June 2012
77 posts
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Alan Wong's Amasia: Grand opening
Thirteen years ago, when Alan Wong opened The Pineapple Room, the menu was three pages of pupus. This was before Jose Andres popularized small plate dining to the US, before the word “tapas” were (mis)used on every new restaurant’s menu, before izakayas became popular here.
It lasted three months. People thought the portions were too small, they didn’t understand that...
May 2012
88 posts
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New Weekly Cruise Aboard the "Spirit" Offers...
Star of Honolulu Cruises & Events announced today that guests taking their “Aloha Friday Fireworks Cruise” can view the spectacular Hawaiian sunset and thrilling fireworks on the same cruise, beginning June 1, 2012. The new summer cruises will operate every Friday through September 28, 2012 aboard the company’s 149-passenger “Spirit” vessel, a comfortable two-deck...
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Disney Store to unveil magical make-over at Ala...
Disney Store will unveil its innovative new store design to guests at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii on Wednesday, May 30th at 9:30am. Disney Store’s new design aims to deliver “the best 30 minutes of a child’s day” through immersive experiences, and Ala Moana Center is the only location in Honolulu for guests to experience the magical makeover for themselves. The first 250 guests attending...
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Kenny Loggins joins the Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra...
The Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra today announced that Grammy® Award-winning singer-songwriter and soundtrack superstar (Footloose, Caddy Shack, Top Gun) Kenny Loggins will join Maestro Matt Catingub and the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra for one-night-only on Sunday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Concert Hall.
Recognized worldwide for hits such as “House At Pooh...
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The Hoku Nai'a Introduces Hawaii's Newest Eco-Tour
Perfect for summer fun, the Hoku Nai’a, an eco-friendly vessel specializing in top quality wild dolphin watching, offers a “Paradise Snorkel & Snack” cruise that takes guests for an underwater adventure in the pristine waters off West O’ahu. The special seasonal eco-tour is available daily June 1 - September 30, 2012.
Optional snorkeling extensions have been available...
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Fumi’s Shrimp on the North Shore
After checking out Sunset Ranch as the site for our friend’s wedding, we all headed down to Fumi’s Shrimp in Kahuku. Our go-to shrimp in the North Shore has always been Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, so to deviate from Giovanni’s was a little intimidating at first.
All four of us ended up with the same plate…#2, which was the butter garlic shrimp for $12. This plate comes with 9 plump shrimp, two...
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Pics: Lantern Floating Hawaii 2012
The 14th Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony, with a theme of “Many Rivers, One Ocean,” was held on Monday, Memorial Day, at Magic Island and the shores of Ala Moana Beach Park. An estimated 40,000 people from all over the world gathered for the beautiful night of solemn reflection and remembrance for lost loved ones.
— Nonstop Honolulu
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California’s Coronado named nation’s best beach
Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.
That’s one of the reasons why Coronado — flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like It Hot” — has been named the No. 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by “Dr. Beach” professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International...
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Celeb chat: Kina Grannis
We caught up with singer-songwriter Kina Grannis, who won a national singing competition (Doritos Crash the Super Bowl) in 2008, which earned her a recording contract with Interscope Records and had her music video played during the commercials of Super Bowl XLII. The 26-year-old California native, who is half Japanese and half Caucasian, was immediately exposed to 100 million viewers from...
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New episode of ‘Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted’...
The new edition of the Crime Stoppers television program “Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted” highlights four men wanted on bench warrants.
The new episode began airing Friday. In it, police ask for the public’s help in locating 39-year-old Wolfred Makepa Jr., who is wanted on a $25,000 bench warrant on a grand jury indictment for first-degree assault. The victim, a 46-year-old Hilo man, suffered a...
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Chefs host Local First dinner
Isle collegiate chefs recently hosted a gourmet dinner in celebration of Big Island growers, ranchers and fishermen and Local First, a new joint effort of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii Community College Culinary Arts Programs in Hilo and Kona and Sodexo Inc., which operates the food service on the UH-Hilo campus.
Special guests on the evening of May 4 at the Hawaii Community College...
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Who’s coming: Eat the Street Tomato
This month’s themed ingredient is the oft-used, yet sometimes overlooked tomato. Some 43 vendors will be creating fun tomato dishes ranging from Aloha Ice Cream Tricycle’s Bloody Mary popsicle to Leonard’s tomato cupcake to Guava Smoked’s lomi salmon burger.
— Nonstop Honolulu
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Las Vegas Restaurant: Estiatorio Milos
In Vegas it’s easy to gravitate to the shiny and new. I find myself eating mostly at The Cosmopolitan, the Strip’s newest (and very shiny) hotel. In the case of Estiatorio Milos, though, it’s not The Cosmpolitan’s polished chrome and sparkly chandeliers that are the lure, or even some celebrity chef’s name, but the $20.12 prix fixe lunch. Deals are few on The Strip;...
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In the Kipuka, Birds Take Shelter
After six months back at the Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I am once again hiking across the sun-baked landscape of undulating lava on the Big Island of Hawaii, approaching one of the forest islands known to native Hawaiians as a kipuka. I hear a familiar and predictable sequence of bird songs. First, there’s the up-and-down whistle and staccato ending of...
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Five-Time National Food Service Award Winners
BYU–Hawaii Food Services won the 2012 Loyal E. Horton Dining Gold Award for the third time, outshining more than 550 other schools that participated in the competition. Food Services also won the silver and bronze award in previous years.
The National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) recognizes top university programs in a variety of categories each year. In college...
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Robot sailors leave Hawaii in cross-ocean voyage
Four robotic ships have sailed from Hawaii on a trans-Pacific journey that aims to set a new world record for the longest voyage by an unmanned ocean-going vehicle.
The Wave Gliders pulled into port in Hawaii on March 13 for a little rest and relaxation after a record-breaking 3,200-nautical mile, four-month journey from San Francisco.
The robots are now split into two groups: one pair...
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16 Hawaii restaurants make top-100 list for...
Sixteen Hawaii restaurants — more than half on Maui alone — have made a list of 100 top restaurants for outdoor dining, according to OpenTable.
Nine of the Hawaii restaurants that are among the 2012 Diners’ Choice Award winners for the top 100 U.S. restaurants for outdoor dining are on Maui, while three are on the Big Island and two each are on Kauai and Oahu, OpenTable (Nasdaq: OPEN) said in a...
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14th annual Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony to be...
The 14th annual Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony will be held Monday at Ala Moana Beach at 6 p.m. More than 40,000 residents and visitors are expected to be in attendance.
The ceremony will also be streaming live on the Hawaii News Now websitefrom 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The ceremony will also be broadcast live on KGMB starting at 6 p.m.
— Hawaii News Now
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Eating Kalihi: Hidden sweets
Sometimes, the best treats are hidden from view. Sometimes they come with the best stories and the nicest people. Here are five of Kalihi’s best.
– Nonstop Honolulu
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Tents at Hanauma Bay?
No one can put up a tent in City parks on Oahu without a permit, under a law that went into effect last year.
But a City Council member is pushing for an exemption at Hanauma Bay.
Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi says the purpose isn’t to allow people to camp overnight at Hanauma Bay, but rather to allow people to put up a tent for shade during the day.
— KHON
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Summer camp free for keiki with cancer
For many children whose lives have been affected by cancer, summer camp seems like an impossible dream.
The American Cancer Society is making that dream a reality.
The ACS’ Camp Anuenue, is a free, week-long summer camp for children, ages 7 to 18, who have or have had cancer.
— The Garden Island
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A&E cancels Hawaii-based 'Dog the Bounty Hunter'
Hawaii-based Duane “Dog” Chapman’s “Dog the Bounty Hunter” series has been canceled by the A&E cable network after eight seasons.
The Hollywood Reporter reports a network spokesman confirmed the cancellation on Monday, and noted that the series had become valuable for the network, with versions broadcast in Germany and New Zealand.
— Pacific Business News
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Hawaii beaches score high in news magazine’s...
Hawaii’s Neighbor Islands fared well in a new ranking of summer vacation destinations by U.S. News and World Report.
The Big Island and Maui were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 for “Best Beaches in the USA,” while Kauai and the Big Island came in at No. 2 and No. 3 on the list of “Most Relaxing Beaches” behind No. 1 British Virgin Islands. Maui also made the list, No. 2, for “Family Beach Vacations in...
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Miss Rodeo Hawaii 2012 crowned
Kona’s Macey Kaleiho’ohie Loando was crowned Miss Rodeo Hawaii 2012 over the weekend.
In addition, Cheyanne Keliihoomalu of Maunaloa, Molokai was named runner-Up.
— Hawaii News Now
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Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt to Speak at UH Manoa
Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt will speak on “The Accelerating Universe,” on Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Kennedy Theatre on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus.
Tickets, which are free, are required for admission. They are available at http://the-accelerating-universe.ticketleap.com/the-accelerating-universe/.
The lecture, presented by the UH Institute for Astronomy (IfA), is the first...
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Animal Lamps from the Honolulu Museum of Art
Trade in a regular shaded lamp for an irresistible home accessory that’s sure to shed some light-heartedness in your child’s bedroom. Newly found at the Honolulu Museum of Art, ZzzooLight’s sculpted, white polypropolene creature lamps are the work of origami-enthusiast and master art molder Ramin Razani. Produced in Italy, these low-voltage, safety-tested lights come in a variety of animal...
Top Hawaiian baby names: Kai, Leilani and Malia
The Social Security released the top 100 baby names in 2011 for each state today — following the countrywide tallies announced last week — and as with last year, a few distinctively Hawaiian names add local color to the Aloha State rankings. The highest-ranking Hawai‘i-inspired names nationwide are Kai, No. 202 on the boys list, and Leilani, at No. 204 on the girls list.
As usual, the top 5 baby...
Editors' Picks: Top 5 Things to Do this Week in...
This weekend’s festival boasts cuisine from JJ Bistro and French Pastry, d.k. Steakhouse, 12th Avenue Grill and SALT. Friday’s beachside BBQ is already sold out, so grab tickets for Thursday’s preview party with Italian cuisine and wine pairings, or for Saturday’s grand finale, featuring food, drinks, live music and fashion by Honey Girl swimsuits and Khush clothing. Preview party is $100, 5...
Another San Francisco adventure
If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I’ve arrived in San Francisco for my annual trip to participate Bay to Breakers. Have you seen the craziness from this fun run? I say that I’m “participating” in the event because I don’t really run it — I’m too busy gawking and taking photos. Here are some shots from last year, which includes a link to indecent photos from the year before.
I got here...
Buddhist master to visit Big Island
Buddhist Master Chogyal Namkhai Norbu will teach Dzogchen meditation at a Father’s Day retreat June 13-17 in the Hawi area. Namkhai Norbu was born in 1938 in eastern Tibet and was raised Buddhist. He is among the last of a generation of spiritual masters born and trained in Tibet prior to the Chinese takeover.
Recognized as the incarnation of a great master when he was 2, he received the...
Surinam cherries, jackfruit and other exotic fruit
Surinam cherries, jackfuit, tamarillo, calamansi, bilimbi, soursop, jaboticaba, white sapote. How many do you know? How many have you tasted? The Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) are hoping that soon, you’ll know all of them, and next time you’re in the produce aisle, you’ll grab one of these exotics as easily as you might a mango or lychee. “They bring novelty to the...
May for MAMo
For many of us around the world, May marks the beginning of a very merry, school-less summer. Here in Hawaii, May is also officially Maoli Arts Month aka MAMo. Native Hawaiians have a vast range of fabulous visual arts–why not take an entire month to celebrate? There is plenty to showcase for the next couple of weeks.
— Honolulu Weekly
Winning combo: Ahi poke plus Hawaiian music this...
While this weekend is admittedly is not the Hawaiian-style extravaganza the Mother’s Day edition was in and around the Bay Area, there’s more to look forward to this weekend, assuming you’ve caught your breath. And the Memorial Day weekend offers even more tempations worth planning ahead for.
— SF Gate
Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, dies at 63
Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as “Last Dance,” “Love to Love You Baby” and “Bad Girls” became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, has died. She was 63. Her family released a statement saying Summer died Thursday morning and that they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her...
Rising Artists in Hawaii
There’s more to Hawaii’s contemporary art than ocean scenes and hula dancers. Check out these eight delectably collectible artists whose careers are gathering speed.
— Honolulu Magazine
Japanese Comfort Food in Honolulu
In this month’s dining column, I explore the high-end side of Japanese dining, kaiseki. But I didn’t want to forget about Japanese comfort food, which, these days, gets as much attention as fine dining. Here’s a sampler of casual eats beyond tempura and sushi.
— Honolulu Magazine
Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Island Brew
You know me — I love hearing about cool new coffices around Oahu, especially if there are ideal cofficing conditions. Well, a new spot, Island Brew (@IslandBrewHI) has opened in Hawaii Kai, and it seems to have it all: Ample free parking, free Wi-Fi, electricity and a bonus marina view. Oh, wait! They serve coffee and food, too.
But this isn’t just any coffee. Charles Asselbye, one of the...
Hawaiian Airlines feeds appetite for eating...
Pleasantly warm on the heels of discount carrier Allegiant’s announcement yesterday that it will greatly expand its Mainland-Hawai‘i service this fall came this subtle reminder of which airline not only has local roots, but still feeds its passengers largely for free:
Travelers who appreciate Hawaiian Airlines’ dedication to sharing Hawai‘i’s culture and tradition of hospitality will enjoy the...
Waikiki Aquarium 'Ke Kani O Ke Kai' 2012 Summer...
It’s that time of year again for the Waikiki Aquarium’s “Ke Kani O Ke Kai” annual summer concert series. Taking place every other Thursday from June 14 through August 9, 2012, the series will kick off with entertainment by Kuana Torres Kahele, and Mark Yamanaka & Darren Benitez. The summer will sizzle on with performances by Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, HAPA and...
Take a Journey with Return to Paradise starring...
Music has always been an intricate part of life in Hawaii, but Hawaii’s musical styles have not had a major role in Waikiki’s entertainment scene. However, internationally renowned star, Lani Misalucha will be gracing Waikiki in a new, Hawaii inspired show, Return to Paradise starring Lani Misalucha.
Opening on Tuesday May 15, 2012, Return to Paradise starring Lani Misalucha begins at...
Allegiant to launch new flights from US mainland...
Allegiant announced the company will begin new, nonstop air service from the mainland to Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii. The new service will provide new economic development by allowing customers to visit the popular vacation destination for new lower fares.
The carrier will offer introductory fares from Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to: Bellingham, Washington – begins November 14; Eugene,...
Wahiawa eats: Shige's Saimin Stand and Marilou's
Whether or not you made it to Wahiawa’s Pineapple Festival this past weekend, there’s enough good eats in Wahiawa to warrant another return, or at least a pit stop on the way to a North Shore adventure.
My standbys in Wahiawa include Da Pokeman for poke and laulau, as well as Maui Mike’s for roasted chicken (where’s that town location Maui Mike’s keeps promising...
A small exhibition of big local works
Now on view at Spalding House (the former Contemporary Art Museum), the art that composes “Biennial of Hawaii Artists X” demands a very few minutes of viewing time. You can see the exhibition in 20 minutes without hurrying.
Or you can look it at twice in a half-hour, or three times over the course of two visits in less time than it takes to eat lunch. But if you have any interest in a show...
Lady Gaga Indonesia concert denied permit by...
Indonesian police have refused to issue a permit for a concert by US pop star Lady Gaga in the capital next month.
This follows police concerns about security, after Islamic groups objected to her show, claiming it was too vulgar.
The hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) had threatened to intercept Lady Gaga at the airport and stop her getting off the plane.
— BBC
'Biggest Public Toilet In The World' Now Good To...
It’s only for women — and only for one woman at a time, it seems.
But officials in Ichihara City, Japan, claim they’ve created the “biggest public toilet in the world.”
As The Japan Times reports, outside the city’s train station there’s now a fenced-in, “200-sq.-meter plot of land” with flowers, plants, pathways and — “smack in the...
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ABC picks up Hawaii-filmed 'The Last Resort' for...
Hawaii will be home to production of a second network television drama next season, following ABC’s pickup of “The Last Resort,” which is expected to start shooting this summer.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Sony Pictures Television, which produced the pilot for the show, will produce another 12 episodes for ABC, which is scheduled to announce its new season schedule on...
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Family Travel: Disney’s Aulani Resort in Oahu...
Mickey is decked out in a Hawaiian print shirt, Minnie has a hibiscus flower tucked behind her ear, and Goofy’s in board shorts at Disney’s first destination resort and spa in Hawaii.
“My grandkids love Disney and we love Oahu, so this is match made in Hawaii,” says a Calgary grandpa treating his family to a three-generation holiday at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa.
While Mickey and the...
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Allegiant will offer Hawaii flights from Loveland
Beginning in late June, a Northern Colorado traveler can board a commercial airliner in Loveland and fly with one stop to Honolulu and, with another stop, back home — all on the same airline.
And, theoretically, the round-trip cost would be about half that from Denver International Airport to Hawaii.
Allegiant Air, the low-cost air carrier that offers the only scheduled commercial...
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Her Natural Home
As it turns out, there’s enough sunlight in these hills to supply most of the home energy needs of this family of four. Before getting started, Ching consulted with Solar Help Hawaii. “They looked at our electric bill and estimated our tax credits. We were already lean on our usage; everything was on power strips, the kids knew to shut [lights and all electronics] off when not in use.” For...
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The Hawaiian fishing canoe Ka‘ulupe‘elani
The revival of canoe racing on Kaua‘i began in 1955, when members of the newly organized Kaua‘i Canoe Racing Association (KCRA), led by association president William Ellis, began training under the direction of coach Ray Mant at Nawiliwili with two purchased canoes.
Inaugural races were held at Nawiliwili on Kamehameha Day, June 11, 1955, and Kaua‘i’s first annual regatta took place there...
