Hawaii Traditions: New look and merchandise

Local Snacks: A New Series on Hawaii Traditions

Friday, February 12, 2010 20:13

Local Snacks
One of my absolute favorite island snacks is a far cry from the gold-foil packaged chocolate macadamia nuts we commonly give to non-islanders as gifts from Hawaii. No, instead—or maybe afterwards—give me a washed out mayonnaise jar filled to the brim with half-ripe chilled mango, soaking in sweetened vinegar tinted with red food color [...]

New Years Cleaning, A Hawaii Tradition

Saturday, January 2, 2010 21:06

Question: For a child, what’s worse than having to clean up your room? Answer: Having to really, really, really clean up your room every year, all before December 30th.
The New Year’s house cleaning that is an annual tradition in many households in Hawaii has it’s roots in Japanese culture. General housecleaning, called “osoji” in Japanese [...]

Hawaii Eats: Wailana Coffeehouse

Saturday, December 26, 2009 2:00

HawaiiEats

Much of the Hawaii I knew growing up is now gone, replaced by shiny new eateries and shops. While these new additions to Hawaii’s landscape offer much in the way of practical convenience and what some would call retail diversity, sometimes I still long for the Hawaii that was when I was just a kid [...]

Talking Story with Hawaii’s Living History: Ted Nakamura

Friday, December 25, 2009 2:00

Hawaii’s Living History
Ted Nakamura of Ted’s Bakery is quiet and a bit shy—yet warm, and easy to talk to—a country boy at heart. Add to this persona a quick, sharp business mind and the ability to keep re-inventing himself and his business (and did I mention the best pies, cake, breads, pastries, shrimp, bentos…oh my!) [...]

Hawaii Eats: The Bento

Thursday, December 24, 2009 2:00

HawaiiEats
Imagine that you are a first generation Japanese plantation worker in Hawaii, and the year is 1885. You cover up from head to toe in an effort to shield yourself from the harsh sun and from the prickly pineapple crowns and thorny leaves. The work is grueling and you need every ounce of energy you [...]

Hawaii Eats: The Plate Lunch

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 21:38

HawaiiEats
Growing up, the plate lunches of my childhood came from Diner’s Drive-In on Keeaumoku Street once located among warehouses, where Wal-Mart now stands. I remember eating chicken katsu, with two scoops of white rice and one scoop of macaroni salad, and I remember their thick double-fried (or maybe they were lard fried) French fries…but that’s [...]

The Aloha Spirit

Thursday, October 8, 2009 2:00

We’ve all heard the word aloha. This term is used in every day life, whether it’s greeting a family, friend, or stranger.  This is the basic usage of the word, however aloha is so much more than that. It means love, compassion,  grace, and kindness.  The English language does not have a synonym, but perhaps [...]

Hawaii Culture: Portuguese Horseshoe

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 2:00

I’m not quite sure when this sport came about but, it’s definitely part of Hawaii’s culture.  Being half Portuguese, and not meant to offend, the name of this rising sport is called “Portagee Horseshoe”.
About 7 years ago I attended a barbecue at a friends house and he brought out (2) square wooden box covered with [...]

For the Keiki & Ohana: The Honolulu Academy of Arts

Thursday, October 1, 2009 17:50

For the Keiki and Ohana
Where can you go with your keiki to make ceramic green dragons, bubble art and paper mache hot air balloons? Why, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, of course!  Hand in hand with my 5 year old son, we gleefully went to classes one day a week during this past summer and [...]