Morio’s Sushi Bistro.

12月13日

Most of you have been or at least heard of that little shop in Waikiki that by day, goes as a health food store and by night the infamous Morio’s Sushi Bistro. In a move that “scared” everyone, Morio shut his doors not too long ago before rumor spread that he was opening a new location somewhere in town…whew!

Well it’s true, he finally opened up again the other month on King Street next to Jack-in-a-Box between Pensacola and Piikoi Street.  Known for his generous servings, reasonable prices and the fact that he doesn’t shy away from drinking with you, Chef Morio has created a following almost occult.  It’s rare to see his restaurant empty, granted the new location can only seat 19 people (5 of those 19 might be able to squeeze in at the bar).  If you’re going to head over without a reservation, good luck. The wait could be futile unless you get lucky….you’re better off calling in to make a reservation.  And if you’re going to call in for a reservation, call it in at least a week’s advance.  2 weeks for the weekends.  It’s definitely worth the wait and the experience if you haven’t already tried it or know what I’m referring too.  ”It’s not just dinner, it’s a dining experience,” said NonStop Honolulu food blogger Melissa Chang. Couldn’t agree with her more.  Read her write up on Morio’s here.

Right when they open is probably one of the few times you'll see Morio's this empty.

My last visit this past weekend wasn’t as “wild” as my other experiences at the older Waikiki shop.  Maybe it’s because I was there for a 6:30 dinner when the crowd is a bit more…tame?  I’ve gone a few times to the old place in Waikiki on the later side where everyone at the bar rags on each other and takes down their alcohol as if they were only there to drink…..and chef included haha, in a good way of course!  Did I mention it’s BYOB?

We started off with a couple of complimentary appetizers.

The salad was plain and simple but the dressing was really tasty! It's ponzu based w/ a little spice.

This had some kind of smoked chicken, egg roll, broccoli and Vienna sausage. Actually tasted pretty good!

Agedashi Tofu, $5.75 and well worth it. The oil was light, the ponzu was flavorful.

Tori Karaage, $5.75. Oishikatta!

Tekka Maki, $5.50. One of the few places that I see more fish then rice in the rolls.

Spicy Tuna roll, $6.50. It's funny because my party and myself all agreed that hey, the sushi may not be the prettiest you'll find out there but it's the taste that matters and everything was delicious.

Garlic chicken, $5.75. Damn this was good. I wish Melissa Chang included this place during our NonStop Honolulu journey for the best garlic chicken.

Salmon nigiri, $7.25. Hamachi nigiri, $8.25. The best thing is that they come as 3 per order. The fish overshadows the rice...big time. In fact, don't blink when you eat them, you might miss the rice cause there's so much fish!

California roll, $5.75. Didn't taste it since there were so much better things to eat but I understand it was good and the crab was not of the imitation variety

Unagi nigiri, $7.25. The pieces were meaty and the sauce had a nice tang to it. I'd eat this all night if the other stuff wasn't so good.

Ahi tempura, with a few veggies. $6.95. Look at the batter...it's light and evidence of being fried correctly in hot oil. Didn't get to try this but I was told it was really good.

Ahi kama (collar), $0.00. Given to us by Morio after we gave him a 22oz. Sapporo This item is not on the menu. He gave us 2 of them!

Hotate nigiri (scallop), $8.75 for an order of 2 but Morio generously gave us 3 since our table had 3. The meat was plump and it tasted so fresh and crisp. Some of the best Hotate I've ever had, rivaling even eateries in Japan.

Omakase nigiri (16-piece), $35.00. My mom and her husband ordered this and the rest of us weren't allowed to touch it lol. But as you can see, it tasted as good as it looked according to them.

The oysters in the Omakase nigiri looked so good we had to order a couple for ourselves. It was chilled perfectly with the right amount of ponzu and spice. It was so fresh there wasn't any fishy after taste that you get with bad oysters. This would have been good for those who aren't fond or scared of eating oysters. I don't even know what the cost was for this because it's not on the menu.

Highly recommend you check this place out. There are even a few off-menu items you may be surprised with. Aside from the oysters, I even saw them serving some lobster sashimi on the Sashimi Omakaze.  The last time I was at the Waikiki shop Morio gave us some curry and rice to go down with our drinks. Make sure you come here with an empty stomach because you’re definitely gonna leave full.  The prices are so reasonable that if I remember correctly I paid about $36 for everything I ate and that includes being generous with the tip. We probably would have gotten away with paying just $30/person with tip.

Morio’s Sushi Bistro
1160-A King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 741-5121, reservations recommended.
http://www.morios.com/ 

Remembering December 7, 1941.

12月7日

A letter I received via email from the office of Senator Daniel Inouye on the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

 

Dear Friends,

Seventy years ago today I was preparing to go to church.

December 7, 1941 was a Sunday.

I was putting on my neck tie and listening to Hawaiian music in my bedroom in my parent’s home in Moilili when the disc jockey broke in and started screaming.

“The Japanese are bombing Pearl Harbor! The Japanese are bombing Pearl Harbor!”

At first I thought this was another replay of Orson Wells.  But he kept screaming and yelling.

I went and got my father and said ‘let’s go outside.’

We walked into the front yard and out into the street and turned to look in the direction of Pearl Harbor.

That’s when we saw the black puffs of smoke bursting against a blue sky.  It was anti-aircraft fire from the ships anchored in the harbor.

Then we heard a deep rumble from above and looked up to see three aircraft fly right over our house.  They were pearl grey with bright red dots painted beneath each wing.

I knew what was happening.  And I thought my world had just come to an end.

Nearly 2,400 American sailors, soldiers and civilians died that morning.

I was a medical aid man and for the next several days I barely slept.  We rushed to aid the wounded and collected the dead.

Lunalilo Elementary School was a makeshift aid station and morgue. I remember the tables covered in white cloth where we stacked the bodies.

In the aftermath of the attack I quickly became familiar with the horrific cost of war.

We have an extraordinary Constitution, we have extraordinary sets of laws, but throughout the history of mankind, war has provided leaders the justification to set aside those laws.

Soon after December 7, about Christmas time, the government of the United States gave all Japanese the designation “4-C” or “enemy alien.”  Thousands of Japanese, citizens and immigrants, were rounded up and sent to internment camps.

Part of the justification for the internment was their classification as enemy aliens.

Eager to prove our loyalty to our country, and willing to die to do it, many of us petitioned the government to allow us to fight.

We had an extra burden because it wasn’t just about serving our nation in uniform, it was about proving our loyalty.

The 100^th Battalion, 442 Regimental Combat Team, two infantry units consisting of Japanese American enlisted men, would go on to become the most decorated unit of its size in the history of the American military.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor signaled the start of World War II and began a period of my life when I fought and bled alongside thousands of my brave brothers who served in Europe.

My experiences on the morning of December 7 and the fighting we did in France and Italy changed my life forever.

Fifty years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a national survey of high school seniors was conducted and the students were asked a simple question.

“What is the significance of the date, December 7, 1941?”

Sadly, less than half of the respondents were able to link the date to that infamous Sunday morning.

As we continue to lose members of the Greatest Generation, those who witnessed the attack, lived through the War, and saw the world change, we must remember the events of December 7.

If December 7 can teach us anything, it should be that we must remain ever vigilant but we must also do our best to avoid the horrors of war.

Daddy’s poem.

12月3日

Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy’s Day at school, and she couldn’t wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn’t there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all,
about a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called a student from the class,
to introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, for a man who wasn’t there.

“Where’s her daddy at?” she heard a boy call out.
“She probably doesn’t have one,” another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
“Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.”

The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom,
and looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak,
and out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.

“My Daddy couldn’t be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
“And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know,
all about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.

“He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike,
he surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.
“We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone,
and though you cannot see him I’m not standing here alone.

“Cause my daddy’s always with me, even though we are apart.
I know because he told me, he’ll forever be in my heart”
With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.

And somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears,
proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life,
doing what was best for her, doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd,
she finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.
“I love my daddy very much, he’s my shining star.
And if he could, he’d be here, but heaven’s just too far.

“You see he was a policeman and died just this past year,
when airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear.
“But sometimes when I close my eyes, it’s like he never went away.”
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.

And to her mother’s amazement, she witnessed with surprise,
a room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.

“I know you’re with me, Daddy,” to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed,
but there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star,
and given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them,
a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time … to live and love!

Until eternity. God bless

(VIA)

A true friend.

12月2日

A man was walking down the street one day and fell into a hole.  The hole was so deep that he couldn’t get out.  This made him very sad and upset.

A doctor came walking along and he called up to the doctor, “Hey!  I’ve fallen into this hole!  Can you help me?”  The doctor wrote out a prescription and tossed it into the hole.

Then a minister came walking along and he called up to the minister, “Hey!  I’ve fallen into this hole!  Can you help me?”  The minister wrote out a prayer and tossed it into the hole.

Then a friend came walking along and he called up to his friend, “Hey, Joe!  I’ve fallen into this hole!  Can you help me?”  The friend then jumped into the hole with him.

The first man said, “Are you nuts?  Why’d you jump in here with me?  Now we’re both stuck in here!”

“My friend,” Joe replied, “I’ve been here, too, and I know the way out.”

Please take a moment … right now … and look around you.

Who do you know who’s in a hole?  A friend?  A family member?  A co-worker?  A neighbor?  Do they have a problem in their life that you’ve already solved?  Or are they striving for a goal you’ve already attained?  Why not jump into that hole with them and show them the way out?

Whether people are struggling or striving they all want the same thing … a friend who’ll offer a helping hand.

Make it an AWESOME day … for you AND someone else!

(VIA)

The language of love.

12月1日

Joe Fairbanks grew up in a family of nine children.  Money was tight, and, like many in similar circumstances, he wore mostly hand-me-downs.

But Joe was different from other children.  He was born with Down syndrome, and as a result he had trouble with language.  He often felt frustrated as he struggled to communicate.

When Joe was 23, his mother needed to travel to the Philippines for work, and she took Joe with her.  Before they left, she bought her son some new clothing for the trip.  Oh, how he loved shopping for clothes. He tried on each outfit, asking over and over again, “How do I look?”

A little while after their arrival in the Philippines, heavy rains caused mudslides that covered villages, schools, and homes.  Newspapers carried stories about the devastation and loss of life.  On the front page of one was a stark photograph of a man holding a dead child in his arms.

Joe stared at the image for a long time, his face etched with profound sorrow.  Later, he came to the lobby of the hotel where they were staying dressed in his old clothes.  At his side was a large plastic bag.

When his mother opened the bag, she discovered it contained all of the new items of clothing that they had bought for the trip.

His mother took him to the front desk of the hotel, where Joe’s desire to help created some attention.  A small crowd gathered as they realized what Joe wanted to do.

“Me give my clothes,” he said.

Nearly every eye swelled with tears.  The hotel clerks took the clothing and promised to get it to those in need.

In that moment, Joe spoke a language more perfect and eloquent than any other in the world.  He spoke a language that is native to every race and culture.  It binds hearts, overcomes barriers, and transforms lives. The language Joe spoke best of all was the language of love.

(VIA)

Wet pants.

12月1日

Come with me to a third grade classroom …

There is a eight-year-old boy sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet.

He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened.  It’s never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it.  When the girls find out, they’ll never speak to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop, he puts his head down and prays this prayer, “Dear God, this is an emergency!  I need help now!  Five minutes from now I’m dead meat.”

He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.

As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water.  Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy’s lap.  The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, “Thank you, Lord!  Thank you, Lord!”

Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy.  The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out.

All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk.   The sympathy is wonderful.  But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else – Susie.  She tries to help, but they tell her to get out.  “You’ve done enough, you klutz!”

Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”  Susie whispers back, “I wet my pants once, too.”

May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good.

(VIA)

7 gifts that multiply happiness.

12月1日

1. Share appreciation 
Tell someone how much you appreciate the faith they’ve shown in you. Thank them sincerely for being part of your life. Tell them how much they are needed.

 Feeling appreciated is one of the most important needs that people have. When you share with someone your appreciation and gratitude, they will not forget you. Appreciation will return to you many times.

2. Share time 
Balance your time expenditures so you can spend time with the people that you love. Support local organizations by sharing your special talents. Volunteer time for projects that benefit others in your community, country, and world.

 When we slow down and observe our thoughts closely, we will sometimes uncover gifts and talents we didn’t know we had. Sharing time and talents can result in discoveries that bring happiness beyond measure.

3. Share knowledge and ideas 
Tell someone about a great book that you read so they can benefit from it too. Teach a new concept or idea that you’ve learned. 

One of the best ways to strengthen new concepts in your mind is to share them with others. The more often you share what you’ve learned, the stronger that information will become in your memory. Sharing knowledge also provides solutions to problems. The more knowledge we share, the more knowledge we receive in return.

4. Share friendship 
Acknowledge someone’s strengths. Let them know that you are willing to be there when they need you. Visit someone you haven’t seen for a long time. Telephone friends or relatives who live far away. Introduce two friends who don’t know each other.

 Bringing one individual into another’s life can result in tremendous changes for both people, and for you. We succeed with the help of others. People grow by growing together. If you’d like to have many friends, then share friendship with others generously.

5. Share kindness 
Perform a random act of kindness for someone: a smile, compliment, or a favor just for fun. These will multiply and spread very rapidly.

 There is a powerful quote by Stephen Jay Gould who said, “The center of human nature is rooted in ten thousand ordinary acts of kindness that define our days.” Kindness is priceless. The love, kindnesses, and value we have given authentically to others will be our remaining treasures at the end of life.

6. Share experience 
Keep written or photo journals of your life: things you’ve done, places you’ve traveled, things you’ve learned. Record successes and failures. Share a happy memory. Also share the difficult times that have helped you become stronger and wiser. When shared, the value of these experiences multiplies.

 Our unique experiences and perceptions of life are priceless. Sharing experiences will build one of the strongest bonds with others. Our descendants can learn and benefit from our lifetime experiences for generations to come.

7. Share enthusiasm 
If you are excited about a new success, tell someone. If you’re ecstatic about a new project, show your glow. Your enthusiasm will inspire others to move forward with actions that bring rewarding achievements.

Enthusiasm keeps us looking forward to the future. It brings many of those exciting days that we can savor with gratitude. That kind of glowing excitement for life is impossible to hide. It is contagious and will quickly spread to others.

(VIA)

APEC Hawaii Road Maps.

11月7日

If you’re the one of many who are frustrated with trying to sort out the actual affected roads for APEC Hawaii, then look no further than the maps below.  Is it me or any time you went to the local news websites, they give you a “Word Document” of all the road closures.  What gives? People are visual, make a map!?  I heard rumors that they don’t want to make it easy for people to decipher for the safety of the delegates…but I find that hard to believe.  Here you go….

Roads Affected.

Recommended Traffic Routes.

Parking Affected.

Bus Routes Affected.

Google’s search stories campaign.

10月31日

Happy Halloween everyone, hope you’re having a great day and prepping for what you’ll be doing on All Hallow’s Eve.  Since I figure everyone out there will be blogging about ghost stories, best costumes and Trick-or-Treats….I figured why not go a little deeper….think about it…when you were thinking about what to wear for Halloween this year….or what creepy ghost stories to share with your friends….where did you turn to?  I’m guessing the Internet….and what did you use to get to where you wanted to go on the Internet?  My money’s on Google.

Sure Google is an indexer and not a content generator….also, it was kinda corny of me to tie in Halloween with Google… but have you seen Google’ new campaign, Search Stories?  It really brings some amazing things out of your average Google searches.  These are extremes but not uncommon.  Think about it…how many times have you used Google in your everyday life especially to arouse your curiosity and quench your thirst for knowledge?  So tonight when you’re out trick-or-treating or telling those ghost stories….just remember where you probably got it from and how you got there

Google Search Stories: An Introduction.

Brian Kingrey: Perfection.

Zack Matere: Growing Knowledge.

The Tofino Riders: A 1,000 Year-Old-Wave.

Caroline: Supernova 2008ha.

Dave Strenski: New Energy for Detroit.

Erik-Jan Bos: A Letter from an Old Friend.

Big names, foreign ads.

10月20日

Ever been sitting in your hotel room in a foreign country and see a commercial on your TV with a famous American?  It’s not uncommon…Although I find it strange that foreigners would prefer to put American spokesmodels in their ads over those from their own country.  I guess they best be thanking the powerhouse that is our film industry, which receives audiences worldwide.  The funny thing is you won’t see many A-list actors doing commercials here in the states but overseas, they’re everywhere!

We’re not just talking your Joe Blow B-list actor or actress either, I’m talking big names like the George Clooney’s of movie land….speaking of George Clooney….

It’s a George Clooney Chinese Mercedes ad….here are a few others that I’m pretty sure you may not have seen or heard about.

Yep, Steven Seagal still has pull.  At least in a Daloc home security Netherlands ad.

Even Brad Pitt gets into the action with this Japanese Softbank commercial. The Japanese love Brad Pitt as he’s been in a number of Japanese ads.

Here’s Mrs. Pitt, Angelina Jolie in a Japanese spot for Shiseido.

Even the Gubernator Arnold Schwarzenegger gets into the act with this Japanese Cup O’ Noodle spot.

Holy sh*t it’s a Snoop Dogg commercial where he’s dressed like German folk singer Roy Black (I had to Google that one).  Anyone see the connection it is to a mobile ad? – VybeMobile.

Why don’t these guys stay close to home and advertise here?  According to what I’ve been reading online and the greatest source ever….Wikipedia….American actors don’t want to tarnish their “brand” and seem like a sell out but they are okay with going foreign….not only that, foreign talent contracts tend to be more lucrative as well so it’s more worthwhile for them.

Anyway, I leave you with a Conan O’Brien commercial that makes a mockery of this rationale…thank you Bud Light for seeing that.