October 2006 archive
I listened yesterday to a news report on the local public radio news station detailing growing gripes from locals over the bike tours that descend from Haleakala each morning after sunrise. The tours ride the serpentine descent down the…
The Basics: Built in the 1920s, this classic Wailuku home with gabled roofs and Queen Anne detailing was restored by Janice and Tom Fairbanks to perfection in 1998. Decorated with period piece furniture and themed after the whimsical verse of…
Here's the latests in our series of beach lists from John Clark, the noted Hawaii beach expert and all around beach nut, will be feeding us his extremely informed take on beaches around Hawaii. You can buy his books at…
It's still a really nice place to stay with a great beach in a quiet setting. But we had noticed the Kahala had been slipping a bit since the management turnover there in the past year -- just little…
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Since Captain Cook first landed at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island, everyone has wanted a piece of Hawaii. The Brits, French, Russians and Americans dueled for it during the 19th century. The Missionary ruling elite figured out a way…
Asiaphile shopaholics tend to lose their minds in Honolulu. You can buy hard-to-find purple chinese clay teapots from Taiwan, rare antique Japanese tansu chests, and jade of all shapes and shades. There's also a ton of nifty east-meets-west fusion…
High surf advisory in effect for most of the state. With fairly light trades blowing, could be some good tow-in weather on Maui, Kauai and Oahu. Ask at surf shops for best spot to go watch -- there are…
There are plenty of sports bars on this island, and most have one thing in common: they are adequate hangouts to watch football. But as the baseball season winds down, there is really only one place to experience the World…
Am trying to continue to keep up with local food reviews. I know I like to read them so.... Long Awaited French Wine Bar (not very Hawaii, but hey!) Du Vin, From Owner of Indigo, Opens in Honolulu: Hawaii Diner…
Often, being in Hawaii means getting better information. After the quake, I was able to talk to people on the ground that I trusted and get a much better read on damage than MSM. That's part of the reason for…
Here's the latests in our series of beach lists from John Clark, the noted Hawaii beach expert and all around beach nut, will be feeding us his extremely informed take on beaches around Hawaii. You can buy his books…
Here's a roundup of interesting links. Hawaii Hotels Running Over 80% Full: Pacific Business News Kailua, Hawaii among Top 10 2007 Destinations for Trip Advisor: But Oahu or Big Island? Which Kailua? Four Seasons Hualalai one of two hotels in…
As a Hawaii resident, I’ve had the opportunity to sample my fair share of guava syrups and the best that I’ve come across so far is from Island Plantations, a locally-owned and operated gourmet food company. Sweet with just the…
Having watched a number of brides-to-be reduced to near tears searching for the perfect invite, I am quite sensitive to their plight. This is not only an announcement of nuptials but a keepsake that will forever remind you of your…
The state Deparment of Land and Natural Resources has closed Little Beach in the Makena district of Maui, Maui News reports., after a landslide hit the beach area. Cinder cones that form the hill between Little and Big Beaches are…
One simple pleasure of exploring Hawai‘i Island’s sunny, lava-drenched west side is discovering a precious nugget like Mahai‘ula Beach, also known as Kekaha Kai State Park. Make it past the bumpy – but negotiable – semi-paved lava road and you’ll…
Here's a fascinating article about the history of the anchialine pond's on the Big Island's Kona-Kohala Coast and one man's quest to revive them. These landlocked brackish ponds are linked to the ocean through volcanic tubes. Such natural ponds were…
Chef Darryl Fujita started out washing dishes at the Halekulani and quickly rose under the tutelage of Chef George Mavrothalassitis at La Mer. Fujita is now the chef of Orchid's and gaining considerable acclaim on his own right. Gourmet…
I had long wondered who had made the very cool hanging lamps at Ed Kenney's restaurant Town in Honolulu. Now I know, thanks to Hapa Hale Mark Chai is a Hawaii-Chinese artist who makes cutting edge hanging lamps of intricate…
The claws have come out again in a long-simmering family dispute over the Cousteau name, this time over a massive 1,500 unit condominium eco-project proposed by Jean-Michel Cousteau for the lush but lonely Punaluu District of the Big Island. Jean-Michel's…
After a brief hiatus, the Hawaiirama Honeymoon Helper is back. Send all queries to honeymoon at hawaiirama.com and we'll try to post an answer pronto. From Sarah: "My husband and I are spending Dec 1-7 in Kauai for our…
The pools at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa on Kauai are some of the best in the islands. They come in both fresh and saltwater varieties and cover a whopping 5 acres. They include multiple waterslides including a…
This is a piece that was killed by the new online food publication, Chow. Bummer for me but hey, it happens. And more fodder for Hawaiirama! This is part 3. Here is part 1. and part 2. That hasn't…
If you are a member of the Moral Majority, you may want to put a blindfold on junior before you take him to Bubbie's. This homegrown ice cream company makes obscenely great ice cream, rich and dreamy, and tags its…
Quick update on the situation for the Road to Hana on Maui, where FEMA and county officials have closed bridges on either side of the Kipahulu District Area in Haleakala National Park, the home to an extremely popular hike (the…
Lily Lotus is a line of lovely, island-inspired yoga and boutique wear, from local designer Laurie Momi Chee. Chee has created each piece to flatter the female form, using high-quality fabrics with excellent drape, resulting in sleek, comfortable silhouettes. The…
This is a piece that was killed by the new online food publication, Chow. Bummer for me but hey, it happens. And more fodder for Hawaiirama! This is part 2. If you want to read part 1, click here.…
Sculptor H.C. Westerman passed through the islands as a gunner serving aboard the USS Enterprise at Pearl Harbor during World War II. Noted collectors bought his early works during the post-war period, even though Westerman studiously avoided hot trends…
Here's the latests in our series of beach lists from John Clark, the noted Hawaii beach expert and all around beach nut, will be feeding us his extremely informed take on best beaches around the Aloha State. At any…
Chemistry Bath and Body is the ingenious idea of three local professionals (and gym buddies): Garrett Goo, Todd Taba, and Howard Tang. As frequent travelers to the mainland, they realized that Bath & Body Works products were the most requested…
This is a piece that was killed by the new online food publication, Chow. Bummer for me but hey, it happens. And more fodder for Hawaiirama! This is part 1. In September 2006, Alan Wong threw a luau. And it…
Hawaiian Air unleashed some really low fares for the pre-Xmas hump season. As follows. Price includes travel to Honolulu, Kauai, Maui or the Big Island of Hawaii. Good from 11/14-12/14 in 2006. Ideal for quick and dirty pre-Xmas crowdbeater getaway.…
Here's the latests in our series of beach lists from John Clark, the noted Hawaii beach expert and all around beach nut, will be feeding us his extremely informed take on best beaches around the Aloha State. At any rate,…
Note from editor: I am going to be publishing a series of spa reviews here on Hawaiirama. These are based on first-hand experiences and are not complimentary or reduced rate treatments. I personally know nothing about spas. So I'm sending…
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin is reporting that Maui County has shut a two-lane bridge just past Hana town but before the Seven Sacred Pools in Haleakala National Park, which is part of the park's the Kipahulu District. The county estimates…
There are plenty of good noodle shops to choose from in Hawaii, but one of the most stylish by far is Goma Tei at Ward Centre. Marble walls, sleek black furniture (including high chairs, for those with toddlers), and great…
This is part of a series of five excerpts from a book by Jessica Ferracane, "50 Thrifty Big Island Restaurants". Foodies trolling for blue collar grubs should dig in. And a hat tip to the folks at Watermark Publishing…
It's a question much pondered amongst mixologists. Who created the first Mai Tai and what was the original recipe? Was it really Victor "Trader Vic" Bergeron? Or someone else. Tom Chapman, a friend and fabulous writer, revisits this question yet…
With all the breathtaking outdoor beauty that Hawaii has to offer, why would anyone planning on tying the knot here want the usual stiff, formal wedding portraits? If you'd rather have wedding pictures that truly capture the experience of getting…
Someone had to do it. The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows resort just whipped out a "Shaken, Not Stirred" promo deal,with tongue squarely in cheek. The posh resort, which suffered some minor damage from the Big Island quakes on…
For the most part, Sunday morning's earthquake spared the Hilo and Puna districts of the Big Island. Still, we all felt the earth move. It moved a lot. It's still the topic of conversation, from Hilo to Pahoa, Kalapana to…
The Honolulu Academy of Arts selected South Korean artist Won Ju Lim for a commission. Lim is known for creating shapes and forms that she lights up with still or moving images. Not surprisingly, Lim chose to focus on Hawaii.…
Last fall Four Seasons Resorts took over management of the two big resort hotels on Lanai, the Lodge at Koele and Manele Bay Hotel. Both had gotten, shall we say, a little tatty around the edges. The owner agreed to…
Movie buffs -- no, it's not too late. The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (you can call it the HIFF if you want as the LVHIFF doesn't roll off the tongue) has a total deal with Starwood's four Waikiki…
We're still all sorting out what went wrong with Oahu's emergency response during the quake and it appears there was plenty (even though the quake did no real damage on Oahu). On that day, someone in my family was ill…
The Valley Isle, the perennial holder of the top spot in CNT's annual reader poll for top islands, was displaced by the Maldives. Of course, being second best in the world is hardly something to complain about or be ashamed…
Here's the latests in our series of beach lists from John Clark, the noted Hawaii beach expert and all around beach nut, will be feeding us his extremely informed take on best beaches around the Aloha State. At any rate,…
Cupcake Boutique--one of my all-time favorite places to shop in Hawaii--began as an online webstore several years ago when owner Jodi Mizumoto noticed the lack of fashionable baby and mommy gear in Hawaii. The website became so successful that Mizumoto…
Almost all the hotels impacted are completely back to normal now. The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows reopened its top floor and now all its room are back in business. I am not certain about the ocean wing of…
One of the best things about living in Hawaii is being in close proximity to the fabulous Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (or LVHIFF). Of course, even for those who don't live nearby, it's a terrific reason to come…
Very often when I go to look up a property on Trip Advisor I scratch my head at its ranking. Why? I have lived in Hawaii for over a decade. I know virtually all the hotels in Waikiki. And while…
Pros: Like most Hyatt properties, this hotel is extremely clean and well maintained. Service is strong. Rooms comfortable. The pool deck is a great place to hang out and watch the waves but avoid the hoi polloi on Kuhio Beach.…
Just spoke to Sharon Sakai of the Kohala Coast Resort Association. She said that the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows had reopened its 4th and 5th floors, leaving only its top floor closed. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has…
Day two after the big quake. Some news filtering out. The bathroom debacle at the Honolulu International Airport, where electrically powered sewer-pumps failed, leaving stranded travelers without facilities for hours and hours, is causing major outcry. Not to self. Scout…
Kawaihae Boat Harbor, the primary freight harbor for the Kona Coast of the Big Island, suffered significant damage to its piers, according to West Hawaii Today. That could impact supplies flowing into the Big Island, although it would be possible…
Picture this. Jawz is cracking, the tow-in boys are going off, and the lineup is full of testosterone and serious glory hounds. Quick -- what do you wear to a day like this? Maui Rippers. Made on Maui, these board…
After all the earthquake blogging I did yesterday, its time for a nice cool glass of something. This one you can only get at Brown's Beach House, an oceanfront boite in the Fairmont Orchid Hotel along with gently swaying hula…
As a 37 year-old father of two, I can only pretend to get out as much as I think I should. For a view from the trenches, I now can rely on Tim Denevi. He did his first post last…
Note: Sorry for busted links in the image and the text yesterday. Fixed. This is part of a series of five excerpts from a book by Jessica Ferracane, "50 Thrifty Big Island Restaurants". Foodies trolling for blue collar grubs…
Update: So this post got me a call from David Wilson, head of McNeil Wilson and the top spinmeister for HVCB. Apparently, the damage to the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was so minimal that county inspectors already passed the structure…
This from Sharon Sakai at Kohala Coast Resort Association. More later. "...every hotel property is open for business (Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, The Fairmont Orchid, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa Beach…
The office of Governor Linda Lingle will be releasing more information later this afternoon. I'm hoping for a list from someone. What I'm hearing is that damage on Big Island is perhaps more serious than people initially let one. A…
Here's a tenative list of damaged hotels. Some may prove to be very minor but definitely check before you check in. One other consideration. One of the two hospitals in West Hawaii has suffered some fairly serious damage. I'll keep…
I've been trying to reach the Big Island Visitor Bureau and the Kona Kohala Coast Resort Assocation to get updates on the hotels. Have not been able to get calls through. Apparently, all flights are on schedule. But am starting…
Most of you have probably read about the quake that hit Hawaii yesterday. It was relatively minor for most of the islands but has had some serious impact on the Big Island and on the Kona (western) side of the…
Wandering around Hilo a decade ago, I walked into this hippy-dippy, cozy little shop right on the main shopping drag fronting Hilo Bay. I was entranced by the bright bolts of colorful Japanese and Chinese fabrics and the exqisitely basic…
We've mentioned Sig Zane as one of Hawaii's coolest shops. Zane's alohawear has long been a fave among purist and the bicoastal-minded who prefer understated gear with a strong natural Hawaii theme. My wife has long wished that Sig Zane…
The second floor gallery of the Henry R. Luce Wing in the Luce Pavillion Complex houses a collection of works which represent a pictorial record of Hawai'i, created by the finest artists who have worked in the state, from…
Mitch's Sushi has won an undeground following among local foodies for its extremely fresh fish and extremely reasonable prices. The secret of the fresh fish? The proprietor's father is a major seafood wholesalers. The prices? This really is a hole-in-the-wall…
This is part of a series of five excerpts from a book I like very much by Jessica Ferracane and Yvonne Biegel, "50 Thrifty Maui Restaurants". Foodies trolling for blue collar grubs should dig in. And a hat tip to…
Polynesian tattoos are something that has fascinated visitors to the Pacific Islands for centuries and the fascination continues today. The Honolulu Academy of Arts is running an exhibit of images of tattoo culture in Hawaii captured by Jacques Etienne Victoire…
Toast is an ultra-hip event planning and graphic design company created by two University of Hawaii at Manoa Architecture alumni: Michelle Kaneko and Jeremy Shoda. As students, Kaneko and Shoda were in charge of planning socials for the Architecture department,…
A heads up to fashion fiends who follow the little Honolulu couture shop with a big following, Fighting Eel. The two ladies behind this machine are holding a special retail event at Fighting Eel HQ on Saturday from 2-6 pm…
The cake makes the wedding. Not really, but having a stunning cake is certainliy something every bride hopes for on her perfect day. Cake Couture, based in Aina Haina on Oahu, is a standout. Owner Carrie Emerson-Bass was raised…
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin is reporting that a massive new resort development at Turtle Bay has gotten tentative approval from the City & County of Honolulu. This is going to be an extremely contentious issue as a vocal faction opposes the…
Hawaiian Quilting as an art form traces its roots back to Missionary Days and the New England mores the Christian arrivistes to Hawaii brought from their Northeast homes. It has survived and thrived in the islands and become something uniquely…
One of my favorite local food writers, John Heckathorn, has a phenomenal article in the current issue of Spirit of Aloha, the inflight magazine of Aloha Airlines. He covers the origins of high-end Hawaii Regional Cuising and where its going.…
Pros: A true classic hotel and one of the most architecturally interesting buildings in Hawaii. The Royal -- also called "the Pink Palace" -- retains the charming aura of a bygone era. It sounds cliched but the long, echoing…
The Honolulu Weekly published its annual (first?) Bar Guide for Oahu a week ago. Now you can view it online (which is a good thing because its always there and because the nifty graphics in the print version were illegibly…
Tiki’s Bar & Grill, located on the eastern edge of the Waikiki strip, is the kind of breezy, ocean-view experience you would expect find amid the array of Honolulu nightlife—an experience that is more unique than you’d think.…
While Fred Flare and Urban Outfitters certainly stock their share of cute t-shirts, there’s a noticeable lack of soul to their designs. Enter Super Good Clothing, the brainchild of talented Hawaii designer Candace. Despite a jam-packed schedule that includes full-time…
Credit to Hapa Hale for spotting a killer deal at Turtle Bay, $199 per night. Not sure what this exactly buys you in terms of views, but most of the rooms at the resort have an ocean view of…
One of the real crowd pleasers at the event was the maracuya cheese cake whipped up by Love Family Farms. Ken and Margy Love run this small coffee farm in Kona with a kitschy twist. Visitors can pay to adopt…
Just got a note from Cade Watanabe of UniteHere Local 5. The union just reached a tentative settlement with management over contentious contract for hotel workers at some of the biggest hotels in Waikiki (the four Sheratons and the Hilton…
Truth be told, we got to this big foodie event on the Big Island a full hour late. A strange confluence (conflagration?) of events transpired to contribute to our tardy arrival, from a late depature from Honolulu due to a…
Lodestar Collective--one of the most interesting galleries to spring from Kailua’s newly revitalized art scene--may just be the closest thing Hawaii has to a couture house (through November 11, anyway). The gallery is co-owned by six local artists--Carl F.K. Pao,…
I stumbled upon this gallery in the massive resort in Waikoloa on the Kona-Kohala Coast of the Big Island when I was visiting this past weekend. It's packed with art, some of it cheesy but a lot of it…
Update: Holy Cow. There is no end to these Lost sites. This one actually has a DIY drive guide itinerary for a bunch of scenes! Considering that half the world is obsessed with the TV hit "Lost" its no surprise…
I got a chance to sample this insanely delish sauce from Ali'i Kula Lavender at the Hawaii Products Expo in August. Ali'i Kula is an 8 acre lavender farm in Upcountry Maui. Full disclosure. I'm a chocomaniac. And I'm not…
We're kinda early on this but...Most of us associate All Hallows Eve (Halloween) with land-based activity -- namely, trick-or-treating. Gotta give Maui Ocean Center credit for spinning a spooky twist to this holiday for the little goblins on Maui (visitors…
Dumping bloody bits of fish into the water to entice sharks close to steel cages containing humanoid divers is something practiced all over the tropical world -- in Tahiti, the Caribbean and other warm water locales. Two dive companies do…
Pros: Not to be confused with the more upscale ResortQuest Waikiki Tower. Underwent extensive renovations several years ago. The swimming pool and common areas are very cool, kitschy Hawaiian (think Don Ho's bachelor pad). The flaming volcano above the…
She's a free spirit and it shows in her wearable creations. Maggie Coulombe's silky, diaphanous pareos and slinky dresses hang in the closets of bad girl debutante Paris Hilton and bad mommy Teri Hatcher. How a designer can concentrate in…
This is part of a series of five excerpts from a book I like very much by Jessica Ferracane and Yvonne Biegel, "50 Thrifty Maui Restaurants". Foodies trolling for blue collar grubs should dig in. And a hat tip to…
Here's the latests in our series of beach lists from John Clark, the noted Hawaii beach expert and all around beach nut, will be feeding us his extremely informed take on best beaches around the Aloha State. At any…
Maui chef James McDonald has three respected eateries in Lahaina. I'o and Pacific'o are upscale oceanfront Hawaii east-meets-west fusion joints with stellar fish and apetizers. Feast at Lele is actually a luau / dinner show but McDonald suppliers the…
