a day at the museum

hisam's elegant facade

we had a bit of an adventure finding the hawaii state art museum on our trip home (which i find a tad ironic considering i walked past the building every saturday morning in my youth). the museum opened in 2002 in the former ymca (and prior to that was the original royal hawaiian hotel) and houses a wonderful collection of work by island artists.

the walls are filled with artwork (herb kawainui kane, jean charlot & madge tennant are just a few of the artists represented), photography of hawaii's past & present, sculptures, and some of the nicest benches to sit upon and ponder the art before you.

our time inside the gallery was a bit of a whirlwind since the parking meter was ticking away, but even with the time crunch we managed to find a photograph snapped by my mom's high school chum on display.

a few tips:

• admission is free (but donations are welcome)
• be sure to check out the events page before you go (especially if your little ones enjoy art making)
• save time cruising the streets for a spot for your car with the very helpful parking guide

as for downtown, the museum's spanking new café by the folks behind kaimuki's town, while my lunch companions were underwhelmed with their selections i was happy with my salad made of local, organic ingredients. the space is airy and filled with light and, of course, artwork making it a pleasant spot to meet friends for lunch or grab a bite before you wander through the galleries.

despite our uneven experience, i would give it a second try considering they had only been open a little over a week when we visited and still had a few details to iron out. and, worker bees looking for something new for lunch should check out downtown's weekday quick service asap menu which sounded, dare i say, even yummier than the sit down side. check out nadine kam's review for her take.

{photo credit, no.2 : hawaii state art museum}

{update | jan 2010: the museum may be reserved for private events and makes a lovely site for a romantic wedding!}

taro delight

one of my favorite foodie finds from this last trip was taro delight which was brought to my attention after samples of this starchy treat beckoned my fella while we waited for our gourmet lumpia to be fried up at the adjoining booth during our visit to the kailua farmers market.

imagine an island version of hummus made with a smoked version of the polynesian staple and blended with olive oil and other good for you ingredients. the dips are free of preservatives and filled with ono flavors like wasabi and green thai curry. even the vegan-friendly taronaise was a hit when we shared it at a family dinner.

you can find the taro delight booth at the kailua & kcc farmers markets as well as tamura's wine shop in kaimuki.

learn more about how taro delight came to be here and here.

picnic in the park

because hawaii is the land of the picnic and the potlock, why not surprise everyone at your next shindig with partyware that is both pretty and gentle on the earth. i am loving the organic shapes and pleasing palette that comprise this biodegradable set from decor craft which is a guilt-free way to go disposable when toting stacks of breakable dishes is just not practical.

more proof that good design not only puts the fun in functional but is also eco-friendly to boot. stock up on your favorite color over at plum party.

cheers to good health

you usually have two decisions at breakfast time: good for you or good tasting. oatmeal may be the best thing for your heart but sometimes the siren song of a loco moco is just too hard to resist. on those mornings when you opt to start your day virtuously, an akamai oatcake may be just what the doctor ordered while still making your tastebuds happy.

the oatcakes have been described as similar to a scone or muffin top and flavors like banana chocolate chip and mango pecan have made it a favorite breakfast bite for island & visiting foodies. creator sharon kobayashi, of latitude 22 fame, emphasizes healthy and local ingredients (like flaxseed and hawaiian honey to add a little sweetness) in all of akamai's baked goods and nixes anything artificial & highly processed.

in addition to ready to eat oatcakes, wine biscotti, chutney, an antioxidant rich goji berry fruitcake, and, by popular demand, dry mixes for those who prefer to enjoy their oatcakes fresh from the oven are available at akamai's booth at the saturday kcc farmer's market and in their online shop.

get a few ideas on how to eat them here.

flight of the bumblebee

all the talk about the mysterious disappearance of the world's honeybees makes me wonder if perhaps it would be a good idea to stock up on honey (especially now that the deadly varroa mite has finally arrived in hawaii). fortunately, the luscious goodness of big island bees' certified organic artisan honey is behind all the buzz the company has been receiving lately.

their website is flush with info on all things honey even including suggested food pairings for each sweet nectar which has been infused with the blossoms of 'ohi'a lehua (of the wistfully romantic hawaiian legend of love lost and reunited. sigh.), wilelaiki and the macadamia nut. big island bees is also a proponent of the slow food movement preferring the purity of single varietal honey which allows your tastebuds to savor the flavor as nature intended.

learn more about the life of a beekeeper here (or pop in my favorite tale of a man and his apiary, the lovely indie film ulee's gold).