We Have Signage
While it’s still some time before the Target in Kailua opens for business, its well known red logo is installed and is very visible. Never mind that there’s no sidewalk or parking lot currently.
hawaii
Starbucks Hawaii Gets Oat Cakes?!?
In Portland, Oregon, Starbucks fans can pre-order and pay for their drink using their mobile devices. The Midwest has already experienced the new forthcoming holiday drink, the Chestnut Praline Latte or CPL. In Hawaii, well, we have the Hawaii Oat Cake. Yes, an oat cake. How exciting.
On a backhanded positive note, our state is getting Clover brewing systems as we wait until November 12 for the national launch of the CPL. All of these oversights will be forgiven, however, if I happen to be one of the ten “Starbucks for Life” winners. From December 2 to 25, Starbucks will run its biggest promotion to date – a “lifetime” of free drinks. To enter, all you have to do is to use your registered Starbucks card or mobile device to make your Starbucks buys.
Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Zula Fitness DVD
I wish I had the radio advertisement for Zula to play back for you since really it says it all. A local style workout DVD featuring all Hawaiian kine music. The perfect gift for your friends on the mainland!
Okay, really, that’s all I know about Zula which I’m guessing is a word mashed up from zumba and hula. Somehow sumo great, Konishiki, is involved as well. Anyways, this is one of those gifts that is truly unique this holiday season.
Get Zula Fitness Vol. 1
More suggestions from the Pulpconnection Holiday Gift Guide, 2014 edition.
Follow Gee Why’s board Holiday Gift Guide 2014 on Pinterest.
Checked Out the New “Old” Liliha Bakery
Over the fall break, we were in the Nimitz area and decided to check out the new-ish location of Liliha Bakery. This new spot is a welcomed addition to alleviate the strain on the historic original, but this location was equally as crowded. I can’t say parking is any better or worse. There’s a limited amount of stalls since several are reserved for other businesses and getting into and out of the parking lot is tough with the amount of traffic traversing Nimitz.
Once inside, the decor hints to an upscaled experience (more on that later). The ever popular bakery and baked goods dominate the entryway as it should. Also in this area is the recently added Coke Freestyle machine where you can choose from over 100 flavors (orange Coke is nothing special by the way).
Now about that upscaled experience. While the decor, lighting, and dress code of the wait staff all point to finer dining, the actual menu is still the original. Your local favorites, are there but that’s the problem. The old menu selection doesn’t match the perceived modern ambience. I ordered eggs and portuguese sausage and yep, that’s what I got.
The saving grace is those butter rolls lavishly buttered with none other than butter. Slather on that atomic pink jelly and dig in. Just don’t mind your fingers drenched in butter afterwards.
So the food is okay, but the bakery is at a whole different level. When fully stocked, no one can resist. The textures, the colors, the shapes, the variety, the ingredients – they all beckon.
Of course, we left with a small box of goodies to snack on later. Overall, it was a mixed experience. I would definitely go back for the sweet temptations from the bakery, but doubt I would dine in again. But this just in, with their official grand opening, there are additions to the menu like spicy baby back ribs, prime rib, and possibly sautéed shrimp and scallop. Now these dishes befit the overall atmosphere of the new Liliha Bakery. Hopefully there are more tweaks to the menu to balance out the overall dining experience, distinguishing the new location from the old Liliha Bakery.
More pics from the new but old Liliha Bakery.
October is Oc-Clover
October 2014 in Hawaii is becoming Oc-Clover with Starbucks finally making the Clover brewing system available on-island. Starting on Thursday, October 23, select Clover locations will fire up their machines (with trained personnel).
Signs of Hawaii: Private Property
See that little placard on the ground? It’s repeatedly placed every ten feet or so in the Ward area. What’s it say?
Private property
Permission to use
Revocable
At any timeI’m guessing that line on the ground separates the public sidewalk from the private property. So you can hang out behind the line (and sign), but you can be revoked at any time while on the other side.
More Starbucks Clovers in Hawaii
Whoa now, what’s this? Starbucks is expanding their locations featuring the Clover brewing system. Originally, this specialty brewer was only available at the new-ish Aina Haina location. But yes, though it’s there, the Clover is “out of commission” awaiting personnel training. So I’ve heard that training is indeed underway with a target date of October 23 as the Clover launch at Aina Haina and Koko Marina.
Say what?! Another east side Starbucks getting a Clover? That doesn’t seem fair. But wait, there’s more. How about Clovers in Kaneohe and in town? We’re talking Windward City and the Airport Trade Center locations.
Check out the official Starbucks map (as of October 15, 2014).
Chee!
According to Kicks HI in collaboration with NMLS World, Chee! means:
The state of being stimulated, refreshed, or elated.
An exclamation of excitement that really has no real meaning said down here in Hawai’i. If you know, you know.
And I’ll take their word for it, especially with awesomely designed duds emblazoned with Chee! Everyone needs some Chee! in their lives, and I doubt there can there be too much Chee!
SoHa Living Coming to Kailua
With the GNC Store moving down the street nearby the UPS Store, their vacancy is being taken by SoHa Living. Yeah, there’s a Kailua vibe to this Kahala retailer.
Scream Machines at Bishop Museum
Bishop Museum’s latest attraction is Scream Machines, the Science of Roller Coasters. Typically, these exhibits are somewhat static even though they’re touted as interactive, but I must say there’s fun stuff to do at Scream Machines. At the entry way, you can watch a model car zoom through a fictitious mini roller coaster. If it were to scale, no human could survive the ride.
Off to the left is a simulator taking passengers on virtual rides on America’s most famous roller coasters. Now this was pretty cool. Although the video of the simulation wasn’t high definition, the rides were believable enough, and you could see and hear differences between wooden and steel coasters.
The inner displays focus on the science of the roller coasters, analyzing speed, height, curvature, angles, and more. Roll balls down the tracks to see the impact of the differences.
Think you understand all the physics and science of roller coasters? Now go build one yourself. Not a real coaster per se but a customizable track with turns, loops, falls, and everything else you learned.
I don’t have pictures of the Revolver demo where participants stand on a spinning platform to learn about angular velocity. Walk a straight line? Real tough. Roll a ball in a straight line, and it curves, or does it? This was a fun demo to wait for. And if you’re feeling nauseous from all the movement, there’s a display explaining what the human body is going through when you upchuck. Basically, it’s like this.
Oh and on a totally unrelated note, the orange and navy VH07V shirt looks great in the sun or under black lights.
How to Get Teased by a Clover?
You visit the Aina Haina Starbucks location with the only Clover Brewing System on Oahu and learn that it’s still not in production. Only this time, it’s not the hardware; it’s the “software.” As in the workers aren’t trained to operate the Clover.
Sad but then again, patience is a virtue I hear. And an iced coffee stylized in the Waterlogue app is pretty cool looking.
