You may have seen a lot of buzz in social media about how travel agency H.I.S. ran some crazy cheap round trip fares from Honolulu to Osaka for the summer, starting at $300. Although summers are notoriously hot in Asia, the price was too cool to pass up, and Hawaii residents have been checking out what Japan’s third largest city…
Kollaboration Honolulu 2013 unfolded at Mamiya Theatre Saturday night, with family singing group Da Araz winning the $1,000 grand prize and opportunity to represent Honolulu in the national Kollaboration contest. Dance group Blank Canvas won the Audience Choice Award. Special guest star Dumbfoundead also performed, collaborating with DJ Zo and Breezy.Kollaboration produces 15 shows in 13 cities nationwide and promotes…
Have you heard of the women’s apparel store, Calypso St. Barth? I had not, until I got invited to their opening at Royal Hawaiian Center, but I’m not as elevated in consciousness about fashion as Tyson or Amanda, our fashion bloggers. Then again, my learning about the store from the ground up will help me introduce the store to you.Calypso…
I wasn’t sure if “Elysium” was a real word, so I looked it up and found the following definition – “a place or state of perfect happiness.” How fitting, because I’m always very happy when I’m asleep.This film is a big bore. It doesn’t go anywhere and worse, it takes forever to get there. The story takes place in the…
Shark Week certainly had its share of fin-tastic moments: Discovery Channel made a splash with its fake Megalodon documentary. A dead shark surprised many New York subway riders. Shark Cat returned to YouTube (this time, without the duck). Though this epic week is coming to a close, your celebration of all things shark-related doesn't have to. Here are some Jaws-dropping…
If there’s one thing the summer movie season of 2013 has taught us, it’s that the “f-word” is funny. “The Hangover Part III,” “This is the End” and “The Heat” all earned their R ratings through language instead of nudity, and all three films have either surpassed or are about to surpass the $100 million box office milestone. Whether we use…
The marketing video for this week’s open house of the week got my attention.
As you know, Hawaii-based pancakes are a big fad in Japan and several local restaurants have opened branches there — to crowds that stand in line for two to three hours just for breakfast. In yesterday’s blog about my Top 5 pancake places, I mentioned that Moke’s Bread & Breakfast has signed a partnership with Sanrio Co. (yes, of Hello…
ByChari neon shell stretchy bracelets, $22 each, and Bali tassel bangle, $50 each. Q: What do Christina Aguilera and Waikiki jewelry designer Chari Cuthbert have in common? A: They both know a thing or two about being a Fighter. Okay, so Cuthbert was never actually in a fight, but she did work on Spike TV's reality series The Ultimate Fighter…
At $6.9 million, realtor Annie Kwok’s new listing on Lanikai Beach is the lowest priced home on that particular stretch of Kailua shoreline.
School's back in session and, whether or not you have a wee (or not-so-wee) one in the backseat, you're sharing the road with tens of thousands of backpack-toting, pencil-pushing students. There's no better reason to get in the school spirit with 10 songs that channel a peppy, back-to-school vibe (not coincidentally, most of these artists are still "school-age" themselves). For…
“Fruitvale Station” is based on the true story of 22-year-old Oscar Grant III, who was shot to death by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) police on New Year’s Day 2009. The film introduces Oscar on New Year’s Eve, in bed with his girlfriend Sophina and his young daughter Tatiana. It’s made clear he’s sinned in the past by dealing drugs…
Attend Good Night Moon What: Enjoy a relaxing evening filled with exquisite art, wine, and food at August Moon, a benefit for arts education at the Honolulu Museum of Art. For the first time ever, chefs will be pairing their dishes with specific wines, like Stage's sous vide pork tenderloin with fried apple puree, applewood smoked bacon, and a glass…
You’ve probably seen the little glass globes hanging in the windows of Paiko, one of the most intriguing little shops on Auahi Street. Word has been spreading lately that this is the place to get affordable decorative indoor flora that is both hardy and unusual.“We call ourselves a botanical boutique,” said founder Tamara Leed, an Aina Haina girl who named…
There aren’t very many condo units for sale at the Esplanade in Hawaii Kai, so when realtor Vicki Yu heard about #22N, she initially considered buying it for herself instead of listing it.
I have to interrupt my Asia blogs with an important episode of Hawaii: In Real Life, since time is of the essence. You see, there’s a new nonprofit organization in Hawaii, started by a group of business and community leaders, called The Aloha Project. These community-minded advocates got together to create an organization that would not only benefit the local…
Today I will be traveling with the Punahou Gold Intermediate Baseball Team, the coaches and their families on a goodwill trip to the tsunami-affected areas of Japan.
Truth is, I’ve never been in a fight.The closest I’ve been to a brawl? Blue belt judo classes in the 5th grade. Playing “Punch Out” on the Wii. Impulse-buying the 13-disc “Gracie Combatives” DVD (never opened). Pretty sure those don’t count.So maybe I’m not the most credible source when it comes to talking about that thing I’m not supposed to…
Buzz is already spreading about a new bar that’s opening in Kaka‘ako this August, run by none other than Honolulu’s award-winning master mixologist Christian Self, whose career has included working with Las Vegas-based bar consultant company BarMagic, and managing the bars at EDITION Waikiki and thirtyninehotel. Joined by familiar faces from the thirtyninehotel crew, including Chef Jamal Lahiani and his…
There are three things you will want to do in Shanghai to really get a look at their culture: If you’re a shopper, go to the counterfeit market; even if you’re not a shopper, go to the marriage market; and if you are really not a shopper, well, just go to the museums.You’ll find many counterfeit markets in Shanghai, some…
Download Market Research What: Navigate Honolulu Night Market like pro tonight by downloading the new Honolulu Night Market app, free on iTunes and Google Play (screenshots above). Map out mini events, galleries, and activities throughout the area, check in to various locations, and access special content. View a live photo feed via #HNLNightMarket, check for updates, pull up an entertainment…
Aside from the various districts, Shanghai is divided into two distinct areas: Puxi, the main city; and Pudong, where the tallest buildings are. You will see a lot of tall buildings on the Puxi side, but they are a mix of businesses, condominiums, and hotels. In Pudong, they are mostly businesses and a few hotels. Since the whole area of…
Photo by Ed MoritaThis weekend, GreenWheel Food Hub partners with Salt Bar & Kitchen, Naked Cow Dairy, Hawaiian Vodka, Tante’s Bakery and Kako‘o‘oiwi to bring a “Preservation Celebration” to Kaka‘ako.The four-day event started Thursday with the opening of their pop-up food shoppe at R/D, where they held a preview event showcasing and selling some of the artisan meats, cheeses, breads,…
I left Taipei for a quick detour to visit my niece Cymri in Shanghai, which is about a $400 round trip at this time of year. I had not been to Shanghai since maybe 1983, when it was still very industrial and kind of dingy. I had seen photos and videos of this redeveloped city and despite knowing that it…
