A sweet gift any time of year

October 22nd, 2008

Filed Under Food Finds, Hawaiian products | Leave a Comment

When we hopped over to Maui, my grandma said “oh can you get me a Maui pineapple?  They just don’t taste the same from anywhere else.” 

Some people would giggle and say a pineapple is a pineapple but the only people who say that are those that have never had a Maui Gold pineapple.  It truly is like heaven.  It is the sweetest most juicy, flavorful pineapple you will ever eat in your lifetime and they are addicting.  Not going to be on Maui anytime soon?  Not a problem!  Just go to their website and you can get a delicious Maui Gold pineapple delivered right to your door or the door of the ones you love.  Now some may be put off by the price of one of these lovelies to get it to your door…$32 with shipping for one.  BUT, if you have a few people who love them the shipping price stays the same whether you buy one, two or a case of six.  So if you’re having a luau, it’d be worth it to buy a 6 pack because instead of paying $32 for one pineapple, you’d be paying just over $13 for one and regardless of how many you buy you get a free pineapple corer.  Have I enticed you yet?  Yes, it’s not cheap and yes, if you haven’t had one, it’s hard to get across just how worth it the price is.  All we can say is once you have one, you’ll never go back.

(Of course you could always go to Maui and get them much cheaper while you’re there!  We love helping you justify a trip to the islands!)

Eat well for less and help charity too!

October 21st, 2008

Filed Under Hawaii Charities | Leave a Comment

ALOHA MONDAYS ARE BACK AT HALI’IMAILE GENERAL STORE

For each person that brings in one non-perishable food item to be donated to the MAUI FOOD BANK, Bev will take 50% off the price of your dinner’s entree. If you’ve seen my recent review of Hali’imaile General Store then you know this is a must do!  Reservations are recommended 808-572-2666. Please join in at HALI’IMAILE GENERAL STORE one of Maui’s premier restaurants and “help the hungry” with your food donation.

If you aren’t going to be on Maui anytime soon, you can always donate online.

Hawaiian word of the week

October 20th, 2008

Filed Under Word of the week | Leave a Comment

Pali-(pa-lee)- Cliff

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”.

Jack Thompson…last one standing

October 19th, 2008

Filed Under Current Events, Kilauea Volcano | Leave a Comment

And then there was one.  Madame Pele’s fiery lava fingers reached out and took the structure of one of the two last residents of Royal Gardens subdivision.  Dean Schneider was able to get out in time and was notified his house was gone which only took Pele 90 minutes to reclaim.  This leaves reluctant island celeb Jack Thompson as the last man standing in the subdivision.  The lava is currently 1 mile west of Jack’s place.  Stay tuned to see how this bout with nature turns out.

Photo courtesy Honolulu Star Bulletin.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Mango Glazed Pork Roast

October 17th, 2008

Filed Under Local Recipes | Leave a Comment

Ingredients

5 pound pork loin roast
1/2 cup mango jam
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons minced ginger root

Instructions

Put meat, fat side up, on rack in a roasting pan. Roast in electric oven at 325 degrees for about 1 3/4 hours or until meat thermometer registers 160°F. Combine jam, juice, and ginger; brush on meat. Basting occasionally with sauce, continue cooking until thermometer registers 170°F. Makes 10 servings.

Mahalos and Kudos!

October 16th, 2008

Filed Under Fun Stuff, Spread the Aloha | 8 Comments

A big mahalo to Charla for nominating True Aloha for the I Love Your Blog award!  I am truly honored!  Now it’s time for me to hand out some kudos to be worthy so here are the rules for the recipient:

* Display your award.
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Nominate at least 7 other blogs. 
* Put links to those blogs on yours.
* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.
* Enjoy your award!

So here are my nominees:

Skeet’s Stuff

Hawaii Vacation Blog

Mr Beach Bum Blog

My Style

Go Visit Hawaii

Fun, Crafts & Recipes

Foodarrific

 

 

 

 

 

Poll: Travel packages charging for a symbol of aloha

October 16th, 2008

Filed Under FYI, Travel Tips | Leave a Comment

After our last trip with Pleasant Holidays, we were sent a survey about how our trip went and it included a comments section.  I commented on how disappointed we were that we did not get our traditional lei greeting upon landing and when we called them we were told this was now an “option” and we had to pay for it if we wanted it.  I got a note back from the company saying the following:

A short while ago, we changed one of the features of the on-line booking engine to have the flower lei greeting an optional selection rather than having it automatically included with each booking. Management felt that our passengers (many of whom are repeat travelers) should have the choice of choosing the flower lei greeting. Where as, before it was not an option and was part of the total cost.

We regret to inform you that when your booking was made, the flower lei greeting was not selected. We are truly sorry for the disappointment you experienced when you discovered the flower lei greeting was not part of your package.

Sure it was our fault that we didn’t check the lei greeting under the “extras” section since it’s a section we’ve never had to use before so I’ve always skipped over it.  I’ve booked with them and priced out so many trips for clients that I never had to.  The letter went on to basically say thanks for responding about your “disenchantment” but sorry about your luck.  I’m sorry but even if you were charging me for the lei greeting in the cost before, by not listing it out on my itinerary I never knew I was paying for it.  Therefore, in my eyes, when you make it an “option” it seems like you are now charging me for something I didn’t pay for and it feels like one more fee I’m getting charged on top of everything else I’m being nickeled and dimed on.  (Especially when I’m paying them thousands of dollars and they can’t throw in $20 for 2 leis??)

So what do you think?  In this economy where we are paying for fuel surcharges, luggage, overweight luggage and meals on the plane…all things that were “all inclusive” not even 5 years ago…does making a lei greeting an option make you feel like you’re being nickeled and dimed or would you rather have it included and get lei’d off the plane just like the old PanAm Clipper plane days?  Please comment below.

Four Foods on Friday #51

October 16th, 2008

Filed Under FFoF | 6 Comments

Here are this week’s Four Foods on Friday questions.  If you’d like to play, there’s still time!  Just go to Val’s place and sign up!

#1. Share a cupcake, muffin or cookie recipe.

This is one of my favorite cookies to make for Christmas or Valentine’s Day but they’re really good no matter what time of year it is!

Raspberry Strippers

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons butter, softened
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg white
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking spray
1/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves (like Polaner’s All Fruit)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Beat granulated sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla and egg white; beat well. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt, stirring well with a whisk. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, stirring until well-blended. (Dough will be stiff.)

3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each portion into a 12-inch log. Place logs 3 inches apart on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Form a 1/2-inch-deep indentation down the length of each log using an index finger or end of a wooden spoon. Spoon preserves into the center. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove logs to a cutting board.

4. Combine powdered sugar, lemon juice, and almond extract; stir well with a whisk. Drizzle sugar mixture over warm logs. Immediately cut each log diagonally into 12 slices. (Do not separate slices.) Cool 10 minutes; separate slices. Transfer slices to wire racks. Cool completely.

NUTRITIONAL INFO:
calories: 75 carbohydrates: 12.4 g cholesterol: 6 mg fat: 2.5 g sodium: 56 mg protein: 0.7 g calcium: 4 mg iron: 0.3 mg fiber: 0.2 g

#2. Cupcakes, muffins and cookies require something to drink. What do you drink with them? 

Milk.  Mmm….

#3. Which do you prefer, mini muffins and cupcakes or full sized ones?

Any will do.  Hence the size of my backside!

#4. What type of muffin or cupcake pan do you use? Silicone, disposable, etc.

Usually a metal muffin pan with the paper cup liners.

Hana Highway finally reopened!

October 15th, 2008

Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment

After nearly two years, the back road that links the remote Kaupo and Kipahulu communities is open once again. The road was closed following a 6.7 earthquake that destabilized cliff faces & undermined the highway.

For more on the story, click here.

HIHS Pet Walk & Costume Parade this weekend!

October 14th, 2008

Filed Under Hawaii Charities, Upcoming Events | Leave a Comment

Gotta cute little four legged cutie that deserves to be shown off in their Halloween finest?  Sign up for the Hawaii Island Humane Society’s Pet Walk & Costume Parade!  There will be a costume contest, agility course, hot dog eating contest, best pet trick, a photographer and more!  Available for purchase will be the 2009 HIHS “Pets in Paradise” calendars, HIHS holiday cards, pet gifts as well as snacks and refreshments.  Visitors this is a good chance to add some cute pics to your vacation photos!

Where:  Hale Halawai Park in Kona
When:  Sunday, October 19th
Time:  Registration 3:30pm  Pet Walk: 4pm
Cost:  $30 pre-registration, $35 day of event (cost is per family with unlimited pets included in price as well as 1 HIHS Pet Walk T-shirt per registration form)

For more information call 808-329-1175 or go to www.hihs.org


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