Hilo's Two Ladies Kitchen

My husband recently went to the Big Island and brought back some yummy desserts from Two Ladies Kitchen. 

They have an assortment of mochi and manju. Some of the assortment includes chi chi mochi (milk flavored mochi), brownie mochi (pink, filled with freshly baked brownies), peanut butter mochi (white, daisy shaped with shiro-an and peanut butter) and pie crust manju (flakey and filled with shiro-an). They have a great selection of different flavors and fillings and seasonal specialties as well.

My favorite is the strawberry mochi. Inside has a fresh strawberry covered in red bean paste wrapped in mochi. So good!! My husband was sweet enough to bring home a whole box of it for me. 

They are all so delicious that I could not eat just one. If you are ever on the Big Island, check out Two Ladies Kitchen. 

274 Kilauea Ave.

Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 961-4766

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Cookie Recipes for National Cookie Month

October is National Cookie Month!

In August we posted a bunch of Chocolate Chip Cookie recipes for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (August 4), so below are a few alternative cookie recipes!

Enjoy and happy baking!

 Clockwise from top left:

• PB&J Sandwich Cookies 
• JELL-O Cookies
• Giada's Lemon Ricotta Cookies
• Mini Mele Peanut Butter Cookies  
• Nutella Cookies 
• "World's Best Butter Cookies"

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flopZ Review

Flip flops or slippers (as we locals call it) is a necessity in Hawaii. We all wear them to go to the beach or just to wear everyday. I received these cool slippers from flopZ. 

Kingfish Flip Flops with Clear Straps

The first thing that caught my eye was the color and design on it. The blue color reminds me of the ocean. On the top of the slippers are ridges or round bumps. It almost looks like water drops from far. When you put it on, it feels like it's massaging your feet. I find it pretty comfortable and not your typical slippers. What makes it different from other slippers are their flopZgel that covers the insole. 

flopZ offers their Coral Collection with beautiful designs inspired by coral reefs and oceans. It will make great gifts, especially with the holidays coming. These flopZ are perfect for our Hawaii weather. It also comes with a blue pouch to hold your slippers in. Just throw it in your bag in case you want to get out of your heels and put on some comfy flopZ. 

I would recommend you size up. If you are in between sizes, go a size up. Their sizes run 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 etc. 

Check out their site www.flopz.com. They are unique, stylish and comfy flopZ.

Disclosure: This product was received complimentary for review purposes.  All opinions are entirely my own.  

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WW: Shipwreck Beach

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Breakfast Buffet at In Yo Cafe at the Trump Hotel Waikiki

Our party of 10 was made up of 5 adults, 3 kids, and 2 crying babies which didn't make for the most relaxing breakfast buffet.  But being situated outdoors, in the beautiful Trump Hotel, we managed to enjoy a delicious breakfast.

The buffet spread includes pastries and some of the best stick donuts in town, as well as a made to order omelet station.  Yogurt, fresh fruits, waffles, miso soup, somen, and standard items like scrambled eggs and bacon are also on all you can eat status.  You can also order items if they are not on the line that day like French toast, pancakes, breakfast meats, and oatmeal from your server.  The kids loved ordering smoothies that were included in the buffet price.

What really stood out to me was the service.  Our servers were amazing and always on point.  It made our experience outstanding.

Adults are $33 and children 6 and over are $17.  You also have the option of just ordering off the menu.  Breakfast is served daily from 6:30-10:30am.

In-Yo Café
Trump International Hotel Waikiki
223 Saratoga Road
808-683-7777

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Visit Kauai: Kalapaki Shave Ice

After having lunch at Kalapaki Beach Hut, we decided to grab some shave ice from Kalapaki Shave Ice, right next door (in the same building) as Kalapaki Beach Hut.

POG, Mango, Orange Dream

Rainbow

There is only one size, and it's pretty huge - more than enough to share, and you can choose up to 3 flavors.

The POG, Mango, and Orange Dream Shave Ice was delightful - my favorite was the Orange Dream.

The Rainbow consisted of Strawberry, Banana, and Vanilla Shave Ice over Vanilla Ice Cream and topped with Sweet Cream.  So yummy! And a scoop of ice cream is always a must for us.

Kalapaki Shave Ice was the perfect treat, especially on a hot and humid day on Kauai!



Kalapaki Shave Ice
3474 Rice St
Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 246-6330

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Now Brewing: Starbucks at Ala Moana Hotel

Ala Moana Hotel is energizing its dining options with the addition of a buzzworthy café. Starting today, Sept. 28, 2015, guests can get their daily caffeine fix from their favorite coffee shop - Starbucks - now conveniently situated in the hotel's main lobby. The new café offers customers an inviting place to relax, recharge and connect, while enjoying a wide-selection of Starbucks' signature brewed espresso and blended beverages. This Starbucks will also be one of few locations in the state to feature Starbucks Reserve, an exclusive selection of coffee blends that appear in limited editions throughout the year.

"Starbucks provides an open, inviting gathering place near the heart of our lobby, and adds another great option for our guests and neighbors to grab a drink or a bite to eat at Ala Moana Hotel," said Bill Comstock, general manager, Ala Moana Hotel. "We love helping our guests find the simple pleasures in their island getaway, including enjoying the luxury of their favorite cup of coffee."

"We are proud to bring the Starbucks experience to Ala Moana Hotel," said Cody Allen, Starbucks store manager. "We believe the diverse mix of business travelers, leisure guests and locals who visit the hotel will find that Starbucks is a perfect complement to their stay."

The spacious café will seat approximately 88 guests, inviting them to continue to relax and unwind in a space accented with modern sofas, ambient music and locally-relevant art. Beyond the comfortable furniture, aromatic appeal and free-wifi, the space will also offer a welcoming atmosphere to Ala Moana Hotel guests that is suitable for both social gatherings and informal meetings.

Starbucks opened its doors today, Monday, September 28, with daily hours of 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. In addition to Starbucks coffee, Ala Moana Hotel offers a variety of dining options including Plantation Café, The Signature Prime Steak and Seafood and Royal Garden, and is also home to one of Honolulu's hottest nightclubs, Rumours.

For the latest news and updates, follow Ala Moana Hotel on Twitter at: @AlaMoanaHotel,
Facebook at: www.facebook.com/AlaMoanaHotel and Instagram at: @AlaMoanaHotel.

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Visit Kauai: Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

The Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is one of my favorite resorts of all time.

Here are my top 10 reasons why:

1. The incredible pools

2. Nature's beauty surrounds the resort - the ocean, the gardens, and the occasional rainbow

3. Gorgeous views (this was the view from our lanai)

4. Great service - a special shout out to the engineer who was so friendly and helpful when we needed our air conditioning fixed!

5. Beautifully-decorated, comfortable room with a spacious bathroom

6. Lei drop (love the idea of a lei drop!)

7. Tranquility - despite the number of guests, you could find tranquil spots all throughout the hotel

8. Great dining

9. Kids activities

10. Numerous amenities (some included with resort fee) - complimentary water and sunscreen at the pool; free Wi-Fi; complimentary reusable tote, etc.

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Easy One-Bowl Double Chocolate Chip Brownies Recipe

I'm not ashamed to use a brownie mix whenever the urge for brownies hits, but I love making brownies from scratch whenever possible.  One of my favorite recipes to make is this Easy Double Chocolate Chip Brownies from Very Best Baking.

The recipe is indeed easy to make (one bowl!), and the end result is chewy, fudgy, delicious brownies!

Easy One-Bowl Double Chocolate Chip Brownies (recipe credit Very Best Baking)

Ingredients:

• 2 c chocolate chips, divided
• 1/2 c butter
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/4 c flour
• 1 c sugar
• 1 t vanilla extract
• 1/4 t baking soda
• 1/2 c chopped walnuts

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° F. 
• Line a 13x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.  
• Melt 1 cup chocolate chips and butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 90 seconds on high; stir until smooth.
• Wait about 5 minutes until mixture has cooled, then stir in eggs (don't want them to get cooked in the hot butter/chocolate mixture!).
• Stir in flour, sugar, vanilla, and baking soda.
• Mix in remaining chocolate chips and nuts.
• Spread mixture in prepared pan.
• Bake 18-22 minutes. 
  

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Celebrate the Mid Autumn Moon Festival with Moon Cakes

I remember as a young girl celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with my family by eating moon cakes and listening to the legend of the woman flying to the moon.  I also remember that I didn't really like moon cakes, especially the ones with the duck yolks inside them. 

But in recent years, partly out of sentiment and the rest out of desperation not to lose all of the Chinese culture I was raised with, I've been celebrating the annual festival with a moon cake. 

It wasn't until this year, that I read Melissa Chang's article in Frolic that I learned of moon cakes that I would actually enjoy eating.  Sure, they aren't so traditional, but let's face it, neither am I.  I bought a couple from the Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery in Honolulu's Chinatown to share with my family.  My two kids just loved the mochi moon cake filled with black sugar and I was amazed how much I enjoyed the five nuts moon cake.

It was so delicious that I am tempted to return to the bakery before Sunday's Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.  I'm ecstatic to continue this tradition (even with not-so traditional moon cakes) with my family.     

The insides of the moon cakes:  five nuts and black sugar.

Sing Cheong Bakery

1027 Maunakea Street

Hours: daily 6:30am-6:00pm



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Roy's Ko Olina

I recently went to dinner with friends at Roy's Ko Olina. This was my first time at this location. It is right along the golf course and the scenic view was perfect as the sun was setting.

I ordered the Misoyaki Marinated Butterfish and Prosciutto Crusted Local Monchong. The Misoyaki Butterfish included Lotus Root Salad, Sweet Ginger and Wasabi Butter. It was so moist and flavorful and probably one of the best butterfish dishes I have ever tasted. It's hard for me to put into words how GOOD the Misoyaki Butterfish was. My husband and friend also ordered the Butterfish and loved it as well. The Prosciutto Crusted Local Monchong was another super moist and flavorful dish. I would recommend both dishes. I'm really not one to write about food but I really enjoyed it and I wanted to share my experience.

Misoyaki Marinated Butterfish

Prosciutto Crusted Local Monchong

I was also impressed with the customer service, everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I would definitely recommend Roy's Ko Olina. This restaurant is now one of my favorites and I will be returning again soon. 

Roy's Ko Olina 

92-1220 Aliinui Drive

Kapolei, HI 96707

(808) 676-7697

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Lucky Belly

Two lucky bowls ($9) and kim chee shrimp bowl ($14).



Shrimp Gyoza ($11)

 I never had the opportunity to dine at Lucky Belly so I was super happy when a friend suggested having our "Mommy Lunch" there.  The company of the other Mommies is always awesome so I already knew I was going to have a fun lunch, but the cool vibe of Lucky Belly made for a great setting. 

We started off with the shrimp gyoza - 3 large gyoza served on an edamame avocado puree and ponzu.  The puree was quite different, but I thought the gyoza with the big chunks of meat was quite tasty!

I ordered the shrimp kim chee bowl and loved everything about it.  It comes with 3 pieces of shrimp, yummy wakame, and a perfectly cooked soft boiled egg.  The broth is spicy and the noodles were on point.

I loved the chill ambience of the restaurant and service was awesome.  Lunch is served Monday through Saturday from 11am to 2pm and dinner is served from 5pm to 12 am.  Great spot!

Lucky Belly
50 N. Hotel Street
 

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Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu

Last year I went to Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu for the first time (since they moved to their current Waikiki location) for their Hard Rock Roxtars promotion, and we had such a great experience - I couldn't believe it took so long for our family to dine there!

On a recent weekend, we dined there again after I attended a nearby event.

Hickory Barbecue Bacon Burger

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Styler's Off-the-Hook Fish Sticks with Fresh Fruit

Mac-Daddy Mac & Cheese with French Fries

Cheesecake Made with OREO Cookie Pieces

I had the Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Tender, grilled chicken was topped with bacon, cheese, avocado (extra), and honey mustard. It was delicious!

My husband liked his burger, and my kids loved their meals - especially being served in such cute guitar plates.

The Cheesecake was a dessert we had on our previous visit, and I knew I wanted to order it again.  It's so rich and indulgent!

Service was excellent, and it was another great meal at Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu!

Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu
280 Beach Walk
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 955-7383

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A Home Away from Home at the OHANA Waikiki East

People save up for years to travel to Hawaii, therefore, finding value is important to many when vacationing in Waikiki.  Even for kama`aina who choose to staycation in Waikiki, things can add up - dining out, parking fees, etc.  Thankfully, the OHANA Waikiki East, with over 400 guest rooms and suites, offers value, convenience, and service with aloha, making it an ideal hotel for both visitors and kama`aina.

I personally decided to stay at the OHANA Waikiki East because I had a lot of events going on in Waikiki over a weekend (including an event with my family), and instead of driving back and forth to my house, I chose OHANA Waikiki East to be our "home away from home" for the weekend.

Upon arrival at the hotel, we parked our car in the covered parking garage ($24/day; kama`aina get 50% off parking), experienced a quick and friendly check-in, and went up the secured elevator to our 1 Bedroom Suite with Kitchenette.

The suite was very spacious, with 2 double beds in the bedroom, and a kitchenette and pull-out sofa bed in the living room.

Bedroom

Living Room

Kitchenette

Bathroom

Although I thought the bathroom was tiny,  the suite itself was huge and provided our family with more than enough room.  There were two televisions, two desks, and a dining table, allowing members of our family to eat, nap, watch TV, or work without being bothered.

The lanai gave us fantastic views of Waikiki!

King's Village

Mountain view

Waikiki lights

Although the building itself is dated, recent renovations, including updated bathrooms, 42" TVs, new mattresses, and tropical style decor, provided all the comforts and conveniences that we needed throughout the weekend.

And talk about value - the price of a 1 bedroom suite with kitchenette is less than what you'd pay for a standard room at many hotels closer to the beach, and an $11.95 daily OHANA Waikiki Connection fee ($6 for Kama`aina) includes some great amenities, such as complimentary newspaper and internet access.

Our favorite amenity was the free access to the Pink Line Trolley.

Simply show your room key and you can ride the trolley all throughout Waikiki and to Ala Moana Center.  I rode the trolley several times to go to events, and our family even rode it once just to "play tourist" (it was about an hour round-trip ride).

The trolley stops are just a short walk from the OHANA Waikiki East, making it easy for us to get to Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Beach Walk, and other areas throughout Waikiki - no need to find/pay for parking!

Pink Line Trolley

If you prefer to walk, the OHANA Waikiki East is conveniently located in the heart of Waikiki, making it simple for you to get to the beach and other popular spots in Waikiki by foot.

Another way OHANA Waikiki East makes a stay convenient is through their on-site dining options. Kimo Bean offers a variety of teas, coffees and grab-and-go snacks; Chuck's Cellar offers prime rib and seafood for dinner; Keoni by Keo's not only offers Thai food for lunch and dinner, but also great breakfasts (you can read my review on Keoni by Keo's here). And coming soon is Tanaka of Tokyo!

There are also many restaurants within walking distance, and for those who are staying in a suite with a kitchenette, a grocery store is located right across the street, allowing guests to cook up their own meals instead of dining out every night!

The OHANA Waikiki East also has a nice pool, whirlpool spa, large sundeck, business center, fitness center, and more!

Pool

Our stay at the OHANA Waikiki East was everything we had hoped for.  The suite was spacious, the location was convenient, the amenities were valuable, and the service was excellent.

Housekeeping was so friendly whenever we passed by in the halls, and the front desk employees were always so helpful.

Mahalo OHANA Waikiki East for being the ideal home away from home!

Complimentary tote with Connection fee

OHANA Waikiki East
150 Kaiulani Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 922-5353

For more information on OHANA Waikiki East, click here.  Kama`aina rates available.

Thank you to OHANA Waikiki East for hosting our staycation.  Parking and gratuity was paid on my own.

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