Matohu photos courtesy: Brie Thalmann (left and right), Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (middle). Wow. Tokyo Fashion Week is speeding by faster than a bullet train. As we revealed yesterday, HONOLULU fashion editors Brie Thalmann and Stacey Makiya are in Japan's fashion trenches, infiltrating shows and capturing fall's hottest trends. With all that stylish wear-fare, spotty Internet connections, and a 19-hour time…
Locally produced by Kinetic Films, “Hang Loose” is a comedy about a bachelor party in Hawaii that goes terribly wrong. I had the opportunity to sit down with three members of the film’s cast – Dante Basco, Dion Basco and Justin Chon to talk about their latest projects, favorite local foods and behind-the-scenes romances. You can catch “Hang Loose” as…
As mentioned in Myong Choi’s blog on Monday, three locally-produced films will be showing at Pearlridge West 16 for spring break, starting today. The premiere of “Hang Loose” kicked it off last night with red carpet festivities and a party at Dave & Busters after the show. All the “who’s who” in Hawaii film making showed up, as well as…
As you saw in last week’s Hawaii IRL, the Hawaii Foodbank is holding its annual foodie fundraiser on March 23, Great Chefs Fight Hunger. (Click here to see last year’s photos.) About 20 local chefs are participating, so the food is obviously the big draw…but the drinks are equally special. There will be stations throughout the event that will provide…
Everyone’s always talking about “buying local” and “eating local.” Well how about “watching local?”Local film production company Kinetic Films has partnered with Consolidated Theatres to show three feature films, “Hang Loose,” “Paradise Broken” and the short film anthology “6B” starting this Friday, March 15, at Pearlridge West 16 Theatres. James Sereno, an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Kinetic Films, is…
Qui a coupe le fromage? Or, for you non French speakers, who cut the cheese?Saturday, cheese mongers at Whole Foods Markets across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom attempted to break a Guinness World Record by simultaneously cracking 400 wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano.Here in Honolulu at Whole Foods Kahala, they cut the cheese while doing the “Parlem Shake.”Here are…
Shop Prints Charming What: Though it's only been in stores for a few days, 19th & Whimsy's spring collection is already turning up the heat with handkerchief hem wrap dresses, shimmery raglan tees with tiny flower details, and belted dresses covered in colorful paw prints (left), courtesy of designer Lauren Hayashibara's very own pooch. Where: LMS Boutique, 2909 Lowrey Ave.,…
No one can say director Sam Raimi is afraid to take on a challenge. After creating a brand new universe for one of the most popular comic book characters with his “Spider-Man” trilogy, he now offers his interpretation of one of the most beloved films of all time, “The Wizard of Oz.” “Oz the Great and Powerful” is not a…
You know the guy at karaoke who owns the mic and drunkenly sings his soul out without giving a damn what people think? I love that guy.But that’s not me.I’m the guy who used to lip sync during grade school chapel because my voice sounded like Kermit the Frog. And there’s the rub. Because “Grease” is back on the big…
Today’s IRL blog is actually twofold: One, to talk about Whole Ox Deli (@WholeOxDeli), and two, to talk about the upcoming Great Chefs Fight Hunger event put on by the Hawaii Foodbank (@HawaiiFoodbank) on March 23. Click here to see last year’s photos.The event started as chef D.K. Kodama’s brain child on the lawn at Restaurant Row, since he has…
I’ve never been a fan of movies like “The Lord of the Rings,” “Clash of the Titans” and “Harry Potter,” which are based on fantasy with lots of CGI. So when I learned of “Jack the Giant Slayer,” I imagined it would be yet another lifeless entry of fairy tales made into films such as “Alice in Wonderland” and last…
Lex Brodie was famous for thanking everyone, “very much,” but Hawaii’s television and radio commercials have been full of catchy earworms for decades now. Here are some of our favorites—see how many of them are already stuck in your head….
As you saw from Ed Morita’s blog, Doraku Sushi recently opened their second Hawaii location on Kapiolani Blvd. I knew that owner Kevin Aoki was the son of Benihana chain founder Rocky Aoki, but if you met him, you’d never know the generations of restaurant success behind him. He’s very laid back and kind of soft spoken, but friendly and…
Research reveals great white sharks’ swim patterns include the Hawaiian Islands.
Before Waikiki-born Bruno Mars landed on Hollywood’s radar, he entertained audiences in Hawaii as “Little Elvis.”
Chocolate abounded in all its forms in the heart of Kakaako Friday night, where 40 food trucks and street food vendors all brought out dishes featuring our favorite sweet. But the story wasn’t all about ice cream and fudge and donuts and drizzles. It was also about chocolate chicken, chocolate pork, chocolate steak and chocolate bacon. And the big question:…
Last week, when I interviewed Colin Field, he said he asks bartenders to consider the message they are trying to convey with the drinks they make, as one would with a traditional work of art. His creations were beautiful and straightforward, and good introductions to the art found in Hawaii Cocktail Week.Earlier this week, Japanese bartender — or bar master,…
Meet Sister Act What: Turns out singing runs in Bruno Mars' family – four of his sisters make up the girl group, The Lylas. Meet Jaime, Tahiti, Tiara and Presley tomorrow night as they celebrate the release of their first single and music video, "Come Back." The party is also a send-off; the sisters are moving to Los Angeles to…
Have you heard of the Harlem Shake? Now that Gangnam Style has played itself out (and PSY is galloping all the way to the bank), a new video meme craze has taken over the YouTube channels. It’s kind of a fun, nonsensical dance — sometimes done cheesily, like with most random people, and sometimes done well, like the University of…
With YouTube reporting that the upload rate of Harlem Shake videos reached 4,000 per day, we thought we’d take a look and see what Hawaii’s been doing.
Dave Newman (left) and Kyle Reutner. I first met bartender Dave Newman a few years back when he was bar manager at Nobu Waikiki, and his reputation preceded him. At first, I was a little intimidated. Not only was he very tall, but the way the other bartenders, including my friend Tim Rita, who was president of the U.S. Bartender’s…
Yes, it slimed. Yes, it wafted. And yes, it was in every dish. NATTO AGAIN!, Nonstop’s latest foray into the world of the odiferous fermented soybean, featured natto in ways the world likely has never seen, thanks to the mind of chef Grant Kawasaki.Called upon to come up with Nonstop’s third all-natto feast, Kawasaki studied the dishes at the first…
Hawaii lawmakers are considering anti-paparazzi legislation. Want to see candid photos of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler in his home on Maui? Dream on. The legislation is named after the rocker who testified with sweet emotion at a Senate committee hearing. Fleetwood Mac's Mick Fleetwood joined Tyler to support the crazy proposal. If you don't wanna miss a thing, read the full…
It’s not every day you get to taste a cocktail made by a man labeled “the best bartender in the world” by Forbes Magazine. The Halekulani has brought Colin Field, that bartender of distinction, to work with their bartenders on new drinks for their L’Apertif and Lewers Lounge venues, and Tracy Chan and I got a chance to watch him…
