Chefs Jayse Sato, left, and Grant Oura of Rua Catering. I was excited to try out one of Maui’s newest hidden gems last week, a pop-up by two seasoned chefs on the island scene who have been knocking it out of the…
The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT) had its 15th annual fundraiser at the Old Lahaina Luau last night, a sold-out community event featuring food, Ocean Vodka cocktails, a silent and live auction, and live entertainment headlined by John Cruz. The community…
A unique property renovated by a craftsman.
I didn’t get to get a significant taste of as many hotspots Downtown as I would have liked on this last trip, but hopefully you get an idea of the area’s resurgence. The new restaurants and bars are within walking…
Get the luxury of a single-family home with the convenience of a condo.
Hawaii visitors and residents have been waiting eagerly for Blue Note Hawaii — an outpost of the famous New York jazz club — to open in the Outrigger Waikiki in the former Society of Seven showroom. Last night, dignitaries, celebrities…
I’ve said it before: You can now have a great vacation in Las Vegas with awesome eats, without ever having to go to The Strip. Thanks to the efforts to revitalize Downtown, the area is just as hip and fun…
Most of you Hawaii readers have been to Las Vegas many times, probably more than I have. So I’m not going to talk about the same old stuff that everyone has tried already. On my recent trip to The Ninth…
One of the rare homes in Hawai‘i Kai under $1 million.
So, how are those New Year resolutions going? If you’re looking for a workout facility, the YMCA of Honolulu‘s six branches are having an open house this Saturday, where you can tour the facilities, try a class, and meet other people…
Most people think of hospital food — even the items served in the public cafeteria — as bland and unexciting. But what if the hospital has a chef and a fully trained culinary team? I was skeptical when the public…
I know, this blog post is pretty delayed, sorry! I had to finish my Japan adventures before I could start on my new one. Run! Godzilla overlooking Hotel Gracery Shinjuku. The rooms looking at his face are sold out. I…
Get a look at this “fantasy” house with a view of Diamond Head.
President Barack Obama, won’t you be my neighbor?
Usually hidden gems come through people who live or work in an old neighborhood and have known about the place for years. But this one is sort of new, and I had to find out about it through someone visiting Hawaii. Even…
How many more shopping days until Christmas? Do you know that I’m still shopping for things as you read this, despite the fact that I try to escape from the madness every year to Las Vegas? How do I get…
A spacious island-style home in Mānoa.
I didn’t realize that last night’s modern kaiseki at Hale Ohuna was chef Lee Anne Wong’s first. She’s been really jazzed about Japan and been flying there a lot, not just to research for her restaurant, but to work on her…
The surf legend’s oceanfront estate is for sale.
Denise Luke and Lee Anne Wong of Hale Ohuna have been busy prepping for a special kaiseki this coming Sunday, featuring hand-picked sake pairings from award-winning Kikusui Brewery — three of which you can’t even get. When brewer Richard Priest got…
A rarely available golf course home in Kai Nani.
Everyone has heard of Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, the largest fish market of its kind, with rows and rows of vendors selling the freshest catch of the day in every form. There are rules. They are tired of tourists. You…
Deb’s route took us north toward the coast, to Hitachinaka. Yes, Hitachi brand is the primary employer in this area, so pretty much everything bears its name. These towns are cute, but really small, so it was appropriate that I…
When traveling through Japan with my buddy Deb Aoki, it really is about the journey and not the destination. The destinations are great, but the only way we can make little discoveries is to stop along the way and see…
John Lennon, Yoko Ono and their son Sean. One of our main destinations in our trek outside of Tokyo was the upscale resort town of Karuizawa, but unfortunately it rained most of the time we were there, so I didn’t…
Hana may be a sleepy little Maui town, but there’s been a lot going on there in the last several months. The 70 rooms are undergoing a $12 million restoration project, they brought their restaurant operations back in house, and they got…
Get a look at this house before President Barack Obama arrives on O‘ahu.
The biggest surfers in the world are gathering today on Oahu’s north shore for the 31st annual Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave riding event opening ceremonies, and from there, they’ll pray for surf. The event has a three-month holding…
If you randomly look at Kobuchizawa on a map, you may wonder why people would ever peg it as a destination. It’s kind of on the road to the middle of nowhere and it doesn’t seem like there’s much around…
Singer/songwriter Aidan James had a star-studded CD release party last night at the Doris Duke Theatre, bringing celebrity musicians, the cast of Hawaii Five-0, chefs and producers together to support him in his latest project. “Echoes” drops on December 1, featuring…
You know it’s a nice day in Tokyo when you can see Mt. Fuji. The view from Hotel Metropolitan Ikebukuro. We had originally planned to visit the Yamazaki whisky distillery in Osaka, but found that it would be closed in…
It sounds kind of touristy, but you might have fun at the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama if you have the time. Many of my friends have been through this attraction, and it is actually pretty interesting if you look…
Tokyo fanatics who geek out on the vast amount of comics, games, anime and more should head out to Nakano Broadway, a whole mall with collectible stuff from old-school classics to the current popular characters. Deb Aoki always tells me…
This home has breathtaking views of Diamond Head.
First things first when in Japan: Get some good sushi! There’s no place better for fresh raw seafood than at Tsukiji Market itself. Since Deb and I are veterans of the famous fish market, we allowed ourselves a slightly later start…
I’m back on the road again, and yes, back in Japan, but I try to get a different experience every time I return to any destination. It’s always an adventure with my classmate, manga/anime blogger Deb Aoki, so be sure…
A contemporary and spacious home in Makiki Heights.
When Gokoku Sushi opened in grand style at Koko Marina Center a year ago, it was all set to bring upscale Japanese dining to Hawaii Kai. The problem was, the upscale prices matched the real estate market projections for East…
When Bread + Butter first opened in the former Angelo Pietro spot (next to Shokudo), I was all about the breakfast and lunch offerings. I’ve become a regular there because I like to coffice, with their wifi and bright surroundings.…
It’s been about a year and a half since Angelo Pietro closed its Kapiolani Boulevard location and disappeared for a while as the owners looked for a new place. Well, as you may have heard, they finally reopened, and are…
