hapa | hale

nico's at the pier

on this last trip home, we finally made it to nico's pier 38 not just once but twice because the food was so onolicious. i heard about nico's sometime last year and became intrigued by the description of the menu being local style plate lunches with a french twist. ooh la la! 

located on the harbor, you know the fish is as fresh as it gets since every morning chef nico (who cooked at michel's and, at the opposite end of the dining spectrum, the kaka'ako kitchen) goes next door to the honolulu fish auction to stock the restaurant for the day's menu. our first visit was to meet my s-i-l for lunch and by 11:30am the place was packed with worker bees getting some midday sustenance.

alas, i had waited so long to dine at nico's that when our lunch was ready i dove right in and forgot to snap photos of our picks, however our party of three ordered up nico's furikake pan seared ahi, beer battered fish and chips and, from the dessert case, a chocolate mousse cake. i am happy to report that all our food was tasty and delicious.

. . . loco moco nico style . . .

in fact, everything was so ono that we decided to hit nico's for breakfast with the family that weekend. this time around the loco moco and fried rice were our favorites. the quality of the food for the price can't be beat and the somewhat industrial harbor front is a surprisingly pleasant nosh spot . . . especially on a quiet weekend morning.

the next day the star-bulletin had a nice feature on nico's in the sunday paper with a good tip to sign up for nico's mailing list to receive the day's specials via email.

nico's has invested in a handy dandy banner to point newbies in the right direction so be on the lookout for it (across from the eagle café) when you are on nimitz or just map it!

escape to muumuu heaven

big congratulations to deb & eric of muumuu heaven who opened the doors to their new showroom in kailua last week! from the slideshow posted online, it looks like the charming boutique was created with a lot of love combined with a crafty reuse of recycled goodies found in the streets.

the collection is expanding beyond muumuu heaven's lovely skirts created from vintage muumuus to pretty island style halter & wrap dresses (the latter made of bamboo! it is so nice to see more local designers embracing sustainable fibers in their work). and if you want to accessorize, the shop also stocks handbags from denise tjarks, a fellow muumuu deconstructionist from kauai.

the only downside is that the hangers are currently bare in the online shop so, for the time being, you will have to make your way to kailua (or email) to add a little muumuu heaven to your closet.

click here for store hours & directions.

marqet: bringing the green to waikiki

one of my new favorite shops is smack dab in the heart of waikiki stocked with some of the coolest organic style around. if you are trying to go green, you must stop by marqet which is filled with hard to find eco-chic labels like loomstate, stewart + brown, livity and the islands' own oaks hawaii.

they even have a house brand green collection with tees benefiting the hawaii audubon society, hawaii organic farmers association & jack johnson's kokua foundation. for travelers searching for a different kind of memento to take home, marqet's green tees are a refreshing reinvention of the souvenir that not only does a little good in the islands but also makes a little less impact on the earth with its use of organic cotton fabric and vegetable & plant dyes.

there is limited shopping on their website or just stop by the shop (across the street from the duty free galleria. click here for a map) the next time you are in waikiki for the full marqet experience.   

carbon neutral holiday

. . . ke'e beach, kauai . . .

overall, our little household does our best to be good little humans . . . we go organic when possible at the market, recycle everything our town will take, clean our home & laundry with eco-friendly products, and when we finally moved into an apartment with washer dryer hookups (yay!) we became the proud owners of an energy efficient w/d combo.

now we have our eye on becoming carbon neutral with the first step being to offset our need to fly home to visit our ohana. you know this idea is getting more mainstream when more and more corporations, fancy ski resorts, and even the nfl pro bowl are going green[er].

if you are intrigued and want to do a little carbon offsetting yourself, check out the carbon calculators at sustainable travel international or terrapass to determine how much impact your lifestyle and travels have on the earth. it's a small step everyone who can afford it should consider since carbon offset purchases go to fund sustainable projects from tree planting to clean energy around the world.

perhaps one day an enterprising soul will start a program in the islands but until then this will have to do.

lost on stage

a few members from the cast of lost are hitting the stage next weekend to benefit the honolulu theatre for youth. barring any scheduling conflicts, matthew fox, jorge garcia, daniel dae kim, terry o'quinn, henry ian cusick, michael emerson, elizabeth mitchell & chris soldvilla will perform selected readings from the theatre's upcoming 2007-2008 season.

the ticket prices may sound a tad pricey however just keep the following in mind when you phone in your order:

one - your dollars are helping to fund hty programs (a very good thing)
two - the benefit will include a reception so you just may get a chance to rub shoulders with some of the cast members

details:

• when: sun, mar 4th @ 4:30pm
• where: tenney theatre @ saint andrew's cathedral
• tix: $100, $200 & $300
• tel: 808.457.4263

a tardy kung hee fat choy

even though i didn't have a chance to revel in the chinese new year festivities while home, it seemed that everywhere we went last weekend we crossed paths with a troupe preparing to perform the celebratory dragon dance. that kind of thing just doesn't happen in my mainland neighborhood which is one more reason you are lucky you live hawaii.

anyhoo, if this is your year to shine (1911, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 - double check if your birthday falls on the jan/feb cusp), you just may want to sport a sig zane tee featuring the pua'a'ehu'ehu print to honor the year of the pig/boar.

tees are available in both adult and keiki sizes.

stylus honolulu

on this last trip home, i was finally able to stop by stylus honolulu which is a small but sweet resource for those on a budget. stylus is one part recycled clothing boutique plus one part used record shop featuring an edited mix of vintage & gently worn clothing and a few new finds (including tees from threadless). let's just say if buffalo exchange and jelly's had a baby stylus would be its name.

the styles are geared to the young & hip so prices are super reasonable with most items under $10. if you go, stylus is just across the street from puck's alley so the location is convenient for all those starving college students at uh. and they validate which is good news if you must drive & park.

take a peek inside the shop on youtube.

honolulu design center

. . . fatboy bean bags . . .

if you have been anywhere near kapiolani boulevard in the last year you could not help but notice the huge construction site for the future home of the honolulu design center. lucky me, the 80,000 square foot showroom opened its doors a few weeks before we arrived home and, since my aunty is just starting the hunt for a new sofa, we stopped by to see if anything would catch her fancy.

my fella and i had a lot of fun on the first floor which is touted as the hdc's high end showroom filled with furniture from cattelan arredamenti, de sede of switzerland, molteni & c & natuzzi on one side and bo concept on the other (indeed we had so much fun that i forgot to snap any photos). many of the minimal designs found on the natuzzi side have luxe prices to match and would be at home in the million dollar condos that keep popping up in the honolulu skyline.

ever one to find the most expensive piece of furniture whenever we go shopping, my fella's radar plopped him down on the leather fendi casa sofa until i pulled him off and fiercely whispered the price in his ear ($42k!). we then hit the escalator up to the second floor where my aunty recognized many pieces from inspiration, but the best thing was lounging in the fat boy section (which is more in line with our budget) since i had spent many months lobbying for them in vain as extra seating in our cozy apartment.

the honolulu design center also has a few things planned for island foodies with the a*muse wine bar scheduled to open in march. it's a 21st century take on the traditional enoteca where customers will use a smart card to purchase tastes at an automated wine dispensing machine. how very jetsons.

you'll also be able to nosh at stage, the on site restaurant opening in april manned by chef jon matsubara, and enjoy everything from film screenings to fashion shows at cupola which is the hdc's performance space (potential wedding site for island design junkies, perhaps?). and, if you go now, the crema cafe is already open in the lobby which is a nice sunlit space to take a break and sip on pop from waialua soda works.

mac 24/7 diner

there's still a wee bit of jet lag to shake off but i rolled out of bed this a.m. to contribute to the island foodie scene with my take on mac 24/7. it's a modern diner which recently opened its doors at the soon to be hilton waikiki prince kuhio hotel and after reading a few reviews before we left i knew my fella and i would have to stop by and check it out.

the design is definitely not what you would expect to find in waikiki . . . chilewich placemats adorn the tables, modernist lighting fixtures add subdued warmth, and plasma televisions hang on the wall behind the bar. the menu is all about [m]odern [a]merican [c]ooking available 24 hours a day. many of the reviews have mentioned pancakes fit for andre the giant and i admit i was tempted, but i couldn't resist the biscuits and gravy once i spotted it on the menu.

the photo doesn't really do it justice but these were definitely the most artfully arranged biscuits & gravy that i have ever had the pleasure of being served. it looked like an entry in top chef. just the right amount of cheesy gravy goodness topped the biscuits which managed to stay crisp & soft.

my fella opted to try the pulled kalua pork sandwich. it was definitely delish but tasted more bbq-y to me. the most surprising item on the plate was a deep fried dill pickle. the portions of our dishes were just the right size to leave room for dessert which ended up being a warm macadamia nut bread pudding cupcake with vanilla custard sauce.

all in all, we really enjoyed our meal and would definitely return. the ambiance delights my modernist heart, the wait staff was friendly, and, most important, mac 24/7's fancy diner food hit the spot.

mac 24/7 is three blocks from the zoo and, if you go, take note that the hotel offers free valet parking with validation from the restaurant.

bon appètit!

letarte swimwear

. . . barefootin' . . .

it may be too early in most parts of the world to be thinking ahead to summer but perhaps these saucy swimsuits by letarte will motivate you to drag yourself to the gym. with their eye catching patterns, it's easy to see why bikinis from the maui company have been spotted on everyone from heidi klum to cameron diaz.

. . . pretty in pink . . .

no worries if you prefer more coverage since letarte also offers a collection of bohemian cover ups that would work whether you are in maui or mykonos. online shopping at letarte is limited so your best bet is molly brown's swimwear, fig leaves or find the stockist near you.

feast at lele

if a luau is on your list of things to do but you prefer a more intimate setting sans the crush of crowds, buffet lines, and the possibility of being dragged on stage to amuse the other guests, you may want to book a reservation for the feast at lele which is a touted as a more gourmet option from the folks behind the old lahaina luau.

admission gets you in the door to enjoy an evening of entertainment showcasing music and dance from the islands of polynesia including hawaii, aotearoa (aka new zealand), tahiti and samoa; a 5 course meal created by maui chef james mcdonald (of i'o and pacific'o fame) featuring traditional dishes from all the islands; flowing cocktails; and, if mother nature cooperates, a technicolor sunset maui style.

the show has received rave reviews however foodies seem to disagree on the execution of the menu so click over to chowhound & tripadvisor and judge for yourself.

sample sale kick off

the seasonal sales calendar notes that february clearance racks are typically filled with outerwear while furniture is practically being given away. the best bet for girls with no pressing need for a winter coat or casegoods is this weekend's fashionista's market sample sale.

there will be lots of denim to wade through and the style sisters are bringing in some lotta stensson all marked down up to 80% off. and, just to keep you on your toes, a week day has been added for bargain hunters who are unable to break away from her life/work obligations on saturday.

details:    

• when: sat, feb 17th & mon, feb 19th
• hours: 10am to 2pm
• where: japanese cultural center
• admission: $7 (register online to score the $3 fm member price)

crafty discovery

spotted at the bookstore: the second issue of the very cool craft magazine with a cover story on how to hand stitch a hawaiian quilt. the step-by-step tutorial was penned by local quilter cissy serrao who has a rich quilting heritage in her ohana (her mom is a legendary quilt teacher & her dad is a respected designer of hawaiian quilt patterns).

this is the next best thing if taking one of the family's quilting classes is not in the stars. the magazine is a tad pricier than the competition, however if you have the soul of a renegade crafter it will be downright impossible not to be inspired to attempt a new project while flipping through each and every crafty page.

happy valentine's day!

the last time i was home for valentine's, a friend cornered my fella at work to shake him down for some cold hard cash so he could "send" me some warm fuzzies at school.

whatever your romantic situation may be, i hope you have a lovely day filled with all the good stuff - chocolate, chocolate & more chocolate, hand made valentine's, and a refreshing lack of stranger pda much like the pressure-free cupid's day experience in the first grade.

virtual vacation

hopefully, the weather cooperates and we are at the beach this morning since the forecast looks rainy for the rest of the week. somewhere on the other side of the island, roxanne & her dog lexi are filming their morning stroll and sharing the beauty of hawaii & a few deep thoughts with the rest of the world. yep, the award winning beach walks with rox vlog is definitely a pleasant way to start the day . . . especially if you are far from the islands.

and, if you want to send some instant aloha spirit to homesick kama'aina or dreamy wanderers across the world, lovena from east coast tropics recently buzzed me about her new site hawaii e-cards stocked with local kine photographs that she has snapped around the islands.

baby cozy

since half the country seems to be in a deep freeze this seems like a good time to mention bubunja baby blankets. the snuggly buggly is the creation of aiea girl & former swimwear designer stacie buell who whipped up the innovative solution to keep her little ones warm during chilly colorado winters.

anyone who has ever attempted to dress a wiggly baby knows it can be a bit of a struggle (now that would be a good elimination challenge on a reality show). the snuggly buggly nixes the need for all the extra accoutrements required on a cold winter day making it a bit of a time saver for families on the go.

the blankets have been a popular item in swag bags and celebs pestered by the stalkerazzi have been known to use the hoodies to shield their little ones' faces from the prying eye of the camera lens. fortunately, you don't have to concern yourself with how to outmanuever the paparazzi so all you need to know is that it will keep your babe warm, sizes range from infants to toddlers, and continental u.s. orders include complimentary fedex shipping.

wandering thoughts

just a quick note that i am on my way for a whirlwind trip home since the fella had an unexpected hiatus this week. i was very good and worked on a few posts to keep h|h updated while i am away so do stop by every now and again to see what's new.

if all goes as planned, my trip report when i make my online comeback will be filled with all the goodies that, with any luck, will finally be crossed off my "to do" list of undone things from the last few trips.

see you soon!

eco whale watching

with whale season in full swing, consider booking a trip with the non-profit pacific whale foundation which just happens to operate an award winning eco-friendly tour company on maui. marine naturalists are on board to educate guests on ocean life and hydrophones are used to listen to the mystical whale sounds emanating beneath the water.

one way they are minimizing their impact on the earth is by taking guests out on biodiesel powered sea vessels to explore the pacific and choosing biodegradable tableware & 100% post-consumer recycled paper products. 85% of their income is reinvested into the foundation's research work and ocean outreach program which includes the kid friendly discovery center.

the foundation's whale day festival takes place next weekend (sat, feb 17th) with a parade, whale race (inspired by the great hawaiian rubber duckie race), crafters, food booths & a music stage that has booked island artists amy hanaiali'i gilliom, barefoot natives, john cruz, george kahumoku, jr. & raitea helm to perform.

take a peek at tripadvisor for reviews.

last minute valentine's ideas

as promised earlier today, my tardy last minute valentine's round up. these delicate pink pearl filigree earrings from jools are understated but oh so pretty (fyi - take a peek at the freshly stocked sale section if you want to shower your valentine with gifts).

or perhaps a potted striped phalaenopsis orchid plant from akatsuka orchid gardens (which is one of the few flower farms in the islands with a very user-friendly website).

secret admirers, is there any better day than valentine's to reveal yourself? ring petals & beans and order up their sweet bee mine gift basket filled with island style snacks (delivery on oahu only).

and for the true romantics, why not woo your sweetie with a very retro singing valentine. hire one of the barbershop quartets on oahu (the ladies of na leo lani or the gentleman of sounds of aloha) to serenade your steady with a romantic melody.

michael kors hawaii

the next best thing after tim gunn on project runway is michael kors who always has at least a few witty bon mots that make me giggle. the man just has a way with words.

anyhoo, a new limited edition spin on kors' popular island fragrance is being introduced just in time for valentine's day. yep, hawaii is not only one of mk's favorite islands but it is now being captured in a concoction of clementine, jasmine, neroli, orange blossom, hawaiian ginger lily & pineapple.

if you hit sephora you can score an exclusive gift set so you can cover up in a mk signature sarong that tucks into its own little bag (my guess is the pattern is similar to this bikini). or just grab a little designer lip gloss for a more affordable tropical treat for yourself or stock up on a few tubes to share with your friends (what a cute idea for an island wedding!).

be back soon with a few more ideas for valentine's . . .

kokua festival 2007

maybe one year i will be home for the kokua festival but it looks like it is not meant to be in 2007. if your calendar is open at the end of april, celebrate earth day weekend with jack johnson & pearl jam frontman & part-time hawaii resident eddie vedder (fyi - if you have the sundance channel do check out the iconoclasts episode with ev & laird hamilton if you have a chance). all proceeds benefit jack's kokua hawaii foundation which educates island keiki on the importance of being green.

the official on sale date is next week but here's a little info on a few hush hush pre-sales:

• sat, feb 10th - remaining tix from the kokua members pre-sale (which has already ended) go on sale at jack johnson's website.


• thu, feb 15th - myspace members who made friends with the kokua festival await instructions to access their own not so secret sale. how very mission: impossible.


• sat, feb 17th - official ticketmaster sale kicks off at 9am hst and the poor souls who didn't score pre-sale tickets hope for the best.

there is a 4 ticket limit which will hopefully keep the ticket supply in the hands of the fans (and away from the profiteers selling tickets for obscene amounts on ebay & craigslist). more details can be found here.