My maternal grandmother, third child from the right (holding the baby) with the family on the Kona coffee farm. They were migrant coffee pickers.If you are a Kona Coffee fan, or just trying to learn about it, the annual Kona…
The third annual Oahu Fringe Festival starts this Thursday, November 7, with several performances at five Chinatown locations throughout the weekend. What is the Fringe Festival, anyway?Well, if you are into performing arts, this edgy series is for you. The…
Unless you just arrived in Hawaii, you’ve probably been suffering with me for the last week through excessive humidity, vog and near 90-degree weather. It’s not summer anymore, but in this town, it’s almost always a good time to get…
Every so often, Sansei Waikiki will have a BYOB wine dinner around a special menu theme in their private dining room. These are usually sold out, seasonal events, as they are limited to 22 people, and are a great way…
If you’re like me, your social media feed has been blowing up with ramen photos lately, all within the same half-mile radius, from three new ramen shops near Ala Moana. Two of them are brand new; one, Kiwami, is simply…
Like most gals, I go to a lot of spas for recharging and relaxing, and every so often I’ll post a review of them if they’re new or unique. Laka Spa, located at 320 Ward Ave., is pretty unique, but…
The YWCA of Oahu held its annual “Downtown Decadence” fundraiser last night, a unique girls’ night out that enables guests to experience the Richards Street facility while participating in the various activities.Guests shopped at about 15 vendors in the courtyard,…
There are still a few tickets left for tonight’s big fundraiser for the Honolulu Firefighters Foundation (HFF). I can’t go — Nonstop’s Tracy Chan will be covering it — but I got to hang out with some hunky firemen yesterday…
If you’ve passed the old KGMB building on Kapiolani Blvd. or Makaloa St. lately, you may have noticed it looks a little different. Okay, a lot different. One half of the building is a credit union, and the other half…
If you can’t get to the big event in Munich, or just want a taste of Germany, the Outrigger Reef is having its first Oktoberfest celebration starting tomorrow through October 19. Guido Ulmann — the fun-loving German-Swiss executive chef of…
This weekend, check out the 49th annual Fall Food & New Products Show at the Blaisdell to see the latest from local vendors and — if you’re so organized — get a jump start on your holiday shopping. I usually…
Hula Grill in the Outrigger Waikiki has been doing more to raise the consciousness of local products and farmers around the state lately through their Legacy Aloha program, not just for their customers but for their staff as well. A…
Do you ever try to shop just for local products, but find that you have to drive to various stores and farmers’ markets to get everything you want? Jill Miiko Lee, who sells her own Honolulu Gourmet label items at…
OMG. Last week I posted that I was headed to Taste of the Hawaiian Range for the first time, the biggest celebration of grass-fed animals in the state. I had seen pictures, but I really had no idea how huge…
HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support), a nonprofit that helps seriously-ill children and their families, held their annual fundraising gala last night at the Modern Honolulu. The sold-out event featured a silent auction with more than 100 items, including a…
If you’re into cooking local food — especially if you’ve moved away from Hawaii and miss it — you’re probably familiar with Frank Abraham’s website, “Cooking Hawaiian Style.” Since moving to the mainland 30 years ago, he found he missed local…
This week, I’m supposed to start a fitness challenge that includes a diet regimen designed to cut out carbs and as many processed foods as possible. When you think about it, though, processed foods are a part of everyday American…
In keeping with Ryan Pang‘s recommendation that I go for a more high-protein diet, I’m headed to the Taste of the Hawaiian Range on the Big Island this coming Friday. It’s often touted as the largest grass-fed meat event in the…
Let’s face it, being a food blogger has its hazards — among them, the battle of the bulge as we plow through menus of the latest restaurants or the newest food trends. Keeping fit on a busy schedule (food blogger…
I went to a nonprofit event the other night that was an interesting approach to a community partnership, and it’s a pretty good idea in the current real estate market. As the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific (REHAB) celebrates its…
Chances are, whether you are a basketball fan or not, you’ve heard of Jeremy Lin and his meteoric rise to NBA fame — no, NBA history — when he seemed to appear out of nowhere and started winning games for…
For two weeks each year, Chef Mavro (@ChefMavro) presents his “greatest hits” on the menu, items that his customers have not tired of over the years. We’re in the middle of that two-week period right now, with the items featured…
I debated on posting this today because, like many of my comrades, I was totally last minute in getting my moon cakes for 2013. I got them yesterday. Moon Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, is today. Even worse, I…
If you live or work in the Aiea area, your healthcare options are about to get a little more convenient in a few weeks. Kaiser Permanente is opening its 20th Hawaii clinic (11th on Oahu) at Pearlridge Center on October…
Will (left) and Marv with the entire collection of snacks that we tasted.As you know, I went to Taiwan, China, and Japan recently, and the trips were so close together that I was able to stockpile a nice collection of…
The movement to buy local and be sustainable continues to grow in Hawaii, and you will find some farms and chefs in some unusual places making this happen. One unique experience can be found at Mari’s Gardens, which is right…
Eighteen world-renowned chefs, many of whom promote the “farm to table” concept in their restaurants, were featured at last night’s gala in the Hawaii Convention Center’s rooftop garden. Each booth offered unique and luxurious dishes that highlighted Hawaii ingredients and/or…
Kaanapali Fresh was created to help people discover the many products that Maui’s farmers have to offer (and the chefs who create with them). When you talk about “farm to table,” Maui’s chefs really put their money where their mouths…
The Hawaii Food and Wine Festival is set to make its third year a big one: Although the events take place on Oahu this week, the festival itself kicked off with a special, open-air, open-kitchen dinner at the Hyatt Regency…
More than 500 people attended one of Maui’s biggest food and wine festivals Saturday night, the big Kaanapali Fresh celebration. The event pairs renowned Maui chefs with the island’s farmers, and they work to create innovative, locavore dishes to present…
Maui’s big Kaanapali Fresh event kicked off yesterday with two events that showcased local ingredients straight from Maui’s farmers: A mixology seminar, and a progressive dinner.Whether you’re into creating cocktails or new to making drinks, the mixology seminar addressed a wide audience…
This weekend is Maui’s big Kaanapali Fresh event, and the event directors have brought me and several other bloggers from around the world over to the Valley Isle to cover the event and get to know some of the chefs…
Our last day in the Osaka area was actually one of the biggest highlights for me. It was different, delicious, and so far out of the way that I don’t know if I will ever get back there again. But…
If you’re reading this on Wednesday morning, there’s some fun things happening downtown today in Tamarind Park. Servco Lexus is launching their 2014 IS 250 this week, so they have it on display for you to see, touch, sit in…
I rarely take tours, but I have to admit, there are definite advantages. Although your time is your own when you’re an independent traveler, the chances of you getting lost are high, and you do have to do a lot…
If you’re a coffee drinker, you’re probably delighted when you get a latte with a cute design in the milk foam. It’s like a bonus in your cup…but did you know that there is an actual science to freehand latte…
Since H.I.S. provided us with a two-day train pass as part of the tour package, we had to decide where to go. So many choices! If you’re looking for an easy day trip from Osaka, however, Kyoto is always the…
Friends, family, fans and local celebrities turned out for Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Pali Kaaihue’s CD release party last night at The Willows. “All In” is his first solo effort and features his instrumental talent through 10 songs. His…
On our first free day with the train pass from H.I.S., Scott Suzui of Ultimate Japan decided that we should do something easy. Nara is about 30 to 40 minutes away, with one transfer. So, off we went. You probably…
As you may have noticed, I’m a week behind in posting my blogs. Every day, as you will see in the coming blog posts, was a packed schedule of activities. Osaka is a city that is a feast for the…
