A Post in Lieu of Posting... (about the Windward Mall!)

My apologies for not posting sooner... Holiday times have been very busy for us, and I wanted to download a bunch of pictures of our Hawaii Christmas activies--which I will do very soon (I promise).

For now, I figured I would post a little blog about my new favorite mall in Oahu--the Windward Mall in Kaneohe.  It's definitely not as large as Ala Moana (supposedly the largest outdoor shopping mall in the world), but it's also not as flashy and touristy.  And it sort of reminds me of the malls back home, but somehow without the cheese vibe some of them had.  It's small, sort of intimate, and it has a Farrell's!

For those of you who don't know Farrell's, it's an ice cream shop that was big in the 1970s in California.  I am not sure why, but they all closed down in California in the early 80s.  So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon one in the Windward Mall!

They also have a great pet store.  And a really cool food court (if food courts can be called cool...)  I like it because it is open and airy.  It's a bit of trip from Honolulu, but it's worth it.  Especially if you want to see and feel other parts of the island.  Kaneohe has a much warmer feeling than Honolulu.  The people seems easy going by comparison.  It's developed much like suburban So Cal, but with Hawaiian flare of course.  And of course, beautiful beaches are very close by.

I cannot stress this enough, and it is something I learned as a tourist here 12 years ago.  Honolulu is great.  It has a lot of nice attractions, but if you want to see all of what Oahu has to offer you should drive to place like Leeward, Windward, and the North Shore.  You will be glad you did.

Week 18: Some Top Ten Lists

Top Ten Things I Miss in California:

1) My friends

2) In-n-Out, Del Taco, Souplanation, Patty's

3) Cooler weather in the fall

4) Hiking at Puddingstone lake

5) Easy parking

6) Pasadena, everything about it

7) Mexican food in general, but especially in San Diego

8) My wife's family

9) My cats

10) My old house


Top Ten Things I Don't Miss in California:

1) Smog

2) The HOT Summers

3) The traffic

4) Mean people

5) 9% sales tax (it's only 4% in Hawaii)

6) Driving so far to get anywhere

7) So many empty shopping centers

8) Some bad memories

9) The bad economy

10) The excessive paperwork in my profession

Great Recipes: Kuka (Samoan Raw Fish)

A staple here is Hawaiian Poke (pokey), which is basically raw fish.  But I am sorry to say, that Poke just doesn't cut it for me.  After many years of eating great sushi and even better ceviche, there's something about Poke that is just too bland.  So I was very pleased to find a delicious alternative to Poke and I just had to share with you guys!

At our office Christmas party, one of my co-workers who comes from American Samoa brought in the Samoan version of Poke.  It's called Kuka (not sure how to pronounce it...) and it is out of this world delicious!  Yes, it does have coconut in it as well as a splash of lemon.  Added to that are chunks of tasty fish and tomatoes (another one of my favorite things), onions, and cucumbers.  This stuff is like ceviche on steroids!  And now I don't even miss my Mexican ceviche (well, sort of), I just wanna get me some Samoan Kuka--right now!

Anyway, based on what she told me and some internet research, I pieced together what I think is a decent recipe that I will definitely be trying soon.  Hope you guys like it:

2 lbs white fish (yellow tail or snapper)
2 cups coconut cream or milk
2 tomatoes diced
1 cucumber chopped
1 onion chopped
salt + pepper
1 cup lemon juice

Dice fish into cubes.  Add salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

Cover and chill 2 hours or overnight (until fish is white).  Stir occasionally.

Add cream, onion, tomato, cucumber.

Serve chilled.

And YUUUUUUMMMM!!!!!

Re-Learning How to Park

My upbringing in suburban California did nothing to prepare me for the challenges of parking in a metropolitan city like Honolulu.  I was spoiled in California.  Wide open parking lots brimming with spaces.  Miles of open curb to sidle up to at my whim and leisure.  I would scoff at the idea of parallel parking.  All I had to do was drive a half a block in another direction and there would surely be a space.  People don't parallel park in California, because the majority of people in California have no idea how to do it (and they don't really have to learn anyway).  I know, because I was atrocious at it, and had no desire to improve my skills.  That is, until I was forced to do so--in Hawaii.   About the worst it could get in California was parking in LA, which I always dreaded.  But LA parking does not hold a candle to parking in Honolulu. 



Not an uncommon scene in Honolulu.  Believe it or not, this guy actually managed to slip in without bumping either car.




Parking here is often like maneuvering through an obstacle course.  Posts and walls routinely block your way.  And the spaces are so small that you have to suck in your breath in order to squeeze into them.  Many of the shops and restaurants do not have their own parking, and those that do gladly charge an arm and a leg to use them.  In fact, many of the rental units do not even have parking.  When I was searching for a place to live, many landlords brazenly stated in their adds NO PARKING and proudly added a line about which bus lines the unit was located next to.

Parking in a place like this takes a little more time and care.  You can't just burst in and out of your parking spaces.  You never know who or what you might hit.  So I have learned to take it a little slower--something Californians also do not know how to do.  I have traded the fast lane for the squishy lane.  Streets are narrow and almost claustrophobic at times.  But as a result my driving skills have improved immensely.  Whereas before I was rushing for place to place to get there the fastest way possible, now I take more time and watch out for other drivers.  For the first time in my life, I have become a defensive driver.  And it actually feels good to be on the road.

Hawaiian Sun soft drinks

Let me first say that prior to moving to Hawaii, I avoided soft drinks (all but diet Coke which I drank like water) as if they were plague.  I was one of those who thought drinking diet drinks was a good for my health--ya right!  Turns out that there are probably very few food items more dangerous on the planet than diet drinks--specially ASPARTAME.  (Go ahead and click the scary link to see the 92 listed side effects of this dastardly stuff--which is rumored to be a chemical byproduct of anthrax...)  I stopped consuming diet drinks when I moved to Hawaii and noticed a difference immediately.  I had more energy, my mood was improved, and I began to lose weight!  Insane, I know!

Anyway, this is not supposed to be an anti-aspartame commercial.  It's a Hawaiian Sun commercial!  And what, you ask, is Hawaiian Sun?  A really good brand of Hawaiian made soft drinks, that's what!  The ingredients are pretty much natural, and they taste really good.  Of course, I can't drink a ton of this stuff.  Too much sugar is bad too.  But when I chose to drink a soft drink, this is the stuff I chose.  My recent favorite is the Strawberry Lilikoi (passion fruit).  Some of the tea flavors are outstanding  (for a canned drink), like the Lite Green Tea and the Island Iced Tea.  Good stuff!

The Areas of Honolulu #1 (Kaimuki)

Honolulu proper contains a number of subarea each with its own name and flavor.  Sometimes the differences have to do with geographical uniqueness.  Sometimes it's just the chosen name for that particular area.  Some of them are Manoa and Maikiki, Nuuanu and Pauoa, Palolo and Kaimuki, and of course Waikiki.  I thought it might be interesting for people outside of the islands to learn a little bit about each area. 

For today's area, I have selected one of my favorites:  Kaimuki.

Located east of Manoa, behind Diamond Head (the mountain in the distance).

Kaimuki is a considered a middle-class neighborhood and was first developed in the 1920s. The following was taken from Travel Ape: 

"While it was once the hub of banking giants, Kaimuki today has the feel of pre-World War II Honolulu, with residential side streets featuring simple homes on neatly tended plots. This quaint town offers cozy shops, service establishments and a smattering of good and affordable restaurants. The Temari Center for Asian and Pacific Arts, a small art center tucked away, offers classes in lei making, basketry, book binding, flower pressing, paper making and painting on silk. Comme Ci Comme Ca Consignment Boutique and Jan's Secret Closet are favorites among those who frequent thrift and consignment shops. Kwilts 'n Koa is a small Hawaiian quilt shop and Montsuki features mother and daughter designed fashions using Japanese kimonos, silk and natural fibers. On Wai'alae Avenue, take your pick of some great restaurants: 3660 On The Rise (Euro-Asian), Boston's North End Pizza Bakery, Beau Soleil (Mediterranean) and Eastern Garden (Chinese) to name a few. Pick up yummy manapua at Kwong On and fresh island fruits and vegetables at Kaimuki Produce Market."

Maybe because I am use to suburban life, Kaimuki generally has a much warmer feel than the high-rise areas like Waikiki and Ala Moana.  It's much better kept than some of the eastern sections of the city.  The Kapolani Community College weekly farmers market is a lot of fun.  Lots of interesting produce and prepared foods.  If I had the time, I would go there every week.  The Kahala Mall is smaller but much less crowded and very much more accessible than the huge, impossible-to-find-parking Ala Moana Mall.  There's also the Diamond Head Theatre which calls itself the Broadway of the Pacific.  I have yet to catch a show there.  Right now they are hosting a production of "Little Women".  Then there's this sub shop called Storto's that half the island calls the greatest sandwich place on the planet and the other half calls a soggy, tasteless mess.  But supposedly all agree that there is a better Storto's on the North Shore.  I'll have to give both of them a try and report my findings someday.

As of now, Kaimuki is my number one spot of choice living wise--well, besides the more affluent areas which I will never be able to afford to live in.  So hopefully one day soon I will be a resident of Kaimuki.

Pieces of My Mind

Well, I enjoy doing this blog so much that I thought I would make a second blog--one for the creative things going on in my head all the time.  And I also enjoyed doing the NaNoWriMo challenge so much that I thought I would make this blog a challenge to me as well.  Basically I plan to write something create every day for the year of 2011 (a year I have taken to calling "The Year of Awesome").  It doesn't have to be poetry necessarily or a short story or anything like that, although it can be either of these things.  It just has to be a create bit of something.  A piece of my mind, if you will.  And yes! I realize this is nothing new.  It has been done and redone by just about everyone under the sun, but it has not yet been done by me.  So, starting January 1st, look for my new blog entitled:  365 Pieces of My Mind

Wish you guys could get this on the mainland!!!

Reading this blog, you've probably already realized that I am obsessed with food... I can't help it!  Good food is one of those things that makes life worth living!  And one of the tastiest treats I have had in a long time is the Haupia pie at McDonalds here in Hawaii.

I realize the picture is not very appetizing but please do not be fooled.  If you like coconut, this thing is a piece of heavenly delight.  Only problem is, it's also a heart attack wrapped in a deep fried shell.  I can't even imagine the amount of calories and saturated fat.  Thankfully, this is a limited time item.  I just wish you all could try it on the mainland.  I remember eating haupia (coconut pudding) as a kid at a neighbor's luau.  It was so good, I use to dream about it.  I did not eat it again until our first visit to Hawaii.  It's just one of those things that you cannot help but love.  But to put it in a pie and deep fry it, man, that's just plain evil! 

The Marvelous Kindle!

Kindle and I have been together for almost three weeks now, and I have to be honest that reading-wise this has been one of the best three weeks of my life!  Why you ask?  Well, first of all I have already downloaded four books--for a grand total of approximately 5 dollars!  And these are books that in physical print would easily cost between 9.99-15.99 for paperback copies.  Because it 'tis the season, I started with "A Christmas Carol" which I have only read in parts.  It was free!  Next, I stumbled onto a Christmas story I had never heard of before--"The Bird's Christmas Carol" and it cost me a grand total of 2.76.  After I read that book, and because I had enjoyed reading "A Christmas Carol" so much, I was seriously considering reading more Charles Dickens.  Then something odd and coincidental happened.  Oprah put a couple of Dickens books on her reading list for her reading club, or group, or whatever she calls it. 

Let me just say that I am not particularly an Oprah fan.  I can take her or leave her, and the most enjoyment I get out of her is the occasional SNL sketch lampooning her crazy give away shows by making the audience members go so nuts they end up exploding.


*Here's a link to one of those hilarious SNL sketches:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JpXZ6xOvuE

But I do admire her for having the largest reading group/club/thingie pretty much ever--because it translates to more people becoming interested in reading.  I also have to say that the majority of her picks hold absolutely no interest for me, some even seem down right bad.  I have however read about a quarter of her selections, because she occasional does pick something very interesting.  So, all things considered, it seemed like fate that I was to pick up and read some more Dickens.  Oprah has "Great Expectations" and "A Tale of Two Cities" on her list, so I figured I would start there.  I browsed around on my Kindle and found the Oprah copy for 17.99--both books in a set.  I browsed a little more and found a copy of "Great Expectations" for free!, and a copy of "A Tale of Two Cities" for the whopping price of 2.25--thus bringing my current book buying total to 5.01!  Awesome if you ask me, considering that this is at least 50 dollars worth of books.  Best of all, Dickens is weighty and will slow me down from purchase more books for the time being.

As for features, the ink screen technology is great, my eyes don't get tired like they do staring at the computer screen.  And getting the extra 3G was the right choice for me.  No worrying about finding a Wi Fi source.  I just turn the thing on and go.  I suppose living in Honolulu would make finding Wi Fi pretty much a moot problem, but what if I get to move somewhere more remote one day?  Well, I don't really have to worry because I have the 3G. 

It's also slim and easy to handle.  The case I bought has an elastic band to hold it closed or open, as well as a slot on the inside cover to put you hand inside for easy handling.  It has a style look and a fairly simple interface.  I learned how to use the thing in like less than 5 mins.

Anyway, Kindle is like one of my new best friends and definitely here to stay!  I totally recommend it.

Week 17: Big Changes Afoot!

Yes, big changes afoot!  We got our own place, a two bedroom one bath and it's not in a high rise condo--yay!  Of course, Christmas is coming so we are doing all kinds of Christmas activities all the time with LK.  Right now, we are basically down as far as the internet goes.  I can log on at work here and there, but no access at home until Dec 23...  So, no pictures and brief blogs for a bit.  As soon as I get a chance, I will upload pictures of our new digs.  And try to figure out some interesting stuff to write about.

40 Reasons Why Turning 40 Wasn't So Bad (things that have changed and things I have learned--mostly for the better)

Okay, technically my 41st birthday is still about a month a way, but I was thinking about the past year and all the crazy things that have happened and I could not help putting pen to paper as usual and coming up with this list.  Some of it is slightly bitter, most of it is very positive and upbeat (two things I am trying to be more of these days).  All of it is relevant to my recent experience and therefore relevant to this blog.  And so, here are the 40 (in no particular order) biggest things about my 40th year:

1) My 40th B-day party was my best birthday yet!  Thanks again everyone!

2) I am a damn good BBQ chef, and you are invited to test me on that any time!

3) I may have been unemployed most of my 40th year, but at least I had some free time to do some of the stuff I normally do not get to do!

4) One of these was getting to write a ton!

5) Another of these was spending more time with my son!

6) I read more books this year than in the past five years combined!

7) I learned the hard way that money is just another object and it really and truly does not bring you happiness and not necessarily security either.

8) I lost a nice car, but gained a brand new Honda Fit!  (Hondas rule!)

9) I learned more about social services as a recipient for six months than I did working in social services for six years.

10) I learned that there is no such thing as a life-long friend, but that family is forever!

11) Old friends moved aside to allow new friends into my life; forgotten friends came forward to become good friends; and some friends showed that we are all only human and often only as good as our worse faults.

12) On the other hand, I learned that we all have our faults and that only by accepting our own faults are we able to accept the faults of others.

13) I am lucky enough to be one of those people who find joy in every type of cuisine I try, and there is a lot of joy in the cuisines of the world to find!

14) I continue to love and value artistic expression!

15) I have learned that I generally do not like smokers very much... (Loong story, but blame the guy who lived down stairs from me for the last 4 months.)

16) The internet opened up an entirely different world to me--the resources here really are potentially infinite!

17) Most people who complain about stuff that doesn't really matter do not know how bad life can get--I have seen it, and they have no idea.

18) I still really love to read books!
19) I still really love to write!

20) I can draw even better than I thought I could, I just wish I had more time for it.

21) Sports are not really as bad as I once thought they were.

22) I love the ocean--in Hawaii anyway!
23) That's right, I got to move to Hawaii!  (maybe that should be number one?)

24) So I learned that there really is often a profound difference in geographical areas, and that I do not miss the rat race of California when compared to the aloha of Hawaii--not one little bit.

25) Stuff is, well, just that...stuff.

26) I am much happier without so much "stuff".

27) Ice cream is my absolute favorite dessert--the flavor combos are endless!

28) The Amazon Kindle is the bomb!  (can you say FREE BOOKS??!!)

29) I like talking to people about just about anything--as long as they are not overly negative about everything.

30) Yes, hard to believe, but I am finally comfortable in my own skin and really don't care about what other people think about me anymore.

31) I am a person who cares deeply about others--especially those who are suffering.

32) That type of caring person is VERY rare.

33) Life is too short, and I no longer have time for people who are selfish.

34) It's okay to take your time doing things, in fact often times the more time you take the better work you do.

35) There will always be more to see than can ever be seen and more to do than can ever be done, so slow down and enjoy where you are and what you are doing.

36) Time spent with children is more precious than anything--because people do not remain children for long.

37) It's okay to play video games--it's really okay.

38) How you define yourself is in a constant state of flux and that's what makes you interesting!

39) Trying new things is what makes life worth living!

40) Having a child or children is the single greatest adventure on Earth!

There, I said it.  It will be interesting to see at 50 to what else I have learned!  Keeping an open mind and willingness to always learn, that is the most important value of all.  That, and the fact that living a good life will bring good things to you.  I think they call that karma.

Here Comes Bento Man!!!

Every office you work in develops its own traditions, and one of the weekly ones in our office is the Bento Man visits.  For those of you who don't know, Bento boxes are basically the Japanese version of a sack lunch--embraced and reimagined by the culture of Hawaii and beyond.  They traditionally come with a couple scoops of rice, some type of meat in a sauce, sometimes a fried item and some veggies.  They can look something like this:

Obviously, this is a somewhat "Americanized" version.  Bento Man tends to have a few with a more traditional flare.  And then there are the "Hawaiian" style ones with things like good ol' Spam.  If you don't know, Hawaii has a thing for Spam.  More Spam is consumed here per capita than anywhere else in the U.S.  I think only Guam consumes more.  (Note:  Although I consumed it willingly when I was a kid, I cannot abide by Spam and will never eat the stuff again for as long as I live--I promise!) 

Bentos, it seems, are a unique form of artistic expression as well.  Google the word and you will find a) tons of nifty designs for the boxes themselves, and b) (even more exciting and interesting) a whole mess of pictures of people's fancy versions of Bento.  Here are some of the one's that I particularly enjoyed seeing:

Fun stuff!  And obviously a great way to get kids to eat healthier.

Pizza in Paradise

One of my favorite things in the world is pizza.  My tastes are eclectic, I am not a New York vs. Chicago style snob, or vice versa.  Despite being born and raised in So Cal, I am not a California gourmet pizza connoisseur.  The truth is, I will eat just about any pizza, any style from any where--as long is it tastes gooood.  So, you might ask me where I have found such a pizza in Hawaii.  Well, first let me say that one of my favorite pizzas is just down the street from where I live (thank goodness at least one decent mass made fast food style joint followed me here).  Round Table is consistently good, especially their thin crust which is about as perfect as a corporate pizza can get.  It's cheap and yummy, and easy to get to.  I'm so glad it's here because I simply cannot abide by the other corporate pizzas dumps--Domino's and Pizza Hut yuck! 
But what about REAL pizza, you say.  Indeed, what about real pizza.  Well, I am here to tell you that real pizza exists in Hawaii, and it is good.  I should first add a caveat that I have yet to find a real Chicago style deep dish pizza, but the two I am about to mention (while not the very best pizza I have eaten) are very worth checking out should you ever hit the shores of Oahu.

First, Z Pizza:

Turns out they have a location in California as well, and for good reason.  This is California gourmet style at it's best.  Heck they even have a pizza called the Californian, not to mention another one called the Berkeley Vegan (yes, they have Vegan options, as well as gluten-free for you none wheat eaters).  The ingredients are extremely fresh, many of them organic, and there are endless fascinating combinations to spark your interest.  Plus, they have this super garlicy sauce that is out-of-this-world delicious!  Their crust is light and crispy, exactly as I like it.  It's a fire roasted pizza, giving it that perfectly cooked quality.  I recommend the Napoli, because I love all things tomato, as well as the artichoke and capers pizza--mmmMmmm!

And, the V Lounge:

Considered by many locals to be the penultimate pizza in Hawaii, V Lounge does it's best to be authentic New York style and it does a pretty damn good job.  Stalwart New York pizza fans will tell you that it's not New York pizza without New York water, and some L.A. pizzerias brag about how they ship water all the way from New York to make their dough, but it turns out Hawaii water makes for a decent substitute.  It also helps that V Lounge goes the extra extra mile to add fresh local produce with authentic New York style meats, cheesee and sauces.  The Margherita pizza holds its own against any other such pizza I have tried.  And the Sopressatta offers thick slices of pepperoni that were entirely unique to my experience of pepperoni--very much worth trying.  If you want to try something different, they offer a number of local inspired toppings such as mac nuts and Maui onions.  When it comes down to it, it's a simple pizza with a great crust, tasty sauce and premium quality toppings.  What more can you ask for in a good pizza?

Note:  I also recent had a very good slice of pizza at the KCC weekly farmer's market, but I forgot to get the name of the pizzeria that made it.  It was a pesto pizza with yellow tomatos.  It was slightly bitter, but had a nice combination of flavors.

Pidgin and Me

4 months ago, I would never have thought or believed how naturally one adapts to pidgin, but the truth is it is everywhere here.  So you better learn to cope or go back home!  How did I learn that that the ability to speak pidgin is building inside of me?  Well, today at work when I was handing my validated parking to the parking guy and he told me I needed another half hour sticker in order to avoid paying, my reply was:  "gimme the (da) thing (ting) and I go back up"--and even more remarkably, he knew exactly what I meant.

Week 15: doin the NaNoWriMo/and the holidays are here

Alright, it's true... You caught me.  I took some time off from the blog...  If you care, I am SO sorry.  It's been a bit of a crazy busy November.  First off, I started my new job on November 1 and it's been a whirlwind of adjustment.  The program is awesome, we actually make a difference in people's lives by finding them housing when they have no where else to turn.  I have worked with what can unfortunately only be called "the poor" for over six years now and I have often said it, and firmly believe, that the first step to change is providing stability in the form of a safe, clean place to live (along with a steady source of sustenance of course).

As if starting a new job weren't enough to have on my plate, I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo this year.  Basically, it's a challenge to write a novel during the month of November.  This is perhaps the main thing that has held me back from writing on the blog.  For the past 26+ nights, I have spent at least two to three hours (sometimes as much as five or six) at the computer plugging away on the novel.  I just haven't had much energy or inspiration to write for the blog.  Now that I am nearly done (I have 43k words when they require at least 50k to finish), I guess I have a little more space in my brain to think about my blog.

And now, well, you want to know what has been going on in our lives?  Thanksgiving and the holidays of course!  I have had the fortune to spend many holidays in Hawaii over the last 12 years and it's a great place to be.  They are already decorating the entire town with massive Christmas displays which we can't wait to take LK to see.  The Christmas parade should be coming soon during a weekend in early December.  And we had a great Thanksgiving!  Having cooked turkeys for many years now, I have perfected my gravy recipe, and this year was better than ever. 

This year, grandpa, the Big Kahuna, bought a flavor injector.  I used it to inject chicken stock under the turkey's skin and it made a huge difference in moisture.  I could not have asked for a better turkey.

Well, Christmas is here, so I will be blogging about our Hawaii Christmas activities.  Hope you enjoy, and have a great holiday where ever you are!

Week 13: Bocce Ball

(The following game, bocce ball, is definitely not exclusive to Hawaii.  However, Hawaii is extremely conducive to bocce ball.  With year round outdoorsy weather, it's one of those games that perfectly suited to Hawaiian lifestyle--at least in my humble newcomer's opinion.)

Okay, let's be straight for a moment.  I am not much of sports person.  I do enjoy the outdoors, but pretty much on my own terms.  I like hiking and dips in the ocean.  I profess to enjoy kayaking, which I honestly do, but I hardly ever do it.  The costs are somewhat prohibitive at this time, but I hope to be able to buy a kayak in the future.  Space is an issue too, so it's all about the waiting game with that.  I also really like to snorkel, but once again good gear costs good moolah...  So, what's a guy to do...

How about bocce ball! 

Which is my new absolute favorite outdoor game.  I have never liked bowling because the ball is heavy and the course is awkward.  Sliding a seven pound ball (or however many pounds it weighs) on a fifty foot (or whatever distance it is) laminated wooden surface?  Whose idea of fun is that?  Not mine.  I am not much into golf...way too much "science" involved:  which club to use, how to hit the ball, etc etc.  But bocce ball is SO much fun!

In bocce ball, or less the incarnation I played, you roll the ball through grass on uneven surfaces.  It could be slight uphead or slightly downhill.  With the way we played, the possibilities were endless.  Basically you beginning by having one team toss the small white ball (called a jack).  The two teams toss their respective balls to see who can get the most balls closest to the jack.  Scoring is based on which team has the most balls nearest the jack.  You can do things like knock the other player's balls away from the jack, or even knock the jack away from the other player's balls.   So there is strategy involved. 

We played at Ala Moana park and found many different terrains and hazards along the way.   Once we ended up near a small metal utilizes cover and I was able to bounce my last ball off of the cover to knock the closest ball away and basically win the round.  It was a thrilling moment.  I totally recommend trying this game!

Week 12: Our First Hawaii Halloween

LK had a wonderful first Halloween in Hawaii!  I have said it before and I will say it over and over, the best thing about Halloween is the fun it is for kids.  They get to dress up in costume of their own choice and go door-to-door (or in LK's case mall store to mall store) and get free candy!  Could there be a better day for kids?  Well, besides Christmas and Birthdays perhaps.

Anyway, for the first time LK chose (with an extremely ghoulish delight) a scary costume:

A spoooooky skeleton!

In order to avoid the supposed madness that is Waikiki (obviously not five year old friendly), we took LK to Ala Moana Mall to trick or treat at the shops.  Let me tell you, he cleaned up in a way that I never did trick or treating int the 70s.  He literally got a bag full of candy, little toys, stickers, etc.  And we didn't even hit up the whole mall.  The place is really big, and we got way too tired after the first hour and a half.

Tricks or treats!

Everyone loved his costume.  I guess they thought a five year old skeleton was the cutest thing.  People wanted to take their picture with him.  People laughed and smiled wherever he went.  And a trolley driver stopped her trolley to include him in her tour.  It was quite a day for LK, he absolutely loved it.

The Big Job Update!

We have had a couple of much needed minor miracles happen to us in the last week.  First of all, after over a year of prolonged unemployment  I have been offered a job!  It is with a non-profit company here in Oahu which services the homeless by helping them find employment and housing.  It is miraculous primarily because I finally have a job, but also because it has been a long time dream of mine to work toward helping the homeless in some way. 

The second big news, because I need transportation for a job which requires me to make monthly visits all over the island, is that we finally have our own car!  After nearly three months without one, I cannot tell you the amazing feeling of freedom we have from once again owning our own car.  We are now the proud owners of a Honda Fit Sport model, a car I had been thinking of buying ever since it came out.

Oh yes, ours is purple (blackberry pearl), just like this one!

Our previous car, the one we had to give up, was a Scion XB.  I enjoyed this car primarily for its larger size and fun styling.  But the clunk XB could never beat a Honda in a road test.  This Fit practically jumps off the line and begs to be driven!  It's handing is superb, and it is extremely fun to drive.  Not to mention that it has a funky style all its own.  And hey, it's a Honda!  Is there any better economy car on the road these days?  Not really.

Truth be told, when it comes to buying a car I am extremely anal.  I spent hours and hours online, like I always do, comparing prices and reviews.  I looked at similar sized cars like the Kia Soul, the Scion XD, the Ford Fiesta and the Nissan Cube.  The Fit is by far the most expensive car in it's class, but it has extremely good reliability ratings--the kind the others simply cannot touch.  It is built to last.  Like I said before, it's a Honda.

Anyway, it has definitely been a week of big changes and good news for us!  Something we have needed to happen for quite a long time now.

Window Painting

So I did my very first window painting ever for the family health food store.  I tried to do my best with an unfamiliar medium on an unfamiliar surface, but of course I always think that I could have done better:

We are working on turning the front of the store into a tea shop with tables and chairs.  This is the the mural that greats you.  For locals, the store is located at 1541 Beretania St, corner of Beretania and Kalakaua, just east of the Foodland.  Lot's of great herbal and flavored teas as well as natural ingredient pastries, yum!

Come visit us at House of Health!!

Week 11: visit to Dole Plantation

The maze at Dole Plantation, tauted as the largest in the world.

Another weekend, another long day entertaining our resident five year old.  Since we moved to Oahu about 11 weeks ago, LK had been asking to visit the Dole Plantation.  He loves to run through the maze which has  eight locations to find where you rub a small picture onto a card.  Fortunately, they give you a small map.  Thus, it doesn't turn into an all day affair.  Truth is, this time it was pretty hot, and I wanted to get out of the maze as quickly as possible. 

Besides, there are plenty of other fun things to see and do.  The train ride for one.  This was our first time, and we did it after lunch when LK was pretty well tuckered out from running the maze.

It takes you on a short tour of the pineapple fields.  The most striking part of the tour is when you reach the edge of the property beyond which lies pristine Hawaiian wilderness.  Absolutely breathtaking.  Unfortunately I did not think to take a picture...

But before the train ride, we stopped for lunch--which was surprisingly awesome.

Don't let the plastic tray fool you, this teriyaki chicken was the bomb.  Very tender, very subtle.  I hate teriyaki that is sickeningly sweet, and this was just right in balancing smokey with sweet.  And the portion was way more than enough for both LK and me!  Who knew you could find such great stuff in a plantation store cafeteria.  I love when something totally surprises you like that.

For me, the most interesting aspect of our visit was the small garden showcasing various types of pineapple.  The kind we all eat (the kind made popular by Dole) is called the cayenne variety.  Sort of funny if you know anything about peppers, but of course the pineapple and the pepper are in no way related.  Anyway, it turns out there are a number of varieties of the fruit.  I did not have the patience (or rather LK did not have the patience) to write all of their names down, but here are a few I took pictures of growing in the garden.

I am pretty sure the last is the standard cayenne, but if anyone has any idea what the first two are I would really appreciate the info!

Lappert's Ice Cream---taste of the islands in a cone!

Kauai pie--one of the most awesome ice cream flavors ever!

Just for a moment please indulge me and let me talk one of my favorite things--ice cream!  Hawaii happens to be the home of one my favorite premium hand made ice cream makers (ice cream you can pretty much only get in Hawaii), Lappert's.  As you can see above, my favorite Lappert's flavor is Kauai pie.  It consists of  Kona coffee ice cream, toasted coconut, chocolate fudge, and toasted macadamia nuts.

Pure heavenly mana!  With flavors like Heavenly Hana, Big Island Inspiration, Auntie Lilikoi's Passion Fruit, Luau Delight, Kona Lava Java, Maui Mango Madness, and Mauna Kea's Secret it's easy to see that Lappert's gets great inspiration from their island home.


Hanapepe Kauai, site of the very first Lappert's ice cream shop.



I first tried Lappert's in 1997 on my second honeymoon to Kauai.  The above unassuming shop was sort of an afterthough as we were making our way from one side of the island to the other.  Little did we know the deliciousness we would find behind those doors.  For the rest of our trip, we eagerly sought out Lappert's where ever we went.  Sadly, we would find after our trip that there was no way to get it on the mainland.  Thankfully we can now get it anytime we want!

Lappert's was created in 1983 in Kauai when Walter and Mary Lappert decided to take a leap of faith and bring premium ice cream to Hawaii.  They started with vanilla and macadamia nut, eventually expanding to over 200 flavors.  In 1986, after building a roasting room in the back of their ice cream shop, they added coffee to the menu.  Bakery items were also added, turning Lappert's into a Hawaiian institution.

I do love ice cream, but I am extremely picky in the type of ice cream I will eat.  Sorry folks, but corporate junk like Baskin Robbins just doesn't cut it for me.  In Southern California, we have very few hand made premium ice cream shops.  Among the most outstanding for me was a tiny shop in Upland called Handel's.  It was a great place to get a scoop, especially on dollar scoop night.  But let me tell you, as good as Handel's might be, it does not hold a candle (bad pun) to Lappert's.

Week 10: a lil' back ground info

The two biggest questions I get these days are 1) Where are you from? and 2) Why did you move to Hawaii?

Both my wife and I were born and raised in California.  I lived, was educated and worked there for the first 40 years of my life.  In fact, I worked constantly at some sort of job since I was about 15 years old.  My jobs were extremely diverse:  food server, delivery driver, retail manager, substitute teacher, security guard, janitor, counselor, case manager.  The longest I have ever worked at one job site was approximately four years. 

My 25 year work streak unceremoniously came to an idea when I lost my most recent job.  After a year of fruitlessly searching for a new one, my family and I were forced to make a difficult decision.  It seemed one of the primary reasons for my inability to find a new job in California was the ever burgeoning unemployment problem.  Statistically, California is 3-4 percent higher in unemployment than the national average.  It is double the percentage of states like Hawaii.  Because of California's relatively high population, these percentage differences translate to competition in the millions as opposed to the thousands in a state like Hawaii.  Of course, a state like Hawaii has less jobs to offer, but competition in the thousands instead of millions translates to a much higher probability of finding work in Hawaii.  And so we chose to try to find work here.

It definitely helps that Hawaii is one of the states where we have family.  My parents semi-retired here 12 years ago.  My father recently retired from work completely.  And my mother, who runs a small business, often contemplates joining him.  One of the conditions of residing with them has been for me to help her run her small business.  We are also fully aware of the reality that they eventually will need some sort of assistance as they grow into old age.  Another reason for us to come here.

I continue always to search for jobs and to attend interviews.  I am also seriously contemplating, but deeply dreading, a return to academic life.  My field is mental health, which has taken a severe hit during this seemingly endless recession. 

There you have it.  A little background info on my situation.  I am here partly to work on rebuilding my life, and partly to contribute to the well-being of my aging parents.  There is much at stake in my being here.  Primarily the welfare of my own family and my future work situation.  I am open to what may come, but also quite anxious about what I might find.

Waikiki Aquarium and Honolulu Zoo Pix

Some great pictures we recently took at the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo:

Jellyfish are LK's absolute favorite.  He eagerly seeks them out whenever we are anywhere near the Ala Wai canal.

Yes, LK got to see Nemo!  Sometimes called a clownfish.

Pufferfish, another LK favorite.

No idea what this guy is called, but he looks AWESOME!  All purple with tiny neon orange fangs sticking out of his mouth.

Who doesn't like the ringtailed lemurs?



I don't remember this guy's name, relative of the crocodile obviously.

Nene, state bird of Hawaii.



Local Restaurant Review: an OUTSTANDING burger joint!

If you have never had it, believe me when I tell you that it is worth the trip to California just to try this most heavenly of delights--the In-n-Out double double animal style (cue the Hallelujah chorus).

I have a confession to make...  My name is Coconut Dave and I am a foodie...  So much so, that if I allowed myself to eat all of the food I wanted all of the time (instead of limiting it to the food I need when I am hungry) I could easy weigh 700 pounds right now.  I LOVE food!  And I especially love great fast food.

I know my SoCal peeps can totally feel me when I say that one of the most difficult things for me to leave behind was my beloved In-n-Out...  Up until the very last day, I was trying to find ways to sneak a double double animal style before I had to say good-bye.  I have to tell you, I had no real hopes of ever finding anything that comes close to the awesome deliciousness of that singular burger. 

Well, I am here to tell you that I may not have found a replacement but I have found something that is definitely just as good.  Do not get me wrong, I am more surprised than anyone by this glorious happenstance. 

Teddy's Bigger Burger is not only an incredible burger but also a great dining experience.  The choices are numerous and all extremely appealing.  (Unfortunately I was disappointed to find that they no longer carried jalapeno poppers--one of my favorite heart attack snacks.  But it's hard to be upset when there are so many other fabulous options to be enjoyed.)

Teddy's Bigger Burger:  This is not the bacado burger, but this one looks damn good too!

For my first visit, I opted for the bacado burger--a burger patty with cheddar cheese, avacado and bacon; with all the fixin's of course.  Not only do the burgers come in three sizes, but they pile on the toppings!  I had so much sliced avacodo on my burger that it was falling out all over the places.  The secret sauces is very good too, although too much of it might make a burger a bit too sweat.  Fresh lettuce and tomato.  Onions grilled or not.  I usually forsake onions, but these are sliced so thin that you hardly notice they are there.  They simply add to the flavors as opposed to overwhelming them.  It's topped with a nice bun that is just the right consistency.  And the burger patty, you ask...  Oh man, how do I put this?...?  It literally tastes like that best backyard barbecue burger that you remember from way back when that you always thought you would never ever get to have again.  I have no idea how they do it, but that really is the only way to describe it.  Purely amazing indeed. 

I could go on and on with the choices.  They have grilled chicken is three flavors.  They serve a fish sandwich.  You can get any of the proteins on a giant salad.  The onion rings are fantastic, as well as the fries.  They have all these sandwich combinations that I just can't wait to try.  All in all, hands down one of THE best burgers I have ever eaten.  I will be returning to try some more of these great choices.

A flower I just HAD to share...

Absolutely amazing hibiscus flower growing outside the Denny's in Waikiki.  You just never know what you will find around here...

Weeks 8 & 9: a long couple of weeks! (and the search for decent Hawaiian shirts...)

Well, it's been a couple of week since I have written--with good reason.  We have all been extremely busy here on the island.  LK (Lil Kahuna--our beloved five year old) has just learned to read several words, and we couldn't be prouder.  He had intersession this past week, which means he was home from school.  The bulk of my spare time has been spent entertaining him with trips to the library, zoo, aquarium, and feeding the fishies in Ala Wai canal. 

As for me, I still do not have a full time job.  I continue to work in the family store several days a week while attending numerous interviews at everything from the a gig housing the homeless to working for the humane society.  HH (Hula Honey) has also been on a bunch of interviews for school jobs.  Needless to say, we are both eagerly awaiting word of the outcome of said interviews. 

We've also done a lot of fun stuff!

A couple of weekends ago, we happened to catch a special ceremony honoring Gandhi on his birthday.  It was inspiring to hear local spiritual leaders from just about every imaginable religion speak about how Gandhi has effected their lives and work.  The best part for LK were the lion dancers.

Lion dancer soliciting tips.

Basically, it is two or three people manipulating a large, beautiful puppet.  They dance around the audience tickling you with their mouths and eyelashes in the hopes of generating tips.  I am not sure of the significance of the dance or how it relates to Gandhi, but maybe one day I will have the time to do some research to find out.  If any readers know, I would very much appreciate you giving us all an education in the comments section.

And last weekend, there was this huge children and family celebration in downtown Honolulu.  A few dozen organizations had booths where they hosted games with free prizes for kids.  I can't stress this enough (namely because I come from California where EVERYTHING cost money, and a lot of money at that) the whole thing was pretty much free!  Well, not the food--but at least that was cheap.  The most notable attraction was where they allowed children to decorate their own pumpkins (something LK the little artist thoroughly enjoyed.)

LK's pumpkin.

There was also a McDonald's tent (another LK favorite) were they gave away toys and apple dippers.  And kids could have their picture taken with the man himself.

LK and HH with ol' Ronald McDonald (I am not much of a fan, but he had LK cracking up so he gets a big thumbs up from me.)

I could go on with more and more activities, but I wouldn't want to bore anyone.  I thought I would end with a uniquely Hawaiian problem:  Hawaiian shirts as business attire.

Back in college days, in other words pre-history, my buddies and I use to try to outdo each other with severely ostentatious Hawaiian shirts.  The only rule was:  the gaudier and more outlandish, the better.  I recall, rather embarrassingly, wearing a shirt with half naked girls, and another with assorted multi-color cocktails.  Let's just say that both of them made me look like a big idiot. 

After I was married, and partly because of my wife's interest in all things Hawaiian, Hawaiian shirts became a staple in my wardrobe.  I had dozens in just about every color and fabric you can imagine.  Then, one day, for no real reason, I completely stopped wearing Hawaiian shirts.  Maybe I got bored of being stared at in that funny way that says:  "why is that dude wearing a Hawaiian shirt?"  I didn't really wear a Hawaiian shirt for about ten years. 

Well, next thing I know, I am living in Hawaii where just about everyone wears them at one time or another.  In fact, a decent Hawaiian shirt with slacks is considered acceptable business attire in most situations.  So, here I am stuck with having to buy a bunch of new Hawaiian shirts...

Lucky for me, there are more brands and styles then ever before.  And I no longer have to settle for naked hula girls or neon flowers. 

In my search I have whittled my favorite brands down to Hilo Hattie (which can sometimes be decent but are usually somewhat touristy and overpriced), Quicksilver (which seem to be consistently good), Kahala (which seem to be often very good, and sometimes like "what?") and Tori Richards (which are excellent but WAY overpriced).

Here's the one Kahala shirt I bought:

Algae green with moorish idol print.

And here are a few of the Quicksilver shirts:

I have two like this;  the other is in light browns and blues.

I'm told this is a Tahitian pattern.

This seemed to be everyone's favorite.  Sort of a leaf or feather pattern.

The good news is,  A) I can get Hawaiian shirts that are not ugly!  B) That I have narrowed down my choice of brands; this way when I need more I know exactly where to go and don't have to waste my time searching searching searching.

Aloha for now from paradise!

Week 7: Coco/Macnut Pie

Okay, let me start by saying that I love just about all things coconut:  coconut juice, coconut pudding, coconut curry, coconut ice cream, coconut shave ice, coconut cream pie--man, I LOVE it all!!!  Hence the name, Coconut Dave.  Also, Coconut is one of those flavors associated with the islands. So one day, long ago, I got the idea to make a coconut and macadamia nut pie.  One of my favorite pies is pecan, so I thought macnuts would make a perfect alternative. 

Turns out, lot's of people thought of this idea way before I did.  But no one ever seem to think of adding coconut to the mix.  That's where my recipe is different. 

A typical macnut pie recipe might read something like this:

1 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup chopped macnuts
2/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/3 cup melted butter
A pie shell

Easy peasy, simple as pie.  My idea was to substitute and add a few things to change the flavor slightly, and let me tell you, it absolutely positively worked.  This is a great pie.  I won't tell you the exact measurements I use, but I will tell you to get rid of the butter and use coconut milk (perferably a thick one).  Sub half the sugar or more with shredded coconut.  And man, you got one DEE-LICIOUS pie!  I have added a few other slight variations to my own recipe, but those are secrets--so I won't tell!

Anyway, give it a try some time!  Experiment with your own flavors and let me know how it comes out!  Trust me, you will not be disappointed.  As my brother would say:  "you can't go wrong with pie".  ESPECIALLY if it has coconut in it.

Goooood eats!!!

Week 6: Ala Moana Park

This past weekend we got the rare chance to hang with the fam at Ala Moana Park.  Let me just say, I have been meaning to spend the day at AM park for like--forever!  But somehow we always end up on the east west, or north side of the island.  I have to say, part of me was a bit leery.  It's a huge park, at least by my substandard California-ish standards (in California, a city park is often an acre or two with, if you are lucky, a slide and drinking fountain).  But it's also very close to one of the largest concentration of tourists on the island.  Turns out, at least on this weekend, Ala Moana Park was primarily inhabited by locals.  I guess most tourists were either shopping the mall or sitting in Waikiki. 

Seems like most people make their Ala Moana (which means "path to the sea" in Hawaiian) outing an all-day affair.  They stack out claims underneath the wide shade trees, set up BBQs, tables, chairs and bouncy houses for the kids.  Play lots of music music music!



One of the umpteen bouncy houses.

 The water is awesome at Ala Moana, especially if you have a five year old who is ocean-shy (like LK).  It's shallow and the waves are non-existent do to a tremendously long berm that scales the beach at about 500 feet or so from shore.  Do not quote me on this, it's a total shot-in-the-dark guess.  Anyway, it makes for basically a gigantic, lukewarm, completely luxurious swimming pool.  Of course, it was quite crowded.  People everywhere.  But that kind of thing can be ignored when you are in paradise.   I'd really like to return during the week when there are presumably a lot less people. 

We all had a great day, cooking up some steak and fish on the grill and laying around to read in the shade.  LK fed popcorn to the fish in the canal and watched a group of guys playing with their remote control boats.  LK even found a group of kids to play soccer with, and threw a ball around with his Grandpa, the Big Kahuna.  The day ended with a refreshing shower followed by a rainbow above nearby Waikiki.

All in all, another great day in Oahu!