January 2008 archive
Chow.com has a great interview with Hank Adaniya, the founder of Hank's Haute Dogs in Kakaako and formerly a restaurateur par excellence in Chitown. Takeaway -- it's really, really hard to run a quality small restaurant in Hawaii because suppliers…
My friend Derek Paiva over at the Hawaii Magazine blog runs through the 10 most popular state parks with a quick and dirty pros and cons list (most of which you won't get in the guide books). A few additions:…
A few weeks ago the New York Times went out and sampled fresh ahi at over a dozen high-end eateries and markets in the Big Apple and tested them for levels of heavy metals. The results? Ahi is loaded with…
Ate there last night with two friends. Not going to tell you why -- will leave it up to an upcoming review in a local publication, in which I was a participant. But leave it at this. Do not eat…
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Cruising through Ward Warehouse and Ward Center today, noted SO MANY killer shops with local wares. Nohea Gallery, Jeff Chang Pottery, the Gallery at Ward, Kicks HI, and a host of others. First time I've seen the eye-catching works of…
Restaurant reveiwer Wanda Adams susses out a newish (or at least unheralded until now) Chinese joint in Waikiki. The verdict? It's all good, if you dig garlic. Highlight - wontons in spicy garlic and chili. BEIJING CHINESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Advertiser…
Time was, the Royal Garden Hotel in Waikiki was a happening place. The marble lobby aped elegance and the upstairs rooms were quite fine. The lush pool was a showpiece and Cascada Restaurant, helmed by Chef Sayada, put out supremely…
When Varsity Theater closed last year, that left Doris Duke Theatre as the last art house standing. Honolulu Academy of Arts film curator Gina Caruso (pictured here) is going full steam with innovative programming. On Feb. 8 she launches Friends…
According to the beloved TripAdvisor.com, the Top 3 on the Garden Isle the Hukilau Lanai, Mermaids Cafe, and Shrimp Station. Say what? Roy's Poipu, Blossoming Lotus, Tidepools -- which are much better joints than the top troika - all come…
Aside from that lame reference to the global chain that has convinced sweets hounds that its ok to roll out your ice cream on a slab before wolfing down enough to sink a battleship, this Maui Time Weekly article points…
Hawaii's Governor Lindal Lingle floated a proposal today for the state to purchase Turtle Bay on Oahu's windy, wave-swept North Shore. She claimed that Hawaii has a "once in a lifetime chance" (according to PBN) to preserve the rural lifestyle…
Honolulu Magazine's current issue has a nifty quicky tour of five local secrets in Kaneohe. Nice piece, folks. I'd also include Pake's Restaurant, a totally off the radar Chinese joint that is a fave of local chefs, and The Catwalk,…
Aloha, Bruce here from Hawaii-Aloha.Com. I am a travel agent who specializes in helping folks plan their Hawaii Vacations. I contribute to Hawaiirama by doing hotel reviews and this week I am reviewing the Wailea Marriott Resort and Spa on…
Thinking of buying a second home on Oahu or moving to the island? Might want to check this site first, courtesy of scientists at University of Hawaii. Beachfront is getting a whole lot cheaper -- if you're time horizon…
Well, that's an exaggeration. But Bruce, who blogs here, is one of the first to post prominently about a splendid trip on a boat better known for delays and barf bags. Here's a bit about what a Superferry trip is…
Pulled this off YouTube. If you plan on visiting Hawaii, you should watch this. It's akin to Hawaii's classic SNL. Rap Reiplinger was the ultimate Hawaii comic, Bill Murray, Bill Cosby and Chevy Chase all rolled into one. If…
She knows her Hawaii shopping. Particularly for local, exclusive, made-in-Hawaii and only in Hawaii stuff-o-rama. Of note this week -- Closet Fetish (out of Mililani, of all laces) and bubbleshack.…
Honolulu Advertiser food queen Wanda Adams is stoked on the Fat Greek, a new casual nabe spot in Kaimuki next to City Mill. We were less stoked. Fish was not as fresh as Olive Tree. Sauces were not as flavorful.…
So after Christa put a nice post on Hawaiirama seconding my call on RumFire, the new bar at the Sheraton Waikiki, I pinged her and asked where she was posting. Silly me. I had not realized she was one…
Love Farecast. Want to come to Honolulu for a sweet P-Day long weekend? Da picks for hotel deals, according to the wizardry of Farecast, are the Moana Surfrider, recently renovated, lovely old style, and dirt cheap at $209 per night.…
Quiksilver almost ran the Eddie Aikaui Invitational at Waimea Bay last week when surf popped over the 20-foot Hawaiian range (that's 40 foot-plus on the face). Waves shown here are a bit smaller than that but nice, clean Waimea…
The upstart launched by Mesa Air buckaroo Jonathan Ornstein probably played a key role in parent company losses in the most recent quarter. go! has been offering A LOT FEWER dirt cheap specials, from what I can tell. An $80…
As noted by Derek Paiva over at Hawaii Magazine's blog (it's worth the daily read), Travel & Leisure put 16 Hawaii properties among its 500 World's Best. There are, of course, no surprises here with the Four Seasons Hualalai on…
Aloha, Bruce here from Hawaii Aloha Travel. I am a travel agent who specializes in helping folks plan their Hawaii Vacations. Have you ever been bitten by an elephant? What about hippopotamus? How about a mosquito? Of course you have,…
Much delayed. Too many projects. Here's some of the latest. Alan, the bloggermind behind M'aona reviewed Chibo Okonomiyaki, an Osaka-style pancake house -- with his auntie from Osaka! Smart read. Tasty Island visits Meg's Drive-In in blue-collar Kalihi on Oahu.…
You knew that rum was the next boutique vodka, right? I'd been waiting for a bar like this to hit Hawaii for some time. I learned to love sipping rums (akin to single malts) on a trip to Venezuela 20…
UPDATE: I spoke to NCL and Hawaii cruises are NOT CANCELLED so Bruce's report was apparently wrong. However, you STILL will have trouble booking a passage in 2008 b/c according to NCL they are almost completely booked. So book now…
A mahalo to Hawaiirama contributor Bruce for telling me about the breaking drama regarding Norwegian Cruise Lines and the rumors / news that it would be suspending all Hawaii cruise operations. I did a quick Web search on the topic…
Vintage footage of Buffalo Keaulana, Nat Young and others at Makaha 40 years ago. Makaha is pretty much the same today. No drop in.…
The good travel agents over at Travel-Hawaii have chased down info on what Hawaii hotels are charging for in-room Internet access. Oddly, most seem to be charging something. Due to the size of these resort and the concrete walls, finding…
Gotta love this one. Destination Resorts Hawaii, which has a collection of condos and vacation rentals in Maui, is offering a low-low rate of $90 per person per night for a mystery accommodation on Maui. As in, they won't tell…
OK, so even if the company founder has bizarre sexual proclivities, gotta be happy that American Apparel is coming to Waikiki. We have been buying their clothes for years on my trips to NYC. They are clean, fresh, increasingly organic,…
Hapuna Beach is definitely one of the nicest beaches in the Hawaiian Islands, a long stretch of wide yellow sand rimming a crystal blue bay. Alas, it's also one of the most dangerous. This research surprised me, because Hapuna, while…
Pacific Business News reports that the really nifty Vera Wang brand shop , one of the signature shops at the posh Halekulani is going to shutter after the designer shut down here signature jewelry line, which as one of the…
Aloha, Bruce here again! Friday night we had an opportunity to stay at the Sheraton Waikiki and to tell you the truth, I really didn't know what to expect because it's been a while since I've actually stayed at the…
The kids over at Honolulu Magazine have put together their second annual Best Bar's issue. I diverge with some of their opinions -- i'd rather have a pineapple crown jammed up my behind than endure the "fun" scene at Senor…
Honolulu Advertiser reported a week or so ago about a mysterious spate of date rate incidents at a still unnamed Waikiki bar (cops say they can't say location b/c of ongoing investigation -- this sounds nutty to me and others).…
Doh. According to Pacific Business News' coverage of the annual Hawaii state government survey, more visitors to Hawaii from the Mainland U.S. rated Alohaland as an "excellent destination." That doesn't surprise me as I've long suspected Hawaii is at a…
