Hawaii Mom Blog

Shiatsu at SpaHalekulani + Kamaʻāina Discount

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

This year I'm all about self-care, and I decided to treat myself to a 60-minute Shiatsu session at SpaHalekulani.

Upon checking in, I waited for my therapist inside (you could also have a seat outdoors, but it was pretty warm), where treats and water were available.

The spa is designed to be "suite-style," so unlike some other resort spas where there are shared facilities, you have a dedicated suite for your treatment with all sorts of amenities.

I never had Shiatsu before, and the therapist explained it's basically a "dry massage" that focuses on pressure points. The therapist hit different points from my toes to my head, with emphasis on my neck and shoulders, since I let her know that's where I was experiencing a lot of pain / tightness.

I was afraid it would be painful.

I requested medium pressure, and for the most part, the pressure was good. There were some instances where she worked on my back and neck where I could really feel the pressure, but it was never painful.

The 60 minutes went by too quickly!

At the end of the treatment, you can relax on a lounge chair outdoors and sip on tea and eat a cool confection.

Since I went on Mother's Day weekend, they were offering champagne or locally-made mead!

They were also gifting moms with eye masks!

Kamaʻāina get 15% (with ID) off the base price of a massage, body polish, or facial! A 21% service fee is added to the base price, inclusive of gratuity.

SpaHalekulani
Halekulani
2199 Kalia Rd

Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 931-5322

Sushi Que

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

One of my husband's friends invited us to dinner at Sushi Que, and we happily accepted. The reservation was for 6:30 p.m., and when we asked if the time could be adjusted, he explained why it couldn't. Sushi Que is a cozy, intimate restaurant with just a sushi counter and a handful of tables. The tables have only one seating each night at 6:30 p.m., while the sushi counter turns over twice.

As it turned out, the single seating was one of the best parts of the evening. There was no pressure to rush through the meal or make way for the next guests. We were able to relax, enjoy good company, and savor each course at a leisurely pace.

The sushi itself was outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and expertly prepared.

The intimate setting, unhurried atmosphere, and exceptional sushi made for a memorable evening. We're grateful for the invitation and left with full stomachs and an evening to remember!

Lonohana ONOMEA Chocolate Droplets

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Disclosure: some links are referral

I ordered some Lonohana ONOMEA Milk Chocolate Droplets on Farm Link just so I could bake cookies! I made Salted Chocolate Chip + Droplet Cookies . . . the Droplets offered an indulgent bite of chocolate bliss!

You can also eat the Droplets straight out of the bag like candy if you're not in the mood to bake.

For the cookies, I used this recipe from Joy Food Sunshine, and just did some minor tweaks (I dropped 2 T balls of dough and added the Droplets; I baked for 13 minutes at 50 degrees Fahrenheit; sprinkled flaky sea salt at the end. I'm sure you could use your favorite cookie recipe and add in the Droplets!

Get the Chocolate Droplets and more at Farm Link!

Halekulani Bakery

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Disclosure: Coupons for complimentary croissants and drinks were provided.

I never pass up the opportunity to visit a bakery, so of course I made sure to stop in at Halekulani Bakery while staycationing at Halepuna Waikiki by Halekulani!

Clockwise from top center:

Prosciutto Goat Cheese Fig Jam Danish
Chocolate Haupia Brioche Bun
Salted Caramel Croissant
Big Island Macadamia Nut Chocolate Croissant
Valrhona Chocolate Croissant
Curry Pan

Although I have the biggest sweet tooth, I am #TeamSavory when it comes to pastries, so I loved the savory, salty, & sweet combo of the danish, but I really enjoyed the mac nut croissant as well. as well.

I also got a Caramelia Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie, because I can't resist a giant chocolate chip cookie.

The bakery also offers sandwiches, drinks, and of course — the Halekulani Signature Coconut Cake.

Don't be deterred by a long line. Apparently a lot of people need their morning caffeine (fun fact: I never had coffee before), so we were greeted by a pretty long line before 7am, but thank goodness it moved really quickly!

If you go later in the day the lines are shorter or nonexistent, but you run the risk of a smaller pastry selection, as a lot of the treats sell out in just a couple hours.

Halekulani Bakery
2233 Helumoa Rd

Honolulu, HI 96815

Baldwin's Sweet Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

I grew up going to Baldwin's Sweet Shop for shave ice. On my recent visit, however, we got some local treats instead since we had already eaten dessert.

Baldwin's has all sorts of crack seed, gummies, senbei, Japanese candies, and more.

They have everything packaged in plastic containers vs displayed in jars or on hooks, so you'll have to open up or peer into each container to look at each offering.

It's a great spot to pick up some treats for yourself or for omiyage!

Baldwin's Sweet Shop
98-040 Kamehameha Hwy

Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 488-0505

Hoppers Review

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Disclosure: A complimentary code was received for review purposes.

Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers is now available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD!

Synopsis
In this animated comedy adventure, animal lover Mabel seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to ‘hop’ her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. As she makes amazing discoveries, Mabel befriends a charismatic beaver and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major, imminent human threat.

Hoppers refers to how people's brains / minds can "hop" into the bodies of robotic animals. This scientific process comes in very handy when the main character, Mabel, stumbles upon the procedure and realizes it can help in her efforts to save a glade from being destroyed with the construction of a highway.

There are lots of funny antics and humorous moments, as Mabel, who "hops" into a robotic beaver, tries to rally other animals and find other beavers to help save the glade.

She learns a lot about animals, nature, and even herself in the process.

My son enjoyed the movie and the surprising twists, and he thought it was funny watching Mabel (as a beaver) acclimate to other animals and how they live.

My favorite part of the movie had to do with the unexpected demise of the Insect Queen - it was actually quite hilarious. My son loved related scenes - what happened to the successor of the Insect Queen, and how new royalty was crowned.

I found this movie to be very applicable to what is going on in today's world, especially in Hawaii, where humans are the biggest threat to our natural resources and endangered species.

Hoppers is a fun, adventurous movie that makes both kids and adults think more deeply about how our actions affect others, as well as how they affect animals and the environment.

Bonus Features*

The Critter Diaries: Wander behind the scenes with director Daniel Chong and the Pixar creative team as they explore Yellowstone, study wildlife, and find real-life inspiration for our favorite new animated characters from Hoppers.
Hopping In: The Making of Hoppers: Hop into the making of the movie as filmmakers, cast, and crew share how their ideas, collaboration, and creative process brought the story, animation, and lovable characters to life in Pixar’s Hoppers.
"Meet King George" Scene Breakdown: Dive deep with director Daniel Chong and the filmmaking team as they reveal the craft of making King George’s Superlodge. Get insight into the directing process, editing, VFX, animation, and production design.
Beaverton Revealed: Explore Hoppers to find surprising Pixar film cameos, hidden references, and plenty of fun, behind-the-scenes facts.
Dam Good Bloopers: Laugh along with your favorite voice actors from Hoppers as they have fun bringing their characters to life in the recording booth.
Deleted Scenes: Check out these scenes that didn’t make the final cut, as introduced by director Daniel Chong and editor Axel Geddes.

Cold Open
The Glade
The Mission
Kings Arrive
George's Bachelor Pad
Helicopter Ride

*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer

Red Pineapple

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:25:37 +0000

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

Thai Issan

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

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

Shiro's Saimin Haven

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

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

Arancino on Beachwalk Lunch Specials + Kamaʻāina Discount

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

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

Gelato Milkshakes at Il Gelato

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

We are no strangers to Il Gelato, 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
227 Lewers Street
Honolulu, HI 96830

UMI by Vikram Garg

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

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

Aloha Melt

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

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

Summer Fun & Wellness Deals at the YMCA

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Sponsored Post: Mahalo to the YMCA of Honolulu for sharing their summer wellness promotions with us.

Looking for a little extra motivation to focus on your health and wellness this summer? The YMCA of Honolulu has several summer promotions happening from June 1 through July 31, 2026 that are perfect for both current members and anyone thinking about joining.

New members who join during the summer promotion period will have their joiner’s fee waived — a $99 savings! It’s a great opportunity to check out everything the Y has to offer without the added startup cost.

Current members can also take advantage of 10% off personal training packages during the promotion period. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to level up your fitness routine, this is a nice way to get some extra guidance and accountability.

The Y is also offering 10% off InBody assessments. Non-members can purchase a single assessment, while members can purchase multiple assessments to help track their progress over time.

And for those looking for a little summer fun, the Y’s Summer Bucket List Wellness Challenge will be returning this year! Details are still being finalized, but it will be similar to last year’s challenge featuring more than 50 wellness-focused activities designed to encourage participants to stay active and make the most of summer. There will also be weekly prizes and a grand prize opportunity.

Here’s to a healthy, active, and fun-filled summer at the Y!

For information on YMCA Memberships, click here.

Shige's Saimin Stand

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

When it comes to comfort food, a nice bowl of saimin always hits the spot, and Shige's Saimin Stand in Wahiawa is a go-to.

Won Ton Mein

Beef Stick

I usually get the Won Ton Mein and a Beef Stick on the side. The perfect combo!

Saimin

Cheeseburger Deluxe

Udon

The food always soothes your soul!

And the staff is always the friendliest.

We love Shige's!

Shige's Saimin Stand
70 Kukui St # 108
Wahiawa, HI 96786-1849
(808) 621-3621

Handcrafted Ready-to-Bake Cookie Dough from Dough Boi

noreply@blogger.com (nadiablogs) — Thu, 21 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Fresh out of the oven!

For Mother's Day, I wanted my kids to bake me cookies from a recipe I found off the internet. When I told my daughter, she enthusiastically said OK, but when I told my son, he asked for my second choice. So when I was introduced to Dough Boi, a mom who handcrafts ready-to-bake premium cookie dough, I knew this would make a great gift from non-bakers like my son.

You can see the weekly flavors on Instagram @doughboi_hi and DM your order. I picked up my order from Mililani. The dough packs of 10 ready-to-bake balls of cookie dough come neatly packaged in a cute container and can be kept in the freezer. You get 2 dough packs for $25.

I tried the chocolate chip, macnut with white chocolate, and chocolate with white chocolate. I knew I was going to love the chocolate chip, but I was surprised that I really enjoyed the other two flavors as I am usually not a fan of white chocolate. The combos are just so tasty! The cookies are soft with crispy edges and perfectly sized.

Two packs for $25

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

These dough packs are definitely a gift I would love to receive so I was happy to gift them to people that I knew would enjoy them. I love having one in my freezer so that I can enjoy freshly baked cookies with no mess anytime the sweet craving hits.

Kaimuki Shokudo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Kaimuki Shokudo offers a lunch menu that focuses on soba, donburi, sushi, and tempura. They also have daily lunch specials from 1130am to 330pm. One of the specials is a Teishoku Lunch Set for $20 (Hot / Cold Kake Soba, half size, Okinawan Sweet Potato Salad, half size), Sashimi, Rice, and Washugyu Sukiyaki Beef or Grill Saba).

The other special is a half Donburi for $7 with any Soba order.

I took advantage of the half Donburi special.

I got the Ume Oroshi Shiso Soba (Cold), which also included nori, takuan, and bonito flakes.

It was such a huge portion, and it was very refreshing for such a warm day.

For my half donburi order, I opted for the Veggie Tempura Don, which had eggplant, maitake mushroom, and shishito pepper tempura.

It was so delicious and actually so filling - I ended up barely touching my Soba (of course I took the leftovers home)!

Half Order Veggie Tempura Don

And of course we got the Honey Toast.

Honey Toast

I know it's "Honey Toast," but I thought they put a little too much honey - it was so overpowering. My friend loved it, however, and ate nearly all of it!

We were a little disappointed in the service, however. Although the staff members were friendly, no one came to check on us / clear our dishes / take our dessert order for quite a while after getting / finishing our food, and my friend actually had to go up to the bar to ask someone if we could order dessert. We were the second table seated for the day, but other tables seated after us had already left.

Despite that, I wouldn't mind returning to try the dinner izakaya menu, and hopefully the service will be much better!

Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya - Windward Mall

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Thu, 21 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Mahalo to our sponsor for the complimentary meal. All opinions are my own.

We’ve been fans of Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya ever since they opened their Ala Moana location. Their original Kapolei restaurant was a little too far west for us to visit regularly, so having a more central option made us longtime supporters. So you can imagine our excitement when we spotted the signage for their newest location at Windward Mall a few weeks ago — finally, one of our favorite ramen spots right here in our own neighborhood!

This new location takes over the former Kikuya space. While we were sad to see Kikuya close, I was also excited to see Tanaka move in. It’s always nice when a restaurant space continues on instead of sitting empty.

One thing we immediately noticed is that this location offers several seating options. In addition to the indoor dining area, there’s also outdoor seating as well as tables along the mall walkway. When we arrived on a Saturday during early dinner hours, the inside seating area was already full, so we had to choose between outside seating or the mall walkway tables. We ended up choosing the outdoor area since it seemed like it would have a little less foot traffic.

Of course, outdoor dining comes with a few trade-offs. Between the nearby cars and the flies that showed up once the food arrived, it wasn’t the most peaceful setting. Still, we appreciated that they’ve added extra seating options to help accommodate the crowds because this location already seems very popular with the locals

One of the best parts about this Windward Mall location is that they offer the full menu. Some Tanaka locations have more limited offerings, but this one has a huge variety — and even some new items that aren’t available elsewhere, including yakitori sticks.

Honestly, the menu makes it too hard to decide.!They’ve got everything from salads and sashimi to ramen, donburi, curry, fried rice, and appetizers. After a lot of debating, for appetizers we ordered the pork gyoza, crab stick tempura, Brussels sprouts tempura, and a chicken yakitori stick to share.

For ramen, we tried the Tanaka Rich Garlic and the Spicy Creamy Vegan ramen.

The son customized his bowl with half-and-half broth, beef sukiyaki, and thick noodles, which made for a pretty impressive-looking bowl when it arrived at the table.

We also ordered the shrimp fried rice.

Everything was amazing — seriously, nothing was left behind by the end of the meal. 😄 My personal favorites were the shrimp fried rice and the Rich Garlic ramen.

The ramen came with thick noodles, which I absolutely love because they really hold onto the broth and make each bite extra satisfying.

We’re so excited to have Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya in Kaneohe now. Between the expanded menu, and convenient location, this spot is definitely going to become part of our regular Windward dining rotation!

TANAKA RAMEN & IZAKAYA

45-056 KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY

SECOND FLOOR, near HawaiiUSA FCU

La Tour Bakehouse Churro Rolls & Banana Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Every time I go to the Mililani Farmers Market, I always stop at La Tour Bakehouse for breads - specifically the Japanese Style loaves and Sourdough. On my most recent visit, I also picked up some Churro Rolls & Banana Bread.

I thought the Banana Bread was fine (I've had better), but the Churro Rolls were a surprise hit with the fam.

It's such a simple product - rolls sitting in and topped with a cinnamon, sugar, and butter mixture.

So yummy!

The Mililani Farmers Market operates 8-11am on Sundays at the Mililani High School!

Miki's

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

If you grew up in or near Pearl City, there were a few late night / early morning spots you could dine at . . . Zippy’s & Anna Miller’s used to be open for 24 hours. And then there was Miki’s — a hole in the wall that opened late and closed early the next morning.

The last time I went to Miki’s was in high school, when my friends and I would often stop in after midnight.

We recently picked up a late (for me) dinner at 10pm. It was great to see a steady crowd of customers coming and going for plates of no-frills, tasty comfort food at this Pearl City mainstay.

BBQ Pork Ribs

Pork Guisantes

Pastele Stew

Beef Stew

I had the Pork Guisantes, and it was delish (they offer a lot of Filipino dishes on the menu).

Current hours are 8pm-3am. Follow them @mikismenu for the daily specials.

Miki's
1001 Lehua Ave

Pearl City, HI 96782

Dinner at Thirty Eight

noreply@blogger.com (nadiablogs) — Mon, 18 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Spicy Ahi Poke Cracker

Located at Pier 38, restaurant Thirty Eight features the freshest seafood and locally sources their ingredients. In the former Nami Kaze space, the family-owned restaurant offers lunch, happy hour, dinner and a full bar.

Our group stopped by for an early dinner and had a great time and received fantastic service. Our group's favorite was the Spicy Ahi Cracker appetizer and I really loved my Ahi Steak entree. The local bigeye ahi is topped with a delicious kanzuri shoyu buttah and served on top of a watercress salad with a generous serving of confit potato. Yum!

We had a great experience and I would definitely return. I liked the food, service, and ambience. They really did a great job servicing our large group. They are open daily from 11am to 9pm.

Oysters

Cauliflower

Hamachi Crudo

Furikake King Salmon

Ahi Steak

Fried Whole Moi

Thirty Eight
1135 N Nimitz Hwy E
Honolulu, HI 96817

Ono Kuki Company

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

I have a never-ending sweet tooth, so when I saw Ono Kuki Company at the Mililani Farmers Market, I picked up a few bags.

Normally I'm team soft & chewy when it comes to cookies, but if the cookies are mini, I enjoy crispy cookies.

The Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies were crispy, with lots of chocolate chips throughout.

They have several flavors of cookies, and also have regular sized cookies as well as party mix!

I'm looking forward to trying more cookie flavors!

ONKEE

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Mon, 18 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

When Hawaii Mom Blog founder/owner Gem picked ONKEEfor her birthday lunch, it felt fitting that we’d be celebrating Gem at one of Honolulu’s hidden gems!

Before heading there, I had already done some research because I’d heard the restaurant could be tricky to find if you’re unfamiliar with the area. They’re located on the second floor of a residential building (Ko'ula), and the signage is pretty minimal, so it’s easy to second-guess yourself while looking for it. I parked in the parking garage below Consolidated Theatres Ward, walked out of the Ewa side of the garage - the building is across the street from that entrance/exit. Walk to the roundabout and look for the Onkee sign and the elevator.

Once I arrived, the service was very attentive throughout the meal, and the staff checked in often to make sure everything was going well.

For lunch, Gem ordered the stir-fried pork meal, Nadia chose the bibimbap, and I ordered the marinated fried chicken entrée.

Gem really enjoyed her meal:

Nadia's bibimbap was the most Instagram-able dish of the day:

As for me… once the chicken arrived at the table, I realized I probably should have paid a little closer attention to the menu. I kept offering Gem a taste, but she politely declined each time. Toward the end of the meal, she pointed out that there had also been a plain fried chicken option on the menu — which, honestly, both of us probably would have preferred over the yangnyeom-style version I ordered. The chicken itself was crispy and well prepared, but the sauce ended up being a little too spicy and heavy for my personal taste.

I also somehow missed the fact that the entrée didn’t come with sides, which left me staring sadly at my plate while everyone else had complete meals.

Thankfully, the birthday girl took pity on me and shared some of her rice and vegetables. Nothing says “happy birthday” quite like the guest of honor donating food to her friend.

But in the end, all was forgiven once dessert arrived. The mango bingsu absolutely stole the show.

It was refreshing, light, and the perfect way to end the meal. Looking back, we probably should have ordered one just for Gem instead of sharing one amongst the three of us.

Overall, the delicious bingsu and chicken mishap made the visit memorable. And thankfully, the birthday girl still seemed to enjoy her special lunch too.

Still… I may owe Gem a little birthday lunch do-over in the future.

ONKEE HAWAII

1000 AUAHI STREET, #220

808-312-3758

Mahalo May at Zippy’s: Comfort Food for a Cause

noreply@blogger.com (Nat) — Sun, 17 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Every May, Zippy's gives back to the community through its Mahalo May campaign by partnering with a local nonprofit organization. This year, they selected Special Olympics Hawaii, which provides sports programs, competitions, and opportunities for thousands of athletes and Unified partners throughout the islands. Participation is always free of charge!

The featured item supporting the campaign is the Kokua Pac — a combo packed with Portuguese sausage, half of a red hot dog, Spam, Korean fried chicken, and rice.

It has Hawaii's favorites all in one meal, and a portion of the proceeds from each Kokua Pac sold during May will go toward supporting Special Olympics Hawaii.

Customers visiting Zippy’s in person can also help Special Olympics Hawaii by rounding up their purchase to the nearest dollar at checkout, making it an easy way to give back while enjoying a meal.

And of course, no Zippy’s run is complete without drinks and dessert 😋

We paired our meal with an Orange Bang and the refreshing lilikoi drink, then finished things off with this month’s featured treats from Napoleon's Bakery — the lemon napple and pineapple coffee cake. Both were the perfect sweet ending to a meal for a good cause.

Big mahalo to Zippy’s for continuing to support local organizations!!

The Kokua Pac and round-up donations will be available from now until May 31, 2026 at all Zippy's locations in Hawaii.

Last Call for Menehune Macs at Hawaiian Chip Company

noreply@blogger.com (nadiablogs) — Sat, 16 May 2026 18:00:00 +0000

The last of the hand scooped chocolate gift boxes!

Although I have never visited the Hawaiian Chip Company's retail location, I knew that's where they sold their delicious fresh made-to-order taro and sweet potato chips. What I didn't know was that they are also home to Menehune Mac's hand-scooped chocolates. They are currently down to their last boxes and will not be restocking them.

If you want to get a last taste of Hawaii history, make sure to visit to pick up a box. The Aloha Chocolate Gift Box includes two layers of 24 individually wrapped pieces in a gift box with ribbon and bow. Customers can select an assortment of all flavors of Milk Chocolate Mac Nut, Pineapple Snow Mac Nut, and Dark Chocolate Mac Nut. The Menehune Mac 8 Count Chocolate Gift Box includes two layers of handmade chocolates in a gift box ready to share. The 8 Count Gift Box is available with one chocolate flavor per box.

Graduation season is upon us! Individually wrapped chocolates are perfect to use in a candy lei!

Retail location has many chip options!

Macadamia Nut Milk Chocolate Bars will still be available.

Thank you to the Hawaiian Chip Company for the media invite. All opinions are honest and entirely my own.