TUES
· The Seaview Terrace at The Grand Hyatt in Po`ipu features Leilani Rivera Bond with her keiki hula show 6-8PM.
· The Tahiti Nui in Hanalei presents Kanak Atttack with Darryl Gonzales & Coco Kaneali`i from 6-9 PM
· Shutter’s Lounge at the Kaua`i Beach Resort located 2 miles north of Lihu`e presents Makepa from 7-10 PM
· Keoki’s Paradise in the Po`ipu Shopping Village features Kaua Na`ulu from 7-9 PM
· Kalapaki Joe’s in the Harbor Mall at Nawiliwili features KK Kauilani 5-8 PM
· The Point at the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Po`ipu Beach presents Kumu Hula Doric Yaris and the Ka Leo Club w/hula starting at 5 PM
· The Lighthouse Bistro in Kilauea features Keli`i Kaneali`i from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
·The Waipouli Resort – Oasis Bar & Grill features Haunani Kaui and friends with guest hula dancers starting at 6PM

WED
· Aunty Bev Muraoka offers a free Hula Show at 12:15 at the Harbor Mall on Rice Street in Nawiliwili
· There is also a free Hula show featuring Leilani Rivera Bond & Halua Hula O Leilani, center stage at 5PM, at the Coconut Marketplace Shopping Center in Kapaa
· Shutter’s Lounge at the Kaua`i Beach Resort presents Jonah Cummings from 7-10 PM
· Cafe Portofino in Nawiliwili presents Larry Rivera and his daughter Luraline from 7:30-9:30 PM
· The Lighthouse Bistro in Kilauea features Keli`i Kaneali`i from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
· The Seaview Terrrace at the Grand Hyatt in Po`ipu presents Darryl Gonzales from 6-8PM
· Stevenson’s Library at the Grand Hyatt in Po`ipu presents Aloha Breeze from 8-11PM
· Wahoo’s Island Grill features KK Kauilani 6-8:30
· Keoki’s Paradise in the Po`ipu Shopping Village features Easy Living at 6:30
· Waimea Plantation Cottages in Waimea present live Hawaiian music from 6:30-9:30 PM
· The Point at the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Po`ipu Beach presents Kumu Hula Doric Yaris and the Ka Leo Club w/hula starting at 5 PM
· Joe’s On The Green, at the Kiahuna Golf Course Restaurant & Clubhouse features Kirby Keough from 4:30 -6:30
· Shilo Pa and Friends are at Duke’s Barefoot Bar & Grill in Nawiliwili during Happy Hour from 4 to 6 PM
· The Eastside Cafe in Kapaa features Haunani Kaui & Linda Tani from 7-9:30 PM
· The Hanalei Gourmet in Hanalei presents Sam Mahuiki & friends from 8-10 PM
· The Tahiti Nui in Hanalei presents Norman “Kaawa” Soloman from 6:30-8:30 PM

THURSDAY

· Joe’s On The Green at the Kiahuna Golf Course Restaurant & Clubhouse features KK Kauilani from 4:30 -6:30 PM
· The Waimea Plantation Cottages in Waimea presents “the Kama`aina’s from 7-9PM
· The Seaview Terrace at The Grand Hyatt in Po`ipu features Leilani Rivera Bond from 6-8PM.
· Keoki’s Paradise the Po`ipu Shopping Village presents Keamoku at 6:30 PM
· Shutter’s Lounge at the Kaua`i Beach Resort located 2 miles north of Lihu`e presents Jonah Cummings from 7-10 PM
· The Casablanca Restaurant in the Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Po`ipu features Mike Young from 7:00-9:00 PM
· The Lighthouse Bistro in Kilauea features Pancho Graham from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
· The Tahiti Nui in Hanalei presents Kanak Attack with Darryl Gonzales, Garrett Santos and Coco Kaneali`i from 6-9, followed by Chad Pa and Friends at 9:30 PM
· Rob’s Good Time Grill in Lihue presents Clyde Latreta from 7-9 PM
· Trees Lounge at the Coconut Marketplace Shopping Center in Kapaa presents Haunani Kaui and Friends from 6:30-9:30 PM

FRIDAY

· The Casablanca Restaurant in the Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Po`ipu, features Milani Bileyu from 6-9 PM
· The Hanapepe Café presents Cindy Combs from 6-9PM in Hanapepe Town
· The Seaview Terrace at The Grand Hyatt in Po`ipu features Leilani Rivera Bond from 6-8PM.
· Keoki’s Paradise in the Po`ipu Shopping Village presents Po`ipu at 6:30 PM
· The Point at the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Po`ipu Beach presents Kumu Hula Doric Yaris and the Ka Leo Club w/hula starting at 5 PM
· A traditional Hawaiian slack key & ukulele music concert featuring Doug & Sandy Mc Master is at the Hanalei Community Center at 4 PM
· The Pono Kane Trio with Steve Landis, Bruce Lumsden & David Helder are featured at the Tahiti Nui in Hanalei during Happy Hour from 4-6 PM followed by Keli`i Kaneali`i from 6:30-9 PM
· Calypso in Hanalei presents Windjammer (Chad Pa & Friends)
· Waimea Plantation Cottages in Waimea present live Hawaiian music from 6:30-9:30 PM
· Kukui`s on Kalapaki Beach at the Marriott Resort in Lihu`e presents Clyde Latreta from 7-9 PM
· Tradewind’s Bar at the Coconut Marketplace Shopping Center presents Makepa from 7-9 PM
· Sean Carillo is at Sushi Bushido in Kapa`a from 7-9 PM
· Darryl Gonzales is at Shutter’s Lounge at The Kaua`i Beach Resort from 7-10 PM
· Kanile`a with Haunani Kaui & Maile Yoshida along with their guest hula dancers are featured at Wahoo’s Island Grill in Kapa`a from 6-8:30 PM

SATURDAY
·There is also a free Hula show,featuring Leilani Riveras Bond & Halua Hula O Leilani, center stage at the Coconut Marketplace Shopping Center in Kapaa at 1PM
· The Hukilau Lanai at the Kaua`i Coast resort in Kapaa presents Wally & Polei Palmeira from 6:30-8:30 PM
· Darryl Gonzales is at Sushi Bushido in Kapa`a from 7-9 PM
· Kukui`s on Kalapaki Beach at the Marriott Resort in Lihu`e presents Clyde Latreta from 7-9 PM
· The Tahiti Nui in Hanalei features Norman “Kaawa” Soloman from 6:30-8:30 PM
· Shutter’s Lounge at the Kaua`i Beach Resort located 2 miles north of Lihu`e presents Jonah Cummings from 7-10 PM
· The Lemongrass Bar and Grill in Kapaa features Ivo Monroe Miller from 6-9 PM
· The Seaview Terrace at The Grand Hyatt in Po`ipu features Leilani Rivera Bond with her keiki hula show from 6-8PM.
· Kauilani Kahalekai is featured at Merriman’s, at the Kukui`ula Village Shopping Center in Po`ipu from 7 – 9 PM

SUNDAY
· The Hanalei Gourmet in Hanalei presents The Mango Brothers from 6-9 PM
· Wahoo’s Island Grill in Kapaa is featuring Kanile`a with Haunani Kaui, Maile Yoshida and their guest hula dancers from 6:00-8:30 PM.
· Shutter’s Lounge at the Kaua`i Beach Resort presents Darryl Gonzales from 7-10 PM
· Stevenson’s Library at the Grand Hyatt in Po`ipu presents Aloha Breeze from 8-11PM
· Keoki’s Paradise in Po`ipu presents Nick Castillo from 7-9PM
· A traditional Hawaiian slack key & ukulele music concert featuring Doug & Sandy Mc Master is at the Hanalei Community Center at 3 PM
· Joe’s On The Green at the Kiahuna Golf Course restaurant & Clubhouse features Kauilani Kahalekai & Kalani Kaimina`aoao from 4:30 -6:30
· The Casablanca’s Restaurant in the Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Po`ipu presents Mike Young from 7-9 PM
· The Point at the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Po`ipu Beach presents Hawaiian music with Kumu Hula Doric Yaris and the Ka Leo Club w/hula starting at 5 PM
· Chad Pa and Friends are at Duke’s Barefoot Bar & Grill in Nawiliwili during Happy Hour from 4 to 6 PM
· The Lemongrass Bar and Grill in Kapaa features Ivo Monroe Miller from 6-9 PM

MAHALO NUI LOA, HAVE A GREAT HAWAIIAN DAY!!

Hawaiian Music Calendar

Iʻve learned a lot in this year of posting on different aspects of Hawaiian music. I‘m really grateful for all the support and feedback that has come in, some online but much much more offline. All positive. Wow. And the shoutouts all contribute to bringing more readers. Mahalo to Punahele Krauss at www.mele.com . . .  Aunty Maria Hickling who I will always associate with mele.com . . . Lynn Piccoli at Pakele Live! and Me Ke Aloha at www.mkaloha.com . . . Aunty Wanda on TaroPatch.net . . .  Keola Donaghy at UH Hilo and Nahenahe.net . . . and to countless others who retweet when posts of interest go up . . .

Looking back: My objective remains to promote knowledge about Hawaiian music. One of the original sparks for starting this venture was to invite discussion on what CDs could be recommended to “newbies”.  On re-reading early posts, I was thinking aloud on how to choose from the range of available choices–and hence early recommendations that privileged compilations of multiple artists–birds-eye views no ho‘i. Sure I have my favorites (Hi Uncle Sonny Lim and Raiatea Helm; props to chanter Lokalia Montgomery). But how would I actually go about introducing Hawaiian music? Hence the turn to song types–hula kuʻi songs, mele Hawai‘i, hapa haole songs, etc; then to songs–‘Alika and Kawika so far. Then the lightbulb moment of realizing that I didnʻt have to wait until I had “finished” gathering my thoughts into a polished piece, but instead I could talk story about things as they unfolded–and hence “Adventures in Archives.”

Some reflections: there is no one list of CDs that will be the IDEAL “Top Ten Hawaiian CDs for Newbies.” This is always going to evolve as new artists come onto the scene and new music puts new perspectives onto how we can see things–see, for example, the post right before this one, on LOCAL SONGS. Also, every artist has strengths and . . . oh darn, canʻt call ʻem weaknesses . . . but many artists are known for doing certain things really well, and not necessarily being frontrunners in other kinds of things. Reggae artists are not known for ancient style chanting; exemplars of hula ku‘i songs are not the first I would recommend for listening to hapa haole songs . . . that kind of stuff. So, unless a list focuses on a dimension of performance, like “Top Ten Slack Key Guitarists” or “Top Ten Divas of Ha‘i,” any introduction to Hawaiian music and Hawaiian music history needs the flexibility to recommend the best possible examples that will draw in listeners, and interest new listeners in discovering and further exploring Hawaiian music.

Being back in Honolulu for a year of teaching at University of Hawai‘i (donʻt forget that my regular gig is teaching at University of Michigan!!) is nothing short of amazing. Energizing in a “my cup runneth over” way. Over July and August I immersed myself in the rich array of live performances–festivals, concerts, radio shows, Waikiki . . . and I spent time talking to musicians in person and on facebook . . . and coming to realize that there is so much more to share on this blog. So much more for a blog like this to raise awareness and encourage dialogue.

The recording industry and the retail marketing of CDs are imploding right before our eyes. (Props to the first person who reports sighting Napua Makua‘s new CD Mōhalu in a Honolulu retail outlet, despite its release over two weeks ago.) Nobody knows what the future will be, but everyone is pretty sure that the days of the CD are numbered. The live music industry is also scrambling to survive, caught up in industry machinations that remain mostly invisible to Hawaiian music fans. The ecosystem that sustains Hawaiian musicians in economically viable gigs is eggshell thin. For musicians starting out, what opportunities are there to be tutored and mentored in all aspects of being a Hawaiian musician? With the passing of every elder, how much knowledge goes with them? What we take for granted and fail to document now is knowledge that will not be available in the future when our grandchildren and their grandchildren ask questions. And what can Hawaiian music fans do to support the conditions of possibility for Hawaiian musicians to continue perpetuating the old and advancing the new?

So much to do. Let‘s continue to talk the talk AND walk the walk — together!! Stay tuned.

Hawaiian Music for Listening Pleasure

Really Hawaiian

Tucked away in an “alley” on Koa street — an access road behind the Hyatt Waikiki Regency & Spa — you’ll find Musubi-ya Iyasume. They’re located on the ground floor of a low-level walk-up apartment building that’s since been converted to a hotel named Hale Waikiki.

Unless you’re a very observant person, the clutter of signs placed near the sidewalk out front to catch pedestrians passing by is the only clue you’d have to know this place exists, along with other neighboring businesses open to the public. This includes next door neighbor Hana No Sato, another tiny Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and fresh fish, the Aloha Store and Wang Chung, a karaoke bar located upstairs.

“Ya” means “shop” in Japanese, and as that suggests, Musubi-ya Iyasume is for the most part a takeout affair, save for 2 sets of tables inside if you wish to sit in and eat there…

Yeah, you noticed that up on the wall too, huh?! Here’s a closer look…

You can check what other vehicle vanity (custom) license plates are available for the City & County of Honolulu here at this link. I already checked various ways to spell “MUSUBI”, and they’re all spoken for.

Occupying such a small space, they find every place available to put their rice cookers, while also displaying lots of love for SPAM…

I mean, rice cookers EVERYWHERE…

While a musubi is a seemingly simple food that for the most part uses a minimum of ingredients, that very trait makes it that much more important that every one of those ingredients are the best quality they can be. That said, here you see Iyasume uses Tamanishiki brand U.S. No. 1 Grade Short Grain Super Premium Rice…

I went to Don Quijote to check out the various brands and grades of rice they carry, and believe me, all the Super Premium brands are MUCH more expensive than the common on sale/20 lb. bag of “Extra Fancy” Hinode rice most local folks buy. Specifically, a 15 lb. bag of Tamanishiki Super Premium Rice was on sale at DQ for .97. Ouch! And that’s just the US-grown brand. Now hold on to your socks and get a load of this: at Ward Marukai, a 10 lb. bag of Minami-Uonumasan Koshihikari Rice costs . Sixty bucks for just ten pounds! Totemo takai desu yo (that’s crazy expensive)!!!

Well, like most things Japanese, Iyasume is all about quality, and it’s reassuring to see they offer their customers the best they can within the budget at hand.

Now let’s check out their menu, starting with the star attraction, their Musubi, a.k.a. Omusubi, a.k.a. Onigiri…

Most of the menu items at Iyasume are made to order (a good thing, especially for the onigiri!) and can take about 5 to 10 minutes or more to prepare. Yet if you’re in a rush, they do have some bento lunches and omusubi that are premade and ready to go…

We like this place so much that we’ve already went through one member card and are on our way to filling out another one…

Now let’s check out some of the goodies we recently got from Iyasume, starting with the iconic SPAM Musubi…

This SPAM Musubi has a Shiso leaf underneath it, which adds an interesting flavor and texture contrast to the SPAM. There’s just a hint of shoyu on the SPAM, but it’s not too “Teriyaki-ish” like some other places, which is surprising being this is a Japanese establishment.

Here we have two Onigiri…

The one on the left is Ume and Bonito, and on the right, Takana (Mustard leaf).

Biting into it, you see there’s an abundance of the tart Ume and savory Bonito flakes nestled within the rice center…

Same for the Takana (Mustard leaf) Onigiri…

So every bite you take, you’ve always got that slight saltiness from the various fillings to help flavor the rice. Oishii!

Speaking of rice, THAT is really where the money’s at here, as it’s PERFECT. Just perfect Onigiri rice, thanks in part to them using that high quality Tamanishiki Super Premium grade stock. Every precious granule is soft and “pillowy” and of course not mushy at all. It’s also seasoned perfectly with just a slight hint of salt seasoning on the rice itself.

Most importantly It has plenty of stick, so you eat through the entire Onigiri without barely a grain falling off. Ever ate a musubi where you end up licking more loose rice off your hands, napkin or plate instead of eating it how it should be eaten, where it’s one integrated morsel? Well, that’s never the case here at Iyasume. These folks are pros and really know how to whip up some mighty fine Omusubi.

Along with that perfected Onigiri rice, as mentioned previously, Iyasume makes them to order, so when you receive it, it’s nice and hot. Can’t beat that! Way better than those musubi you see wrapped up in plastic that’s been sitting on the store shelf or the warmer for who knows how long. Well OK, I won’t knock Manabu’s because their musubi can probably sit out all day and still taste great, but still, no matter what, fresh made is always best, and that’s how it’s done here at Iyasume.

Summing up the SPAM & Shiso Leaf Musubi, Ume & Bonito Onigiri and Takana Onigiri, they each deserve an “I’ll be back for more and more!” 4 SPAM Musubi.

On another more recent visit to Iyasume, I tried one of their combo meals…

This is Iyasume’s Deluxe Combo set, which includes two musubi, vege miso soup, fried chicken, takuan and sausage for .95. Everything tasted premade except the musubi, which were both made to order.

The “sausage” is actually a regular ‘ole American hot dog, which I was a little disappointed, as I was hoping it would be some exotic Japanese fish sausage, or at least Arabiki. It tasted like it was simmered in a light shoyu broth, Okazuya style.

The fried chicken was lame; the batter soggy and lacking any flavor whatsoever, while the boneless chicken meat inside wasn’t anything to write home or here about. With that, these two items get a “yawn” 1 SPAM Musubi.

You can choose any musubi on the menu for the Deluxe Combo set, where on this occasion I went with Asari (clams) and Salmon and Salmon Roe…

Like all their Onigiri, here you see an abundance of Asari clams and Salmon/Salmon Roe filling in the center of these two…

So there’s happy-happy joy-joy in every scrumptious bite.

The Asari clams were “meaty” delicious, but I think it could have used something else with it, like perhaps Hijiki (tiny seaweed flakes). The Salmon/Salmon Roe was pretty good, but that also could have also used some “oomph”, like perhaps mayonnaise, which is in fact available on their menu. Thankfully the high quality nori wrapped around each onigiri makes up for anything that may be lacking in the filling.

Getting more into that part, the nori isn’t very crispy which some folks might prefer, but more on the soft and pliable side, which is actually how I prefer it. For me, when the nori is stuck to the rice and allowed time to “bond”, it imparts some of its flavors into the rice versus when it’s first placed on and still crispy. I just don’t like biting into a musubi and the nori cracks apart, and simply like it stuck to the rice.

Summing up Asari and Salmon/Salmon Roe Onigiri, they each deserve a still-very-respectable 3 SPAM Musubi.

As for the Vege Miso Soup, now THIS is some oishilicious stuff!…

The broth is very “meaty”, which after confirming with the folks there, come to find out this is the same broth used for their Tonjiru Soup, which is made with pork, vegetables and miso. And I must say, this is one MIGHTY FINE example of Tonjiru Soup. Like I could practically eat a whole bucket of this stuff, it’s that good. It’s loaded with sliced Daikon and Aburage, along with sliced onion and Konnyaku…

Summing it up, a super-duper oishi 5 SPAM Musubi on Iyasume’s Vege Miso (Tonjiru) Soup. So good, I’d recommend instead of getting the Deluxe Combo set, just order any two musubi along with a side order of this soup and you’ve got yourself one mighty satisfying and tasty lunch from Musubi-ya Iyasume.

On another also-recent visit, I tried their Summer Special SPAM Musubi…

My usual bite-through view…

Om-nom-nom-nom-nom-nom. lol

The generous amount of seedless ume spread underneath the SPAM was fantastic, giving it that wonderful tangy “bite” and contrast to the meaty, salty luncheon meat. As for the cucumber, it was sliced way too thin to have any impact on flavor and seemed more for decoration than anything else. While I mentioned earlier that I like my Nori soft and pliable, the Nori on this SPAM musubi was too soft and to the “melting point” already, where if you touch it, it easily breaks apart. So minus a point each for “melted” nori and the cucumber sliced too thinly, where I’m going with 3 SPAM Musubi on Iyasume’s Summer Special SPAM Musubi. Does that sound right? lol

Finally, for dessert I tried their Original Coffee Jelly…

Jello® with cream is always good. Let’s try this Coffee-flavored “jelly”…

Yeah, I know, I’m supposed to invert it on a plate to make a nice presentation, but who am I trying to impress? You, the reader? Come on, we’re all good friends here now, so let’s just dig in and eat the darned thing! lol

How is it? It tastes basically like a quality sweetened black coffee turned into Jello® form. For those who prefer cream in their coffee (like me), that’s where the cream comes in here, which is actually half & half (half cream, half milk). The half & half (or cream) definitely makes this, as I couldn’t see eating this straight “black”, just the same as I am with coffee in liquid form.

I’d go as far as saying if you’re a coffee drinker, consider buying a pack of gelatin and “Jello-izing” a pot of coffee and keep it in the fridge in individual containers like this. It’s an equally satisfying, cool and refreshing alternative to a regular ‘ole hot cup ‘o joe or ice coffee, and would make for a fun thing to munch on before heading off to work or to snack on at the end of your lunch break. 3 SPAM Musubi.

As for parking in the immediate area to hit up Musubi-ya Iyasume,  for the most part forget it. Except for loading and unloading, there’s no street parking available on Koa Street, unless you have someone who can wait in the car while you run in. There’s a parking garage under the hotel, but that’s limited to hotel guests.

Well there you have it. Yet another place to get your musubi on when you demand only the best. Particularly if you happen to be in Waikiki. Next time you’re walking around this world-famous tourist mecca and looking for something delicious to snack on at the beach or back at the hotel room, consider heading a street up from Kalakaua avenue on Koa and check out Musubi-ya Iyasume. Oishii!!!

Musubi-Ya Iyasume
2410 Koa Avenue Suite #4 (behind the Hyatt Waikiki Regency & Spa
Honolulu, Hawaii  96815

Tel. (808) 921-0168
www.tonsuke.com/eomusubiya.html

Other locations:
Iyasume Bento Express
Waikiki Shopping Plaza

Iyasume
611 Kapahulu Avenue
Tel. (808) 735-3530

The Tasty Island Rating (Koa Avenue location):

(4) Excellent. Worth another visit or purchase. (Winnahz!)

Related Tasty Island links:
• A Marukai Musubi Fest
• Musubi Mania at Mana Bu’s
• Mana Bu’s Hana Hou

P.S. Guess what time it is? It’s time to have a GIVEAWAY CONTEST! YAY!!!!!

What is it that’s being given away? This!…

2010 Foodland limited edition Musubi Reusable Eco Shopping Bag

PLUS THIS!…

2010 Foodland limited edition Musubi insulated hot cold Bag

Yes, two lucky winners will each receive one (brand spankin’ new) Musubi-themed Foodland Reusable Eco Shopping Bag and one Musubi-themed Foodland Hot Cold Bag. These are limited edition bags that will soon sell out at local Foodland retail stores and will no doubt be a collectible item.

To enter to win these two cool musubi bags, all you need to do is submit your entry via a comment (or eMail me if you prefer to remain private) that says “I want those SPAM Musubi Bags!“ That’s it. Simple as that. Two winners will be chosen by a physical drawing, where I’m going to print each entry person’s name on a piece of paper and pull it blindly from a SPAM Musubi bag. I’ll record the drawing on video, and when I announce the winners in a future post, I’ll insert the video in that post via YouTube  to show proof that this contest wasn’t “fixed” or “juiced”. Make sure that your comment or eMail includes a valid return eMail address so I know how to contact you if you’re a winner.

PLUS, on top of that, I’m throwing in a BONUS PRIZE!…

2009 limited edition Jack in the Box University of Hawaii Football ‘Warrior Jack’

PLUS THIS!…

2010 limited edition Jack in the Box ‘Throwback Jack’ (from UH’s 1982 football season!)

If you also want a chance to win the University of Hawaii Jack in the Box Warrior Jack and UH Throwback Jack Antenna Ball BONUS PRIZE on top of the two Musubi bags, along with your comment that says “I want those SPAM Musubi Bags!”, in your comment or eMail, you must also submit an ORIGINAL Haiku on the subject of what else? SPAM Musubi! Yes, submit a Haiku on SPAM Musubi. Don’t know what a Haiku is? Learn more about it here.

These UH Football antenna balls are also limited editions, where in fact the 2009 “H” logo helmet antenna ball is no longer available at Jack in the Box Hawaii locations, and the new “Throwback Jack” UH “Warrior Bows” (circa 1982) helmet antenna ball is destined to sell out quickly.

The Haiku won’t be judged on anything else except that it must be your own original work, it must be a valid Haiku, adhering to the 5-7-5 syllable rule, and it must be about SPAM Musubi.

Keep in mind, you don’t need to submit a Haiku to win the Musubi bags. It’s only if you ALSO want to win the Jack in the Box University of Hawaii football helmet antenna ball bonus prizes.

Deadline to enter is Saturday, September 18, 2010.

NOTE: CURRENT HAWAII RESIDENTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE to enter this Musubi Bag and UH Football Antenna Ball contest. Upon selecting the winners, if your mailing address is in Hawaii, you will be disqualified.

2 winners! 2 Musubi Bags + possibly 2 UH Football antenna balls to each winner! Good luck! Go Warriors! Err, Go ‘Bows! Err, SPAM Musubi! Bag that is.

The Tasty Island

Really Hawaiian

Pacifica Island Art’s Blog

A. HULA PAHU

There are many excellent recordings to choose from. The CD Hawaiian Drum Dance Chants (Smithsonian Folkways SF-40015) makes available important historical recordings by chanters Kuluwaimaka, Pua Ha‘aheo, Katherine Kanahele, and Mary Kawena Pukui, recorded in the 1930s. The CD Ancient Hula Hawaiian Style (HanaOla HOCD 2010) adds mid-century recordings by Lokalia Montgomery and George Naope; hula pahu repertoire is also recorded by their contemporaries Tom Hiona on Hawaiian Chant, Hula and Music (Folkways FW-8750) and Henry Pa on Mele Inoa Vol. 2 (Noelani NRS-103)–two LPs not re-issued on CD or online. Maiki Aiu Lake, the teacher of teachers in the 1970s and 1980s, recorded the core “trilogy” of hula pahu repertoire on her CD Maiki (Hula HS-588). More contemporpary chanters who have recorded hula pahu repertoire in include Kaha‘i Topolinski on the LP Nou e Kawena (Pumehana PS-4926) and on the CD Nā Kumu Hula / Songs from the Source Vol. 1 (State Council on Hawaiian Heritage SCHH-1); Keith Kalanikau Awai on Hana Hou! (Do It Again) (Pan 2033), Noenoe Zuttermeister Lewis on Hawaiian Drum Dance Chants (Smithsonian Folkways SF-40015), the Brothers Kanilau (Randy and Keli‘i Chang) on Mele Oli (Sounds True M-007), Michael Pili Pang on Hawaii–Traditional Hula (Arc EUCD-1794), and Pekelo Day on Mai Nā Kūpuna Mai (Ululoa UL-106).

1. “Kaulilua i ke anu Wai‘ale‘ale.”  The Hawaiian Festival Contingent, Festival Music from Hawai‘i (Hibiscus HLS-71). The performance chosen for my class playlist is from a 1976 performance at the 2nd South Pacific Festival of Arts held in Rotorua, New Zealand. The chanter here is Hoakalei Kamau‘u, an important chanter, teacher, and advocate of traditional hula and whose recordings are too few and far between. Music from many of the delegations performing at the Festival were released by Hibiscus Records, a New Zealand label specializing in Pacific music.

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2. ” ‘Au‘a ‘ia e Kama e kona moku.” This mele is symbolically charged for contemporary Hawaiians. It reports a prophecy of a poet and historian named Keaulumoku. He counsels performers and audiences to hold fast to lands and heritage, for great changes were about to engulf the Hawaiian people. While one source identifies the recipient of the prophecy as ‘Aikanaka, a chief who ruled several centuries before the arrival of Europeans, another source identifies the recipient as Nāmakahelu, a chief in the time of Kamehameha I. The version selected for this playlist is one of the most recently issued recordings of this mele by Maui-based kumu hula Pekelo Day. Mai Nā Kūpuna Mai (Ululoa UL-106).

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B. Hula ‘Āla‘apapa

Mele hula with ipu accompaniment that predate the Kalākaua era do not possess the symmetrical patterning of stanzas that emerged in the later 19th century in the hula ku‘i and its chanted counterpart that came to be called hula ‘ōlapa. There may be refrains repeated in different sections of the mele, but there is no expectation of consistent line stanza lengths. The mele were as long or as short as needed.

3. “Hole Waimea,” performed by Lokalia Montgomery on Waikiki Records (45-532) and reissued on Ancient Hula Hawaiian Style (HanaOla HOCD-2010). What exquisite ipu playing by a master teacher whose students included Maiki Aiu Lake. The mele, associated with Kamehameha I, is found in manuscript and newspaper sources as dedicated to Kamehameha II.

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4. “Holo Mai Pele,” on Uwōlani (Liko LR-2003). Hilo‘s Hālau o Kekuhi is acknowledged as the preeminent guardians of hula repertoire dedicated to the volcano goddess Pele. Moreover, much of the repertoire has a clear lineage dating back generations preceding the Kalākaua era in the late nineteenth century. Many newer  compositions by the most recent four generations of the Kanaka‘ole family are informed by the pre-19th century structures and sensibilities of the inherited repertoire.

C. HULA ‘ŌLAPA

5. “Aia lā ‘o Pele i Hawai‘i,” performed by Ka‘upena Wong, with kāhea by Pele Pukui Suganuma. Mele Inoa (Poki SP-9003) is an LP that has not yet been remastered onto CD. Although this mele is dedicated to Pele, its strophic structure and repeated tune point to late 19th- or early 20th-century composition, and prominent scholar Kīhei de Silva has suggested linking the vivid descriptions in this mele to eruptions in 1880 and 1881.

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6. “Nani wale ku‘u ‘ike,” performed by Maiki Aiu Lake on Maiki (Hula HS-588). A late 19th- or early 20th-century mele, taught by Maiki Aiu Lake as taught to her by Lokalia Montgomery, using the feather-decorated ‘ulī‘ulī gourd rattle.

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7. “He Lei No Kapi‘olani” [Aia i Haili kō lei nani] by Sonny Ching, on Ho‘oūlu i ka Na‘auao (Four Strings FSCD 7489). Sonny Ching is kumu hula of Nā Mamo o Pu‘uanahulu, which has won numerous awards in preeminent hula competition events.

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8. “No ka Moku Kiakahi ke aloha” performed by Keali‘i Reichel on Melelana (Punahele PP-007). A recent composition by Keali‘i Reichel from within the past two decades, yet this mele is in the structure of its late 19th-century counterparts. This mele was reissued on the anthology Kamahiwa (Punahele PP-010).

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“CROSSOVER” — what I call those mele that were handed down as both chanted hula ‘ōlapa and sung hula ‘ku‘i

9. “Lili‘u E” by Aloha Pumehana Serenaders on Hula Gems (Poki SP-9013). Kumu Hula Darrell Lupenui is the lead voice heard on this CD. This track is a wonderful teaching tool, for introducing the concept of “crossover”–what I call mele that were taught in both chanted hula ‘ōlapa and sung hula ku‘i modes. It is exactly the same mele poetic text, yet it takes on two completely different characters both musically and choreographically.

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D. Hula Ku‘i

10. “Puamana” by Irmgard Aluli and Puamana. From Irmgard With Love (Mountain Apple MACD-2049). A classic hula ku‘i song, performed by the composer herself and her group consisting of two daughters and a niece. This song is a perennial favorite among hula students, and among novice musicians at kani ka pila.

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11. “I Ali‘i No ‘Oe,” performed by Genoa Keawe. Luau Hulas (Hula HS-514). Genoa Keaweʻs album Luau Hulas and its predecessor Party Hulas (Hula HS-507 were both produced with use by hula dancers in mind. The arrangements are straightforward; the first and last stanzas are repeated while stanzas in between are sung only once, and there are no instrumental breaks inserted. These two recordings also represent Genoa Keawe‘s signature ha‘i most excellently.

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12. “Ko‘ula” by Raiatea Helm with Robert Cazimero. Hawaiian Blossom (Raiatea Helm RHCD-8001). Raiatea Helm is one of a handful of singers hailed as successor to Genoa Keawe‘s signature ha‘i style of singing. The soaring vocal lines invite wide sweeping gestures in choreography.

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And finally, wrapping up the listening excerpts for hula ku‘i are two compositions from recent recordings.

13. “Ku‘u Pua Lovely,” performed by Nā Kama. Kamakolu (Makani MR-003).

14. “Hanohano Helumoa,” performed by Ho‘okena. Nani Mau Loa (Ho‘omau HOCD-10xx).

Hawaiian Music for Listening Pleasure

In an academic article published in 1996 titled “Beyond Bibliography: Interpreting Hawaiian Language Hymn Imprints,” I analyzed the corpus of hymns used by the ABCFM missionaries and their modern-day successors, the United Church of Christ. My analysis revealed that the hymns went through two different repertoires. The repertoire introduced by the very first parties of missionaries to arrive in the Hawaiian Islands were hymn and psalm texts that could be sung using a mix-and-match system of tunes. Through tunebooks published in 1834 and 1844, the names of tunes are key to identifying the specific musical repertoire that missionaries introduced.

Around mid-century, however, a new style of hymns came into vogue. These hymns, which were widely referred to as “gospel hymns,” used a format of multiple verses alternating with a chorus refrain.These hymns were gained popularity through their use in revival meetings across the United States continent, and came to Hawai‘i particularly through the championing of Reverend Lorenzo Lyons. This body of hymnody has virtually replaced the earlier hymns. In the 1970s Jack de Mello produced an LP of the earlier repertoire, sung by Nina Keali‘iwahamana and accompanied by light orchestration; other than that, listeners have had little opportunity to encounter the earlier repertoire, as the later repertoire has dominated the hymnals since.

To the playlist:

1. “Pohaku Kahiko.” This selection is representation of the earlier wave of hymnody introduced by the earliest parties of missionaries, beginning in 1820. There are three stanzas, each sung to the same tune. In the 1844 tunebook, this hymn text is paired with the tune “Zadoc.” The performance here is by The Rose Ensemble, a professional a capella vocal ensemble based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Extensive historical research was combined with close attention to linguistic elements of pronunciation.

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2. “Nu ‘Oli / Glad Tidings.” Bishop Memorial Singers. Nā Leo Hawai‘i Kahiko / Voices of Old Hawai‘i. Bishop Museum Audio-Recording Collections ARCS-1; reissued on CD as The Master Chanters of Hawai‘i (Mountain Apple MACD-2043). In contrast to the first selection, this himeni alternates between a chorus with one tune, and multiple stanzas having a different tune. First published in the 1878 tunebook Ka Lei Alii, it has been included in every edition of the hymnal through the most recent, Nā Himeni o Ka Ekalesia (1999).

3. “Nu ‘Oli / Glad Tidings.” Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawaii, Christmas Time (Hawaii Sons HS-4004). This is an example of a Christian himeni moving into the guitar-based performance style associated with secular (non-Christian) Hawaiian songs. Is this an example of how Hawaiian people had embraced Christianity such that himeni could be sung outside of chuch as well as during worship? In other words, is this a case of himeni crossing the sacred/secular line? Or is this an example of Hawaiian musicians crossing the sacred/secular line, by taking himeni outside the church? Or is this an example where the analytical line between sacred and secular is not meaningful to musicians and audiences?

4. “Maika‘i e launa me ‘oe,” performed by Kawaiola. Ho‘oheno i ka Pu‘uwai (MDL 6429). Another example of a Christian himeni, published in 20th-century hymnals, appeared in the repertoire of a group of young adults in the 1980s.

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5 and 6. “Hawai‘i Aloha,” performed by The Kawaiahao Church Choir. Hawaii Aloha (Mahalo MS-4008). This himeni was composed by Rev. Lorenzo Lyons, and has always been a longtime favorite among Hawaiian churches. In the 1970s, Hawaiian groups began singing this himeni publicly at the conclusion of public gatherings, and the himeni has since gathered the status of an anthem. The Kawaiahao Church Choir recorded the song as widely performed–verse one, chorus, and repeat chorus. Anyone who would like to learn to sing the second and third stanzas may refer to The Rose Ensemble, who recorded the himeni in its entirety.

Hawaiian Music for Listening Pleasure

First up for today’s edition of “Grindz of the Day”, we have a Strawberry Slush Float “Shake” from Byron’s Drive-In.  Another one of many signature items a coworker of mine absoluted RAVED about and insisted I try it.  Well, apparently they got my order wrong, as even though I specifically told the cashier at Byron’s I wanted a Slush Shake, it turns out I was given a Strawberry Slush Float.

Not knowing the difference or bothering to ponder it, and without anyone with  me to tell me otherwise, in retrospect, this is indeed a Slush Float and not a Slush Shake, as you see the Vanilla ice cream floating on top of the Strawberry Slush…

Hey, who am I to know? Looks close enough to be a shake to me. The ice cream was soft enough. Besides, what the heck does a Slush Shake look like? Well, after taking a minute or two to thoroughly stir it, THIS is what a Strawberry Slush Shake should look like…

This, as my coworker explained, the Strawberry Slush Float and Slush Shake are the same thing, save for the Shake being put under the mixer to combine it evenly.

So how is it? WAY TOO SWEET for me. The combination of the artificially-flavored strawberry syrup, even though diluted in the slush, when combined with the also-sweet Vanilla ice cream is like a one-two punch. My coworker confessed she has a major sweet-tooth, so that explains her deep affection for this concoction, yet for me, pass. I barely could finish half of it before tossing it. I gotta’ say though, the Strawberry Slush itself had a nice finely-crushed ice texture, kinda’ like a “Liquid Shave Ice”.

How’s that for a new concept, eh? “Liquid Shave Ice”! Take all of those exotic Shave Ice flavors like Li Hing Mui, Pistachio, Coconut, Bubble Gum, etc. and, instead of the “usual” Shave Ice (a solid state snow cone), offer Slush!

Speaking of Shave Ice, along with my sweeter-than-Willy Wonka Strawberry Float “Shake”, I ordered another Hawaii favorite, a Loco Moco…

Thankfully I went with the mini version, as I could barely even finish this.  Honestly, I haven’t had a Loco Moco for quite a while for the simple reason that’s it’s way too much indulgence that my dwindling metabolism and aging body can barely afford anymore, as really, lots of the foods I feature on this blog are. Yet for now we wont’ dwell on that, enjoy the moment, and live for today. Grindz of the Day that is.

But yeah, the classic “loosen the belt buckle” Loco Moco here from Byron’s, that begins with a bed of white rice, topped by a house-made beef burger patty, which is then topped with an egg (sunnyside-up always my choice) and then smothered with brown gravy, while being accompanied by a scoop of Mac’ Sal’.

As you can tell, the burger patty was griddled (fried), not char-grilled as I always prefer. Yet aside of that shortcoming, it was cooked to medium perfection, being very moist and nicely seasoned.

Of course the most crucial element of a Loco Moco is the gravy, and Byron’s pretty much nails it. Deep, rich, thick and beefy, although I must also note it did taste like it could be based on that packaged “just add water” McCormick’s stuff. Which I really don’t have a problem with, as I enjoy packaged gravies, even though one reader once said “you lose all credentials” when I once said that before. Whatevahz.You go spend 10 hours making stock to make gravy. I’ll be ready to eat in minutes.

One thing I really like as a finishing touch on my Loco Moco are sauteed onions, which obviously Bryon’s doesn’t do, but that would have been great.

One of the best  parts of eating any gravy-laden plate lunch is when the gravy “kisses” the mac salad…

You get that creamy, rich mayo’ combined with the beefy flavor of the thick gravy, put some of that on your fork and lick it like, oh never mind. Just, mmm-mmm-yum, so ono! I think this very notion is what inspired Zippy’s to add “Mac Salad Sauce” to their Chili Moco. Brilliant!

Summing it up, I give Byron’s Drive In Loco Moco a solid 3 SPAM Musubi, while their Slush Float “Shake” gets 1. Surely you sweet tooth’ers will think more highly of it.

Staying on topic with the theme of “indulgent and decadent”, moving on to our next “Grindz of the Day”, we have some plates Diner A and family enjoyed a few weeks ago at the new Pancakes & Waffles in City Square Shopping Center in Kapalama. First off we have a Fried Rice, Eggs and Breakfast Links plate…

Good to see they use round paper plates, and not them dreaded non-eco-friendly, sterile and unfashionable white styrofoam clamshell containers.

Next up, what? Hamburger patty, eggs and brown gravy over plain ‘old boring white rice not enough to excite that inner Loco Moco desire deep within you? Then you need to hook up with a Fried Rice Loco Moco…

Be still my beating heart! Insane.

Next up, the last time we visited Pancakes & Waffles, it seemed all the rage here wasn’t their Pancakes or their Waffles, but actually more people around us were eating their Fried Chicken. So Diner A satisfied all our curiosities by ordering that on this visit…

These are some substantially-sized clucker thighs, as you see compared in scale to Diner A’s hand here….

They be T-Rex thighs.

Instead of Honey Butter, he opted for Ranch dressing as a dipping sauce for the fried chicken…

I suppose one way to look at it is, well, at this point, no sense ordering a diet soda and tossed green salad to accompany this meal. lol

Look at how juicy and tender the meat is…

While the battered crust is super “crisp’ety-crunch’ety” and well-seasoned….

IIRC, Diner A commented that it reminded him of Woolworth’s famous fried chicken. Remember that? That was one of the best things about going to Woolworth’s. As soon as you walk in the store, the combined aroma of scented candles, new clothes, coffee, popcorn and fried chicken would almost literally smack you in the face. Loved that! RIP Woolworth’s.

Anyhow, like our experience at Pancakes & Waffles, Diner A’s weekend brunch there with the family also was a 3 SPAM Musubi affair. Oh, and not to fret. They went to the beach afterwards to swim it all off.

Moving on, we get some stuffs from L&L Drive In/Hawaiian BBQ/whatever they call it, starting with this bowl of Saimin…

That looks to me like Japanese style Ramen Chashu. Check it out..

Like seemingly 90% of Hawaii’s restaurant industry uses, I’m going to guess these noodles are sourced from Sun Noodle Factory…

I got a sip of the broth, which tasted like your standard Dashi and Shoyu broth, while not getting much added flavor from the Charsiu (roast pork).

Summing it up, Diner A gives L&L’s Saimin 2 SPAM Musubi. Cheap, decent and satisfying.

The classic accompaniment to Saimin is a Hamburger, which Diner A added to his L&L Drive In meal here…

Personally, I’d pay extra to make it a ‘Deluxe’, as my burger MUST have Lettuce, Tomato and Onion on it. Cheese too, of course! Plain like this just doesn’t work for me. Biting into it, not much excitement going on…

Pretty much a plain-old griddle-cooked hamburger that I’m putting way too much writing effort into. Sorry to waste your bandwidth and time having to download these last two pictures and read all this blabbering. lol

Nah, but at least he gave it 2 SPAM Musubi, as the burger patty was moist and well-seasoned,  and of course it went quite well with the decent Saimin from L&L.

Getting a little more “exotic”, Diner E tried L&L’s Fried Shrimp Sandwich…

I don’t know why, but of all the dishes featured so far on today’s edition of “Grindz of the Day”, this Shrimp Sandwich is the one I crave most right about now. I think because I haven’t had shrimp for a couple of weeks now and could really go for some at this moment. Besides, honestly I’ve never had a Shrimp in sandwich form before, which I’m sure some of you will blast me for that.

The bite shot doesn’t reveal much, as evidently the shrimp tails in here are very small…

What is this, an Opae Sandwich? lol  Still, Diner E actually really enjoyed it, giving it a very solid 2 SPAM Musubi, which is favorable by his super-critical standards.

Speaking of chain restaurants (L&L Drive In continues to expand all over the US and internationally), next we have a Tonkatsu Curry takeout plate from Coco Ichibanya Curry House…

This generous portion of Tonkatsu and beef-based spicy curry and tsukemono comes in at a wallet-friendly .75.

Their curry tastes similar to the store-bought S&B brand, with a subtle sweetness to it that is typical of Japanese curries. If you go to Tokyo, you’ll find curry houses all over the place. Even their “spicy” curry isn’t hot at all. Notice it doesn’t have any kinds of vegetables in it, but acts more like a gravy for the tonkatsu and rice than as a stew.

The tonkatsu itself was right on point. The panko was evenly coated and deep-fried to “GBD” perfection, while the boneless pork was flavorful, moist and tender.

What’s nice is the specially-made takeout container is partitioned to isolate the curry “gravy” so it doesn’t make the crunchy tonkatsu soggy while in transit.

Summing it up, a very solid 3 SPAM Musubi for Coco Ichibanya Curry House’ Tonkatsu Curry takeout plate.

One last note on this place, I noticed lots of folks in there ordering the curry that had fresh grated cheddar cheese sprinkled on it and melted over, which looked GOOD! I’m so going to try that next time!

Still on restaurant chains, now we’re back at zippity-zip-zip Zippy’s for one of their Facebook coupon specials, the Spaghetti Fried Chicken plate…

Zippy’s Spaghetti isn’t going to put Assagio’s out business anytime soon, but for what it’s worth, it works. You get that, plus fried chicken, plus mac salad, plus toasted french bread for just ? Can’t go wrong!

One more chain restaurant, we’re back at Yummy’s Korean BBQ, this time with a Kalbi & Chicken Katsu mixed plate…

Yummy’s is getting a bit pricey as far as plate lunch joints go, as this mixed plate rang up to almost . Still, I must say their 4-choice banchan is, well, YUMMY! I especially love their Korean Potatoes and Korean style Potato salad, which are two of the choices on this plate. They also do really good job at making Chicken Katsu. My only complaint is Yummy’s Worcesterhire-based katsu sauce. Pass. Not to worry, as I have lots of my own Japanese Tonkatsu sauce to use on it. Kalbi is solid. Char-grilled and smokey-tasting with a deeply-marinaded sauce. Overall a very solid 4 SPAM here. The banchan makes it.

Finally, we’re back at Kahai Street Kitchen, one of our all-time favorite haute plate lunch haunts, where today we have this delicious-looking plate…

This is Kahai Street Kitchen’s special of the day, Baked Chicken in a Boursin Cheese Cream Sauce and topped with Tomato Provencal. It’s served with a Tossed Green Salad with Kahai Street Kitchen’s EXCELLENT house dressing and steamed “Hapa” (brown and white) rice.

Price of admission? . Just seven bucks! You’d easily pay at least four times that price for a dish prepared exactly the same way at a white table cloth restaurant. Actually, the folks from our accounting department ordered this in bulk for a party they were throwing. Needless to say, everyone told me they LOVED it, which I’m not surprised, as Kahai Street Kitchen always delivers. Nao and the gang there REALLY know how to cook!

That’s all I’ve got for now. After posting this, it’s made me hungry, so I’m off right now for yet another “Grindz of the Day”!

The Tasty Island