Hawaii Traditions

For the Keiki & Ohana: Pacific Aviation Museum

STA — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:22 +0000

For the Keiki and Ohana

by: STA

As summer has arrived, occupying our children’s time is becoming more and more difficult. If you are running out of activities for your keikis, consider the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island, now a National Historic Landmark. The museum offers aviation enthusiast both young and old the opportunity to indulge themselves in sensory overload. Spread out over 67,000 square feet of hanger space, the Pacific Aviation Museum’s aircraft collection displays WWII planes, helicopters, and jet fighters such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighter. To fully appreciate the power and presence of these magnificent flying machines, you need to be face to face with these marvels of technology. Standing next to the various aircrafts makes you wonder how these gigantic machines ever got off the ground. Not just a display of aircrafts, the museum places the planes within the context of history, reviewing the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor along with America’s aviation history.

If ever as a child or adult you dreamt of flying, the museum also offers a combat flight simulator which allows you to defend the skies above Guadalcanal, bringing you one step closer to flight. Throughout the year, special events are also held at the aviation center to further educate and entertain guests. In March of 2009, the “Biggest Little Air Show” was held at Ford Island. One to five scale model replicas of jets and planes took to flight and filled the skies, piloted remotely by hobbyist who flew their planes with great joy along with a bit of anxiety as some of the model planes flying overhead cost as much as $11,000, let me spell that out, ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.

A fully guided tour is also available, taking guests through various aircraft hangers that still bare the scars of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Pacific Aviation Museum also offers a gift shop along with a self-proclaimed “best place to eat at Pearl Harbor” restaurant, Laniakea Cafe. The museum is open daily from 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M., general admission is $15.00 for adults, $8.00 for children ages 4-12. Kama’aina rates are also available, $10.00 for Hawaii residents and military and $5.00 for children 4-12. If you end up loving the Pacific Aviation Museum and can’t get enough, individual and family membership is available. For more information on the Pacific Aviation Museum, please visit their website at Pacific Aviation Museum.

Follow @pacificaviation on Twitter.

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Hawaii’s Fads and Mainstays: A New Series

Jan — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:00:26 +0000

Hawaii’s Fads and Mainstays

by Jan

Being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, trends and fads come to us slowly here in Hawaii. But when they do, boy, do we fall hard! Obsessing over new and must try foods, games and stores—fads hook us with their word of mouth, gotta try it freshness and allow us to have some new, fun thing to do here in the islands. Over time, some fads turn into mainstays here in our Island State, and no one is immune to them, as people from all ages succumb to their novelty.

Photo credit: Daniel Lobo

Trips to Las Vegas and hours spent at Costco were once fads (now mainstays) welcomed by the older generation, while Tamagochi’s and POGs were fads that once consumed the younger generation here in Hawaii. Other fads—like Spam and Chocolate Haupia Pie—have become mainstays, weaving themselves into the fabric of our everyday lives and become a part of our culture, our traditions and yes, even our values. These mainstays continue to be beloved by everyone, young and old alike.

What fads do you recall, living here in Hawaii? Are there fads that you remember that have become mainstays here in the Islands? We’d love to hear about them, here at Hawaii Traditions!

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Things that Entertained Us: Cecilio and Kapono

Jan — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:22:07 +0000

Things that Entertained Us

by Jan

Some of the people and events featured in this series offer a nostalgic look back to Hawaii’s past. However, a few long standing acts in Hawaii not only entertained us “back then”, but continue to entertain us today…Cecilio and Kapono is one of Hawaii’s mainstays. Commonly known to locals as simply C & K, Cecilio David Rodriguez originally from California, and Henry Kapono Ka’aihue —a pure Native Hawaiian, born and raised in Kapahulu—comprise this duo.

C & K’s music has a distinctive, revolutionary island sound. Of their music, Kapono in his autobiography states:

“…as they added original material , their arrangements became known as the “C&K SOUND”. Almost from the inception, they were performing original compositions which became very unique musically because of the way they would both weave a counter melody to the existing one , thereby creating the harmony to the songs, unlike anything else anybody had heard before them and which became the model and inspiration for many young writers to come.”

With 12 collaborative music albums as C & K, 14 solo albums for Kapono (of these, Wild Hawaiian was Grammy Nominated) and 3 solo albums for Cecilio, these winners of multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards) continue to entertain this generation of Hawaii 37 years after their start back in 1973.

New to Cecilio & Kapono’s? Want to reminisce about vintage Hawaii through C & K’s music? Here are a few links to get you started:

Cecilio & Kapono’s Albums at Mele.com
Henry Kapono’s Solo Albums

Things that Entertained Us: Frank De Lima With such a diverse mix of peoples living here in...

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Hawaii Traditions Doggie Ringer T-shirt

Gail — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:00:10 +0000

Doggie heads will turn when they see their friends wearing this customized Hawaii Traditions Groovy doggie t-shirt. Even their human’s will want to know where to get one for their dog so they can by styling with the rest of the canine community.

This customized ringer t-shirt is 100% combed ringspun baby rib cotton for comfort. It has a contrast color ribbed binding on the neck, bottom seam and the leg holes. It’s double needle stitched.

Hawaii Traditions Groovy Basic T-shirt Are you feeling Groovy today? Hawaii Traditions Store has new...

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First Taste: Sake Street

Gail — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:00:22 +0000

Wes Zane’s newest departure on Kapahulu called Sake Street is a japanese style restaurant that serves food and sake of all kinds. Sake Street’s selection of sake is not only delicious but also an educational experience for a range of palates, from beginners to experts.

Many regard experiencing sake as an artistic endeavor that has to be understood to have a complete experience. Because of this expectation, many have shied away from experiencing the japanese rice liquor, seeing it as too intimidating to embrace.

Photo Credit: Metromix Honolulu

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Things that Entertained Us: Frank De Lima

Jan — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:00:58 +0000

With such a diverse mix of peoples living here in Hawaii, our Aloha State is known across the globe as a “melting pot” of cultures. This notion is perhaps most hilariously celebrated on Frank De Lima’s comedy stage. Born Frank Wilcox Napuakekaulike De Lima, Jr. on July 8, 1949, he is best known for his singing, creating hilarious spoofs on popular tunes and of course, his ethnic jokes which pokes fun at everybody. Being of Portuguese, Hawaiian, Irish, Chinese, English, Spanish, and Scottish descent, De Lima’s ethnic make-up is microcosm of Hawaii’s melting pot; thus, he has “built in permission” to make fun of others since in essence, he is laughing at himself. From the “Filipino Christmas” song to the “Portagee Fight Song” to “Glenn Miyashiro”, we laugh because we see ourselves, our friends and our families in his parodies.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtAfdAkho10

Some of Frank De Lima’s past work includes 14 albums (including “Don’t Sneeze When You Eat Saimin, 1981), six TV specials and appearances along with a slew of other awards and accomplishments including Governor Ben Caetano’s Kihohana Award for Volunteer of the Year in 2000. De Lima is also known for The Frank De Lima Student Enrichment Program with the basic message: The significance of reading, studying, laughing, and family (3 Bs = Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful).

What are your favorite Frank De Lima moments? Is there any one song or skit that best encapsulates the way we laugh at ourselves? Share it here!

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Things that Entertained Us: The Ice Palace

Jan — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:00:35 +0000

I was 12 and my gloved fingers worked clumsily to lace up the skates that seemed cemented on my feet. For the first time in my life I could see my breath—so cold was the air—I gave my laces one last tug and slid nervously onto the ice to experience this new-to-me-phenomena called ice skating. Did I experience this on a trip to the mainland, or, perhaps, Canada or Japan? Believe it or not, this memory dates back to 1982 in Salt Lake.…well, Salt Lake in Honolulu, Hawaii at The Ice Palace , that is!

Children and families still flock to The Ice Palace some 28 years after it first opened. The skating rink now offers “The Ice Palace Academy of Dance” , along with birthday party services , skate school and a hockey league community . And, perhaps not so surprisingly, The Ice Palace now boasts among its instructors, a champion figure skater—Jennifer Jones — originally from Edmonds, Washington.

I have yet to take my children to The Ice Palace, but we’ll make our way there as most Hawaii residents do, eventually. And when we get there, I’ll be sure to lace up their skates nice and snug, and marvel with them over the wintry “weather”.

What do you remember about The Ice Palace? Share it with our readers here, on Hawaii Traditions!

Photo Credit: matthewmcvickar on Flickr

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Ho Farms: Trading City Life for the Family Farm

Gail — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:00:12 +0000

Shin Ho, owner of Ho’s Farms on the rural stretch of Oahu’s North Shore, with a degree in marketing and international business you’d suspect that Ho would have ended up in a business environment. Instead, business opportunity at her family farm brought her from Los Angeles to Kahuku.

As an Operations Manager, Ho works in an office handling sales and promotional events. But as often as she’s in an office, she’s also out on the 40 acre farm checking up on the tomatoes and long beans, packing tomatoes and whatever else needs to be done. Ho’s main mission is to grow tasty vegetables with minimal use of chemicals.

Photo Credit: Share Your Table

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Hawaii Traditions Groovy Basic T-shirt

Gail — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:00:38 +0000

Are you feeling Groovy today? Hawaii Traditions Store has new Groovy products available at Zazzle. It’s very hip and groovy, a must have for your Hawaii Traditions collection!

This shirt is a heavy weight classic 100% cotton t-shirt. Double-needle stitched bottom and sleeve hems. Loose, classic fit, wears well on anyone. Be styling with this Awesome Groovy Hawaii Traditions T-shirt, and also check out the other items that are available with this design.

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Hawaii Traditions: Must-try dishes in Honolulu

Gail — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:00:47 +0000

Hawaii’s identity as a food scene is an island of glorified plate lunches? Yes, that and many other things that makes Anthony Bourdain call Hawaii “Singapore in America” .

Hawaii maybe very Americanized and Localized and our cuisine is dominated by Asian dishes, but we also have a gift for bringing home far away dishes. A dish from the mainland gets a simple Hawaii spin on it and then it’s a must try!

Photo Credit: Metromix Honolulu

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