Diane Seo

Editorial Director HONOLULU

Diane Seo is HONOLULU’s editorial director. She describes herself as a journalistic version of a jack of all trades, a jack of journalism. After graduating from Northwestern, she worked as a reporter in Fort Worth, Texas, then at the Los Angeles Times in both LA and NYC, covering everything from the 1994 LA earthquake to the rumblings of Wall Street. She then was an editor at Salon.com in NYC and managing director of new media for men’s professional tennis in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (She’s a former junior player, but hasn’t picked up a racket in way too long to be called a “player.”) After moving home to Honolulu in 2005, she stayed in the journalistic mix, launching an entertainment website that has since become Frolic Hawai‘i (now part of HONOLULU) and had various stints as a magazine and newspaper editor, digital entrepreneur, digital consultant and even a web designer, a job she has no idea how she got. Outside work, Diane is a dedicated yogi, who enjoys a moving meditation with a lot of heat.

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Articles

Present Project underway in Our Kaka‘ako

Director/curator Hadley Nunes is the founder of Present Project.This month, in two adjacent warehouses along Cooke Street in Our Kaka‘ako, five noteworthy artists have taken up residency as part of a new endeavor, called Present Project. Conceptualized and led by…

A chat with Jake Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro exudes a calmness that initially may be characterized as mellow and understated, but as he discusses the evolution of his music, it’s clear Hawai‘i’s biggest ukulele ambassador is a replica of his musical style — perhaps quiet at…

Something new: King’s Hawaiian truck

A new food truck has rolled into town with a name rooted in the past, but with a forward-thinking concept and menu. The King’s Hawaiian truck made its Oahu debut at Saturday’s Honolulu Night Market, with a big crowd eager…

Something new: LemonTea

These teas may not be for everyone, but I’ve found my new favorite place for iced tea on the island. It’s called LemonTea, a kiosk specializing in multi-flavored teas and lemonades that opened earlier this summer at Pearlridge. I sampled…

Something new: Food truck central in Waikiki

If you’re into food trucks, take note. There’s a new food truck hub that emerged just last Saturday, in a small, nondescript parking lot along Beach Walk in Waikiki. It’s a kitschy, yet cool, little set-up, called Pau Hana Market…

Let’s talk about social media

This post was sparked by a recent conversation I had with Civil Beat’s Gene Park. A bunch of us media folks were gathered for an event, when I casually asked him while everyone was Instagramming and tweeting whether he liked…

Something new: Kaimuki Grill’s bacon jerky

Kaimuki Grill, one of my go-to Eastside eateries, unfortunately will be closing July 11. But owner Carri Loui has a new venture lined up. After lots of positive feedback for the restaurant’s pre-packaged beef jerky chips, she and her family…

Sipping my way through LA’s best juice bars

During a recent trip to Los Angeles, I had four things on my list — see friends, take my daughter biking on the Venice boardwalk, eat great Korean food and visit the city’s best juice bars. Simple way to put…

Something new: Itchy Butt

We were amused and intrigued by the name too. A photographer friend, @PHOTOlulu, told me about Itchy Butt Friday afternoon, and by Saturday afternoon, both Melissa Chang and I separately made our way to this quirky Korean Keeaumoku take-out place…

Something new: Lanikai Juice Kaka‘ako

Lanikai Juice recently opened its sixth store along Ala Moana Boulevard, bringing its popular smoothies, acai bowls and other fruity blends to the rapidly evolving Our Kaka‘ako neighborhood. On Tuesday, the longstanding Kailua-based chain held a media event at the…

Did this: Day Off Salt Kaka‘ako

I stopped by Salt Kaka‘ako today for a special brunch/shopping event happening from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., mostly along Auahi Street. Here’s a look at what’s available, as well as a test run of our new live blogging tool.

Self rules for LOL, haha, :), ! and more

Texting, tweeting, Instagramming, Facebooking and even emailing have changed how we write and communicate. This is even the case with writers and journalists who’ve spent years honing proper grammar, punctuation and AP Style. If I look at my mobile text…

Something new: Ethiopian restaurant in Kapahulu

There’s a new Ethiopian restaurant in Honolulu, and it’s called just that — Ethiopian restaurant — until a name is decided on. Along with not having an official name, it’s also in an unusual spot — tucked inside Takahashiya Ramen…

2014 Hawaiian May Food Summit

This year’s Hawaiian May kicked off Thursday evening with a food summit at Jefferson Elementary School in Waikiki. In collaboration with Eat the Street, the food fest featured more than 20 food trucks, including Eggs ‘n Things, Lanikai Juice, Hawaiian…

Meet the artists: Wooden Wave

One of the new features on Frolic I’m particularly excited to introduce is our background art, which we’ll be rotating every month with works by local artists. For our launch, I asked Pow Wow artists Matt and Roxanne Ortiz of…

Welcome to Frolic Hawaii

Welcome to Frolic Hawaii, our newly designed, newly named entertainment and lifestyle website. Thank you for taking the time to check us out.Frolic Hawaii has replaced Nonstop Honolulu, although our past content is all here on the site, and most…

New in the city: Brew’d Craft Pub

After hearing that Brew’d Craft Pub had recently opened in Kaimuki, we made plans with another friend to give it a try. We had trouble finding parking (Kaimuki parking is an ordeal these days) and after arriving at the small,…

New in the city: Brew’d Craft Pub

After hearing that Brew’d Craft Pub had recently opened in Kaimuki, we made plans with another friend to give it a try. We had trouble finding parking (Kaimuki parking is an ordeal these days) and after arriving at the small,…

To do: #Hishoots Hangout

Yesterday, Brad Watanabe, the talent behind Hawaii Shoots and the video production company, Berad Studio, contacted me to tell me about tonight’s #hishoots hangout, a free gathering taking place from 7-9 p.m. at Box Jelly (307A Kamani St.). I had…

Sneak peek: Koko Head Cafe

I consider it serendipity that my colleague Melissa Chang couldn’t make it to Thursday’s family & friends sneak peek of Koko Head Cafe, a much buzzed-about brunch/breakfast spot in the former 12th Avenue Grill space in Kaimuki. You see, it…

Did this: Punahou Carnival 2014

Another year, another Punahou Carnival. This year’s two-day event, which began yesterday and runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today, offers a New York, New York theme. Yet, despite the Manhattan spin, we all know exactly what to expect…

Kaka‘ako Agora to serve as ‘indoor park’

Kaka‘ako Agora — a new public space described as an “indoor park and pavilion” — will be developed at 449 Cooke St., in the heart of Our Kaka‘ako. Kamehameha Schools and Interisland Terminal announced on Tuesday their plans for the…

Nonstop’s next steps

We have some exciting news to share about Nonstop Honolulu, which we, as a team, believe will help us greatly enhance the website and expand our audience. We’re being acquired by aio, which owns a family of Hawai‘i-based businesses in…

Guide: Honolulu Night + Market

It’s gonna be a Rogue Christmas in Kaka‘ako, as Honolulu Night + Market caps the year with a festive lineup. The monthly streetfest once again will be the place to be for entertainment, fashion, shopping, art and food.If you haven’t…

Pinch of Salt for the Holidays December

Despite Sunday’s early afternoon rain, Pinch of Salt for the Holidays had its second successful run this season, with pop-up shopping from dozens of local retailers at the Pinch of Salt warehouse in Kaka‘ako. Along with fashion, gifts and more,…

Did this: Gingerbread Family Festival

Lots of colorful, fun gingerbread creations were constructed Sunday, as part of the 14th annual Easter Seals Gingerbread Family Festival at Blaisdell Exposition Hall. Hundreds turned out to participate in two sessions (morning and afternoon), building gingerbread houses from purchased…

Did this: Pinch of Salt for the Holidays

Hundreds turned out for Saturday’s Pinch of Salt for the Holidays, a festive shopping-art-food event in Kaka‘ako. Along with dozens of pop-up shopping boutiques, including a Sig Zane shop that was attended to by the designer himself, there were lots…

Pinch of Salt preview: Paiko’s DIY

Paiko botanical boutique will be among several vendors hosting fun DIY workshops at Saturday’s Pinch of Salt for the Holidays, a free pop-up shopping event that runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 683 Auahi St. in the Pinch…

Guide to Honolulu Night + Market

Fashion is the focus of this month’s Honolulu Night + Market, a fitting theme to coincide with Hawaii Fashion Month. Honolulu Magazine and Honolulu Shops fashion editors Stacey Makiya and Brie Thalmann are the featured stylists for Saturday’s fashion show;…

Did this: Eating with the Seasons

On Wednesday evening, Fresh Cafe debuted its new monthly dining event, Eating with the Seasons, which showcases a single ingredient in a multi-course meal. For the inaugural event, which unfolded on elegantly decorated, communal tables on the cafe’s front patio,…

Coming soon: Honolulu Beerworks

Honolulu soon will get its first Portland-style brewpub when Honolulu Beerworks opens on Cooke Street in Kaka‘ako, offering about a dozen homemade brews on tap in a newly renovated, industrial warehouse.Along with a long, communal L-shaped bar plus picnic table…

Who’s coming: Eat the Street Pork

Chefs Alan Wong (Alan Wong’s Restaurant), Hank Adaniya (Hank’s Haute Dogs) and Goran Streng (Tango) will be in the house for Friday’s Eat the Street, a pork fest that also includes 40 food trucks and street food vendors.From 4:30-5:30, Adaniya…

Our Top 5: Fried chicken

My love for fried chicken extends back to childhood, when my ultimate reward was a two-piece fried chicken meal at Pioneer Chicken or even just a crackling leg from Woolworth at Kahala Mall. Years later, even while going through phases…

Buyers eager for The Collection

Dozens of people interested in securing units at The Collection — a new Kaka‘ako housing complex being developed by A&B Properties — lined up Friday in an Ala Moana Boulevard parking lot, a day before the units actually go on…

Guide to Night Market August 2013

There’s no better way to celebrate the final weeks of summer than an evening under the stars with food, fashion, music and art. This month’s Honolulu Night Market spotlights the performing arts, with live performances by Manoa Valley Theater, Diamond…

Coming to Our Kaka‘ako: Keauhou Lane

A multi-faceted residential project, Keauhou Lane, will be developed in Kaka‘ako, adding new rental apartments, lofts, townhomes, a high-rise tower, live-work spaces and retail shops, including a neighborhood grocery store. The project, part of Kamehameha Schools’ extensive Our Kaka‘ako master…

What’s coming: Salt at Our Kaka‘ako

Dramatic changes are coming to Kaka‘ako, as construction gets underway this month on Kamehameha School’s ambitious Salt at Our Kaka‘ako project. To get more details of what’s in the works, we visited INK Architects, a Honolulu firm that’s been tapped…

Who’s coming: Eat the Street Cheese

Oooh, a cheese fest at Eat the Street… we cannot resist. So see you Friday. Same place. Same time.Plus, Street Grindz will be hosting a cheese-carving competition, with entrants carving up cheese into their favorite characters, animals, shape, emoji, whatever.…

Part II: Where real Koreans eat Korean food

I was surprised by the reaction to Part 1 of Where real Koreans eat Korean food, which ran on Nonstop more than two years go. Many people have told me they still use this gallery as a guide to Oahu’s…

Night Market: Fun, fashion & shopping

This Saturday, Honolulu Night Market goes “Xtreme,” with the Red Bull X-Fighters Motocross team pulling off daring stunts right on Auahi Street. There’s also a fashion show styled by Barrio Vintage’s Bradley Rhea, and of course, lots of great shopping…