Hawaiian word of the week

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Menehune-(men-eh-hoo-neh)-mythical small people who are rumored to have inhabited Hawaii before the Polynesians. Contrary to popular belief, they are not leprechauns.

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”.

Behind the scenes at Food Network Challenge: Part 1

Filed Under Food Finds, Luau, Spread the Aloha | 6 Comments

I noticed the Food Network will be replaying the Food Network Challenge: Luau Beach BBQ a few times in June. We actually attended this event to cheer on our new friend, Sam Choy. I thought my readers might be interested to see what goes on behind the scenes at one of these. When my husband contacted Sam Choy to cook for our 10 year anniversary in 2006, we had to do a little last minute finagling because he was going to be in the Food Network Luau BBQ Challenge. We originally were going to do it our last night on the Big Island on May 18th but had to switch it to the 16th for him to do the challenge. When we talked with him after dinner, he said he didn’t have everything together but wasn’t too worried because they were dishes he was very familiar with. I feel like we got a bit of a preview when he made us some kalua pork among other things. Oh they were WONDERFUL! He said we were welcome to come down to the challenge which was going to be at the Sheraton Keauhou…a few miles from our rental home. So a few hours into it we showed up. He looked up and saw us and smiled and waved at us. The pic above is when there’s about 90 minutes left in the challenge. The camera crews were around Sam alot so we took whatever pictures we could of him when they cleared.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Ham & Swiss Florentine Bake

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Ingredients
1 (16 oz.) loaf King’s Hawaiian Sweet Bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped (1 cup)
1 lb. ham, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
5 large eggs
4 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 (6 oz.) package baby spinach
12 oz. shredded Swiss cheese (3 cups)

Preparation
Bake bread cubes on baking sheet with a lip in preheated 200° F oven for 30 minutes stirring once. Meanwhile, heat oil in skillet, sauté onions on medium heat 15 minutes, add ham. Continue to cook until onions are well browned. Whisk together eggs, milk and seasonings. Place half of dried cubes into greased 9×13x2-inch pan. Top with half of spinach, meat mixture, egg mixture then cheese. Repeat. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Bake covered in a preheated 325° F oven, 55 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 min., or until knife comes out clean when inserted in center. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 12 servings.

Recipe courtesy Kings Hawaiian Bread

Attn: Oahu residents with plumerias to spare

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From the KITV website:

The Ladies of Kaahumanu are asking for donations of plumeria flowers for the annual lei draping of the King Kamehameha statue in front of the Hawaii Supreme Court building.

There has been a shortage this year of flowers so the society is appealing to the public for help. They are accepting any color of plumeria flowers. The annual lei draping is a tradition that was started more than 50 years ago.

Volunteers will be at the Kamehameha statue Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to accept flower donations. The lei draping ceremony is later that evening.

Newest Hawaii Geocaches (6/5)

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It’s time to get active and start caching! Whether you’re on vacation or live in the islands, geocaching is a great way to see places you never would have if not for this great activity! Here are some new caches!

Kaneohe Bay Lookout (Oahu)

Tastes Like Chicken (Oahu)

Waikolu Run Off (Molokai)

East Side Tide Pools (Oahu)

If you’re new to or curious about geocaching, click here for the best place to answer your questions.

Four Foods on Friday #32

Filed Under FFoF | 5 Comments

Here’s this week’s FFoF questions. You’ve still got time to participate if you like, just stop on by Val’s place.

#1. What snacks do you eat at the movies? Do you buy them there or bring your own? We don’t go to the theaters anymore. It’s way too expensive and there’s just nothing out there we’re dying to see. We have Netflix. When we do get movie snacks though I like Red Vine licorice (mmm), Reese Cups, Reese Pieces or Junior Mints. When we did go to the theater we always snuck it in my big purse. Thank goodness for twist top 20 oz bottles. Gone are the days where I have to cough as I crack open my can of pop!

#2. What’s your favorite food movie, or movie that shows a lot of food? There are food movies out there? I suppose b/c my brain is stuck I’ll say Willy Wonka (the GOOD one not the Johnny Depp disaster).

#3. What food or meal do you wish was available at the movies and why? A nice big plate lunch with teri beef, kalua pork and 2 scoop rice or fried noodles. But then I suppose I’d go into a food coma, go to sleep and miss the movie!

#4. What’s your most favorite way to make popcorn? Hot, cold, buttered, air, microwave, chocolate, caramel, you get it. Microwave. I don’t have the patience or desire to do more. My favorite is Kettle Corn or caramel.

Pink Palace on hiatus…

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The Royal Hawaiian Hotel aka the “pink palace” on Waikiki Beach is closed for 7 months for $110 million renovations. The 400 employees have either transferred to other hotels or will take time off. It will be interesting to see the impact 582 less hotel rooms available in Waikiki will have. Under normal circumstances it may have driven the costs of hotel rooms up but seeing how the economy is tanking right now, people may luck out. Their website is refering people to Moana Surfrider (Westin), Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani.

It is scheduled to reopen January 1 to ring in 2009.

It’s Carnival of Aloha time

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It’s time to see what the Hawaii blogosphere has to offer! It’s the Carnival of Aloha at Evelyn’s place. It’s a great way to see other Hawaii oriented bloggers in action!

Click here to make your way to the carnival.