Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Ono Pops

In this month’s InsideOut Hawaii magazine, Stacy Yuen Hernandez visited Joe and Josh Lanthier-Welch of Ono Pops at their kitchen in Hawaii Kai. For those of you who have yet to try these amazing frozen treats, they are made with local ingredients, right down to the milk used in the cream-based flavors. They even make their own li hing powder…

Video: First Thursday poetry slam

Featured poet: C.R. AveryFirst place: Sterling HigaSecond place: Jonathan Clarke “iNTREPiD” SypertThird place: Hong Guang PyoHuman Beat Box Jason Tom

Cat Chat 17: Puppet sex?

When my editor, Diane Seo, told me that I would be interviewing a puppet on today’s Cat Chat, I was a bit concerned.Not about conversing with a puppet. But that the puppet would upstage me.And sure enough, the puppet — named Princeton and part of Manoa Valley Theatre’s latest production, “Avenue Q,” which opens tomorrow — did just that.“Avenue Q” is…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Honolulu Festival Preview

The Honolulu Festival, now in its 17th year, returns to Waikiki from March 11-13. The weekend is filled with free Japanese cultural activities, from music and dance to food sampling to hands-on craft demonstrations, culminating with a huge parade down Kalakaua Avenue.One of the paid events is the Friendship Gala, where 10 of Honolulu’s outstanding chefs will have samples of…

Video: Riding the food truck craze

Tonight’s Eat the Street Kaka’ako is Hawaii’s biggest leap into the nationwide phenomenon of food truck rallies. Up to 3,000 people are expected between 5-9 p.m. at 555 South St., a four-acre parking lot that’s hosting the event.I had the chance to talk with a few local truck owners about the food truck craze and how Eat the Street is…

Eat the Street: The buzz

We’re expecting an enormous crowd to show for tomorrow’s Eat the Street Kaka’ako, maybe up to 3,000 people if the weather holds up.That’s an incredible projection for a relatively new, grassroots event. But there’s something about bringing locally owned food trucks and street food vendors together in a giant parking lot in the middle of town that’s lit up this…

Cat Chat 16: Eat The Street returns

Who said bigger isn’t always better?Obviously that person didn’t go to last month’s Eat The Street food truck and street food rally in a small parking lot at Kapiolani Boulevard. Because bigger could only be better.And lucky for us, it will.Eat The Street is back on Friday, this time in a bigger venue. (We’re talking a four-acre lot on the…

M&M eats: Jin Din Rou

A new, Japanese-owned Taiwanese restaurant has opened on South King Street with lots of buzz and lines out the door. Does it live up to the hype? Our tasting team, Mari Taketa and Melissa Chang (aka M&M), go to find out. M&M eats: Jin Din Rou ◄ Back Next ► Picture 1 of 20 by Melissa ChangNonstop HonoluluThere’s a new…

A toast to the Oscars

The Oscars are only a week away, and some of us already have our favorite movies, actors and actresses picked out. Tim Rita, a local award-winning mixologist and president of Hawaii’s chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild, has an unusual take on the award ceremony though; he’s created five cocktails ($12 for each one), each corresponding to one of…

‘Five-0’ Preview: ‘Loa Aloha’

“Loa Aloha” — While Five-0 races to stop a mad bomber before he kills again, Danny gets an unexpected visit from his little brother, Matt, a fun-loving, Wall Street broker. The family reunion is cut short, however, when Danny discovers the real reason that Matt is in Hawaii, on HAWAII FIVE-0, Monday, Feb. 21 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS…

Welcome to Hawaii

No doubt, you’ve heard the Japanese welcome message played in airport terminals. Today, the Honolulu International Airport unveiled its new Hawaiian language greeting to welcome travelers to Hawaii. The message in both Hawaiian and English will be played over the terminal intercoms. A video featuring Amy Kalili of ‘Ōiwi TV will also be played on incoming flights to Hawaii. The…

Final day for Audi’s #ProgressIs contest

It’s been just over four days of rallying for support in the Audi #ProgressIs Twitter campaign, and it all comes down to today. The finalist with the most points at 11:59 p.m. ET (7 p.m. Hawai’i time) will be the winner. I’m currently in first place:It’s been an eye opening few days of tweeting, posting, blogging and editing and the…

Cat Chat 15: Better than bar food

When the boutique-style Waikiki EDITION opened about five months ago, people buzzed about celebrity sightings, Morimoto Restaurant and the $10,000-a-night penthouse that’s completely over the top.And the travel world was eager to see this new partnership between hotelier Ian Schrager and Marriott International as the uber-chic Waikiki hotel is the first in the boutique chain.But did anyone tell you about…

Audi #ProgressIs day two

Day two has come to a close for the Audi #ProgressIs Twitter contest finalists.We’re just about half way through, and I’ve dropped in the standings to third place, but I’m confident that we’ll be a strong contender until the end. Here’s the current leader board:Today was filled with RTs and with the addition of my first #ProgressIs YouTube video, I…

Hawaii: In Real Life ~ Caffeine Addict

A new coffee shop/video game store has opened in Pearl City, claiming to give you everything you need to get your blood pumping. On one hand, you can choose from a nice menu of coffee or energy drinks; on the other, you can demo any of the XBox and Wii games that they sell in the store, before you buy…

First day of progress

It’s been a whirlwind of a Monday, but #ProgressIs day one has come to a close. If you haven’t heard by now, I was chosen to be a finalist in the Audi #ProgressIs Twitter contest, a nationwide effort to spread the word about Audi’s brand, it’s mission and what it all means to you.The campaign was made popular with an…

‘Five-0’ Preview: ‘Pōwā Maka Moana’

“Powa Maka Moana”–Real-life engaged couple Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey guest star on the Valentine’s Day episode of HAWAII FIVE-0, Monday, February 14 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. When pirates attack a catamaran full of wealthy spring breakers, Five-0 is first on the scene. Minnillo plays a deckhand on the cruise, and Lachey her boyfriend. Photo: Mario…

Inside Mandara Spa, Wailea

I almost forgot to post one last activity from my Maui trip: A visit to the Mandara Spa in the Wailea Marriott. Something about Wailea makes it conducive to spa treatments, whether it’s the views, the properties, or the way everyone in the area seems so relaxed.On this day, I went to try one of their signature facials: the Elemis…

My lovely durian: The reveal

In my euphoria over acquiring a whole 7.4-pound durian over the weekend, I publicly announced my love for the stinky fruit and offered a taste to fellow durian fans. There weren’t many takers.“In Hong Kong, we’re legally allowed to chop off the hands of people carrying durian — j/k,” @rickyli99 tweeted.“You should smell @NonStopMari, she’s been eating it fresh lately,”…

Cat Chat 14: Coffee geeks

I don’t drink coffee — and on Monday I found out why.I’ve had bad coffee.Some tasted bitter, others charred. Turns out I have probably never had a decent cup of coffee in my entire life — hence, my distaste for it.I learned that by sampling the brew at Beach Bum Cafe, a new microbrew coffee house in downtown Honolulu. (In fact,…