den phal

You may or may not know that the Japanese love to shorten words 

Dunno if the shortened words are easier to remember though

Most times I have to look up what the shortened word means or stands for

The other day when I bought these orchids it was labeled "Den phal" 

After looking it up it stands for dendrobium phalaenopsis also known as cooktown orchid

Can understand why they would want to shorten this word

Got these for O-bon

6 more

we don't always drink instant coffee but when we do, we would usually buy the box on top

then I found one at the same price and made by the same company, but this one had 6 more "cups"

so now when we drink instant coffee, we buy the box on the bottom

do you drink instant coffee?
 

eep

During this trip, my Aunty had asked about the ukulele we have

I was shocked when I opened my dad's ukulele case

It was fixed once before though I can’t remember exactly what needed to be done that time

I guess where I store it, it might be humid and hot so the wood on the front and back is separating from the sides of the ukulele

What was cool though was there were also photos and music at the bottom of the case that my Dad had left

On my next trip back I will go to Kamaka and get an estimate for the ukulele to be fixed 

Still, I feel bad that I didn't take better care of his ukulele.

sorry Dad!

this and that

The do not eat list...at least "someone" kind of followed it this year.

Jessica's Kitchen, this restaurant is new, BFF saw it on IG and wanted to try.

The skin was super crispy, but the chicken seemed over cooked to me because it was hard.as.rock.

Weirdly when I heated the leftovers, the chicken became softer...

Mini chocolate peanut butter shake from Teddy's...it takes some time to make it and their flavors are kinda weak, but I was glad we got to try it.

Rainbow’s Drive In, I think they changed their bun and the BBQ beef seemed overly salty

Tsunami warning…we were actually supposed to meet up with family for dinner on this day, but one Aunty decided to cancel

We should’ve checked with my other Aunty to see if we could've eaten dinner with them since we were already on our way, but instead we turned around and was in traffic for two hours trying to get back to Pearl City!

I kept entertained in traffic by taking photos of the huge rainbow in the side mirror...luckily Oahu didn’t have any damage

We finally got to have dinner with family on my last Sunday in Hawaii

Where my aunty lives, it used to be sit down type but now it is buffet style 

My aunty and her husband moved last year so it was nice to see where they live now

One day, I had Sharetea's ice blended strawberry & lychee jelly...which I had the other summer, still delicious

Went to Tanioka's for mochiko chicken and spam musubi

Tried Asato Family's Li Hing Float since I saw people raving about it..wasn't too sure what this was supposed to taste like...it didn't have li hing flavor to me...hope the other two flavors were tasty because I bought them to give to Ryan and S.

Tried Uncle's Sea Salt Caramel Swirl : snickerdoodle cookie with sea salt caramel ice cream and fudge (took it out of tge trash since I forgot to take a photo of the package)

Visited Dad

Visited Mom

Went to Nanding's and had their pan de coco, lup cheong and portuguese sausage rolls.

Saw something on social media and thought this might be a Ken Edwards piece but it doesn't have the "KE" marking that his pieces are known to have.

Oceanside Bakery, thought I wrote up about this bakery last summer, but I did not.

I think this bakery is located where Otto cake used to be.

This year I tried their ham cheese pocket...heat in micro for 30 seconds then toast per the guy working there…so flaky! with lots of cheese inside 

Uncle's ice cream sandwiches...1/2 is one serving...

Shiro's saimin

and beef stick...the sauce was a little thick but this was delicious

Mangoes from Aunty V's neighbor

BFF made chili one night...mouth.on.fire.

Liliha Bakery with Ms V...I had portuguese sausage and 

mochi poi doughnut

It was nice catching up with Ms V

She gave me these Petit Blocks...I made one that day

and the other while waiting for the tsunami warning to clear

these were way easier than the first one she gave me last summer...

BFF also made these gau gee filling patties...delicious with fried saimin from Zippy's

Dinner with Steph at Olive Garden, always nice catching up with her

The best avocados from A

These cookies from Jalna were ono and so interesting, made by AB Krunch Cookies they are actually graham crackers topped with a caramel glaze and nuts...

This year was a shorter vacation, but I'm glad I was able to do most of the things I had wanted to.

There were some places I wanted to try eating at, but just ran out of time.

Thankful for everyone taking time out to meet up, for all the different omiyage and different meals.

Appreciate Satoshi letting me go on vacation and for BFF letting me stay with her.

Hope you had a nice summer...5 to 10 degrees really does make a difference...if you are interested in more videos and photos, please look here.

finʻs bagels

Checked out Fin’s Bagel with Jenny and Chan

We all ordered the Fin’s Bagel

Choose your bagel, we all chose everything

Choose your protein, we all chose salmon

Choose your cream cheese, Jenny & Chan chose roasted garlic, Kat chose plain

Each sandwich came with sliced red onion, sprouts, cucumber, tomato, capers, dill

I am not sure if you could get the bagel toasted, but I would ask the next time

These sandwiches are huge! (I ate the other half the next day)

Very generous with the cream cheese

Would definitely get this again, maybe try a different protein

Jenny also made this spicy tofu poke (I think that is what she said it was), so ono!

Thankful that Chan works nearby and we could eat at his (air conditioned) office 

It was nice catching up with both of them, thanks for today Chan & Jenny!

Fin’s Bagels

1001 Bishop Street 

Honolulu, Hawaii

Closed: Saturdays & Sundays

Hours: 7:00-14:00

kim chee 7

Got to meet up with friend Gaye

We went to Kim Chee 7

I had their 2 choice lunch combo and chose Meat Jun & BBQ chicken

Gaye had their mandoo kook soo 

Her soup was supposed to have noodles in it but they had run out on this day, so her soup had more veggies in it

Their portions are HUGE

It was nice catching up with her

Thanks for today Gaye

murphy’s

Went to Murphy’s with V and her daughter A

It was my first time eating here

Loved the interior 

The waiter looked Indian-ish and had a cool New York-ish accent

I tried their shepard’s pie, chunks of tender lamb and veggies, so ono!

V had their steak and A had their corned beef and cabbage

Everything came out pretty fast and looked delicious

Save room for dessert because on Friday’s there is homemade pie

V & A let me taste their mixed berry and strawberry rhubarb…the crust was so flaky and the fillings were so fresh and not overly sweet

It was nice catching up with V & A

And V was so nice to drive me to Ala Moana to change the aloha shirts she gave us and then all the way back to Pearl City

Thanks for today V & A!

Murphy’s

2 Merchant Street

Honolulu, Hawaii

Closed: Saturdays & Sundays

Hours: 11:00-21:00