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.