You ask. We answer.

HAWAII Magazine reader David Sand had a question about announcing a marriage in Hawaiian.

How do I write "I am pleased to announce the marriage of my daughter, (girl’s name), to (boy’s name)" in the Hawaiian language?

Of course, we queried one of the best authorities we know on the matter: Hawaiian language expert Puakea Nogelmeier. Frequent HawaiiMagazine.com visitors might be familiar with Nogelmeier’s voice. He’s the voice on our Web site’s “How Hawaiian Should Sound” page.

Nogelmeier’s answer on the wedding question?





To get it absolutely right, you would need a kahako—that short line above the “o” in no and the “a” in ia, otherwise known as a macron. The macron indicates a long or stressed "o" and "a" sound.

In any case, best wishes to the bride and groom (and parents) from all of us at HAWAII Magazine.
 
 

You ask.  We answer.

We got an e-mail from a reader who forgot to sign his name.

“On all my trips to Hawaii I heard one sound that I love and have never heard anywhere else. I assume it’s a bird. I have looked up all kinds of birds and listened to their sounds and have not heard this particular bird anywhere in my research. 
It makes two sounds, kind of high pitched. Nobody seems to know what it is! Any ideas?”

Yes, we thought about it a minute—and realized it’s probably a gecko, the sticky-footed lizard that’s everywhere in Hawaii. 

The gecko sound is usually described as a clicking noise, but it often sounds like a chirping bird. 

Try this sound sample.
 

Hawaii’s largest producer of macadamia and kukui nut oil products turns 20 years old this year. As part of Oils of Aloha’s birthday celebrations, HAWAII Magazine was invited to take a tour of its production facility in Whitmore Village on Oahu.

Their expeller-pressed process is a complex multi-step procedure that extracts and purifies the macadamia and kukui nut oils. It also turns the nuts into a “press cake” that can be ground into a natural exfoliant, which is used in scrubs and facial cleansers. Every part of the nut is used, including its shell.

Oils of Aloha owners Barbara and Dana Gray (pictured right) started the company in 1988 in the historic Koga Theater in Waialua on Oahu. You may be familiar with Oils of Aloha’s skin, hair and sun care products. Perhaps you were one of our “Postcards to Hawaii” or “2007 Best of Hawaii” ballot winners who received Oils of Aloha’s products. (And you can win a gift from Oils of Aloha simply by filling out our 2008 Best of Hawaii ballot.)

What most people don’t know is that Oils of Aloha also makes macadamia cooking and salad oils.

To our surprise, our entire lunch (except for the kalua pig and poi) was made with macadamia oils, including the macadamia smoked salmon, Pele’s Firehouse chicken, Kauai Herb Bruschetta and—our favorite—Haleiwa Heat Deep-Fried Turkey. Even the salads and desserts were made with the macadamia nut oil.

Here’s the recipe for the Haleiwa Heat Deep Fried Turkeys. It calls for a lot of turkeys and whole lot of macadamia nut oil.  It's  designed for parties, but we couldn’t figure out how to reduce it and still get the same effect.

Haleiwa Heat Deep Fried Turkeys

What you’ll need:

4 turkeys (10 to 12 lbs. each)
Injection Mixture (see below)
Flavor injector needle
Dry Rub (see below)
4 to 5 gallons Oils of Aloha Hawaii’s Gold Macadamia Oil for deep frying
10-gallon pot, propane tank and large strainer

Haleiwa Heat Injection Mixture

1 gal. Oils of Aloha Haleiwa Heat Macadamia Oil
12 oz. soy sauce
1 jar (1.62 oz.) paprika
3/4 cup salt
1/4 cup pepper
Combine all ingredients and stir occasionally while injecting to keep the ingredients blended.

Dry Rub

1 jar (1.62 oz.) paprika
3/4 cup salt
1/4 cup pepper
Combine all ingredients and blend well.

Directions:

Remove parts from inside the turkeys. Rinse and pat dry. Stir Injection Mixture to keep ingredients blended. Fill needle and inject four times on top of each leg from front to back. Inject half a needle into each wing joint. Inject a needle into each drumstick and thigh. Sprinkle part of the Dry Rub into cavity of each turkey, then rub remainder on outside. Heat macadamia oil to 375ºF, preferably outdoors.
Very carefully and slowly lower turkey into hot oil and cook until golden brown (allow 3-4 minutes per pound). When cooked, the turkey will float to the surface with a perfect crispy, brown skin. Carefully remove from hot oil and allow any excess oil to drain back into the pot, then place the turkey on an oven rack. Allow turkeys to rest for 20 minutes before carving. Makes 20 servings.

For more Oils of Aloha macadamia nut oil recipes, click here.


 

You ask. We answer.

A couple of readers wrote, lamenting that they couldn’t attend Jack Johnson's Kokua Festival shows in Waikiki this weekend.

This is the fifth-annual go-round of Johnson’s music festival, happening this Saturday and Sunday at the Waikiki Shell. Johnson, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds  headline, with Mason Jennings and Hawaii acts Paula Fuga and Go Jimmy Go as support.

Tickets for the fest sold out mere hours after going on sale in February. We’re sad for our readers that, unlike previous years, this year’s concerts won’t be streamed live on the Web.

Ally Estrada of Wichita, Kansas, asked which music acts had played each Kokua Festival, and whether we thought attending next year was worth a trip to Hawaii.

Let's answer those two questions in reverse order, Ally.

We think exploring the scenic wonders, cultures, food, activities and everything else we have to offer in Hawaii is always worth a visit, period. However, as long-term residents, we may be biased.

You might also be swayed by the fact that all the cash (minus Ticketmaster fees) goes to the Kokua Hawaii Foundation—the nonprofit founded by Johnson and his wife Kim to support Hawaii-based environmental education programs.

Hope that helps, Ally.

The four words of advice you really need if you want to go to Kokua Festival 2009, tho?  BUY. TICKETS. RIGHT. AWAY. We're talking the-minute-they-go-on-sale.

We'll post the date as soon as we know.

And here’s the answer to your first question, Ally. Jack, no surprise, played every one of the fests.

Kokua Festival 2007
April 21 & 22 @ The Waikiki Shell
Eddie Vedder, Ernie Cruz Jr., Matt Costa, The Girlas

Kokua Festival 2006
April 19 @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center, April 22 @ The Waikiki Shell
Willie Nelson & The Planetary Bandits, Ben Harper, Henry Kapono, Paula Fuga & The One Love Ohana Band, Animal Liberation Orchestra

Kokua Festival 2005
April 13 @ Maui Arts & Cultural Center, April 16 @ The Waikiki Shell
Jackson Browne, John Cruz, Ozomatli, G. Love & The Special Sauce, Kawika Kahiapo & Kaukahi

Kokua Festival 2004
January 3 @ Blaisdell Arena (original location at Kualoa Ranch was rained out)
Amy Hanaialii Gilliom & Willie K, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Makana, DJ Logic

For more Kokua Festival information, click here.
 
 

Hawaii is no stranger to movie screens. This Friday (4/18), Hawaii has another starring location role, this time in a new film called Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Most of the movie’s scenes were filmed on Oahu’s North Shore, including places such as Turtle Bay Resort. Actor Jason Segel (who plays Peter Bretter, the film’s main character) even wrote the script in Hawaii.

In this romantic disaster comedy, Segel’s character, Peter, takes a trip to Hawaii in an attempt to heal his broken heart. But he discovers that his ex, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), is staying at the same resort with her new boyfriend.

It’s no surprise why many filmmakers set movies in Hawaii. The tropical sunny weather is appealing, just as much as Hawaii’s palm trees and beaches. According to the Hawaii Film Office, the Islands hosted hundreds of feature films since 1913, including Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Waterworld, Blue Hawaii, From Here to Eternity and Godzilla.

We posted our favorite five "made-in-Hawaii" movies here, in January.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall is produced by Judd Apatow (Superbad, The 40-Year-Old Virgin), and features stars such as Mila Kunis (“That ‘70s Show”), Paul Rudd (Knocked Up, Clueless) and Jonah Hill (Superbad, Evan Almighty). Even a few Hawaii residents landed acting roles, including Hawaii surfer Kalani Robb.

As with any movie, there’s always mixed reviews. Here’s a sample of what critics had to say: Rotten Tomatoes, The Village Voice, The Movie Blog and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

 

Today, we’re celebrating Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Piikoi’s birthday in the Islands.

Much of the Hawaii the world sees today can be traced to the work of Prince Kuhio. His determination and passion for the Islands and its people led him into a life of public service. He served as Hawaii’s second congressional delegate from 1903 until his death in 1922.

There’s a more complete story on Prince Kuhio’s life and the impact he had on Hawaii in the March/April 2007 issue of HAWAII Magazine. 

Across the state, schools are closed, city transportation operates on a holiday schedule and many people have the day off today to honor Hawaii’s beloved prince. Services were held early this morning at Oahu’s Royal Mausoleum, the Prince’s final resting place.

If you’re on Oahu this weekend, activities include the annual Prince Kuhio parade on Saturday in Waikiki, which starts at 4 p.m., followed by a moonlight concert at 6 p.m.

If you’re on Kauai, there are many Prince Kuhio celebrations scheduled throughout the weekend.

Another reason to honor Prince Kuhio? Without him, we wouldn’t have King Kamehameha Day—the only other state holiday dedicated to Hawaii’s royalty.

 

Many people dig reruns of Hawaii Five-O. Myself included.

The over-the-top line readings. The ham-fisted dialogue. Square-jawed Jack Lord’s studied, emotion-free imagining of Det. Steve McGarrett. His solid team of creatively-named partners in Hawaii crime-fighting Kono Kalakaua, Chin Ho Kelly, Duke Lukela, Ben Kokua and, of course, Danny “Danno” Williams.

What’s not to love?

The best part about watching Hawaii Five-O as a lifelong Hawaii resident and longtime Honoluluan, though? Seeing places I regularly pass by or frequent as they looked in the 1970s—more than three decades ago. 

Jeremy Hart, a writer for Canadian newspaper the National Post, recently tried to retrace some of the Five-O team’s Honolulu steps for a story. Hart tries unsuccessfully to borrow McGarrett’s black tank of a Ford Mercury, rents a room one floor below the penthouse balcony the detective famously stood on in the show’s opening credits, and is oddly distracted from his quest by North Shore surf. But his road trip should be a fun read for Five-O fans.

Check it out here.

And if you’re hungry for more Wo Fat afterwards, check the best Hawaii Five-O Web site we found—fastidiously researched and compiled by mega-fan Mike Quigley—here.

Also, because we simply couldn't resist, here's a link to Five-O's way-awesome opening credits and still groovy theme by The Ventures.
  

You ask. We answer. Again.

Our story in the March/April issue on the 50th anniversary of James Michener’s "Hawaii" prompted an e-mail from reader Carole Anderson in Madison, Wis.

Anderson enjoyed both the book and the 1966 movie version, but was puzzled when we said the flick was Bette Midler’s film debut.

Anderson couldn’t find Midler either in the film or credits.

Raised in Honolulu, Midler was just 20 when she was cast as an extra during the film’s 1965 shoot on Oahu and Kauai. Midler’s blink-and-you'll-miss-it uncredited role was as a seasick passenger on the brig Thetis.

Her “Hawaii” savings in hand, Midler soon left the University of Hawaii-Manoa and moved to New York in 1965 to begin a stage career.

Check out our Michener article. It's well worth a read.
  

Gung Hee Fat Choy! Be happy and prosperous!

Today is the first day of the Chinese year 4705.

Many of the community celebrations—lion dances, lighting firecrackers, giving of lai see (money offerings)—that go along with this most important of Chinese holidays happened last weekend. But today’s second new moon after the winter solstice marks the actual start of Chinese New Year, and its two weeks of family reunions, serious feasting and honoring of elders and ancestors.

In Hawaii, two dishes traditionally eaten today are nien-gao and jai.

Nien-gao is a new year’s cake made of sweet rice flour and brown sugar, steamed into a sticky pudding. According to Joan Namkoong’s book Family Traditions in Hawaii, the rice’s stickiness symbolizes the bonds of family, the cake’s round shape the reunion of family, and sugar the sweetness of life.

Taking an animal’s life and eating meat on the first day of the year is discouraged. So the vegetarian dish jai—also known as Monk’s food—is popular at restaurants all day.

We haven’t had our nien-gao or jai yet today—just some sweet Chinese candies (pictured above) generously given to us this morning by HAWAII Magazine account executive Caryn Yu.

So guess what we’re having for lunch?


UPDATE, Jan. 7, 2:55 p.m.: Good kids that we are, we've had our serving of jai (also pictured above) for Chinese New Year.
  

You don’t have to be in New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro to celebrate Mardi Gras. Hawaii has its own spin on the “Fat Tuesday” street carnivals that both cities are famous for right here in downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown Arts District.

From 6 to 10 p.m. tonight, Nuuanu Avenue fills with samba dancers, Brazilian percussion groups and New Orleans-inspired food. (Red beans and rice, anyone?) Catch a parade of floats gliding down Nuuanu Avenue, and enter contests—including the search for King or Queen of Mardi Gras. (Basically, it’s a “best entertainer” award based on both costume and spirit).

Down the street and along the waterfront, Aloha Tower Marketplace joins in on the fun with live jazz and blues musicians, and a Brazilian samba parade.

Admission is free to both downtown celebrations.

In Waikiki, Mardi Gras heats up at Waikiki’s new rum lounge Rum Fire. This Fat Tuesday party kicks off at 6 p.m., but, be warned, it’ll cost you—$15 if you arrive before 9 p.m., and $20 thereafter.

Before you grab your feathered mask and beads, however, consider consuming some fried dough. Today is also Malassada Day in Hawaii.

Portuguese immigrants made malassadas (yes, the Portuguese spelled it with two s’s) as a way to use up their eggs, butter and oil before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. On Malassada Day, it’s also tradition to eat something truly indulgent. And what fits that description as perfectly as this deep-fried sugar-coated doughnut?

For hot malassadas made to order, we recommend Leonard’s Bakery [933 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 737-5591], Agnes Portuguese Bake Shop [46 Hoolai, (808) 262-5367] or Champion Malasadas [1926 S. Beretania St., (808) 947-8778].