January 2007 archive
First Outrigger pushed through its massive Beach Walk Project, now nearly finished, in western Waikiki. Now Starwood is planning a similar sized renovation and rejuvenation of its four major Waikiki properties, the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, the Sheraton…
A long-running Italian casual fave in Kaimuki appears to have shuttered. C&C Pasta brought me many a good meals over the years. Am not sure what owner Carla is up to as another Italian restaurant is opening in the space.…
Apologies for not blogging more. A lot going on and am trying to get back to it. One of my fave Hawaii blogs Hapa Hale tipped me off to this newish spa line that uses Hawaii products, often purchased from…
Dear Diane at Ridge Realty: I am not sure if you are aware of this yet but you are definitely costing your company, Ridge Realty, significant chunks of cashola. Let me introduce you to TripAdvisor.com. I have a love/hate relationship…
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The Merrie Monarch Festival is the Superbowl of hula competitions and its serious business in Hawaii. Halau practice for years to prepare for a trip to Hilo and the precision and grace of the top acts is truly breathtaking.…
Hawaiirama ended up featured prominently on a StumbleUpon reccomendation page pointing towards our kids coverage. Which, alas, has been sadly lagging considering how many keiki live here and how many visit. Which gives me the nudge-nudge to do what I…
Alan Wong has a reputation as a stern taskmaster. The James Beard Award winner works his people hard and in his kitchen there are only two ways to do things -- the wrong way or the Wong Way. I guess…
Not that this has ANYTHING to do with things to do in Hawaii but...There's been a huge uproar in the islands over a new MTV "reality" show based in Ka'anapali on Maui. The cast of the show is all white.…
We've not yet mentioned the Lanai Cathedrals off the coast of Lanai in this blog. The Cathedrals are amazing underwater laval formations that have become coral encrusted and produce some of the most spectacular light play and diving conditions…
Forgive the posting absence. Family matters. Now, back to work. Word is out that the Ritz Carlton Kapalua on Maui is closing this summer for a massive renovation (close to $100 million) that will convert a significant percentage of the…
We were over at the beach in Kailua yesterday and it had been over a year since we had last eaten at Lucy's Bar and Grill. That's about a year too long. Now, I would never say Lucy's has the…
For a long time a number of developers have threatened to turn the gorgeous bluffs overlooking Sunset Beach and much of the North Shore of Oahu into gated gentleman farmer communities, accompanied by the requisite super-upscale mini-malls for the latte…
I am not sure who wrote the rulebook on vacation rental / B&B decor in Hawaii but they clearly had no taste. The vast majority of rentals and B&Bs are loaded with frilly junk, forlorn furniture, really lame artwork…
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The Ko'olina Resort area is, like Waikiki, a man-made wonder. So be it. The resort's four swimming lagoons, which are open to the public like all Hawaii beaches, are marvelous. Calm and clear with a fringing reef, sandy bottoms and…
Chef Mavro does not like to sit on his laurels. The maestro, who toques up amazingly subtle and exquisite grub at his posh eatery in a blue collar district of Honolulu, revamps his menu four times a year. That's pretty…
Yet another national publication puts out a grim article on the Hawaii homeless problem. It's the visitor industry's skeleton in the closet. Low wages fuel profits for the indusry. Low wages are killing the poor. No pono, no peace. Meanwhile,…
Turtles are a sign of good luck in the Native Hawaiian culture, a potent aumakua (or animal sign). They are also beautiful to watch in their native habitats. Most snorkel spots around the islands give you a decent chance…
After a long hiatus, Ono Kine Grindz is posting again. Recently reviewed -- Tokyo Tokyo at the Kahala Hotel and Bombay, the new Indian eaterie (Hawaii could use A LOT more Indian) in Discovery Bay in Waikiki. This blog takes…
In the 1920s and 1930s, entertainment life in the small towns of Hawaii revolved around the theatre. Most had their own and some of the larger towns had grand examples. The Iao Theatre on Maui, is a grand one. Built…
We've been hearing good things about the Main Street Bistro in Wailuku, the sleepy county seat of the Valley Isle. Wailuku has been threatening a revival and it has enjoyed an influx of refugees from overpriced resort towns and Honolulu.…
The Kalalau is one of the most storied hiking trails on Earth. In fact, the whole Na Pali Coast, along the western shore of Kauai, is recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage site. The cliffs basically…
I'm always amazed when people tell me they have never heard of VRBO.com. The letters stand for "Vacation Rental By Owner" and the site is a compendium of vacation properties for rent by their owners rather than agencies. In most…
All the major travel mags have written off Lahaina. It's too touristy. It's cheesy. It's crowded. True, true, true. Which clearly explains why everyone is fleeing Las Vegas. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's cover why…
This tip is closely related to a previous post on staying at off-brand hotel. The big name resort towns in Hawaii do sit astride some of the islands' best beaches. Which is why they can charge a premium on rooms.…
We had heard a rumor that Eddie Kamae, the phenomenal Hawaiian musician who was a sidekick of Gabby Pahinui, was playing a semi-regular guest gig at the Honolulu Elks Lodge in Waikiki. It was true. So we went down yesterday…
Lee Tonouchi is a master wordsmith of Hawaii's own regional pidgin. His hysterical short stories are perennial winners in local contests and he has been a key force in shaping local literature and, more specifically, local pigdin literature. The Kumu…
How could Hawaii possibly become even more expensive? You can thank the state and local governements for that. Effective January 1, 2007, Hawaii's state gas tax goes back up by 11 cents per gallon, reversing a previous reduction put in…
