Red Pineapple

Red Pineapple is one of my favorite places to shop at on the island for gifts.  A friend once gave me a bag full of all sorts of goodies, and I've been hooked ever since.

Red Pineapple has all sorts of fun, whimsical, and meaningful gifts - stationery, tote bags, soaps, stickers, books, honey, candles - I could go on and on!

I love that they feature many products made locally

I bought a gift for someone and also bought a gift for myself - Chef Sheldon Simeon's new Ohana Style cookbook!

Every day is the perfect occasion to gift someone something special, so check out Red Pineapple for ideas!

Red Pineapple
1151 12th Ave

Honolulu, HI 96816

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Thai Issan

I recently met up with a fellow runner friend for lunch at Thai Issan after we had both placed in a half marathon just a few days earlier. When we made plans weeks ago, we had no idea it would end up feeling like a celebratory post-race lunch — but it turned out to be the perfect way to catch up and enjoy a well-earned meal together.

We decided on Thai Issan at Market City Shopping Center since we were both craving Thai food, and it’s conveniently located near my workplace. Parking around lunchtime at can definitely get busy in the area, but surprisingly, the restaurant itself was pretty quiet when we arrived. Honestly, I didn’t mind at all. It gave us the chance to relax, enjoy a great conversation, and savor our food without feeling rushed.

We shared two dishes: the pad Thai with tofu and the King of Chili with chicken. Both were absolutely delicious. The Pad Thai was cooked perfectly with great texture and a good amount of seasoning — comforting and satisfying. 

The King of Chili packed a ton of flavor! Despite its name, it's not spicy at all so long as you ask for it "mild". 

Thai Issan continues to be one of my favorite Thai spots on the island. Consistently flavorful food, a relaxed atmosphere, and the kind of place that makes you want to come back again and again, whether you're dining in or getting it to-go.

THAI ISSAN

2929 Kapiolani Blvd.

808-735-4152

 

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Shiro's Saimin Haven

I love Shiro's Saimin Haven.  I’ve been going to Shiro's in Waimalu ever since I was a little kid . . . it was a spot where my friends and I would go to for dinner during high school, and it’s still a go-to spot for whenever I’m craving comfort food.

I’ve always ordered either a Saimin or Wun Tun Min, and only in my adult life did I start ordering French Fries + Gravy on the side.

Wun Tun Min

French Fries with Gravy

Talk about comfort food!

Double Hula Bacon Burga

Orange Bang Float

It was nice to see so many local families dining, spanning generations, and loved how there were so many people running into others they know.

Shiro’s is a true community fixture . .

Shiro's Saimin Haven

98-020 Kamehameha Highway

Aiea, HI  96701

(808) 488-8824

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Arancino on Beachwalk Lunch Specials + Kamaʻāina Discount

Arancino on Beachwalk offers a daily lunch special for $28, which includes a soup or salad and an entree.  And if you're Kamaʻāina, just show a valid Hawaiʻi ID and the price is reduced to $21!

Complimentary Focaccia

Insalata alla Cesare

Zuppa di Aragosta

Pizza con Salame Piccante

Spaghetti con Tobiko e Calamari

Panino con Mortadella

I had the salad and the sandwich combo.  I liked that the salad incorporated anchovies, and the dressing had a nice balance of umami and acidity.  I thought the pistachio paste on the sandwich was under-seasoned, but overall, the sandwich was good.

The lunch special is quite a good deal if you're local, especially in Waikiki.  

Arancino on Beachwalk
255 Beach Walk
Honolulu, HI 96815

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Gelato Milkshakes at Il Gelato Cafe

We are no strangers to Il Gelato Cafe, but for the first time, we got Gelato Milkshakes at the Waikiki Beach Walk location!

They have a menu of signature flavor shakes, or you can opt to make your own flavor.

My kids chose from the signature menu:

Ube Cookies & Cream

Choco Loco

They sure loved the shakes - so creamy with multiple scoops of gelato, blended with milk, with flavorful "walls" (condensed milk and chocolate, respectively), and topped with whipped cream.

They were perfect for the summer-like weather we've been having lately!

Il Gelato Cafe
227 Lewers Street
Honolulu, HI 96830

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UMI by Vikram Garg

While staying at Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani, we had dinner at UMI by Vikram Garg.

I was familiar with Chef Vikram's food, having dined at TBD..., so I knew we were in for some great food, where priority is placed on using the highest quality ingredients.

Kampachi

A delicate squid ink tuile offered a nice contrasting texture to the kampachi and pickled jicama, which tasted like pears.

Foie Gras & Duck Gyoza

The duck meat in the gyoza really helped to balance the richness of the foie gras.  This was a fave!

Grilled Romaine

My youngest loved the garlic Parmesan dressing on this dish!

Udon Noodles

He also loved the Udon Noodles (he said it was "amazing").  The noodles were mixed in with a wagyu bolognese, and topped with an onsen egg.

Wagyu Cheek

The Wagyu Cheek was served with tempura okra and an 'ulu mousseline.

Hamakua Mushrooms

I ordered the risotto.  It was full of mushrooms that were cooked to the ideal amount of firmness, and the risotto had the perfect texture as well.  The truffle butter and Parmesan added layers of umami.

Seafood Curry

The Seafood Curry was quite a spread, with koshikari rice, papadum, and raita.

Mango Popsicle

Cookie Jar

I was familiar with the Mango Popsicle and Cookie Jar from TBD.  The Cookie Jar comes with 5 cookies and dipping chocolate.  So simple, but so good!

Sundae

The Sundae consisted of brown butter ice cream, chocolate fudge, and a macnut toffee that really made the dessert.  

Celebration Dessert

We were celebrating my birthday, but they gave me a dessert that said Happy Anniversary.  

Service was very warm and friendly, but there were many times throughout the night our water glasses remained empty for a while (and one of us was without a glass for some time after being seated, and even after the other four glasses were filled).  

We still had an overall wonderful dining experience, however.

Note: Guests staying at Halepuna get 10% off!

UMI by Vikram Garg
2233 Helumoa Rd
Honolulu, HI 96815

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Aloha Melt

Aloha Melt in Waikiki offers grilled cheese sandwiches, but elevated.  With multiple types of cheese, caramelized onion, bacon, or even beef patties - the melts from Aloha Melt check the boxes for comfort food and delicious.

Aloha Patty Melt

The Aloha Patty Melt consisted of a beef patty with cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, and American cheeses, plus caramelized onion, bacon, pickled jalapeno, and a sriracha aioli sauce.

Four Cheese

The Four Cheese included all of the cheeses above, and nothing else.

Classic

I had the Classic, which included the same four cheeses, plus bacon and caramelized onion. It was so cheesy, so tasty!

The sandwiches were all grilled to a nice, golden brown, and I loved that all the sandwiches come with aioli that you can dip your sandwich in or pour onto your sandwich.

Aloha Melt
355 Royal Hawaiian Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815

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