Snap up cheap interisland fare by tomorrow!

Filed Under Hawaii Resources, Travel Tips | Leave a Comment

If you’re looking to fly to the Big Island or Kauai from Oahu by the end of the year you’d better hurry to grab a great deal. The three major interisland airlines are offering $39 one-way fares from Honolulu to Kona and Lihu’e for travel through Dec. 31 and tickets must be purchased by tomorrow (Wednesday). Some restrictions apply so check with each airline.

Hawaiian Airlines website
Go! Airlines website
Mokulele Airlines website

Hawaiian word of the week

Filed Under Word of the week | Leave a Comment

Hana Hou-(ha-nah ho)- Encore! Once more!

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 Friday Recipe: Chocolate Macadamia Nut Biscotti

Filed Under Local Recipes | 1 Comment

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup macadamia nut bits
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate

Instructions

Preheat electric oven to 350 F. In large bowl of electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Sift flour with cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Add nuts and chocolate chips. On a lightly floured board, knead dough until smooth. Divide dough in half and form into 2 logs about 10 x 3-inches. Place logs on an ungreased baking sheet, 3 inches apart. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until foodpick inserted in center comes out clean; cool. Reduce oven temperature to 325 F. Cut logs into eighteen 1/2-inch diagonal slices, place slices on baking sheets and bake for about 10 minutes on each side. Cool. Makes 36 pieces.

Recipe courtesy Julie Smith

Four Foods on Friday meme #59

Filed Under FFoF | 6 Comments

Looking for a fun meme to participate in on your blog? Stop on over to Val’s place and post your answers to this week’s questions by tomorrow! The more the merrier!

#1. What’s your favorite kind of roll?

I love Hawaiian sweet rolls or those little bake and serve rolls. The holidays wouldn’t be the same without those. If we’re out, O’ Charley’s rolls are the best and those oat and wheat bread that the Cheesecake Factory serves but a new favorite are the sourdough rolls at Haliimaile General Store on Maui. Those were awesome.

#2. Got a tip for keeping your cabinets or pantry organized?

I’ve got a few gadgets from The Container Store. I absolutely love that place and if you’re looking to organize it’s the only place you should look. I just wish some things were a little more reasonably priced. I always have to do some creative layouts to make everything fit in my tiny pantry.

#3. What’s your favorite kind of pastry?

Hmm, do cinnamon rolls count? They have to be the glaze on top NOT cream cheese icing. I know I’ll get flack for that but eating something that tastes like sugary feet is not my idea of scrumptious. A croissant with some Nutella on it is always good too.

#4. Share any original recipe.

Lazy Mexican Dip

1 can of chili (with or without beans)
1 jar of medium con queso
1 bag No Salt Tortilla Chips

Dump them together, microwave 90 seconds, dip chips. Told ya it was lazy! If you want it to look like you put more effort into it you can always cut up some jalapenos or scallions but if the least amount of effort possible is your goal, don’t bother! (I say no salt chips because there’s likely enough sodium in the 2 ingredients to shoot up the blood pressure of the person next to you as you eat yours. I suggest the Garden of Eatin’s No Salt Blue Corn Tortilla Chips.) Tip: Men, this is your chance to catch the eye of a chick at work with this dip to show you’re not just the “chip man”. Just put it in a microwave safe bowl and heat it up before a work potluck for 90 seconds and stir.

For the keiki…

Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

It’s holiday time and now is a great time to share some great Christmas stories and give the kids an activity too! Northpole.com has lots of great activities but a great one is a page with stories that you can read to your kids, they can have read to them online or maybe they can read to you! They offer coloring pages to go along with them as well! The perfect thing to get the whole family into the Christmas spirit.

To get started, click here.

Holiday Hawaii Geocaching (12/9)

Filed Under Geocaching in Hawaii | Leave a Comment

If you live in or are visiting Hawaii for the holidays, a great way to spend time doing that holiday bonding is geocaching. I’ve done a “neighbor island” theme since they pop up so rarely. Here are some newer listings to get you on your way!

Okolehao at Hanalei (Kauai)

Coasters at the Coast on Kaua’i (Kauai)

Pihea Vista – Gateway to Alakai Swamp (Kauai)

On The Lookout For The Return of Pirates (Molokai)

Walk in the park (Maui)

Hidden in the Cliffs (Molokai)

If you are new to geocaching or have questions about how to get started, refer this page for a good starting point.

Hawaiian word of the week

Filed Under Word of the week | Leave a Comment

Hele- (heh-leh)- Go, walk.

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 Friday Recipe: Christmas Confetti Cookies

Filed Under Local Recipes | 2 Comments

Ingredients

1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla or rum extract
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup finely chopped red and green candied cherries
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
3/4 cup flaked coconut

Instructions

In large bowl of electric mixer, cream butter and sugar. Add milk and vanilla, beat well. Stir in flour, candied cherries, and pecans. Form into 2 rolls, 1 1/2-inches in diameter. Roll in coconut. Wrap and chill several hours or overnight. Preheat electric oven to 375 F. Slice rolls 1/4 inch thick and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Makes 5 dozen.

Recipe courtesy Filipino Women’s League

Four Foods on Friday meme #58

Filed Under Uncategorized | 11 Comments

Looking to participate in this fun meme on your own blog? Don’t be shy! Hop on over to Val’s place and sign up while there’s still time for tomorrow’s posting deadline!

#1. Does your family usually eat meals in the kitchen or somewhere else?

Oh we only have a “2 butt kitchen” so there will be no eating going on in the kitchen but we eat at the dining room table every night.

#2. Who usually does the dishes in your house?

It used to be his duty since we made the deal that if I cooked, he cleaned up but since he’s not always quick enough to load the dishwasher anymore the duty is more 60/40 on my side.

#3. What’s your favorite small appliance or tool in the kitchen?

Hmm…I love my apple corer/slicer. Also like my Pampered Chef little metal spatula which is the perfect size for brownies or appetizers. I love the crock pot so much I have 4 of them. 2 big ones, 1 medium sized and one mini one for dips. I thnk those are the ones I use most often.

#4. This one’s for my son. Share a recipe for chili.

I have a suspicion most wouldn’t like my recipe because it really tastes more like spaghetti sauce than traditional runny chili. I like my chili thick and rib sticking so this is my recipe.

In a crock pot put together the following ingredients:

2 big cans of plain tomato sauce
1 10 oz can of tomato paste
1 1/2 lbs of browned, drained and fat washed off ground beef
2 cans of chili hot beans
1/2 diced onion
1 packet of hot chili seasoning (like McCormick)
Extra seasoning of black pepper, cumin and chili powder

Let that simmer on low all day and as you serve, sprinkle with Asiago and/or parmesan cheese and add oyster crackers or your favorite crackers. If you like yours a little more traditional tasting, omit the onion and add 1 medium sized jar of hot picante sauce to thin it out a bit.

What you should know about Hawaii’s agriculture policy

Filed Under Travel Tips | Leave a Comment

Many people are unaware that Hawaii has an agriculture policy before they come to the islands. Here are some things you need to know before arriving so you’re not taken by surprise.

What Can I Bring
Flying to Hawaii is different than flying to many other destinations. Many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to Hawaii’s unique environment, agriculture, and communities. Aboard your flight to Hawaii, you will be required by state law to fill out an agriculture declaration form.

• Passengers arriving with fresh fruits & vegetables; cut flowers & foliage; rooted plants & plant cuttings, or algae; raw or propagative seeds or bulbs; soil, growing media, sand; live seafood (lobsters, clams, oysters); cultures of bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa; or insects, live fish, amphibians, etc., must declare them and submit them for inspection to a Hawaii Plant Quarantine Inspector in the baggage claim area.

• If you are traveling with live animals, you must declare them and notify a cabin attendant on your flight prior to deplaning.

• All live animals must be turned in to the airport’s Animal Quarantine Holding Facility by the airline, not the passenger, upon arrival.

For further information on importing plants and animals into the state, please visit the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture’s Quarantine Office website.

Tips courtesy http://www.travelsmarthawaii.com

« go back — keep looking »