Now that POW! WOW! Hawaii is in its sixth year (I know, can you believe it?), I’ve compiled some interesting facts that might surprise you about Kakaako’s homegrown street art festival. How many of these did you know already? Fact…
“Cutthroat Kitchen” is one of my favorite culinary shows on television. It’s exciting to watch and fun to see how the chefs jump through hoops while completing a dish and making it taste good. Each competitor starts out with $25,000…
New Year’s resolutions should be realistic, carefully thought out, attainable goals you can commit to. Let’s face it. Who takes resolutions seriously any more? Resolutions today have become part of the chatter of holiday conversations, when you’re reminiscing about the…
Pow! Wow! Worldwide (formerly Pow! Wow! Hawaii) just wrapped a huge weeklong installation on the streets of Tokyo. On the first leg of Pow Wow’s Asia 2015 tour, 19 of the world’s best contemporary mural and street artists painted more…
A cool Maui breeze caresses my face. In an outdoor dining room lit by candles, I’m at a communal table with people from across the globe. These are the initial moments of Maui Chef’s Table, which recently reopened in a new location…
Mirror, mirror on the wall What should we be for Halloween this fall? Has Halloween snuck up on you? Are you still costume-less and afraid you won’t have time to come up with a plan to dress to impress? Don’t…
Wahine Forum 2015 – What to do when life throws you a curveball and how to best deal with stress panelist. I recently participated in the Wahine Forum as a panelist. The topic of the panel was stress and how…
Venture to Lower Main Street in Wailuku, Maui and you’ll notice industrial businesses, rundown retail spaces for rent and a lot of bars. If I were by myself I’d probably avoid the area altogether. But luckily for me, a Maui…
While Jake began his career playing traditional Hawaiian music, his sound has transitioned to a unique, contemporary style.
Rex Moribe and the Martins (Photo credit: Kenna Reed) It’s a story that has already touched many hearts. After my blog post in March about Dear Thalia: What it’s really like to be homeless, local filmmaker Rex Moribe’s documentary about…
Known for having the best pizza on the north shore, Jerry’s Pizza has expanded to Kalihi. I was headed home on King Street the other day when a sign for pizza and pasta caught my eye. I’ve lived in the…
After two years of compiling traditional Chinese dishes with an island twist, Tom has lots of family recipes. Lynette Lo Tom is a woman of many accomplishments: former news reporter and anchor, Hawaiian Tel spokeswoman, marketing diva, mother. Now, having…
One of my best friends, Christa Wittmier, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in May 2015. Cancer. I have heard this six-letter word a lot lately. One of my dearest friends was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of…
Da Hub crew If you’re in the mood for some onolocious local-style grinds with outside-the-box flavors, generous servings and supah dupah fresh fish, look no further than Da Hub in Kalihi. This new eatery opened its doors a few months ago…
Think poke bowls are for wimps? Think again. There’s a whole big genre out there that goes way beyond fish and limu over rice. If you’re looking for over-the-top bowls, that’s what we’ve got: Our top 5 ultimate poke bowls. What…
Juice cleanses have become extremely popular, but with so many different types — cold pressed, fresh squeezed, smoothies, master cleanses — it’s hard to discern between them all. Two of our bloggers Melissa Chang and Olena Heu recently went on…
Have you ever felt unsure of the life path you were on? For singer and songwriter Tim Rose, uncertainty coalesced in a clear decision: Let Kickstarter decide. “I wanted to test the universe and I was feeling a lot of…
Floating in the ocean is my favorite! Photo credit: Melissa Chang Ever wonder what it feels like to be weightless? Like astronauts in outer space, what would it be like to glide and drift like a feather in the dark, with…
Ah, the loco moco. Just saying those words takes me back to my childhood. A loco moco is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s savory, gooey, hearty, sometimes even creamy. It’s local comfort food at its finest. There are…
It’s summertime. With friends and family visiting and fun festivals like Joy of Sake, Hawaii Food and Wine and the annual Waikiki Ho’olaulea coming up, people are perhaps enjoying a drink (or two, or three). Summer also means you could…
Fitness for me is a way of life. I stay active by hiking, swimming, surfing and yoga. I’ve heard about more extreme sports like parkour, bouldering and indoor rock climbing, but I’ve never had the chance to give it a…
Kountry Style Kitchen in Ewa Beach is the sister restaurant to the Kauai icon Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa, which opened its doors in 1975. There’s a new brunch spot… not in town, but in Ewa Beach. What’s unique about this…
I’ve said it before: I am a water baby. I love the water — ocean, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls, water parks, pools, you name it! I also don’t do very much to pamper myself. I cut my own hair,…
Photo credit: Melissa Chang Summer is officially here! As a child on Kauai, what I loved most about this season was spending all day in the sun at Kalihiwai beach, riding my bike around Kilauea town and hanging out with…
We got ready to boogie down, enjoy stellar wines and nosh on some of the best seafood dishes in Hawaii, prepared by 14 of Maui’s top chefs at the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival’s sold-out Seafood Festival. The event was bustling…
With winemaker Rajat Parr Foodies and oenophiles, visitors and locals converged this weekend for the annual Kapalua Wine & Food Festival. Highlighting Maui’s culinary superstars and Hawaii’s sommeliers, the event brings together the best in a tropical, picturesque locale. The…
Pitaya bowl by Jess Da Best Crunchy, fresh, fruity, refreshing and often very filling… I am talking about sweet-tart pitaya bowls. These are kind of like acai bowls but with pitaya, a variation of dragon fruit, instead of acai. To…
Kerry Kakazu has Hawaii’s first urban/vertical farm.Tucked away in the heart of Kaka’ako lives a little urban vertical farm. You would never know it unless you enter a second floor door and turn a corner. Smiling and eager to share…
Los Dos Vatos Chances are you’ve never heard of Gilbert Arangure or Eddie Lopez … unless you’re in the restaurant business or a frequent guest at Vintage Cave. Let me tell you a little bit about these two amazingly talented…
Kuana Torres Kahele When I think of Kuana Torres Kahele, I think there is nothing this Hilo man can’t do. Hula dancer, composer, songwriter, master lei maker, educator, award-winning musician… you get the gist, right? Now he can add Disney/Pixar…
Fried fish with chili sauce. Photo credit: Grant Shindo Growing up on Kauai, I wasn’t really into ethnic foods. When I say ethnic, I mean that aside from Kountry Kitchen, Bull Shed, Dukes, the always popular Kintaro and the traditional…
Wheel of Fortune has long been the most-watched game show in Hawaii … and one of the most successful in American history. Even now, as I did growing up, at 6:45 p.m. I can hear the soft ping and spin…
Several years after the crab pot and boiling crab restaurant fad hit O’ahu, I was a bit hesitant to drive to the west side to try another place claiming to have fresh seafood in your choice of sauce, served in…
As a kama’aina, born and raised in Hawaii, it surprises me when I hear someone say they’ve never been to the Pineapple Isle. It’s a unique place full of history, adventure, beauty and small-town charm. I have been fortunate enough to…
#DearThalia is heart-wrenching, eye-opening, awe-inspiring, raw and insightful. If you take four minutes out of your day to watch the trailer of the brand new local documentary by my high school classmate Rex Moribe, you will tear up, as I…
Known for her exuberant personality and fresh, eclectic beats, Super CW has honed her skills as a versatile DJ not only here in Hawaii but lately, around the globe. I’ve been supporting Christa Wittmier since she was spinning for small…
She rose to fame on TLC’s Emmy-winning Trading Spaces and Drill Team on A&E, but interior design star Lauren Makk is still the home girl next door. The Oklahoma native-turned-Kakaako resident moved to Hawaii after coming for vacation and never…
Roy Yamaguchi helped pioneer Hawaii Regional Cuisine a generation ago, when few had heard of wasabi butter or firecracker aioli. Now the culinary icon is going in the opposite direction with his next restaurant — back to the past. “It’s…
Lanai and Adam Tabura It’s been two years since three Hawaii boys set out to capture the hearts of American foodies. Chef Adam Tabura, entrepreneur and media personality Lanai Tabura and comedian Shawn Felipe won $50,000 and a food truck…
They’re here! More than 100 artists from around the globe have arrived in Honolulu for Pow! Wow! Hawaii 2015. Before the annual art, music, education and mural painting festival gets under way Monday, featured artists got a chance to soak…
Get your party pants on and charge up those cell phones and camera batteries: Pow! Wow! Hawaii 2015 is about to get under way. The annual street art and music festival celebrates its fifth year in Honolulu with an all-star…
Stats Sports Bar Honolulu opens Super Bowl Sunday Driving down Kapiolani, you may have noticed the papered-over windows of the old Nagomi Teppan and Lounge just a short distance from the Convention Center. It turns out that a new sports…
Chef Lyndon Honda and Chef Sheldon Simeon getting ready for their #KnifeFight tilapia battle It was expected to be an exciting and noteworthy duel… private chef, caterer and restaurant consultant Lyndon Honda taking on award-winning, “Top Chef” finalist/fan favorite Sheldon…
The Maui food scene is heating up. There’s an impressive list of talented chefs and award-winning restaurants on the Valley Isle right now. With mom-and-pop shops, gourmet pies, juices, food trucks and fine dining, Maui has emerged as one of…
Photo: Pow Wow Hawaii It’s exactly one month from the kickoff of Pow! Wow! Hawaii 2015. This year, more than a hundred artists from around the globe will converge on Oahu between Feb. 7-14, to create art, inspire others and…
Music moves my soul! No matter what time of day or night I tend to always have a song stuck in my head, and I like it that way. Music tends to take me back to a certain place or…
Known for her unique style and diverse repertoire, ukulele virtuoso Taimane Gardner has traveled the world sharing her music. Early next year, she’ll release her new album, “We Are Made of Stars,” inspired by our solar system. The album features…
Growing up the only child to a single parent, the Christmas holiday usually consisted of just me, my mom, and maybe a friend who would come over for dinner. Fast forward close to two decades and things have sure changed.…
With the holiday season in full swing, you might be battling the bulge, and in dire need of a detox or cleanse. With most Americans gaining a pound to two per holiday, healthy holiday eating can be almost impossible. But…
Whether you like them fresh or fake, Christmas trees are in full bloom. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday, with all the cheer, lights, decorations and gifts. I always look forward to purchasing a real Christmas tree. Like most,…
