Happy birthday, Rap Reiplinger

Poi Dog, one of the most popular of Rap Reiplinger’s nine comedy albums. If you’re local, usually over 35 years old, you remember this funny guy with a funny name who hit the comedy scene in the 1970s. Rap Reiplinger made locals laugh both with the group Booga Booga (with Ed Ka’ahea and the late James Grant Benton) and on his…

‘The Gallows’ hangs in there

In the first few minutes of the “The Gallows” I thought, “Oh no, not another movie filmed entirely on a hand-held camera.” But as the story unfolded, I got hooked. Blumhouse Productions brought “old school” back with this flick, just as they did with the first “Paranormal Activity,” allowing the audience to get to know the characters before the horror…

A menu makeover for Tsurumen

When Tsurumen first opened on Kapahulu more than a year ago, I went for lunch but wasn’t going to do a blog post. It was too soon, and the food didn’t seem ready yet. But so many people asked about it, I did a quick review. It was lukewarm at best, and I never felt compelled to go back since…

Guide to Saturday’s Korean Festival

Photo by Ed MoritaI’m on the board of the Hawaii Korean Chamber of Commerce, which is putting on Saturday’s Korean Festival at Magic Island, so I may be a bit biased when I say it’s one of the most fun festivals of the year. But seriously, with more than 30,000 people expected to show up, K Fest has definitely become…

A review of ‘Inside Out’ by a 4-year-old

If you thought puberty was tough, try parenthood. That’s the impression I walked away with after seeing Pixar’s “Inside Out.” My 4-year-old, of course, had a completely different take. A little over a year ago, I took my daughter to see her first movie on the big screen. You can read her “Review of Frozen by a 3-year old” here….

How hard is indoor climbing, really?

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 go. Until now. Volcanic Rock Climbing and Fitness opened its doors just over a month ago and invited me in….

Win tickets to Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’

We’re giving away five pairs of tickets to an advance VIP screening of Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man,” an action-adventure tale starring Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly and Paul Rudd. The film screens Wednesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. at Consolidated Ward 16 Theatres (the film officially opens July 17). To enter, just fill out the form below to sign up for our…

Fourth of July @ Ala Moana

Some 50,000 people turned out for the 24th Annual Fourth of July fireworks spectacular at Ala Moana and Magic Island, launched from three separate platforms at Ala Moana Beach Park and sponsored by Ala Moana Center with a soundtrack by FM 92.3 KSSK. Surprisingly, there were still places to park at Ala Moana Center near sunset, and while there were…

‘Magic Mike XXL’ is more like ‘Magic Mike ZZZ’

Channing Tatum and his bunch of merry men are back for another go-round in “Magic Mike XXL.” You’d think that would mean more thongs, more skin and more fun. No such luck. Here’s five questions for “Magic Mike XXL.” What’s it about? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If you’re really searching for some sort of plot, it’s about a bunch of buddies…

Sipping toward the Joy of Sake: Kickoff party

Photo by Eric Baranda. Kampai! Get ready for the largest, most extensive sake-tasting event in the country — the largest in the world outside Japan — as the Joy of Sake kicks off ticket sales for its annual event happening July 31 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center. This year promises to be bigger than ever,…

‘Ted 2’ is more than bear-able

It’s a comedy about a talking teddy bear. No need to read too much into it. Her are five questions for “Ted 2.” What’s it about? After experiencing some marital problems, Ted (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) and Tami-Lyn decide to salvage their relationship by having a baby. But Ted has some anatomical shortcomings, so they look into options such as…

Something new: Shimazu Shave Ice on Kapahulu

As the temps start inching upwards of 90 degrees, it’s only natural that Shimazu Store, the popular shave ice spot on School Street, would branch out with a second location to cool us off. And, since it is a local favorite, it’s only natural that it open in Hawaii’s Favorite Kitchens on Kapahulu, where you can get a bite of other…

‘Inside Out’ is genius

INSIDE OUT Progression Image (3 of 7). CHARACTERS – Character creation begins with modeling, a process of translating the character’s overall form into the computer. These forms are then articulated to allow them to move. If called for, hair and clothing are added. The final step, shading, involves applying textures, colors, patterns and other material properties that will add complexity….

No hope in ‘Dope’

I love urban stories. I love high school coming-of-age films. I love hip-hop culture. I should have loved “Dope.” Nope. Here are five questions for “Dope.” What’s it about? Malcolm, Diggy and Jib are three best friends who are perfectly comfortable with their geeky love of ‘90s hip-hop, retro dress code and other eccentricities. But after attending a drug dealer’s…

Kapalua Wine Fest and cooking with Michael Mina

As mentioned yesterday, one of the must-do things at the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival is a celebrity chef demo. You get to watch them in action, get some tips, and best of all, eat their food for lunch. Chefs Michael Mina and Adam Sobel at the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival. I made sure I got a seat at…

Honolulu’s ‘power lunch’ hot spots

Sponsored By Steve T. Yeti, ambassador of Real Jobs Hawaii Let’s be clear. Honolulu isn’t Hollywood or New York, but we still have our share of “power lunches.” If seated at the right table at the right restaurant, you may be privy to a groundbreaking business deal, covert job interview or a political power play. Grab lunch at one of…

Kapalua Wine Fest and cooking with Charlie Palmer

Most people know the Kapalua Wine & Food Festival for its signature events, like the Grand Tasting and the Seafood Festival that we covered. But if you really want to know more about American wine, a weekend pass will get you into various classes, where you can taste a flight according to a theme and meet the winemakers behind them. You…

Kakaako street food scene hits 2.0

Those tables, tents and food trucks you see at the old Fisherman’s Wharf? On Ala Moana just across Ward Warehouse? That’s Kakaako’s new street food pod. Not only that, it’s a permanent thing, and the start of something much bigger. Those five trucks and tents will rotate every day at lunch and dinner, seven days a week, so the lineup…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Father’s Day at Shokudo

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 21, and families around the country will be taking time to thank the dads in their lives for all that they do. Typically, people go out to restaurants on Mother’s Day and stay home (or go to the beach) to grill on Father’s Day — but this year, Shokudo is combining the two with…