December 2006 archive
What better way to announce a major event in your life than with some classy, personalized stationery? Party + Papier is a local company that specializes in Hawaiian and Asian-themed invitations (for weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, etc.) and…
The Maui News has a far too comprehensive rundown of New Year's Eve dinner extravaganzas on the Valley Isle. They all sound pretty good but we know that a few of them are more than pretty good. The Hawaiirama reccomendations?…
One of our favorite haunts has always been the House Without a Key, the patio bar at the Halekulani where the lovely Kanoe Miller has swayed her hips for thousands of appreciative Mai TaI-quaffing visitors. One of my biggest gripes…
I don't usually go to luaus much. They are fun but can feel kinda forced to someone who has lived in Hawaii for a while. That said, one things I LOVE at luaus is the Samoan fire dancing. This…
Advertisers, reach Hawaii |
Most travelers (and locals, for that matter) prefer to stay at branded hotel properties. It's like eating at Mickey D's instead of some unknown, untested local burger joint. Except its a lot more expensive so why risk it? Enter the…
Shout out to the good folks at Keep it Off My Wave, a new Hawaii blog that I am reading and was kind enough to link to Hawaiirama (although we didn't make the cut for their Blog of the Week…
Sifting through the most recent Honolulu Advertiser Ilima Awards for best restaurants around Hawaii, I was struck by the bizarre choices made by readers for top honors. True, Hawaii is actually a fairly blue-collar state with one of the highest…
We've heard that the Xmas sales on luxury goods will be insane but this is the best discount on pricey Prada gear we've ever seen.…
Ravenchase? What's that? I stumbled upon this New Year's Eve scavenger hunt slated to go off in Honolulu and it sounded intriguing and definitely not the average fare. "Come join us for the First Annual Quest for Father Time in…
So how pricey is a visit to Hawaii? That depends on how pricey you want to make it but, in a nutshell, the answer is not as pricey as you think. In particular if you follow a few of these…
The site that Shatner shills released on Dec. 26 its list of hot destinations for travelers going to party like its 2007. Five Hawaii spots make the list, although a number of them are pretty wierd choices. Most notably, that…
In 1989, Roy Yamaguchi opened his flagship eatery in Hawaii Kai, then a solidly middle-class newish neighborhood in East Honolulu. Roy was from California and so was his restaurant. It had a big display kitchen with flashy flames and pots…
Where to watch the pyrotechnics and croon "Auld Lang Syne" in paradise? The fireworks displays in Hawaii aren't as impressive as those found in bigger metropolises. But the setting tends to make up for that, thank you very much. Here…
The Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival (or LVHIFF) is one of my favorite things about living in Hawaii. Not only does it bring wonderful, world-class entertainment to the islands, but it also promotes cultural understanding between different countries. A…
Great news for mainland fans of Hawaii designer Laurie Momi Chee: You no longer have to send wishlists to your friends and family in the islands! Lily Lotus devotees can now stock up on Chee’s lovely, comfortable, and versatile pieces…
A few links that I think are worth reading. Hana Hou -- Hawaii Island Palm Society expose Spirit of Aloha -- A Slice of life in rural Kauai Honolulu Star-Bulletin: The good news? More tourists in 2006 than 2005. The…
A long video showing the hike up and views from Koko Head, a part of a collapsed volcanic crater in East Honolulu. This is one of Oahu's best accessible hikes, though climbing the stairs can be -- gulp --…
Just tracked a bunch of excellent last minute deals for Hawaii trips at Hawaii.com. This site, while full of semi-canned content, puts out emails that are perhaps the best sources of discount Hawaii package vacation listings. Here's a few picks…
Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. where cacao is grown. The tropical climate and bright sunshine allows the finicky cacao plants to thrive. To date, most of the cacao grown in Hawaii has been at one farm on…
Well, they ought to know. Cheap Tickets is all about cheap travel. Cheap Tickets was founded in Hawaii. And if the Cheap Ticket's 2007 Value Travel Forecast Cheapometer predicts hotels in Hawaii will be at their cheapest in May, you…
A word to the wise. This bar bills itself as a concert venue. Don’t be fooled. The concert part is an afterthought due to the confines of the space and the crazy crowd factor. The Pipe is long and very…
Call it the curse of the "Lost". During seasonal filming on Oahu, the cast has endured a home invasion, speeding tickets, stalkers, DUI busts. Now Evangeline Lilly's rented home in Kailua burns to the ground! The Honolulu Advertiser has a…
I am a serious ice cream snob, jaded from years of seeking out the best ice cream parlors on both coasts and wherever abroad I may have been travelling. Hawaii has great ice cream, with a half-dozen really high-end…
I've been searching for hotel rooms for a quick New Year's jaunt down to Waikki to enjoy the madness and the fireworls. And, not surprisingly, good room deals are hard to find. Many hotels are already sold out. I wanted…
Hiroshi Fukui started out washing dishes in a Japanese restaurant in Waikiki. His only formal training was on the job as he climbed the ranks from line to sous to the guy running the kitchen. Fukui spread his wings at…
Two hikers from California perished on the island of Kauai today after they plunged hundreds of feet from a steep and at places treacherous trail leading to the base of Opaekaa Falls. This tall waterfall is a popular tourist attraction…
Norwegian Cruise Lines, the megacruise line that runs two boats around the Hawaiian Islands, intends to start running 10 and 11-night Hawaii cruises come September 2007. If you want to really get a chance to enjoy Hawaii, this is reasonable.…
I am standing ankle-deep in turquoise water that's washing over a shoreline reef I'm doing something I have never done before: petting a cucumber. A black sea cucumber, to be exact, held by Mark Heckman, an educator at the Waikiki…
Madame Pele doesn't really stick to a schedule or an itinerary. The Volcano Goddess of Hawaiian myths and legends is capricious and hard to predict. Which may explain why you really can't plan ahead for volcano watching trips. The Kilauea…
The biggest light display in the islands is thrown up by the elves at Honolulu Hale, seat of the City and County of Honolulu. It's an impressive display including trains sets, a crech, a santa flashing a shaka sign, and,…
Violence is something that people don't like to talk about as being present in Hawaii. For the most part, Hawaii is a safe place. However, there are some really troubling signs. According to the most recent FBI violent crime survey,…
Apparently press releases posted on About.com's Hawaii channel or even press-releases sent out over the PR Wire constitue real news but Hawaiirama does not. This is third rejection I've gotten from Google News in response for a request for inclusion.…
Call it Hawaii's own version of the Big Dig in Boston. The $625 million Waikiki Beach Walk Project has disrupted traffic, made a handful of Waikiki hotels far less habitable, kicked up dust and turned up the volume so loud…
So I managed sufficient escape velocity to make it down to Du Vin for a few glasses of fine grapes this past weekend. I do like the restaurant a lot, if for no other reason than its ambience is wonderful.…
Midway Island was the site of a key battle in World War II that turned the course of the war in the Pacific. Since then, this sleepy outpost in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands has hosted mainly critters and a small…
I picked off the Top 15 most-searched destinations from Honolulu to the rest of the world according to Kayak.com. While your mileage may vary depending on travel dates, it appears to be a pretty good time to get off the…
Bubble Shack Hawaii takes the tried and trite local soap shtick to tongue-in-cheek extremes (their company motto is "Funky by Nature"). The husband and wife team behind the foam has made a soap bar in honor of the TV show…
Sam Kaha‘i Ka‘ai is a master woodcarver and Hawaiian cultural treasure. He was born in Hana in 1938 and during the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s and 1980s he played key roles, carving ki'i (spirit totems) for traditional Hawaiian sailing…
I had seen some footage but this reel makes it clear how truly nasty it was out there. Kudos to the finalists. Related Posts: Andy Irons wins 2006 Pipe Masters…
Island Air now offering low, low $12 return fares for travel during holiday season. Of course, many restrictions. This is the latest in the ongoing and increasingly insane interisland fare wares between Island, Aloha, Hawaiian and Go!.…
We drove out to Wahiawa this Christmas to get our tree because we decided we wanted a Norfolk pine in a pot. Throwing away dead Christmas trees made my wife sad. Also, we had read plenty about imported Christmas trees…
Another week'o'links so we can rest. BTW, sorry for slow posting -- was in NYC on bidness. *Hapahale scopes out cool stuff at Honolulu Gift Fair *Washington Post goes to Keola Beamer Concert *Hawaii tells smokers to put it out:…
Here's my post on Jaunted.com, a site where I am a contributing editor. I like it. It's a fun site. I write about Maui Tacos in Newark International, where its a total godsend for the long flights back to Hawaii.…
Sounded like a great final in shifty, tricky and BIG surf. Here's linkage goodness. Honolulu Advertiser with article, photos, story on the crowds attending Good videos at the Triple Crown website (Windows Media only) Surfer Magazine Coverage of the…
My favorite way to travel to and from New York is on the non-stop Continental flight from Newark International to Honolulu. It's a daily departure. In fact, I've found Newark to be the most convenient way in and out of…
There are so many places to get in the water in Hawaii that the selection becomes overwhelming, like a kid in a candy shop painted ocean blue. No worries. When I am venturing outer island or even around Oahu, I…
Noted restaurateur Peter Merriman was one of the original founders of the Hawaii Regional Cuisine (HRC) over a decade ago. His flagship eatery in upcountry Waimea is an island institution with intricate plates crafted from Big Island produce (he has…
Why is it that poke made outside of Hawaii just isn't poke? It doesn't taste like poke. It doesn't feel like poke. How about if the ingredients come from Hawaii? Hmmm, might work. Elmer Guzman, Poke master and owner of…
My online pal Ryan Senaga, who is a prolific creator of Web content, posted this video he shot at the Taste of Honolulu fest this past summer. It's a fun view on the event. I've yet to go but intend…
During the winter months, sunseekers flock to Hawaii for the beach. A good swimming beach, however, is hardly a pre-requisite for a hotel location. On the Big Island, in particular, where swimming beaches are few and far between, many resorts…
Rell Sunn was one of those rare people that everyone loved, and it’s not hard to see why: not only was she a talented professional surfer, but also a wonderful mother, patient teacher, gifted cultural practitioner, and generous community activist.…
A few weekends ago at a friend’s wedding, I was sitting next to some recent mainland transplants who were lamenting the sad state of the produce at one of the major supermarkets. “Have you tried any of the local open…
Young guys can be notoriously difficult to shop for come Christmastime, but Kicks/HI has made this task downright easy! Both Hawaii locations specialize in rare, covetable Nikes, but they also stock a line of witty, pop culture-inspired t-shirts, featuring the…
Hippy chic designer Roberta Oaks opens her closets for a trunk sales this Sunday at one my favorite stores on Oahu, Global Village, in Kailua. This sale is worth a road trip with side stops at the beach and Maui…
A few Hawaii links to tide you through the weekend. Honolulu Weekly drinks in Du Vin as the French wine bistro boom finally hits Hawaii Locals want more tourism jobs, fewer visitors. No conflict there. Nope U.S. Supreme Court says…
Lodestar Collective—a beautiful Kailua gallery that has regularly showcased the works of six of Hawaii’s most promising young artists for the past year—will be hosting its final show this month before closing its doors to the public on December 31.…
Of all the downtown bars, Indigo is the chic, versatile star, the one that can play trendy or alternative, affected or young-professional. There’s no doubting its proverbial hipness—especially in relation to velvety imitators—but the question remains: is it really a…
I love buying handmade merchandise whenever possible, and Etsy—an online marketplace that showcases the wares of crafters and artisans from around the world—is the best website for finding such goodies. The recently updated version of the site allows viewers to…
In an interesting twist, Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle in her second innaugural address came out squarely against major development at Turtle Bay and surrounding beaches. This fit in with her argument that should Hawaii continue to rely on land development…
Former Honolulu Adverttiser food reviewer and all around bon vivant Matthew Gray shifted from writing to tour guide a few years back when he opened his own foodie tour biz. I have not been on one of his sojourns around…
Right on schedule, Maui County opened a temporary bridge to replace the Paihi span damaged in the October 16 earthquake. This means waterfall fans can return to Ohelo Gulch (the tourist name for the place is Seven Sacred Pools though…
So it looks like the long, crazy real estate run is over in Hawaii. The median price of homes sold on Oahu fell nearly 5% in November as compared to the same month in 2005. This is the first time…
Hawi is hard not to like. It's an old plantation town, an end of the road kind of place that few tourists visit full of colorful locals and Mainland dropouts who fell in love with the windswept vistas high in…
Aloha Airlines flights will soon be the only place in the country you can drink Maui's own Ocean Vodka (caution -- very loud Flash trailer) besides the Hawaiian Islands. First Class bar carts on Aloha will start carrying the clear,…
Holy cow! The October quake that hit the Big Island took its first hotel casualty as the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, due to extensive structural damage to its roof, was shuttered indefinitely This information came to light yesterday after a…
You've probably already read about the accident, which happened on Dec. 2, if you arrived at this post. If not, quick recap.The catamaran Na Hoku II was sailing off Waikiki in fairly heavy winds with dozens of tourists aboard for…
First it was gourmet coffee. Then it was gourmet tea. Now its...gourmet water? Well, Japanese visitors swear by the stuff. And for sheer gimmick value, its hard to beat. The water comes from the Kona Coast of the Big Island,…
Return of the weekend linkfest because even Hawaiirama needs to res. Alex Salkever (of Hawaiirama fame) tells you how to Xmas on da Big IslandT&L Family Alex Salkever (yet again) tells you where to eat at Newark Airport before you…
Yes, I know there are a lot of crafts fairs, holiday sales, and other great ways to buy nice gifts for loved ones and in-laws. But I don't know where they are, when they are happening and what they are…
The Honolulu Advertiser has a good article covering the first instance of a Hawaii upscale hotel hiring foreigh workers. The Fairmont Orchid, on the Big Island, hired these workers to ease an acute labor shortage. They have 100 staff positions…
I finally got down to Uncle Bo's last night for a sniff and a few small plates. This place is run by a bunch of 20-somethings with good taste and they make the place fun. The chef is Laotian and…
