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Japan Jan 2010 Day 1 part 1

Alan Okami — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:48:33 +0000

Whew! That one word about sums up our recent trip to the motherland. Our schedule was brutal, but we were able to accomplish much of what we set out to do. First order of business, check into our hotel. This image struck me as Japan is trying to be more regulatory about smoking in public.
Hence, a smoking room. I'm not a smoker (only when I'm Hot! Ha ha) but my brother and Brian are. So they made frequent trips to this little box.
Then on to the good stuff. Luckily for me, there's a plaza named, "Caretta" nearby our hotel. In it, there's a terrific ramen shop that we try to go to all the time.
For me, it's kinda like painting by numbers as the menus are in Japanese, of course.
I did successfully manage to order one of my favorites there, a pork tonkotsu ramen. The char siu is a little different from what we serve here, but I have no complaints. There is a topping called "takara" there that is a secret recipe in house. Added to my ramen for an extra kick.
Not too much biz on the first day, only delivering a custom made ukulele to our pal, Mikku Meskin. He's been a long time supporter of us and finally got his custom after a 2 year wait.
Got to hang out with Mikku a little bit, but the first day was killer. We usually arrive in the late afternoon, so the time adjustment is not as bad. Take a look at the inlay on his fingerboard. It's a representation of East/West as he is a Kauai boy living in Japan.
Late at night, we went off to see a familiar site, good 'ole McDonalds. The menu is similar and the prices are really not all that bad. So much for the perceptions of Japan being expensive. It's actually a pretty affordable place to go.
This is a bacon potato pie. Like I mentioned, the menu is slightly different from home. Guess if I bought one...
Well, good guess. I did indeed buy one. But that lead to another issue: I'm an American boy, so gotta get the meat to go with the potato right? I proudly present you "Shaka Shaka" chicken. Not like our shaka, but "shaka shaka" as in "shake shake." These really moist and tender chicken patties are served with a small package of seasoning that is shaken in the serving bag. So ono I tell you.


More to come flum Zhapan...



Seiwajuku!
Alan Okami — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:54:05 +0000
Some of you may have heard of Japan Airlines filing for re-organization. Apparently, times are hard not only for American flyers alone. There is high hope though, Dr. Kazuo Inamori, CEO of Kyocera Corporation has accepted the challenge of restructuring the business. Dr. Inamori is known for his ability to turn things around and do it well. He is also gaining noteriety for his formation of Seiwajyuku study groups around the world. This past week, over 300 people gathered to launch the Hawaii Chapter of Seiwajyuku at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.



Me and my family were a part of organizing the program for the night. Here's my folks with Kumu Hula Chalani and daughter Charnay Kalama.







Here we are busily preparing for the night ahead.



Herb Ohta Jr and our own Brian gave lessons to a group of Seiwajyuku members for the past month as they took the stage to perform "Sanoe" and "Ulupalakua."



Then the ladies of Seiwajyuku shined as they performed "When You're Down in Honolulu" and got out in the crowd for a 300 person hula lesson.



My Braddah Tony C wowed the house with his rendition of "Furusato" in Hawaiian. The oohs and ahhs were flowing.



An den it was amateur hour as I took stage with my "Uilani, Baby Kalae" medley. I was soo happy as my pops gave me an unusual compliment for my performance.



My heart leaped with joy to watch my mom take the stage for the first time, dancing "Papalina Lahilahi" with my brother.



The evening was a total good feeling thing. Dr Inamori even gave a rare song. 
More than getting to meet this mover and shaker, I am proud to say that he has a lot of heart. The premise behind Seiwajyuku is personal development of companies' executive staff. "A company's character is a direct reflection of its executives.." states Dr. Inamori. Though thousands of miles away, Seiwajyuku shares the Aloha spirit with us. So deep is his commitment that Inamori told the government of Japan that he will give only 3 days a week to JAL as he will not forsake Seiwajyuku. 
Character. Some people are, some people have it. I would like to be the latter.



And then there was more..
Alan Okami — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:20:20 +0000
Food, such a beautiful subject. For those of you following me on Twitter, you may wonder, "Is he even Trying to lose weight??" I am. But I do enjoy going out to eat. Me and wifey are quite opposites, but food has always brought us together. I knew from our first date (she wasn't shame fo eat) that I had found a keeper. More like, she keeps me, ha ha.



Enter, Julie'Z restaurant in Kapolei. One of my favorite Filipino places to eat. Me and wife started our married life together out in Makakilo, but didn't hang around long enough for them to open up.



In the "real" home cookin' style as my boys at work say, Julie'Z is run by this wonderful family.



This one deserves a caption of its own. My all time favorite, Lechon Kawali, or roasted pork. Julie'Z serves it with finely sliced onions and diced tomatoes and of course the vinegar sauce with onions. Sarap! Soooo good! Hui, I like dat one!







No sense we look at the menu, we always order the same things. We're kinda western in our taste of the cuisine of PI, but it's good anyways. Standard Okami fare also includes; pancit bihon, pinakbet and adobo fried rice. The kids complain like hell when we say we gonna eat Filipino, but their plates always start out full and end up empty. Go figgure..



If you just can't make up your mind, they have a nice hot line buffet. The selections are nice and price is good too.

This one of the brothers always ends up as our server and he's really nice. Heck, they all nice over there.

Restaurants are hurting folks, if you are in Kapolei, head over to Julie'Z. I personally guarantee that you'll love the place. If you don't, my guarantee does not come with a money back offer. Instead, I will happily take any leftovers off your hands. Julie'Z makes me miss my first home out in Makakilo a little more, but always makes me happy when I go there.




More Eats, Fancy Kine
Alan Okami — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 08:25:42 +0000
Back again, with more about eating. No wonder I need to hit the gym so hard. This time, we headed for Hawaii Prince Hotel's Prince Court. My mom threw a surprise birthday party for my dad along with all the guys from work.





As always, the staff is friendly and superb. I have Never been disappointed in them.



Whenever we all gather in this way, we pule before we eat. My dad did the honors and can tend to be a little lengthy. He's kind of quiet, so when we pule, he tends to share his inner thoughts. Oh let me tell you, he's got a lot of thoughts...My little one asked during the prayer, "You think we gonna eat this year, dad?" When my pops was pau, he said, "Ho grandpa, that was looong!"





See food? As in lots of Seafood. Prince Court is known for their large selection of seafood. I pretty much ignored all the other stuff and gorged myself on crab and shrimp tempura. Cannot go wrong with that.





I always like to work the tables and be all niele to see what everyone else is dining on. Consensus shows that crab was the overall winner. Though there was also; pho, clam linguini, sashimi, prime rib, hand made sushi and much much more.



And of course, dessert. I'm not much of a desert person, more of a second serving guy, but their spread was overflowing. Not only did they look pretty, they all had the taste to match. And I did say ALL. Ooops. (burp)
Local eateries need our support. They, like many out there, are having a difficult time. Being the epicurean that I am, I WILL do my part to support the local economy. 



Ramen Time - Chimpei
Alan Okami — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 02:06:22 +0000
Back in the day, me and the missus would go to eat weekly ay the old DaiRyu on King Street. According to my friends from Japan, it was close to "Hon mono," or the real thing. I guess having a ramen cook from Japan made that possible. Maybe the major difference being cooked in Hawaii. It was a place of comfort and good food at prices we could afford at the time. After we got married, we moved to Makakilo and our DaiRyu days were over. Sadly, the restaurant closed a few years later. I don't mean to make any disparaging remarks, but the new Dai Ryu in Kapalama is just not the same. So what is a ramen lover to do?....



Easy, braddah, easy. The new place for me is Chimpei. They are located in the old Misuzu location on King Street. Spicy food lovers may remember It's Chili in Hawaii on the corner.



The menu is pretty extensive and I like it that way. I take my ramen quite seriously. You can order many different varieties and a few that are a little off the ramen path.



There are also many specials that are posted right up on the wall in typical Japanese mom and pops style and like Misuzu used to do. Try the mochi inside your ramen, it's so good.



Ever hard at work, owner, Mr. Hashigami crafts the tasty broth and noodles with whatever toppings the item calls for. My mouth is watering as I write...



Hon mono desu (The real thing lidat) Hashigami san even has someone that helps with the cooking duties right out of Japan. Yes, I know that I'm not from Japan, but had ramen there and Chimpei is the closest thing to being in the motherland.



And of course the star of the show, my favoritest ramen, Chimpei's Miso Ramen. There are little soy beans in the broth from the miso paste that float around. I try to get the noodles, the broth and the beans in perfect proportions. That way, I can enjoy every single bite in the exact same way.



Now no visit to any ramen establishment is complete without the ever famous ramen sidekick, gyoza. Now that my 2 sons are growing, we are gonna have to start ordering more than 12 pieces. My little one already counts and rations the order.



My side order of bean sprouts. Just kidding. As much as I love Chimpei, I do not like bean sprouts. Only problem is that I always forget to ask to leave them out. In typical "no waste" Hawaii style, my wife eats em for me. Good wife.
Chimpei Ramen

2080 S King St

Honolulu, HI 96826

(808) 947-5919



Hilo New Year
Alan Okami — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:08:44 +0000
Alright, first post of the new year. Little late, but was on Hilo for the New Year. It's always a good time of doing Nothing for me. That's actually a relief as I am usually quite busy. I hear that Oahu led the way with all the fireworks. Must admit, Hilo was a bit mellow this year. Typically, there are tons of aerials. One word..recession.



Now in honor of my new friend once again, here's a Ka Leo style Odds and Ends photo for you. Got to meet the "imposter" Daniel Ho at Ala Moana food court before I left the island. This photo doesn't really capture how much he looks like Dan. I was trippin' out so much that I asked this perfect stranger to take a pic. Amazingly, his name is also "Ho," Luke that is. Neat huh?





When in Hilo, I like to go to their Vulcan basketball games. It's the only game in town and I enjoy the coaching of Jeff Law. He won my respect a long time ago.





And when I get a chance, I like to eat the Hawaiian plate at Kuhio Grill. They're located in the Prince Kuhio Shopping Center. Had hard time finishing the plate. Wife opted for the grilled salmon Caesar salad. Said she's getting fat. I say she already is. Oops, you reading this hon? Love you!



Look for this logo, but not in origami like this one hanging in the restaurant. Enjoyed my time there, but enjoy being home also. 2010 is going to be a great year. Mahalo for all you readers and the support. More to come in Ka Leo O Kalihi.




A "Blessed" New Year!
Alan Okami — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:44:22 +0000
Considering that we are a business that caters to the Hawaiian image of..Hawaii, it would only seem appropriate to have an authentic Hawaiian Blessing ceremony. Next year, we will mark our 15th anniversary of KoAloha Ukulele. While we are not Jewish, it is interesting to note that at 14 years of age, Jewish boys make their official entrance into manhood with a certain ceremony. Unlike their ceremony, ours was not painful, but in many ways, I consider it a rite of passage for us.



Mahalo to our friends, Roy and Kathy Sakuma for introducing us to the beautiful Akaka family. Here is Kahu Daniel Akaka Jr with his wife, Anna, preparing for our blessing.



Prior to our entry, the intertwined maile lei symbolized the piko.



Me and my family untwined the cord and the ceremony officially began. We walked the corners and each room of the shop, joining out hearts and minds together. Tears flowed from my eyes to be part of something so special. Can't explain why I felt this way. Only explanation is that what we do is soo special to me and to have all of us in unison was overwhelming. I am all gushy even as I write this.



After we walked the premises, we all gathered in the parking lot to seal the deal. All chicken skin and good feelings.



Then in typical KoAloha style, we hung out with one another, enjoying some refreshments and the company of one another.

The day went off without a hitch, only hangup was I told everyone the wrong time. Thank goodness I told them earlier that it was... The Hawaiians believe that everything happens in its due time. I have to agree. Our new ohana, the Akakas, were perfect for this joyous occasion. They are such beautiful people and I couldn't ask for anyone more fitted for this day. Mahalo Ke Akua. 
The new year will bring about change as it always does. Let's all bind our hearts together and embrace whatever comes our way. The good, the bad, they all shape us, if we are open to the lessons that each experience holds. Stay tuned as "Ka Leo O Kalihi" undergoes a change as well. My blog will feature a new name as soon as admin is able to process my request. My emphasis will still remain Kalihi, but I will share even more about the island home I love in addition to my many travels. Please tell your family and friends to log on and follow my adventures.
To all you Ka Leo Followers, Hauoli Makahiki Hou!



Bye Bye 2009
Alan Okami — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:00:15 +0000
As we close this year, I reflect on what has happened and am truly thankful for all the people, places and events, both good and bad, that helped shape my year:
God:

No matter how hard and far I run away from you, you are always there, patiently waiting for me. I'm sorry you had to kick my a__ to get my attention. (You made me the way I am, cannot help lidat)
My wife:

You will probably never see her picture in my blog. She is intensely private and my complete opposite. Balance is good. Love you!
My kids:

You two clowns gotta learn to listen. But I will do anything for you. And anything to anyone that would hurt you. No matter how old you get, I'll always be "Daddy," even when you start calling me "Dad."
My company:

You try your best to kill me, but I'm still here. Is that your best shot? You allow me to work in the community and to touch the lives of others, far more than if I actually became a minister.  I don't think I'd ever sell you, even if it meant I could be rich. Then I wouldn't have the same effect on people around me.
Honolulu Advertiser:

You guys gave me a larger platform to to my preaching. Do you folks regret it? Hope not. Hope you enjoy my posts as much as I enjoy sharing them. So can I rename my blog or what?
Media partners:

You folks still around? That's a good sign I guess. Hope you folks see that I'm not that nuts. I put my company where my heart is. Thanks for your support.
NPO's:

Four and counting. I am honored to serve on your boards. I still have a lot more to give and will do my duty to the best of my ability. Let's change the world around us!
I could go on and on, but this is a blog, not a novel. Many of you know that I have struggled this year as my company had a phenomenal year and with all of my community involvements. I had a message to share an thought it was for me to preach. Turns out, it applied to me:
"There is a price for everything. Even good works. Consider what is required before you start your journey and what may happen along the way. Often times, good intentions do not meet good results. Carefully examine what you desire and what may not become. Proceed only if you can accept both."
Words I am living by. It has helped me to process, heal and proceed forward. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Mahalo for keeping me company in my ride.



Odds, Ends and a Sugoi Time
Alan Okami — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:18:30 +0000
You ever had that feeling? You know the one when you are considering approaching someone? Whether famous or not, most of us get a little bit of the butterflies in the stomach. "Will they be nice? Will I get the cold shoulder?," often race through our minds right before the moment of impact. Me? Ahh, for the most part, I geevum! I figgure, it's all the same when we visit the porcelain kingdom.



With that said, met blogger and Advertiser staffer, Shauna Goya a few months ago at Willows 10th anniversary celebrations. I am happy to report that she is as lovely as a person as she is cute. We didn't have much time to talk story at Willows, so I figgured I'd setup something later.





So we met up at Sugoi, right here in Kalihi. It's a popular plate lunch place, right next to one of my favorite other restaurants, Utage.



Owner, Zack Lee, founded the place with a partner back at the early age of 28 years old. He's been a whiz at making this place one of the go-to grindz eateries in town. I take may hat off to him, that's no easy task considering how many places there are here on the island.



Alas, I could not avoid the photo inclusion. Just did not seem appropriate, considering the occasion. My first time to hang out with Shauna, so I actually wanted one. We got to talk story about anykine and we got along so well that we are also planning a Tweetup sometime in January. It's gonna be a lot of fun AND in Kalihi.



In honor of Shauna's blog, , Odds and Ends,

 I decided to post a picture in her style of presentation.

Seen the movie 300? I sure did, it's one of my mostest favoritest movies of all time. Cannot even begin to tell you how much I love it. Remember the Persian invader Xerxes? Black? Samoan? What? I just couldn't guess, so one night I Googled and found the handsome dude above. I was so shocked, I was freaking out all week.  Boy does he look different when he's not a God-King.
Was really good to meet up with Shauna. I believe I have found a new friend and colleague. Some say that blogging will become a critical part of reporting in the future. News will evolve from investigational reporting into what is happening here and now. With the advances in social networking and so forth, it's not difficult to draw that conclusion. 
I have a new blog name pending with the editorial staff. While I want to keep Kalihi as my focus, there is so much more that I want to share about these islands that I love and the world surrounding them. Making new friends like Shauna give me the assurance that I can be a part of the new movement of news and I gladly share what I see through these corrected vision eyes.



Coming to Kalihi soon! Magandang!
Alan Okami — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:12:08 +0000
So for about 2-3 years, I thought "Hapun" meant Filipinos that live on the mainland. The guys at work had a great time with this. "Magandang," not sure what dialect, but came from 2 separate web translation services as tastes good. Several years ago, I was introduced to the cuisine from PI by my wife and good ole Uncle Benny (God rest his soul, he's making pinakbet for the Big Guy upstairs now) Since then, I have been hooked. Only problem is that I always overeat.



Good news Kalihians! Pretty soon, no need to Waipahooo for your fix of Max's. Rumour has it that the famous Pinoy eatery is a comin' in the new year.



Drink this. Period. So ono. Can a drink be "ono?" Well my friends, it is. This is a tall frosty glass of calimanci (lime) juice with blended ice. I guess it's the Filipino version of Jamba Jus, ha ha. We always order this and nurse it throughout the meal.



We got on our way with fried calimari. It's always a hit with my kids. They often lament, "Oh no, Filipino food??! But eat super plenty each time. Go figgure)



The food started arriving at our table, so my thoughts quickly departed from taking pix, sorry. I'm kinda one track minded. My plate was loaded with garlic friend rice, pinakbet, pancit bihon and my fave, lechon kawali. Can you smell it?



Keep an eye out for Max's. I'll be sure to make post when they get here. Rest your fears, balut and the exotics are not the only thing Filipinos eat. Sorry Andrew Zimmern, just good soul food here. Sow, comon down with your pfamily and pfrends to enjoy de gud fud at Maxes. Magandang!