Reviews

Kyra, the beagles, & I at Manana Trail June hike

Every last Saturday of the month the Hawaiian Humane Society’s Paws on the Path hiking club meets and explores Oahu’s pet friendly hiking trails.  The hikes generally average three miles long and can take about two hours to complete.  All dogs must remain on a leash throughout the hike.  Hikers are advised to bring along poop bags, water, and snacks for people and dogs.  This club is great for dog lovers and their dogs to exercise, socialize, and enjoy the beautiful trails of Oahu.

Meeting times are 8:30 am and the hike starts at 8:45 am.  Here is the list of their monthly hikes:

January - Makapu’u Light House

February – Old Pali Road

March – Maunawili Gulch Trail

April – Waimano Valley

May – Kaunala

June – Manana Trail

July – Maunawili Golf Trail

August – Likeke Trail

September – Aiea Loop Trail

October – Waimano Ridge

November – Maunawili Ditch

December – Peacock Flats

For more information call 808.356.2217 or visit www.HawaiianHumane.org .

This is by far my favorite Thai restaurant on the Big Island. Located in downtown Hilo close to the bay front and an easy walk from Kamehameha Avenue. Parking is usually not a problem.

Those of you visiting the Big Island will find many Hilo restaurants surprisingly inexpensive compared to those on the Kona/Kohala side. New Chaing Mai is one of those surprises. The recipes are traditional Thai, not heavy and greasy, made with fresh local ingredients. Brown rice is always available in addition to the jasmine and white rice.  The menu is varied enough for any Thai food critic and there is a small assortment of wine and beer selections.

After eating here at least a half dozen times, I can honestly say I have never had a dish that I didn’t enjoy.  Nine of us, each ordering something different, were all completely satisfied recently and with the generous portions we all took a bit home for the next day.

The atmosphere is light and pleasant. There is a hostel of some sort next door and a few questionable characters may be lingering outside making it appear that there is a wait for a table.  Pay no attention; these folks have always been polite and friendly as we make our way by them into the restaurant.  Seat yourself and a pleasant, low-key waitress will be over soon to help you order.  If you have never eaten Thai food, this is a good place to start.

You can safely order “hot” if you like things spicy, you will not get the volcanic hot that many Thai restaurants serve when you ask for it spicy. And finally be sure to order the fresh summer rolls and you will be very happy.

New Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant  ~  110 Kalakaua,  ~  Hilo, HI 96720  ~  Phone: (808) 969-3777

Are you wondering where the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile will be while it’s traveling around Oahu, Hawaii over the next few weeks?  Well we have some info that can tip you off to it’s whereabouts!

June 28 – 2 – 6 p.m. –  Foodland Beretania
July 1     – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Times Super Market in Kahala
July 1     – 1 – 4 p.m. – Times Super Market Beretania
July 2     – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Pearl Harbor Commissary
July 2     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Times Super Market Kunia
July 3     – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Foodland Waipio
July 3     – 1 – 5 p.m. – Schofield Commissary
July 4     – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Waimalu 7-11
July 4     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Times Super Market Waimalu
July 5     – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Times Super Market Koolau
July 5     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Times Super Market Kailua
July 8     – 9 a.m. –  1 p.m. –  Safeway Kaneohe
July 8     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Safeway Kailua
July 9     – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Foodland Hawaii Kai
July 9     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Don Quijote Kaheka
July 10   – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. –  Don Quijote Waipahu
July 10   – 2 – 6 p.m. – Foodland Pearl City
July 11    - 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Hickam Commissary
July 11    - 3 – 6 p.m. – Safeway Kapolei
July 12    - 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Foodland Kaneohe
July 12    - 2 – 6 p.m. – Foodland Kailua
July 15     – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Foodland Mililani
July 15     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Safeway Pali
July 16     – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Tamura Superette
July 16     – 2 – 5 p.m. – Sack and Save Nanakuli
July 18     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Tamura Wahiawa
July 19     – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Safeway Hawaii Kai
July 19     – 2 – 6 p.m. – Safeway Kapahulu

Hope you can get out and enjoy some time with the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile as it travels around Oahu!

On a recent trip to Kauai my wife and I stayed in Poipu and unlike our first trip to the Garden Isle, it was sunny all three days! After working up an appetite surfing just off of Poipu Beach (can’t remember the breaks name) we decided we needed to finally try this Puka Dog thing that we’ve heard about. There is one in Waikiki, inside the International Market Place, so I’m told, and I’ve seen pictures of their creations, but really needed to try one out.

So, after a quick shower, off we went to the Poipu Shopping Center to try out a Puka Dog. When we got there it was packed. A small little hole in the wall, they serve veggie or polish dogs in a very non-traditional way. Puka in Hawaiian means hole. And these hot dogs are literally pushed into a hole in small loaf of bread (the bun.) Top that off with some interesting fixings that aren’t what you’d normally find on

a hot dog (only mustard if you’re traditional) and you have yourself a puka dog.

The ordering process is pretty simple. You first choose polish or veggie, then choose what type of Garlic Lemon Secret Sauce you want, and finally you choose the type(s) of tropical or traditional relish that you want your puka dog bathing in. Hand them your $6.25, and you’re on your way to enjoying a uniquely Hawaii hot dog.

The Garlic Lemon Secret Sauce comes in original, spicy and hot. I went the spicy and although it was quite tasty it didn’t give it the spice I was looking for. Next time I’m going with the hot. Now the truly unique and interesting fixins come with the relish choices you have, the tropical ones. These come in mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, and star fruit. All of which don’t sound appetizing on a hot dog but I had to try them out. Besides, whats a puka dog without a taste of the islands? So I went with the mango and it did not disappoint!

The lemon garlic, mixed with the mango, and hot dog wrapped in a bun turned out to be a great treat. I’ll definitely be heading down into Waikiki to try it out.

Finally, I washed it all down with fresh squeezed lemonade. The girl at the counter was squeezing it right in front of us, mixing it up with sugar, water, and ice, and serving it up with a smile. It was delicious. And it fit in with my tropical relish flavored hot dog quite nicely.

The staff was fun, seeming to have a good time. The service was fast. The atmosphere was like a Jamba Juice made out of left over Hawaii Tiki attire and crowd kept on coming. It was a perfect lunch spot on our Kauai weekend getaway.

The frozen yogurt phenomenon has hit Hawaii hard with numerous frozen yogurt chains opening on the island of Oahu in the past few months. Crowds of teenagers and families flock to these self serve yogurt shops to experience multiple flavor combinations and every topping imaginable.

I recently decided to see what all the fuss was about and visited my local yogurt chain Orange Tree in Kaneohe on Kamehameha Highway in the Kaneohe Shopping Center.  I entered the small shop and was greeted with hellos and smiles by the young counter associate.  He asked me if this was my first time here and gave me mini cups so I could sample all the yogurt flavors.  He gave me a brief overview on where the cups were, showed me all the yogurt flavors and toppings to choose from, and explained how the price depended on the weight of my cup.

Orange Tree offers 16 different yogurt flavors to choose from daily from classic vanilla and chocolate to unique raspberry and taro.  The toppings are endless with fresh fruits, candy and cookies, my favorite mochi balls, and much more.  I decided to mix it up and get blueberry yogurt with mochi balls and cheesecake yogurt with cheesecake bits and strawberries.  The price of my cup came out to under $4.00, which I thought was pretty reasonable.  I really enjoyed the cool freshness of my yogurt and loved the blueberry yogurt with mochi balls!

Frozen yogurt is low in calories and fat, high in calcium, high in protein, and even aids digestion.  Orange Tree is a fun and creative venue for patrons to get a healthier alternative to the high calorie and high fat ice cream shops.

Orange Tree currently has three locations on Oahu: Aiea, Kaneohe, and Kapolei.  Orange Tree will be adding 3 other locations very soon in the Kona Coast Shopping Center in Kailua-Kona, Ala Moana Shopping Center, and Kailua.  For more information visit www.orangetreehawaii.com.

Waikoloa Macaroni Grill – Waikoloa Queen Shops, The Big Island of Hawaii

This medium priced Italian restaurant is part of a chain of Macaroni Grills that can be found all over the U.S. For those of us living in Hawaii, this type of family friendly restaurant is a welcome relief to the high priced dining aimed at tourists. They are open for Lunch and Dinner. 

The Waikoloa Macaroni Grill accommodates quite a big crowd, usually with no waiting for a table during the week. The menu selection is relatively comprehensive and the portions generous. We had ten in our group and everyone was happy with both the service and the meal. I had brick oven pizza for about $12, with a couple pieces left over to take home. I tasted the Caesar Salad ($13.99) and the Chicken Marsala ($16.99), which were very good. And finally we all had a couple of bites of Tiramisu for dessert (delicious).

As with most Big Island restaurants attire is casual but of course you can always dress up for fun. There is a Keiki menu and crayons for the children to write on the paper tablecloths. The atmosphere is typical of large chain restaurants but the ambiance in the rest room was a surprise with the warm voice of a woman giving Italian language lessons.

Definitely worth trying.

Match.com, Yahoo personals, Single Parent Network, Plenty of Fish and eHarmony. Unless you are living in a cave without electricity you know these are online dating sites.

The bad rep online dating has seems to be fading. As well it should. We are all busy with jobs, kids, and life. We use the Internet for everything from shopping, stock trading to keeping close to relatives. Why not use it to find a partner? It is practical. If you haven’t used a dating site yet, tons of tutorials and advice can be found online, but here is a quick overview:

· Pick a site (Plenty of Fish is free, so practice on that one).

· Answer the questions honestly and with humor.

· Post your best current photos.

· Wait for “winks”, or “flirts” or whatever the site calls them or if you are the proactive type – start sending feelers out to those you are interested in. Women often wait for men to initiate but there is no rule here. And men sometimes lose interest when there is a lack of response.

· Once you have a few partners that you are emailing – turn off your profile temporarily so you do not become overwhelmed.

· Move from writing to a phone call relatively soon.

· If all seems good, make the coffee date.

Dating on the Big Island takes creativity. We don’t have a slew of nightclubs, independent movie theaters, art galleries or a symphony. In fact most places are dead by 9:00PM. Kona stays open later but the choices are limited.

When I first moved here I was not the water nut I am now. So dating consisted of; the initial coffee shop first meeting followed by dinner somewhere and maybe a walk. It is best to do something active for the second date. Most over forties are looking for active partners.

The Big Island has lots of opportunities for activity. Pick up a copy of “Big Island Revealed” and look for hikes, water sports, best-hidden beaches, ocean tours, etc. Lots of ideas in there and it will give you a chance to explore that rarely happens unless we are taking guests. Try to pick things that are somewhat public and drive there yourself the first few times, just to be safe. A picnic at a beach where you can watch Windsurfers is ideal. Anaeho’omalu is the most popular windsurfing spot. A boat tour for snorkeling, whale watching or swimming with dolphins is really fun too. I am not crazy about dinner cruises but that is an option. Stop by any scuba store or hotel and they’ll have a list of boat tours to choose from.

I have been dating again for almost four years now. My advice is to have fun, do not invest in an outcome too early, most of your dates will not lead to anything. Do not get discouraged and keep your sense of humor. So what if one of your dates posted photos taken 20 years ago? It gives you something interesting to talk about with the next date. And when a potential partner shares his love of women’s shoes try to be open minded and then giggle about it with your friends. Think of it as a journey.

You can explore Hawaii while you are doing all this. Try new things, see new sites, meet new people and remember to do it with Aloha.

Living in Kaneohe for over 7 years, I have had the chance to comb through all the dining options this sleepy town has to offer. Kaneohe town has recently had some upgrades including renovations in Windward Mall and even a few new restaurants. Unlike other areas of the island, Kaneohe residents like their no fuss restaurants, large portions sizes, and want affordablity.  For the most part, the restaurants in Kaneohe have been around for a while, things are kept simple, most restaurants close by 9 pm, and the customers leave satisfied.

Here are a few of my favorite eateries in Kaneohe:

Koa Pancake House, 46-126 Kahuhipa Street, (808) 235-5772.  Packed on the weekends, this place gives large portions of breakfast and local favorites.  Ono grindz, affordable prices, fast and friendly service keeps local residents coming back.  Hours are 6:30 am to 2 pm daily.

Kikuya Restaurant, 46-148 Kahuhipa Street, (808) 235-2613.  A small hole in the wall, this place serves simple authentic style Japanese food like fresh sashimi, shrimp tempura, and aku belly.  I heard this place has been around for years and years.  If your looking for good Japanese food, large portions, and don’t mind running into someone you know this is the place to go.  This place can get crowded during peak dining hours, so go early to avoid the lines out the door.

Saigon Noodle House Kaneohe, 45-1151 Kamehameha Highway, (808) 235-6107.  For a huge steaming bowl of pho or practically any type of noodle dish you desire this is the place to go.  The spring rolls are especially tasty and crunchy.  The prices are very reasonable and the service is speedy.

Haleiwa Joe’s Seafood Grill, 46-336 Haiku Road, (808) 247-6671.  I recommend Haleiwa Joe’s for that special occasion or nice place to take a date for a mai tai and their ‘Black and Blue Ahi.’  They specialize in their prime rib and fresh island fish with a view.  The beautiful island ambiance is what makes this place worth visiting.  The prices are high and this place doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait on the weekends.  Get married at Haiku Gardens wedding site or join them for Sunday brunch.

El Mariachi, 45-1151 Kamehameha Highway, (808) 234-5893.  Located right next to Saigon Noodle House, this restaurant surprised me with great authentic Mexican food.  Try their chicken chimichanga or their beef fajita burrito that comes with beans and Spanish rice.  This restaurant is smaller than a hole in the wall, so I recommend take-out.  If you do take-out don’t forget to get chips and salsa to-go, their salsa is excellent.

Beneath the mighty shadow of the under construction Trump International Hotel & Tower is Henry’s Place, an honest, humble hole in the wall fruit & veggies & snacks stand that locals have come to cherish. A survivor from an increasingly bygone era, a truly independent store amidst the gaggle of alphabet chain stores & eateries crowding Waikiki, Henry the owner, has been in business for twenty-seven years, his original stand on the very spot where one of the Trump tower now stands, when that property was bulldozed nearly a year ago Henry moved down the block to one of the few remaining low rise buildings on the Ewa end of Waikiki. Locals & tourists alike breathed a collective sigh of relief when Henry continued his tradition of providing a place serving up bowls of fresh fruit for a modest price.

Henry’s Place lacks any frills. It is tiny, the interior scarcely bigger than an elevator in a resort hotel. Open to the elements, Henry provides six comfortable plastic chairs where one can sit a spell while grinding (local speak for eating). However most of Henry’s customers mostly come & go, taking a break from work at the many hotels & eateries & shops surrounding Henry’s Place, along with visitors who have heard they can find fresh fruit and other delectable delights for a fair price. $4.00 is the price for a variety of fruit bowls, a variety of fruits peeled & cubed by hand (the old fashion way). One of the most popular is the # 6, here is a testimonial courtesy of Walt M of Colorado via Yelp-dot-com “I have the “#6″ for breakfast every morning when I am in town. The “6″ is for the six different kinds of fresh fruit — all cut up into bite size pieces and ready to eat. Definitely worth a visit for a healthy snack or treat any time of day!”

Henry’s Place has a variety of sandwiches ranging from $2.50 to $4.00. Generous portions of meat on wheat bread. The usual suspects; Egg Salad, Pastrami, Ham, Turkey, Chicken, others, made fresh daily. Henry’s serves up a tasty bowl of Saimin for $4. A quartet of coolers are stocked with soda & juices & teas & coffee in cans & bottles and by Waikiki standards they are moderately prices ranging from $1.00 to $2.50, on average. One can find any number of delicious snacks, fresh veggies, muffins, hard boiled eggs, chips.

Henry has earned a loyal following for his homemade ice cream & sorbet. Served in a Styrofoam cup, well worth the $4.00, a variety of delicious flavors; coconut, green tea, vanilla, mocha, coffee, mango, strawberry-guava, others though one other flavor demands attention a truly creamy confection, apple-banana ice cream; Yumm! Henry’s has that other local treat, Shaved Iced for about a dollar to two dollars less than any other place in Waikiki ($3.50).

Henry’s Place is a welcome break from what has become the norm, a true family business that has an honored place amidst the fast paced whirl of Waikiki. Henry’s Place is open seven days a week from around 7AM to 10 PM or so, so check ‘em out.

PS: No reservations required!

photo courtesy homeaway dot come