by Mark on October 31, 2007
Tonight, John, Y, and Daniel invited us for a Halloween dinner and a make-up at their home. The theme was Zombies…
As you can see not all of us came to look like a zombie, but we all had a great time at John’s house. The food was all prepared by John and his crew and was Thai style. This was probably the first homemade Thai cooking for most of us, and it was so good. Later (as a custom), we headed to Waikiki and walked around Kalakaua which was crowded as usual. Boo!!! Check out more photos here.
by Mark on October 30, 2007
Memories were brought back yesterday as one of my old Guam friends, Masa Okubo, emailed me after finding out about my blog. I was very glad to hear from him as we haven’t seen or communicated for more than 18 years. Even though the long years have passed by, I still remembered Masa since the days of the Guam Nihonjin Gakko where we used to attend. The time when I first enrolled in this school was when the school moved to Tamuning Elementary School from Fujita Hotel in Tumon.
During this time, the only Japanese classes were offered on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings. This was because we were using the American public classrooms and didn’t have our own school yet. This however changed as the official classrooms were built in Mangilao and now offer both regular AM and PM classes. I have met many new Japanese friends like Masa, Go Nishio, Hisatsugu Ichikawa, Toshi Nojiri, Andy, Tetsu, Susumu Harada, Lynn (Togashi) Nguyen, Hikari Miyashita, and Mrs. Bordallo (Bodario kouchou sensei) who was the principal at the school. She was one of the strictest teachers/person I have ever met and encountered many punishments from her. I was a trouble maker back then; those who remember will understand this. However, I respect her very much as she was one of the key figures in starting the Guam Nihonjin Gakko and providing the countless efforts in teaching Japanese curriculum to those young Japanese students living in Guam.
The best and the most memorable times were the 15-20 minute recess where we all played soccer and the off-island trip (shu-gaku ryokou) to Kyoto, Nara, and Hiroshima. This was a really nice trip where we got to see Japan, learn about the past wars, see the Golden shrine, and experience the life in Japan as a group. I guess this was like a tour trip where we all travelled, ate, slept, and enjoyed learning about Japan as well as having one of the closest times together. During the days, we would visit the different cultural places and shrines and was mostly a learning tour. Some of us would escape from the group and went to the closest tako-yaki stands to have a bite or two. At night, we stayed at the ryokan – guys in one room and girls at a separate room, but we somehow managed to have everyone in one room without letting our Bodario kouchou sensei know about it. We would turn off the lights and have pillow fights and even throw couple of pillows out the window. I also remembered caring a flashlight trying to focus at the room across our building because there were some suspicious activities going on. Other nights, we would all go out and buy Game Boy carthridges which was the hype during this time and also try the ofuro-ba.
Prior to our departure back to Guam, we were allowed to shop for gifts and an incident happened where everybody thought I was lost. What happened was I went to buy mentaiko (spicy fish roe) for my parents and aunties and was not with the group I was with earlier. They probably went to the toy/gifts section, but I was in the B-1 and B-2 floors of a shopping center trying to find the best mentaiko. During this time, everyone in the group was searching for me and some of them were really worried that I would not make back in time at the train station. I had no sense and clue that all this was happening. I just remembered to be back on time and I was on time. Luckily, others looking frantically for me were also on time and relieved to see me at the train station. This was probably the biggest incident which everyone remembered and thought to write in the yearly sakubun (essay) which was distributed to all the students/parents in the Guam Nihonjin Gakko. I guess that’s where I got to be known in the community.
Anyway, I wish all my old Guam friends are doing well and my sincerest arigato to all of you for the best ever Guam and Japan memories that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Domo arigato! – Yohkichi, aka Butch.
by Mark on October 30, 2007
Poipu Beach Villas LLC said 51 of 85 units available in the first phase of the 323-unit project were sold at an initial sales event Saturday. Prices for furnished two- to four-bedroom units ranged from $900,000 to more than $3 million, and averaged $1.5 million, according to project broker S&P Destination Properties.
Amazing to see the high prices and how many units have sold since last Saturday. It’s like Oahu prices here, probably more. Kauai is one of the beautiful places to live in and these prices are definitely reflected by off-island buyers.
by Mark on October 28, 2007
Furikake is a famous dry Japanese condiment that’s sprinkled on top of hot white rice. It has a mild salty taste with variety of colors to beautify the plain white rice. As you know, almost all the Japanese bentos have some kind of furikake sprinkled on top of the rice. Here in Hawaii, furikake is used more than just on plain rice. We have furikake mahimahi, furikake chicken, furikake spam-musubi, furikake omelet, furikake pop-corn, etc…
Tonight we had furikake chazuke pasta which was introduced by Emiko’s co-worker. I never expected this form of pasta but realistically, it was delicious and quick to prepare. Basically, you would mix the boiled and drained pasta with butter, furikake chazuke, garlic powder, and soy sauce in a big bowl. Also, furikake is salty so make sure you don’t add too much of it. Cook and taste to your likes. Enjoy.
by Mark on October 28, 2007
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, the biggest shopping center in Waikiki, is offering discounted parking rate for its patrons. Previously, the center required a minimum purchase of $25 for any validation to apply for the discounted parking rate. Today, no minimum purchase is necessary so long as you get your ticket validated at any of the stores or restaurants. New rate is $2 for 2 hours and $4 for 4 hours and $2 for every 20 minutes after the 4 hour limit. Take advantage of the 614 parking stalls that are available at the center. See press release here (pdf file).
by Mark on October 28, 2007
Gusts as high as 30 mph buffeted the morning surfers at Waikiki this morning. Brisk and fresh tradewinds continued to be the main ingredient for the choppy condition. Waves at Pops have gotten smaller compared to yesterday although the sets continued to roll in with the high tide condition. The breaks were the usual rights and the inside lefts.
A word of caution to fellow surfers. One of the kayakers wiped out with a 3 ft set and continued to roll and ran over a longboarder. Luckily the surfer had enough time to dive into the water. Remember anything can happen so be sure to know your surroundings.
by Mark on October 27, 2007
It was a windy surf session this morning at Pops. Waves were in the 1 – 3 ft range and choppy. Not much change expected for the next few days in terms of windy weather.
by Mark on October 26, 2007
While commuting to work with TheBus this morning, I was intrigued by the many different views out of the window and the variations when it comes to Hawaii and Japan. In a long while I had to stand up all the way to work in the crowded bus even though it was a Friday morning. Usually it’s not crowded, but the bus was populated with students, workers, and senior citizens. Some of the views I observed out the window were:
- Group of birds eating bread crumbs while it was pouring near the bus stop. Not even mother nature can stop them.
- Cars stopped at the signal lights. Almost all the drivers had the face of a tired morning.
- Homeless couple sleeping with their mouths wide open. Shopping carts and plastic bags next to them.
- More people waiting at the bus stops. Unhappy faces as the bus was full of riders.
In Japan, it’s almost a regular mode to board a crowded train and stand up and not loose your balance. You are lucky if you can even board during the rush hours. Out the window, you will see countless numbers of houses, condos, farm fields, and if you are lucky, a fox running around the tracks. Personally, I enjoy the views more in Japan than here in Hawaii because the variations tend to have more of a history than a sudden glimpse of time. Plus, the train stations are better equipped and everything is on time. I actually like sitting down at the train station, see the sunshine and shadows of the morning, and enjoy a cup of coffee while planning what to do for the day. I think it’s time for a vacation to Japan or am I getting old and loosing my mind?
by Mark on October 26, 2007
What a way to start a Friday morning. First news of the day.
See you out in the ocean.
by Mark on October 25, 2007
Since the last blog, the new Safeway along Kapahulu Avenue will finally open on November 9, 2007, at 8:30am. This marks the 2nd closest grocery supermarket in Waikiki with an already operating Food Pantry on Kuhio Avenue. The new Kapahulu Safeway (a grocery anchored tenant) will be the biggest commercial tenant at The Avenue Shops. This center will comprise of 14 retailers and restaurants with about 300 parking stalls on two levels – ground floor and on the roof.
