‘Fresh off the Boat’ Preview

ABC will soon launch a new sitcom called “Fresh off the Boat,” and already Asian-Americans are weighing in with their opinions. Some are proud of the show. Others are offended. Most are just hoping it doesn’t embarrass us. Why such a massive response? Because we’re Asians and we don’t see too much of our kind on American TV. The title…

‘Mad Men’ mid-season finale review

With “Mad Men” being halfway through its final and seventh season, I have to say that it’s been the greatest gift of television thus far. Every episode works like a short story, the season a collection, and the series, an epic novel about an era. I love this show. The smoking, drinking, cheating, sex and drugs become usual aspects, but…

The 2014 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards

ÑPhoto by Russ SumidaIt was a star-studded night at the annual Na Hoku Hanohano awards, the most prestigious celebration of Hawaii’s music. Some of the highlights included Hulu Lindsey winning Female Vocalist of the Year, her first Hoku award in her 55-year career; Mark Yamanaka winning five Hokus, including Male Vocalist of the year (tied with Kamaka Kukona, who took…

‘Blended’ film review

I’m borrowing a bit from my last review of an Adam Sandler movie because the premise still holds true. The following conversation between Adam Sandler and the movie studio may or may not have happened. Sandler: Hey it’s time for me to take my family on a paid vacation again. Let’s shoot another movie. Studio: But Adam, we’ve already sent…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ B&D Butchery

A couple of months ago, I got to attend the first collaboration “table to farm” dinner at Moke’s Bread and Breakfast, presented by B&D Butchery and Shinsato Farm. Award-winning chef and charcuter Doug Kocol and Brett Robinson, both known for their work at Salt, now work directly and exclusively with Shinsato Farm and wanted to showcase the products the farm…

The Chef’s Table at Hiroshi Eurasian Tapas

A lot of restaurants in Hawaii — especially those that have been around for a long time — are successful because they keep their most popular items on the menu for both regulars and those still discovering them. But all chefs, being creative artists in the kitchen, need to expand their horizons and put their talents to work every so…

Frolic TV: Ed & Myong on summer movies

One of the things we’d like to develop at Frolic Hawaii is an ongoing video show featuring the diverse personalities on our team discussing or checking out fun things going on around the island. The concept is to have two Frolic contributors together for each segment, co-hosting or co-discussing some current topic of interest. So here are Ed Morita and…

Intro to our blogs

With the launch of Frolic Hawaii, we thought it would be good to reintroduce our bloggers and their blogs, especially to our newer readers. So here’s a video to help clarify things. The question posed: What’s your blog about and why should people read it?

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 importantly, our team is in intact. Anyone who visits nonstophonolulu.com or links to past Nonstop content will be redirected to…

‘Million Dollar Arm’ Review

Disney certainly has its sports film recipe down. Take one charismatic leading man who needs a life lesson, blend with some likable underdogs, add in equal parts comedy, romance and heart and voila, you have an adequately serviceable, feel-good Disney sports film. Disney utilized this formula so well in past films such as “The Mighty Ducks,” “Remember the Titans” and…

Lei Chic's guide to the weekend's best events

Weekend Picks - May 15, 2014

Shop Operation Market Garden What: Local stores and designers will be stationed in Kakaako this weekend for Honolulu Night Market, ready to invade your summer wardrobe with style. If you haven’t yet, check out the new warehouse location, with more space than ever to hold an army of booths for chic clothes and delicious food. Pick your plunder from sellers…

Lions and drummers and pork belly? Oh yes

If, at a bon dance, you’ve seen men with drums leaping and twirling, the air pulsing with their energy, chances are you’ve seen eisa. It’s exhilarating, this uniquely Okinawan drumming style, and often martial, so that sometimes they’re drumming and handling weaponry, too.Groups from Okinawa and Hawaii converge at Kapiolani Community College this Saturday for drumming, dancing and singing —…

Did this: The Ka’u Coffee Festival

Breakfast of champions in Ka’u: Rusty’s Hawaiian coffee and a box of Punalu’u malasadas.Although it’s been around for six years, this past weekend was my first time at the Ka’u Coffee Festival on the Big Island. They had hired my company to do the social media, and I’m glad I got to share this event with the world — for many…

Custom-made Peace of Paradise swimsuits

Love At First Suit

Josh Hartnett’s smoldering gaze. David Beckham’s athletic bod. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s amazing lip-sync skills. You know exactly what you need to make the perfect man. Unfortunately, finding someone that’s made for you is taking a lot longer than expected. Lucky for you, finding the perfect match in swimwear is a lot easier. Just order yourself a custom Peace of Paradise bikini—you…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Kalei Gamiao

As mentioned in an earlier post about Mele Mei in Hawaii, this month is full of musical events throughout the state — many of them free — all featuring big names local entertainment. If you appreciate local-grown music, these free concerts are great for the whole family. One of the biggest free events happens at the end of this month: The…

Kicking off Mele Mei 2014

Mele Mei kicked off on May 1, starting a monthlong celebration of Hawaii’s music that culminates with the Na Hoku Hanohano festival and awards. For the launch, various local musicians (who are also Na Hoku Hanohano Award nominees) played for a crowd at Altitude@37 in the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel, including Sean Robbins, Kaiholu, Mailani Makainai, and the late Chino Montero….