).



This was my first time using my Canon 50mm 1.8 lens. Only turned on the Canon EX580 flash at the last 5 minutes.

Obon Festival - Mililani

I had been wanting to go to Mililani for a long time, curious to see with my own eyes, the new suburban community that I hear so much about. In my mind I imagine that it looks like Irvine, but even after going there I'm not so sure...we got to the Obon festival when it was dark at night.

This Obon had the largest crowd I've ever seen out of all the festivals I've been to (Japan excluded). Five rings of dancing circles moved in unison filled with kids, teens, seniors and even the mayor. What surprised me most was to see the masses of teens eagerly run to join in the dance once the live music played. (An Obon with live music and taiko drummers? Right on!) In Los Angeles I don't think teens think it's hip and cool display this much Obon-eagerness, but it was sure refreshing to see the youth reclaim their cultural heritage in Hawaii.

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