Another awesome HIFF has come to an end, and it was truly a marathon 11 days for me. The thing that really wore me out this year were the number of events. There was an event virtually every night of the festival, so I was spending my afternoons at the theater and nights at awards ceremonies and after-parties. Even so,…
During the past few weeks, the most sought after ticket in town has been for the HIFF premiere of “The Descendants,” starring George Clooney. Although I came to Sunday’s screening simply to take photos outside the theater, I was fortunate to get to see the film, which was shot in Hawaii and based on the novel by local author Kaui…
Alice Inoue doing my astrological chart on my birthdayHave you ever been “stalked” by numbers? I know my friend Nathan Kam has been saying for years that the number 337 appears for him everywhere, and he’s still trying to figure out its significance.I got curious about this because I see people tweet and Facebook “11:11” at 11:11 every day. I…
It was another successful year for the Hawaii International Film Festival. Although I enjoyed some movies more than others, having a chance to see such diverse films from around the world is what makes events like HIFF so special and necessary. I’m a big fan of Asian films, so I often watch popular films from that region. But if it…
Thousands came out to Saturday’s first annual Nonstop Kaka‘ako, a mega pop-up entertainment, food and retail event. There was much to do, see and eat, with entertainment by Anuhea, Yoza, Lost at Sea and Kainalu on the main stage, a ladies lounge, beer garden, a retail tent and more. Here’s a look at what went down: Nonstop Kakaako ◄ Back…
If 40 different food booths, a retail tent and a beer garden aren’t enough to get you to Nonstop Kakaako tonight, maybe this will.Singer/songwriter Anuhea will be performing live on one of two stages at the event.We nailed down the super-busy, self-taught Maui-born talent for a quick Q&A about what she’s been doing, what she’s listening to, and where she…
It happened again. Your Bradley Cooperesque cutie went in for a trim and came out looking like Uncle Fester. You’ve been trying to cut him off from that fifteen-dollar-a-cut chain for months. But the moment he hears the words “salon” or “stylist” things get a little hairy. You need a man-friendly place where he can get a groom with a…
“Headhunters” is exactly the type of movie that makes film events like the Hawaii International Film Festival so worthwhile.After browsing through brief summaries of the lineup, you decide which films sound interesting, then go watch them, not knowing what to expect. Occasionally, you take a gamble and waste two hours of your life on something pretentious, silly or even too…
When I received my media pass for this year’s Hawaii International Film Festival, the first thing I did was ask HIFF Publicity Director Jake Anderson if it would be possible to interview some of the stars scheduled to attend. He very cordially asked me to send him my wish list, and No. 1 on my list was Tamlyn Tomita, star…
There aren’t many events in Honolulu that I actually mark in my calendar.Nonstop Kakaako on Saturday is one of them.And it’s not just because, as part of the Nonstop Honolulu team, I have to be there.This is one of those uber-cool pop-up events in Kakaako that blends food, retail and entertainment in a block party that will have social media…
I got to preview the Taiwanese film, “Night Market Hero,” as one of the designated foodie films of the Hawaii International Film Festival. If you’re looking for a lot of food porn, this won’t be for you. (Although it takes place in a night market, food has a secondary role to the rest of the movie.) Still, it’s very light…
A father collapses and dies after a dinner of Chinese takeout. Two old friends tentatively, fearfully try to rekindle an affair that never was. An actor pours his soul into preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner for an alluring love interest who never shows up.“18 Meals” isn’t about food. It’s about the stories that unfold when people come together over it….
LeSportsac, the company known worldwide for its fashionable nylon bags, just launched a line exclusive to Hawaii called “Mele,” inspired by local musician Raiatea Helm (@RaiateaMusic).The material has a colorful print reminiscent of aloha shirts, with various ukelele amidst flowers and musical notes.Coincidentally, Raiatea was working on her new “Sea of Love” CD when LeSportsac talked to her about the…
iPhone 4S: Transferring data is a special edition of Nonstop Tech podcast designed to help you make the transition to Apple’s new iOS 5 mobile operating system as simple as possible. We give you the steps you need to ensure all your vital data — photos, videos, contacts, calendars and apps — are backed up before you make the move….
I had the privilege of attending Thursday night’s Yelp screening of the fantastic documentary, “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” one of the films at this year’s Hawaii International Film Festival.The film tells the story of 85-year-old sushi master Jiro Ono, who is recognized in Japan as a living national treasure and a recipient of the coveted Michelin Guide three-star rating. Working…
As part of a sneak preview of this year’s Hawaii International Film Festival, I caught a screening of “Kaasan, Mom’s Life.” While it wasn’t on my list of Top 10 must-see films, the story of a manga artist mother struggling to raise her two children, while her alcoholic husband goes in and out of rehab, sounded interesting enough.The film starts…
I have to preface this blog by explaining that Dew Drop Inn was a last minute choice, albeit a good one. The secret Chinese Dinner Society had originally intended to go to Wah Kung, but when Chairman Bixby Ho tried to make reservations for a party of 10, they said we had to provide a 20 percent deposit. He explained…
Local acoustic artist Yoza has just been booked to perform at the Oct. 22 Nonstop Kaka‘ako streetfest, along with fellow island artist, Anuhea.With her sultry rasp and uncanny style, Yoza has redefined the sound of acoustic soul, fusing hip-hop, R&B and Latin sounds in her music. Signed under the Koops 2Entertainment record label, she’s working on her debut album. She…
I think a lot of people are surprised to find out that there really is a Chang — more specifically, Philip Chiang — behind the P.F. Chang’s chain. And yes, he’s not just Chinese, he’s Shanghai-born.Chiang, who now resides in Los Angeles, was in Honolulu last week to launch new menu items and meet the media for the local restaurant’s…
We hit the streets, art galleries and boutiques of Chinatown for October’s First Friday. Some of the marquee events this month featured Jordann Baker and the Nomadic Alchemy Aerial dancers at Soho, the First Friday debut of the Blank Canvas boutique, live music at The DragonUpstairs and the Indigo block party on Nuuanu Avenue.Party pics First Friday October ◄ Back…
It’s often said that George Clooney ages like a fine wine, getting better as the years go by. Of course those who say that are probably referring to his good looks, but now it can also apply to his directorial work. “The Ides of March” is Clooney’s fourth film as a director (“Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Good Night and…
Okay, I’ll admit it. When I first saw the trailer for “Real Steel,” I thought it was ridiculous and wondered why Hugh Jackman would appear in a film that would, without a doubt, bomb and make him lose all his cool points from “Wolverine.” But then I saw the movie, and I was surprised — even shocked — at how…
Fresh Cafe was decked out all in white for October’s First Thursday poetry slam. The new white interior was in preparation for artist Aaron De La Cruz, who was next door painting a car as part of his new exhibit, “Long Walk Home,” opening at Fresh Cafe on Oct. 15.This month’s featured poet was Trinidadian Rico Frederick, who was the…
Lopaka Kapanui explains historical hauntings at Oahu Cemetery in Nuuanu.
