Surf on over to the Carnival of Aloha!

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This month SkeeterBess is hosting the carnival. Never been there? You’re in for a treat! If you love Hawaii, you’ll love the gathering of interesting posts from the Hawaii blogging ohana that makes up this unique event!

Click here to be directed to the Carnival of Aloha!

Hawaiian word of the week

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Ono-(oh-no)- Delicious! Also a type of fish

The alphabet contains 12 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 7 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). To simplify pronunciation, sound consonants as in English and break up words so they are easy to say (ie- Humuhumunukunukuapua’a would be pronounced humu-humu-nuku-nuku-apu-a-a)

Pronounce vowels as follows:

a - a in above; e - e in set; i - ee in see; o - o in some; u - oo in moon.

Pronounce vowels marked by a glottal stop (`) quickly ie- o`o sounds like oh-oh! in English.

Stress rising dipthongs (ae, ai, ao, au, oi, ou, eu, ei) on the first letter and end with a short e, i, o or u. ie- oi sounds like oy in soy, ending with a short “i”.

Aloha airlines ceasing operations

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If you’re scheduled on a flight on Aloha Airlines, you may want to call your travel agent or check this link to see if you’re still good to go for your 3/30-3/31 flights. After that, the airline will no longer be a part of the skies over Hawaii. It’s sad to see this great airline succomb to this fate. Those who paid with credit cards will have an easier time getting a refund as those who paid by check or cash for their flights will have to file a claim with bankruptcy court. This also means of course the AlohaPass Miles program will now expire March 31st.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Mac Nut Crusted Beef Tenderloin…

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Macadamia Nut Crusted Beef Tenderloin with
Watercress Grain Mustard Sauce

8oz Filet Mignon
1oz Macadamia Nut Crust
2tbsp Watercress Mustard Sauce
2ea Large Green Asparagus
2ea Baby Carrots
3oz Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Macadamia Nut Crust:
3oz Panko
1oz Roasted Macadamia Nut ( chopped)
6tbsp Clarified Butter
1tbsp Chopped Parsley
Salt & White Pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together in mixing bowl and add salt & pepper to taste.

Watercress Grain Mustard Sauce:
1cup Heavy Cream
1/2cup Chardonnay Wine
1tbsp Chopped Shallots
1tbsp Whole Grain Mustard
2tbsp Watercress Puree
1tbsp Olive Oil
Salt & White Pepper to taste

Heat up small size saucepan and sauté shallots with olive oil. When the shallots turn to a caramel color, add the chardonnay and reduce to half. Add the heavy cream and salt & pepper to taste. Lastly, add the whole grain mustard and watercress puree into sauce.

Recipe courtesy Chef Andrew Yagami
Hilton Hawaiian Village Steak and Seafood Restaurant

Bento #2

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Todays bento is an ode to our ocean friend the dolphin. I had these cookie cutters and wanted to see how much sandwich I could actually get out of using the small dolphin since I knew the big one wouldn’t fit. I could basically get 2 small dolphins out of it with one bite of sandwich left in the middle. Everything else was crust.

So I have a light bologna and cheese sandwich with mustard and lettuce. Some colby jack, mozzarella and extra sharp cheddar cheese bites. In the top level are celery sticks and organic pre-cut carrot chips. Then a small golden delicious apple which of course wouldn’t fit in there so hoggy is balancing it on his nose. I’m hoping my new bento box set comes today or tomorrow. Happy Aloha Friday!

Soothing sights and smells await you in Upcountry Maui

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As you drive up the Kula Highway (37) into Maui’s Upcountry area, many serene surprises await you from the rural lifestyle to the sweeping views of the coastline to the quiet that you just can’t get closer to the coast. What you’d also get is a tucked away little secret oasis that many people pass without even knowing it. This little piece of eden is called Ali’i Kula Lavender and if you turn left onto 377 from 37 and turn right onto Waipoli Rd, you too can experience this amazing “scentual” spot! One of the last things you expect to smell in Hawaii is lavender. As you’re driving Waipoli Road the scent of the lavender mixes with the scent of the wood in the area making an intoxicating smell that you are tempted to pull off the side of the road and breathe in. As you pull into the gardens, you see that it is the most relaxing place you can find. Perched on the lower portion of what becomes Haleakala, it overlooks all of central Maui and the West Maui Mountains.

A small store with a cheery staff awaits you as you meander in. You soon realize you could easily go broke with all of the wonderful products that are in Ali’i Kula Lavender. The one product I can’t live without is the Lavender Organic Body Butter Creme. It is absolutely luxurious and a little goes a long way so the $17 price tag is worth it. I also have the shampoo and conditioner and the bath salts. The shampoo washes clean and makes your hair squeaky. The condition is a little too heavy for all of my hair so I use it on the ends to keep them healthy. The bath salts are great for getting rid of that dead skin on your legs, feet and elbows. They can get gummy if you leave them by or in the shower so I would suggest storing them in your vanity until you need them. I am anxious to try a lot more of their products too. They even have culinary items for the adventurous!

Not only are the products a source of relaxation as you browse and take in the smells but the surrounding gardens are a sight to see as well. From tightly closed proteas to hydrangeas to wildflowers and of course lavender, there’s a feast for the eyes. Its quite possibly one of the nicest surprises we’ve stumbled upon in our multi-island treks over the past 12 years. There are afternoon teas, tours, workshops and people are even married there if you’re looking for unique, structured experiences. Can’t get to Maui anytime soon? You can shop online and get these great smelling goodies delivered right to your door! We hope you make this beautiful botanical delight a part of your trip to Maui! You’ll be glad you did!

Ali’i Kula Lavender
1100 Waipoli Road
Kula, Maui Hawai’i 96790
phone 808-878-3004
Website: http://www.aliikulalavender.com/default.aspx

My first bento

Filed Under Bento Musings | 2 Comments

I’ve been lurking at all of these bento sites lately completely intrigued about the art of these little compact lunches. I can’t believe some of the ornate levels some people achieve making little cartoon characters and such. But even the simpler ones are just more appetizing looking. So off I went to see what I could find to get myself started. It’s not so easy to find bento stuff that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg with shipping tacked on. I got the basics, a bento box, rice molds, sauce containers, dividers and picks. I got the box and like most people was surprised at how tiny it was. I picked that one because it has a hedgehog on it, our late pup’s favorite toy. I ordered another set that has 3 different sizes so I’m waiting on that one to come. So today I had my first official bento lunch. It’s nothing fancy but still…

So I have a pita in halves stuffed with lettuce, ham strips, miracle whip light and cheese. In the bento box is broccoli, cauliflower, carrot chips, radishes and some little cheese slices that I cut with some decorative cutters I already had. Like I said, nothing fancy and I hope they get much more eye catching as I learn how to do all of this. I don’t know if I’ll post my bento lunch contents every day because I doubt if they’ll be all that interesting. But if I get good at them, I’ll be sure to post! Any of you out there bento? Feel free to share any tips, recipes, etc!

Hey mainland ladies…wanna meet Leland Chapman?

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Ah yes, the chance many a-woman has been waiting for…to see Leland Chapman in person. According to Lyssa Chapman’s myspace (the only Dog the Bounty Hunter crew member with a real myspace page at current press time), they will be about 25 miles west of Chicago, Illinois on April 11 and 12 at a concert. Here’s are the details from her bulletin:

Duane Chapman, AKA DOG the Bounty Hunter from A&E’s #1 Reality TV Show, will be in concert with bands Echoing Angels, Emery, Inhabited, Flatfoot 56, and Will Duvall for two very different concert nights. He’ll speak for 45 minutes from his heart about his life, tragedies, triumphs, and faith. This is an extremely rare personal appearance. His wife Beth will also be in attendance. Come out and hear their incredible story of triumph as well as an evening of music and entertainment.

Also attending are Leland and Baby Lyssa
Concert Dates: April 11th and 12th At Mooseheart Child City and School, 25 miles west of Chicago, Illinois Presale date: Thursday, February 7, 2008 beginning at 9:00am.

Click here to buy tickets.

Time for Hawaii Geocaches…

Filed Under Geocaching in Hawaii | 2 Comments

In the mood for some caching in the islands? Here’s some newer caches to put under your geo-belt!

HNL Zoo (Oahu)

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park - Pu‘u Huluhulu (Big Island)

Rocks and Roller (Maui)

Spur of the Moment Cache (Kauai)

As always, if you aren’t familiar with geocaching and would like to get started in this fun sport, click here.

Hawaiian word of the week

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Mele-(meh-leh)- Song, chant

Pronounce vowels as follows:

a - a in above; e - e in set; i - ee in see; o - o in some; u - oo in moon.

Pronounce vowels marked by a glottal stop (`) quickly ie- o`o sounds like oh-oh! in English.

Stress rising dipthongs (ae, ai, ao, au, oi, ou, eu, ei) on the first letter and end with a short e, i, o or u. ie- oi sounds like oy in soy, ending with a short “i”.

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