Nick Vujicic

If you haven't heard of Nick Vujicic, be prepared to be inspired:

Are You Going to Finish Strong?

Giant of a Man

The Ala Wai Challenge - 1/25/2009

According to an article in yesterday's Advertiser, "The Ala Wai Challenge, for 24 years a Waikiki Community Center benefit event, is more than an outrigger canoe race — it's a chance to experience Hawaiian makahiki games (stone bowling, spear throwing, dart sliding, stone throwing, tug of war), to learn about lomi lomi massage and la'au lapa'au (herbal medicine) and to consider ways of creating a more green and sustainable community. "

I was wandering around during the program and heard the announcer saying something like, "Wait, don't let the birds go yet . . . " I had to practically run to get this shot.

It seems that our mayor always takes the time to attend these kinds of functions.This is big-wave rider Clyde Aikau.

Master canoe builder Bobby Puakea.

Da Spot was the only food tent so there was pretty much a line the whole time. I got a Tomato Eggplant Basil Chicken before going home. It was good. The owners have a small hole-in-da-wall restaurant on Pumehana Street and I also see them at the KCC Open Market on Saturdays.

There were all kinds of vendors, but one of them said "NO PICTURES!" to me so I decided not to take any of the vendors. I did take shots of the Shave Ice/Cotton Candy booth though 'cause Erin said it was okay.

It was "A Perfect Day" for the race. Even though the sun was pretty much blazing, the cool breeze made for a very comfortable outing.

There was a canoe shuttle taking tourists back and forth across the canal.

Corned Beef Hash Patties

Wendell's at a softball tournament today, so I cooked tonight. This dish is probably one of the last remaining foods that I can make that I haven't blogged about. I like to use this kine corned beef when I make patties. I got it at Foodland and it wasn't on sale so it was $6.49!!!

I put two potatoes in water and boiled.
Me and my son don't really like raw onions, so I usually sautee them before adding to the mixture. If you're a good cook (unlike me), you should cut the pieces smaller. I felt like I should've but the onion was slippery and I didn't want to hurt myself.

I dice up the boiled potatoes and kinda smoosh 'um, then add them, the onions, one egg and some pepper to the corned beef.

I form them into small patties and fry. I think I put too much oil in the pan. Oops!

Here're the patties on paper towels (trying to soak up all the oil).

Wendell made this the other day. I thought I'd sneak it in here. He tried to duplicate the seafood salad we had on New Year's Eve at his friend's house. It's Italian dressing poured over tako, ika, onions, tomatoes, olives, chinese parsley and (sorry Les, Susie and Betty) shrimp.

Good at Eyeballing?

Test it out at The Eyeballing Game. After several attempts my best score is 4.15. Wendell tried it once and beat me with 3.95 (lower is better). Leslie, don't rush . . . take your time . . . be patient.

Update: I got 2.81!!!! Hoo hoo!! Try beat dat one, Wendell!

Peach Jello

I got this recipe a long time ago from the mom of one of my son's friends, back in the days when we used to potluck after their baseball games. I really like how this picture came out. I zapped up the strength of the flash, pointed it straight up and reflected it off the ceiling. Came out neat, yeah.

Because I'm the amazing cook that I am and because the recipe is so complicated with all of five ingredients, I realized too late that I forgot to add in the sugar.

3 boxes (small) peach jello

4 1/2 c. hot water

3/4 c. sugar

3 pkg. Knox gelatin

1 pint half and half

You first dissolve the jello, gelatin and SUGAR in the water.

I let the liquid cool a bit, and then I add in the half and half. You then pour it into your 30+ year-old 9 x 9 inch misshapened pan that's probably been in your family for generations. Refrigerate. It turned out ono even though I forgot the sugar. I sure don't need the extra calories anyway.

Michael Buble

The Nuclear Bombing of Bikini Atoll

I bought this photo at the swap meet. It was 4 bucks. It's of a nuclear blast on Bikini Atoll. It gives me chicken skin.
Bikini Atoll is one of 29 atolls in the Marshall Islands of Micronesia. In March of 1946 the islanders gave up their home "for the good of mankind and to end all wars" to allow nuclear testing by the U.S. government on their land. They were subsequently relocated to areas with inadequate water and food supply. After three relocations in two years the islanders finally settled on Kili Island where starvation still continued to plaque them.

In June of 1968, after 22 years, the U.S. government deemed it safe for the Bikinian people to return to their homelands. The population of islanders slowly increased over the years until in June of 1975 during regular monitoring, radiological tests discovered "higher levels of radioactivity than originally thought. In September of 1978 Trust Territory officials arrived on Bikini to once again evacuate the people who were living on the atoll.

In the 1980's after filing a lawsuit in the U.S. Federal Claims Court, the people of Bikini received two trust funds from the United States government as compensation for giving up their islands for nuclear testing. You can find more info here: Bikini Atoll

Microwave Gau Recipe

This is for coworker Susan. Gau purists might be able to tell the difference between this gau and the real thing, but I can't. It tastes the same to me, and it's easy.



1 lb. wong tong (block brown sugar, you can find it in the Asian section)
1 lb. mochi flour
2 3/4 c. water
1/4 c. vegetable oil


Heat sugar and water on stove until sugar is dissolved. Cool.
Mix in flour.
Mix in oil until smooth.
Use ring mold (I don't have one so I just use a regular microwavable bowl)
Microwave 6 minutes on high, 6 minutes on 75% and 6 minutes on 50%
Cool; sprinkle with sesame seeds

Killer Kalbi

I got this recipe from the House of Annie blog. I started off with a pre-marinade using pureed onion and 7-up.

You puree the onion until it's almost liquified.

Pour out the onion and 7-up onto the meat and marinate for 2 to 3 hours to tenderize the beef, and boy does it get tender.After tenderizing you drain the liquid, leaving the onion. Add the kalbi marinade and soak overnight. Because I didn't plan good, I ended up soaking the meat for only 3 hours. Choke sesame seeds, yeah!

Kalbi marinade:

5 Tbsp soy sauce
4 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp honey
4 Tbsp Chinese rice wine
2 tsp Korean toasted sesame oil
2 stalks green onion, minced
4 tsp chopped garlic (1 to 2 cloves)
2 Tbsp roasted sesame seeds
2 Tbsp water
1 tsp ginger root, grated
1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes

It came out really, really good though.

Here's Kona watching me from afar. He must know what a dangerous cook I am . . .

'cause this is what happened after my third batch on the grill.

Marshmallows anyone?