Photo by Burt LumLast night, as part of Slow Art Friday, thousands of people flocked to Chinatown to support The Empty Bowl Project, a fundraiser for Hawaii Meals on Wheels and the River of Life Mission.Twenty A-list restaurants were asked…
Whenever I go to the Saturday KCC farmer’s market, I like to try new food booths to see what’s being served. One of the newer booths, which is now a staple at the farmer’s markets around Oahu, is Grandma G’s.Run…
I was fortunate to get an invitation to a party at the Bayer Estate last night (thanks to Pam Davis!) to meet chefs Peter Foster and Kanani Lincoln of Memoirs, a private chef and catering company. Both men have extensive…
After the party for The Cocktail Handbook, my neighbors Dawn and Derek Paiva wanted to get some real food. Honolulu Magazine Dining Editor John Heckathorn suggested Choon Chun Chicken BBQ, since it was centrally located and was a spot off…
4Kings Kitchen ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 14 By Melissa ChangNonstopA new little restaurant recently opened in Moiliili near Kokua Market and Spices, and it's already a hotspot for lunch and dinner. Don't be fooled by the name;…
Last week, I attended the launch of “The Cocktail Handbook,” which was written by longtime Duke’s Waikiki bartenders Aimee Fujiwara and Jesse Greenleaf (with bonus recipes from notable bartenders around town). I was so smitten by their cocktails that I…
After seeing the edgy Off-Premise dinner that Mari Taketa attended in November, I was intrigued. This month’s dinner was less gritty and more glam, set at Oasis World Estates by Kathy Ireland in Aina Haina. Did This: Off Premise at…
Like many of you, I’m still reeling in shock at the swift and horrific destruction from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I also have friends and family there, which makes this disaster hit closer to home — not to…
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In this month’s InsideOut Hawaii magazine, Stacy Yuen Hernandez visited Joe and Josh Lanthier-Welch of Ono Pops at their kitchen in Hawaii Kai. For those of you who have yet to try these amazing frozen treats, they are made with…
I had seen Sikdorak, a Korean yakiniku place, open near Sushi ii in Samsung Plaza but was always too intimidated to poke my head in. Thanks to foodie Twitter friend Kyle Higa, I got to try it the other night…
The other night at the Red Cross, I took a photo of these sweet potato haupia squares before I ate them, and it caused such a stir! It tasted even better than it looks, with sweet and rich goodness dissolving…
People are increasingly busy nowadays, and no one knows that better than the people at the Hawaii Red Cross. With just 42 staffers to run nine offices statewide, plus an army of volunteers, they have to work on a pretty…
The Honolulu Festival, now in its 17th year, returns to Waikiki from March 11-13. The weekend is filled with free Japanese cultural activities, from music and dance to food sampling to hands-on craft demonstrations, culminating with a huge parade down…
Photo by Ed MoritaFebruary is “Hawaii-grown cacao month,” which was capped off with Hawaii’s first chocolate festival at Dole Cannery Square in Iwilei on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. What could be better than sampling chocolate and chocolate products made…
Some of you may know my friend, Alan Okami, for his “Ka Leo o Kalihi” blog, his presence in the music industry as a principal of KoAloha Ukulele, or his various community activities. Yesterday, he added another dimension to his…
A new, Japanese-owned Taiwanese restaurant has opened on South King Street with lots of buzz and lines out the door. Does it live up to the hype? Our tasting team, Mari Taketa and Melissa Chang (aka M&M), go to find…
Today’s blog is a little off my usual theme to bring you a public service announcement.As you know, I’m big into social media tools. I teach people how to use them for themselves and for their businesses. But I often…
Jade Dynasty ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 18 By Melissa ChangNonstopJade Dynasty, the latest big Chinese restaurant to hit Honolulu, had its soft opening after Christmas and its grand opening last month. Now that the menu has been…
A new coffee shop/video game store has opened in Pearl City, claiming to give you everything you need to get your blood pumping. On one hand, you can choose from a nice menu of coffee or energy drinks; on the…
I’ll admit, even after all these years of sneaking in to do food reviews or just having no other single friends to eat with, I still sometimes flinch at the thought of eating alone. Depending on the restaurant, there’s a…
I almost forgot to post one last activity from my Maui trip: A visit to the Mandara Spa in the Wailea Marriott. Something about Wailea makes it conducive to spa treatments, whether it’s the views, the properties, or the way…
The Junior League of Honolulu had a kickoff party for their Sacs in the City event at Tory Burch, who is this year’s sponsor of their fashion show coming up on March 5. The in-store party featured networking, champagne, pupu,…
Ululani's shave ice ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 23 Ululani's shave ice, with locations in Kahului and Lahaina, is famous for their super-fine shave ice and unique, homemade flavors. Choose from an overwhelming menu of about 40 flavors,…
I stayed one extra night on Maui because Julie Yoneyama said I had to see the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, which is the only hotel in the state to have the distinction of being named “the most Hawaiian” by the Waiaha…
My friend Michi had told me to go to Bistro Casanova in Kahului, but I didn’t know what to expect. Whenever I told someone I planned to go there, they would say, “Oh, I hear that place is good!” But…
Did you know that National Margarita Day is Feb. 22? Pablo’s Cantina in Ward Center is celebrating with a mix-off to find out which bartender makes the best margarita in Honolulu.Ten of Hawaii’s biggest names in mixology will face off…
While on Maui, my friend Julie Yoneyama took me to her favorite restaurant: Mala Ocean Tavern. Many of you who know Maui’s restaurant scene will remember Mark Ellman, who previously owned Avalon. He opened his latest restaurant on the water…
I wouldn’t normally tell you about my spa experiences, but this is one of two on Maui that was so good, I have to share. I finished my stay at the Grand Wailea with a treatment at their Spa Grande. This…
Simplicio Paragas of InsideOut Hawaii magazine recently did a profile on Maui boy Isaac Bancaco, who had been away from Hawaii for more than a decade. He completed his culinary degree in Portland, OR, and had worked at Ming Tsai’s…
As you know, I went to Maui to help blog and tweet about the fundraiser for the Maui Coastal Land Trust (now known as the Hawaii Islands Land Trust) but I did need to find lodging. As luck and timing…
More people are taking photos of their food nowadays. Are you one of them? Do you wish you could take better food pictures, even with a point-and-shoot?I’ve been at it for years, and I always strive to take better pictures…
Roasted beet risotto from I'o Pacific'OAs you know, I’m a big advocate for the use of social media for raising awareness of businesses, non-profits, and yes, even yourself. But more than that, it’s imperative that we interact with each other…
Photo by Fern DuvalAs many of you know, the Nonstop team is active in the realm of social media. We blog, we tweet and Facebook, all in the name of sharing things with our network and driving traffic to our…
Pete and Sylvia Thompson of Licious Dishes at the farmer's market.People often ask how I stay healthy (or try to) when I eat so much doing food galleries and restaurant reviews. Here’s a secret: I’m always eating, even if it’s…
Lunching with reader Melissa Ibarra (left) and her friends Mary Correa and Krislen Chun.Have you seen the movie, “Julie & Julia?” The heroine is a blogger, and the story takes us through her psychological journey as she puts great effort…
Did you know that actor Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa was a healer before he became an actor? The Asian practices of healing and martial arts are actually his passion, and his acting career has helped him to promote it.Not many people know…
I’ve been waiting to try Jade Dynasty in Ala Moana Center’s Ho’okipa Terrace. I know they opened after Christmas, but I had been hearing that they were still tweaking the menu to adjust to local tastes. Word on the street…
When I was at UH — struggling to pay my own tuition, I might add — my dad suddenly turned to me one day and said, “Do you want to go to bartending school? I’ll pay your tuition.” I was…
The HURT 100 during the day. —Photo by Augusto DecastroDid you know that one of the hardest ultramarathons in the country takes place right here on Oahu? Every January, the Hawaii Ultra Running Club (HURT) of Hawaii puts on the…
