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From Alan Wong to 7-Eleven, Here's a Taste of Oahu

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:30:52 -0700

While I have been enjoying staycations, it was nice to recently have a real vacation in Oahu! Sure the beaches are outstanding, but the food is even better. The Hawaiian islands have experienced a bit of a food revolution: Gone are the days when everything was shipped from the mainland. Now the islands make use of their own resources from both the land and sea. The results are wildly delicious. Here, you'll find a taste of my favorites.

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The Geography of Stress in the USA

FitSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

The state that created the concept of hanging loose is unsurprisingly the least stressed-out state in the union. According to a CDC phone survey, involving 2.4 million Americans, fewer Hawaiians experience "frequent mental distress" than anywhere else in the US.

Participants were asked the total days, out of the previous 30, they would describe their mental health as being "not good." The term mental health includes stress, depression, and emotional problems. If they answered 14 days, participants were classified as having "frequent mental distress." According to the survey, only 6.6 percent of the folks living in the island state were considered frequently stressed, followed closely by South Dakotans - where only 6.7 percent of respondents reported experiencing two weeks of not-so-good mental health days.

Learn how stressed your state is when you read more.

Here's the ranking of states according to the percentage of adults experiencing frequent mental distress, and states that "tied" with the same percentage are listed together.

1. Hawaii: 6.6%
2. South Dakota: 6.7%
3. Washington DC: 7.4%
4. Kansas, Nebraska, and North Dakota: 7.5%
5. Arizona: 7.6%
6. Iowa and Montana: 7.7%
7. Illinois: 7.9%
8. Connecticut: 8%
9. Wisconsin: 8.1%
10. Minnesota: 8.2%
11. North Carolina: 8.4%
12. Alaska, Maryland, Vermont: 8.5%
13. Ohio, Wyoming: 8.6%
14. New Jersey: 8.7%
15. New Hampshire, Oklahoma: 8.8%
16. Maine, Virginia: 9%
17. Washington: 9.2%
18. Colorado, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina: 9.3%
19. Idaho, Tennessee: 9.4%
20. Massachusetts, Georgia, Utah: 9.5%
21. New York: 9.6%
22. New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas: 9.7%
23. Delaware: 9.8%
24. Missouri: 9.9%
25. Oregon: 10%
26. Arkansas, Florida, California: 10.1%
27. Indiana: 10.3%
28. Michigan: 10.5%
29. Alabama, Mississippi: 10.8%
30. Nevada: 10.9%
31. West Virginia: 11.2%
32. Kentucky: 14.4%

I find it sad to see that so many of the residents of my golden state are frequently stressed. How did your state fare in the survey?

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Obama and Family "Cause Commotion" in Hawaii

CitizenSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 03:00:46 -0800

Barack Obama took his daughters and some friends out to the mall in Hawaii this past weekend, and according to Reuters, "caused a commotion" with lookers-on and photographers. The president-elect, his trusty BlackBerry, his daughters, Malia, 10, and, Sasha, 7, and friends sat and snacked at a table while a crowd and Secret Service agents assembled around them. It's a scene that comes as no surprise to the 71 percent of CitizenSugar readers who say so long as people want to see the pictures, there will be paparazzi and buzz wherever the Obamas go. Here's more:

The agents struggled to hold back people trying to get closer to snap pictures of Obama eating a tuna and melted cheese sandwich and the girls enjoying shave ices, a local treat made from finely shaved ice and fruit syrup.

In recent interviews, such as his 60 Minutes special, Obama said he is dedicated to maintaining some normalcy for his daughters. At this point we expect to stay dialed in to what the Obamas are up to, but do you think the intense fascination will stay as fervent post the Inauguration?

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Are You Surprised the Paparazzi Love Barack Obama?

LibertySugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:41:43 -0800

John McCain was onto something when he called Barack Obama one of the biggest celebrities in the world. While the first-family-in-waiting rings in a Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii, he's been followed by paparazzi usually found on the A-list celebrity beat.

While swimsuit pics of Jennifer Aniston, Britney Spears, and Matthew McConaughey are common, we sure haven't seen a flood of pics of President Bush in his swim trunks over the last eight years.

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Bauer-Griffin Online

Apologies Abound: Hawaii Says "Sorry" to Leper Colonists

CitizenSugar — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:00:20 -0700

The state of Hawaii has apologized to the former leprosy patients that were forcibly confined to a remote peninsula on the island of Molokai. State Sen. J. Kalani English said in front of 12 former patients, "We're sorry. We're sorry for the treatment. We're sorry for the suffering that you've been through. The entire state is with me today as I say this."

Many families were torn apart when 8,000 lepers were sent to the compound in an effort to control the disease. The containment went on for over a century until 1969 when the requirement was ended. Though curing medicine was introduced in the 1940s, some patients chose to stay because it had become their home.

One of the brother's of the patients who didn't live long enough to see the apology said, "I know they're watching and nodding. All of these people. They're all agreeing. They're just saying 'at last.'"

To see who's in the picture, read more.

Pictured above is Father Damien, the priest who went to the island to minister to the lepers and devoted his life to them. During his 16 years, he built six chapels, a home for boys and one for girls, dug graves and bandaged wounds. Father Damien eventually succumbed to the disease himself. He is one of Hawaii's two statues in the National Statuary Hall.

Are official apologies (like to the Aborigines and for slavery) a progressive step in the right direction? Will we see more to come?

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Aloha Queen? Native Group Wants Hawaiian Monarchy Back

LibertySugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:00:33 -0700

Some natives in Hawaii want to reclaim their island's sovereignty. The Hawaiian Kingdom Government issues its own license place, and operates under a separate judicial system. Her Majesty Mahealani Kahau leads the group of 1,000 members who claim the right to dissolve Hawaii and confiscate all bank assets in the state.

The official American state government pretty much leaves the legally unenforceable monarchy alone. Out of the population of 1.3 million, 200,000 are Hawaiian natives. Hawaii boasts numerous organizations claiming sovereignty over the island on behalf of the natives.

Before the US annexed Hawaii in 1898, Queen Liliuokalani ruled the paradise. American businessmen ousted and imprisoned the queen, and now the Kingdom Government is fighting for reparations. In 2007, they levied a $7 trillion fine on the American state. Think they'll have any luck?

Do native Hawaiians have a right to assert their sovereignty? Legislation passed by the House of Representatives, and awaiting adoption by the US Senate, would grant Native Hawaiians self-government similar to American Indian tribes. Will that be enough to address past wrongs?

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Chef Roy Yamaguchi Talks About Life, TV, and Celebrating 20 Years of Roy's

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:28:31 -0700

This year, award-winning Chef Roy Yamaguchi is celebrating 20 years of Roy's, his eponymous high-end restaurant chain. He's throwing himself a big party and is celebrating at his restaurants around the globe. I recently had a chance to talk with him, and he was such a delight! He has morning breakfast rituals with his son, and got into cooking to meet ladies! To find out more about Chef Roy, including what he thinks of the current celebrity-chef trends, read more.

YumSugar: Thanks for chatting with us so early [it was 8:30 a.m. his time].
Roy Yamaguchi: Oh it's not that early, I've been up since 5 or 5:30. I usually get up and have breakfast with my son.

YS: What did you have for breakfast?
RY: There are two places I go for breakfast. One place is called Zippy's, it's a local coffee shop sort of place, and the other is Ruger Market. Today I went to Ruger Market. I go with my son and we always order the same thing, chicken long rice. Basically it's chicken that's cooked with rice noodles. We always get that, and the ahi poke and the pork laulau. And what we do is we always sit on a bench right outside the market near the parking lot.

YS: So it's been 20 years since you opened up the first Roy's. Did you ever think it would grow into an internationally-acclaimed enterprise?
RY: No, but at the same time, when we first started - actually that's a question I get asked a lot. What happened is that even I never thought we'd get this big, what I did was surround myself with very talented people.

YS: So what have you learned after all this time?
RY: For me, I've learned every day. The greatest thing about my role is that every day there's something new that happens to our company or to myself. There's not really one thing that comes to mind, but it's a great learning experience. I'm able to use my mind, my eyes, my hands, and my passion to work with every situation. Every day I wake up and feel energized to come to work.

YS: Speaking of passion, how'd you get started?
RY: I had a friend in high school, he asked me if I would consider taking home ec. I said I don't know what that is. He said don't worry about it, we'll be able to meet a lot of girls. [Laughs] I took it with him and fell in love with it. Don't get me wrong, my father loved to cook, he made most of the meals at home. So I already had that experience at home. I took home ec and a light just shined. At the end of the semester we made a Thanksgiving dinner and I invited the school counselor as my guest. He really enjoyed it and he said, "Hey Roy what do you want to do with your future? Cooking could be something interesting."

YS: Have you ever talked to him again?
RY: Unfortunately, he passed away years ago, but I did have a chance to talk to him and the teachers that wrote the recommendations.

YS: Is there anything you'd do differently in your career?
RY: Well, no, not different. At the end of the day, I think the greatest thing that can happen to an individual is that you can learn from your mistakes. Before Roy's, I had a restaurant that didn't work out. Those things are heart wrenching and tough, but because of situations like that, I was able to decide to open Roy's and really figure out what I wanted to do and how I wanted to do it.

YS: What's your opinion of the word "fusion"?
RY: Well, when I first started out, fusion was not a bad word. Then halfway into it, fusion became a bad word all of a sudden. Then you turn around and today it's a good word again. To me, fusion never had a bad connotation. It's just what I did. I come from being raised in Japan and then the US and then living in Hawaii, you know what I mean?

There's cross-cultural things that make our world what it is today. So fusion's needed to infuse cultures into things, but some people were doing weird things. But to me, fusion means progress. A lot of thinking is needed to put it together in a way that's better than the stand alone. So to me, fusion is a great word. It's telling people who we are.

YS: What do you think of the whole celebrity-chef culture?
RY: Well, there's two sides to the story. First there's the old-school celeb chefs who have become popular because of their great reputation in the culinary world. Then there's your so-called celebrity chefs that have made it through media via TV or Internet. And I mean, I'm not saying it's right or wrong, or one is better or not, but my personal opinion is that great chefs have gone through a lot of hard work building a foundation and spending time as an apprentice and working at restaurants. Then there's the chefs that become popular overnight because of TV. I'm not saying you have to cook a long time to be a great chef, I mean some people can cook for 50 years and still be a lousy chef. Years aren't really a big factor, but at the same time, when you do build a foundation, then you become a solid individual.

As for celebrity stardom, I think it's great for the industry and makes it more well known. But I don't want the people who have made it big via media to get, well how can I say it, get cocky, or think they're the greatest things ever. That would kill the industry. They should continue to educate and institute, because they're who the young kids look up to.

YS: Thanks for talking with us, I don't want to take up too much more of your time. Do you have any words of advice for the home cook?
RY: Keep it simple. Not everyone can afford to go out and buy kobe beef, but try and buy the best you can and the freshest you can. Stay organized and have everything ready. A good kitchen is a happy kitchen.

If you're interested to learn more about Chef Roy - he was so much fun to speak with! - you'll be able to see him at the remaining dates of his 20^th Anniversary Culinary Tour.

San Francisco, CA - Thursday, April 10
Chicago, IL - Thursday, May 22
Philadelphia, PA - Tuesday, Aug. 19
New York, NY - Wednesday, Sept. 17
Atlanta, GA - Tuesday, Sept. 23
Baltimore, MD - Thursday, Sept. 25

For more info, contact the Roy's near you.

To the Rescue: Choosing a Whale Watching Tour

PetSugar — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:00:00 -0800

We wrapped up our travels in Hawaii with aquatic life, and I stumbled upon some great tips for choosing a whale-watching tour no matter where you are. First and foremost, please remember you are getting the lucky opportunity to spot these creatures in their natural environment and you should never do anything to put them in jeopardy. Before making the pick, ask yourself if the tour operators are putting the animal first and not making any promises (i.e., money-back guarantee) that could cause them to take unnecessary risks. In addition to doing your research (and asking for recommendations), consider the following questions:

Why are they doing this? Check the training of the crew members – you're there to learn and it's important to know about their training, study, research participation, and length of experience observing whales before you set sail.
How much time do they dedicate? You'll want to book a trip that brings the whale watching front and center. It's a good sign when the company actually works in whale research year-round and makes that the primary focus of their business – and not just making it a seasonal alternative to a diving or cruise business.

See a couple more when you read more.

How will you share the space? It's important to know who you'll be traveling with (check for maximum passenger loads). You'll want to have the room to move around and take pictures as well as picking a legit company that is respectful of the animals and guidelines in place, and not just promising the closest glance you'll get.
What features does the boat have? Check the price compared to the length of the trip, any included items, and boat features. Many recommend catamarans equipped with hydrophones to hear the whale song while onboard.

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Out and About: Hawaii's Aquatic Surfari

PetSugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:30:05 -0800

To finish up our week in Hawaii, let's check out some of the species that call it home. Winter is a great time to go whale watching - in fact, many people consider February to be the peak season on the islands - and their waters are home to 23 species of marine mammals including the humpback whale and several types of dolphins. Aquatic Surfari's Wild Side Specialty Tours, offer daily morning wildlife charters to look for whales combined with dolphin and turtle encounters and reef snorkels to maximize your adventure. They also offer additional afternoon sails this season, which can be a bit better for less boat traffic. While onboard, you'll not only see how they collect data on whales (and other marine life), you can participate in the process and know that a portion of your cost goes towards whale conservation and research.

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Out and About: Hawaii's Hawaii Fi-Do

PetSugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:30:27 -0800

Oahu-based Hawaii Fi-Do trains assistance dogs to offer physical, psychological, and therapeutic support for people who face the daily challenges of life with a disability (other than blindness) and is the only facility of its type on the island. Dogs are individually trained for two years to do work or perform necessary tasks – all pups get basic obedience and socialization lessons along with personalized training to perform such tasks as opening and closing doors, finding the phone, pulling a manual wheelchair, and even to alert their handlers and respond to different sounds.

Along with providing companion dogs to people who need them, Hawaii Fi-Do also offers a special S.T.A.R. (student teaching animal responsibility) program training and using at risk youth to work with the dogs and educate the public about the roles and rights of service dogs as well as a "Read to Willie Program," the first and only reading program in the state where reluctant young readers are motivated to read to certified therapy dogs.

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