A lot can happen in a year. Just ask Mylen Fe Yamamoto. When we interviewed her a year ago, her Kickstarter for her new invention, Cropsticks, was just 24 percent funded. Cropsticks took the viral hack of snapping off the…
I have samurai blood in me. At least that’s what my mother tells me. Her ancestors were land owners so that meant they were samurai. But if there’s one thing I learned after watching the new documentary “Mifune: The Last…
This Friday, the Ohina Short Film Showcase is back at the historic Hawaii Theatre. Since 1999, Ohina’s been a celebration of short films created by local storytellers, fueled by a passion for film. In keeping with last year’s Ridiculously Short…
I remember flipping through the channels. Sportscenter was showing the trailer for “Gleason,” the story of former New Orleans Saints, special teams kamikaze, Steve Gleason. It was about how this tenacious, physical athlete responded to a diagnosis of ALS. It…
This Wednesday, DC Comics released “New Super-Man” #1. For you non-nerds, DC Comics is the home of pop culture’s holy trinity of super heroes: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. But what makes “New Super-Man” #1 so special? And why am…
If you live in Hawaii, there’s a 99 percent chance you saw this video on your social media feed last week: Pashyn Santos is the comic mind behind “Pidgin Siri.” The video was a viral phenomenon, garnering over 3 million…
Take a moment and think. What were you doing five years ago? Who were you dating? How many pounds lighter were you? What were you listening to on your iPod? Why did you sign up for Google+? Maybe, if you…
There was a lot to love about “Captain America: Civil War.” But one of the best parts had to be the reintroduction of our friendly neighborhood Spider-man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film rights for Spidey have been with…
Last month, you may have seen this clever chopstick hack on social media and asked yourself, “Why didn’t I think of that?” You simply break the top off your disposable wooden chopsticks to create a chopstick rest, avoiding the mess…
“This is the best night ever!” The movie hadn’t even started yet, but for my daughter, the night was off to a good start. That was a relief for me because tonight was a big deal. A Death Star-sized big…
They say the journey is the destination. But for comedian Jonah Ray, the destination is pretty damned sweet too. I first heard of Ray as a regular listener of the “Nerdist Podcast,” not knowing he was actually a local boy…
It happens every year at the Hawaii International Film Festival. So many choices. To help, we asked Hawaii’s top filmmakers, producers and curators to share the movies and events they’re most excited about at HIFF 35. So here are 11…
Photo by Hugh E. Gentry. ©2015 Disney. All Rights Reserved. “Be patient.” That’s what I told my antsy 4-year-old daughter towards the end of Monday’s “Moana” press conference at the Disney Aulani. That’s right, I took a 4-year-old to…
Well folks, it’s officially “Star Wars” season. As we creep up to Dec. 18, the official release date of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” let’s rewind the tape back to 1977 to a time when we were younger, more innocent…
This year, I was asked to be a judge at the Ohina Short Film Showcase by Gerard Elmore, the executive director. I was honored – but wary. This micro-fest has showcased Hawaii’s best short films for 15 years. But would…
If you thought puberty was tough, try parenthood. That’s the impression I walked away with after seeing Pixar’s “Inside Out.” My 4-year-old, of course, had a completely different take. A little over a year ago, I took my daughter to…
TWO big Hollywood films shot in Hawaii are at your multiplex this weekend. So which movie should you spend your hard-earned money on? Let’s look at the contenders. While the trailer for “Aloha” gave me high hopes, this star-studded film…
Next Wednesday’s Consolidated Theatres Hana Hou Picture Show promises to be one hell of a dinner and movie night with “Big Trouble in Little China” and a special “Pork Chop Express” pop-up by the Pig & the Lady. That’s fitting,…
There was no pressure on Nahnatchka Khan. All she had to do was pitch, write, manage and will into existence a new sitcom based on the outspoken and iconoclastic Eddie Huang’s memoir — which also happened to be the first…
“Imagine there was someone out there you’d never met who looked exactly like you and was born on your birthday. ‘Twinsters’ is the story of Samantha Futerman and Anaïs Bordier, two strangers who discovered they were potential twin sisters separated…
“Furious 7’ premiered last night at South by Southwest. Variety said, “The hit muscle-car franchise does itself and the late Paul Walker proud with a solid seventh entry.” In light of the good reviews and the monumental expectations for the…
I first met Kimee Balmilero a few years ago at the HIFF Creative Lab New Media Camp. At the time, I was a mentor and she was a participant.Little did I know, she could’ve taught ME a thing or two.If…
Hi, John Cusack. Is that really you? If you’re reading this, you’re probably on set between takes and you’ve stumbled upon this column on your iPhone because you were Googling yourself. Not judging. We all do it. So while I…
“The Godfather” is back on the big screen this Thursday night for Consolidated Theatres Oscars Classics series at Ward. I have. So much. To write about. Next to “Citizen Kane,” “The Godfather” is widely regarded as THE best film of…
The home base for the 2022 Hale ‘Aina Restaurateurs of the Year is a hidden paradise that serves up the best Lao and Thai food in Honolulu.
