Prepare for the unexpected

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No one likes to think that something bad will happen on vacation but unfortunately it can happen. Do yourself a favor and keep an emergency number list with your travel papers and a copy in your rental glove compartment so if something comes up you know exactly who to contact. Some numbers I always make sure I have on hand are travel related like the 800 numbers to the airlines I’m using (including interisland) with my flight numbers as well as the rental car company and the rental/condo agencies for where we’re staying. If your flight gets delayed, you want to make sure you call ahead to the hotel and rental car company so they don’t give away your room or car to someone else. I’ve heard horror stories!

Also make sure you look up the number and addresses to the local police department and hospitals in any towns you are planning to visit. You never know if you may need them.

Finally, make sure you have the 800 numbers to your credit card companies of any cards you may take with you as well as the numbers to your travelers check companies. Make sure you have copies of your receipts with you in case your travelers checks are stolen and keep them separate from the checks. This will expedite the process should you need to replace them.

A little preparation can go a long way to make a not-so-ideal situation a little less stressful!

Hawaiian Word of the Week

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May-Mei

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: Twice Cooked Coconut Shrimp

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1 1/2 pounds large shrimp - peeled and deveined
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 tablespoon ground white pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup ice water
2 cups shredded coconut
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1/4 cup Dijon-style prepared mustard
1/4 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Peel, devein and wash shrimp. Dry well on paper towels. Mix together flour, cornstarch, salt and white pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and the ice water. Stir to blend. Pour the coconut into a shallow pan. Dip the shrimp one at a time into the batter, then roll the shrimp in the coconut. Once coated, place each shrimp into a frying pan of oil heated to 350 degrees. Fry the shrimp in the hot oil until lightly browned; about 4 minutes. Bake the fried shrimp in a preheated 300 degree oven for 5 minutes. Make the dipping sauce: combine marmalade, mustard, honey and hot sauce in a small bowl. Mix well. Serve the shrimp and dipping sauce side by side.

Recipe courtesy Allrecipes.com

Four Foods on Friday meme #71

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Feel like joining in this fun meme? Swing by Val’s place, there’s still time to participate by tomorrow’s deadline.

#1. What’s your favorite cereal?
Depends on my mood. I like Lucky Charms (I wasn’t joking last week!), Cinnamon Life and Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal.

#2. What do you use to flip food on the stove?
Nylon spatula so I don’t scrape my Calphalon.

#3. What’s your favorite type of donut?
Oh easy…long john, bismark, chocolate iced kreme filled. No matter what you call it, it’d better be chocolate iced and filled with cream and NOT custard. YUM!

#4. Share a rice recipe.
This recipe sounded good to me.

Get some yummy treats Friday at Parker Ranch!

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If you live on or are going to be on the Big Island this Friday, make a point to stop by paniolo country up at Parker Ranch!

Friday, March 27th: Come in and Enjoy a Taste of Hawaii Island! Mama Ella’s cookies are a must have, in four delicious and unique flavors, Pineapple Coconut, Lilikoi, Poha, and Chocolate Chippers! Their private label Parker Ranch Paniolo cookies are made right on the Island, just for Parker Ranch Store! They are proud to have George and Ella, as their private bakers, create such a mouth watering delicacy and the perfect gift to take home. They are all short bread based, and include the best flavors of the Islands. Join them on Friday, 9am-1pm. Not able to be there in person? Da kine! Click below and get them shipped to your neck of the woods!

Disney’s Lilo and Stitch Special Edition available today

Filed Under FYI, Hollywood in Hawaii | 2 Comments

Lilo and Stitch has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. Not only because I’ve been to some of the places in the movie and it’s kinda cool to see them animated but Disney really did their research and captured many characteristics of island life. It’s not only entertaining for the kids but for adults as well. Today is the release date of their special “2 disc Big Wave edition.” Packed with a few deleted scenes as well as some extras the kids will appreciate, this is the perfect time to add this great movie to your video collection!

Hawaiian Word of the Week

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April-’Apelila

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: Pina Colada Dip

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1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons white sugar
6 tablespoons pina colada mix
2 tablespoons light rum
2 tablespoons frozen strawberry daiquiri mixer

In a medium bowl, whip together cream cheese, sugar, pina colada mix, rum and strawberry daiquiri. Chill in the refrigerator at least 3 hours before serving.

Recipe courtesy Allrecipes.com

Four Foods on O’Friday 70

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This week’s Four Foods on Friday meme centers around Irish questions for St. Patty’s Day. You can play along too me lasses by going over to Val’s and getting in on the fun!

#1. What’s your favorite green food?
Lettuce or green beans. I can’t think of anything more exotic!

#2. Do you eat anything special on St Patrick’s Day?
Nah, I’m not a corned beef and cabbage kind of girl and thankfully neither is the mister.

#3. Do you drink any Irish beverages - tea, coffee, ale, beer, etc?
Nope. I eat Lucky Charms, does that count? Heh.

#4. Share a recipe for corned beef.
I don’t have my own so I looked one up for you because I’m cool like that! (I’m ornery today) Okay, this doesn’t look remotely good to me but some of you might enjoy this Reuben Casserole with Crumb Topping.

Where can you get a Mac Pie?

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If you buy Wizard Publication guidebooks (Big Island Revealed) and read their updates you may be in a bit of a panic over one of their latest updates. They reported that Mac Pie has closed their retail outlet but is available at Costco. Well, I don’t have a Costco membership and I’m not going to get one just to get a pie, even a mac pie. I put in an email to the Mac Pie people and they informed me that you can get them at the Kona Coffee and Tea Company. If you can’t make it to the Big Island, you can order online!

The Kona Coffee and Tea Company
74-5035 Queen Kaahumanu Hwy #5
Kailua Kona, HI
(808) 329-6577

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