Just some cute photos of you know who…

-NGK

The $9 collector’s item!

On my way back to Oahu after finishing the Pressure Cook filming on the Big Island, I stopped in the gift shop by the Hawaiian Airlines gate to kill some time. I stumbled upon this Aloha Airlines toy on the shelf and bought two of them as keepsakes or collector’s items if you will…one for Ensen to play with and one for me to keep in its original package as a future “talk story” piece.

The cashier behind the counter told me these were flying off the shelves and they were having a hard time ordering more. It could have just been a sales pitch, but I think it was the sad truth about people attempting to hold on to a piece of Hawaii history.

I’m holding on to my two planes for as long as I can, but I see people are turning around and selling them on eBay for a slightly higher price. Different strokes for different folks. It’s a really cool pull-back toy that makes a great take off and landing sound with flashing lights on the engines. Ensen certainly loves it!

-NGK

Canned goods for Hawaii Foodbank

The Kam family did its part this morning donating some canned good to the Hawaii Foodbank. A few collection baskets for the U.S. Postal Service National Association of Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive to “Help Stamp Out Hunger” were placed in our condo lobby and collection takes place today. Ensen took the liberty of personally placing a few items in the donation basket.

-NGK

Grandma…watch me walk and play!

Kona Grandma (my mom) is back in town for the weekend. Ensen wasted no time showing off his new walking and playing skills. Here’s a couple of photos and videos for Kona Grandpa who couldn’t make the trip.

-NGK

Pressure Cook Wraps on the Big Island!

Ralph Pagano works the Legends of the Pacific luau a the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The food and entertainment is fantastic!

The last two days on Hawaii’s Big Island have been great. We’ve had great weather and Ralph has been working his a$$ off to make enough money for his plane ticket home. As fans of Pressure Cook know, if he fails to do that, there is a penalty. Want to know what that is? Click here. Can you figure out what it is? I’d be a fool to giveaway the ending, so you’ll have to watch the Hawaii episode in December to find out what happens.

But what I will say is more and more people each day have been recognizing Ralph and the guy’s got quite a following. And it’s really no surprise why after watching him in action. He’s passionate about food, genuinely interested in the places he visits, and goes out of his way to make everyone he encounters feel comfortable. For a high-profile celebrity, Ralph is really down to Earth.

So enough of the sappy “man-crush” kind of talk. Let’s recap what he did the remainder of his time in Hawaii. I’ll let the following pictures do the talking.

Mike and Leslie of Wailea Agricultural Group in Honomu put Ralph to work harvesting delicious hearts of palm. This stuff has quickly become one of my favorite vegetables.

Wasting no time after the harvest, Ralph headed to the new Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar in the Queen’s Marketplace at Waikoloa with the fresh palm hearts and went to work. The “Ralph Special” that night was a wonderful seared ahi with hearts of palm salad and a little poke on the side. This dish was “broke da mouth.” Sansei Chef/Owner DK Kodama flew in special for the evening. And “just so happen,” my mom (Rhonda) and dad (Gary) stopped by for dinner and a photo with Ralph. BTW, everything at Sansei is ono…really can’t go wrong.

For the grand finale, Ralph was introduced to the famous Hawaiian luau. He helped get the pig in and out of the imu, prepared a couple of dishes for the night, and worked the crowd. Hilton Waikoloa Village Executive Chef Kenny Omiya was impressed with the end product and so were the guests.

So mission accomplished, right? You’ll have to wait and see.

-NGK

Another fun filled weekend

Here are a few pictures showcasing Ensen having a great time this past weekend.

-KK

Pressure Cook’s Ralph Pagano doing his thing in Hawaii!

Ralph and me at beautiful Kualoa Ranch.

I found out yesterday that this is Ralph Pagano’s first time to Hawaii, so he’s been enjoying every experience and challenge he’s encountered. The past two day’s of Pressure Cook filming have been intense and it’s been interesting to see how one of my favorite shows on TV is made. Here’s a few photos to give you a “sneak peek” of what’s been going on. Just an “appetizer” if you will!

Ralph heads to The Shack in Hawaii Kai to meet up with Brendan and Chef Mike to prepare for the Spam Jam in Waikiki. Along the way, he meets DK Kodama of Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar.

Day two, Ralph prepares breakfast for a bikini shoot at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. Photographer Dave Miyamoto and the models of Pualani Hawaii swimwear reap the rewards of a delicious breakfast after a long morning of work.

Ralph finds a true slice of Hawaii paradise in Kaaawa Valley at Kualoa Ranch.

Along the way, Ralph runs into some locals who just returned from a tako tournament. What an amazing scene to see all the squid hanging in the the garage.

We’re off to Hawaii’s Big Island. More updates soon.

-NGK

Pressure Cook with Ralph Pagano in Hawaii!

The production crew from MOJO network’s Pressure Cook with Ralph Pagano arrived yesterday on Oahu and I have the privilege of working with them this week on the filming of the Hawaii episode. It’s been a long time coming and it was good to finally meet show producers Sandy Green, Brian Reichelt, and Sunny Antrim of Helicon Media in person after many telephone conversations and e-mail exchanges over the past few months.

This is another quality show we (McNeil Wilson Communications) secured on behalf of our client the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) as part of our public relations initiatives for the year to bring more national television shows to the islands.

I’ll be blogging about the production along the way, so fans of the show, stay tuned for a little “behind the scenes” coverage. In case you’re wondering, Ralph (also of Hell’s Kitchen season one fame) is one of the nicest guys (celebrities) I’ve ever met.

And if you want to watch the show online, visit Hulu.com where you’ll find all the episodes of season one.

Back in touch soon with an update.

-NGK

Hulu.com for all TV junkies!

Working in public relations and representing a client whose mission it is to get TV shows to Hawaii, it’s critically important to keep up to speed on the shows making headlines. But factor in a long work day, 10.5 month old baby boy, and husband duties, even our DVR can’t keep pace.

So thank goodness for sites like Hulu.com which makes watching TV’s most popular shows on the Internet at your leisure a cinch! And did I mention that it’s all FREE! A couple of my favorites these days are Three Sheets with Zane Lamprey and Saturday Night Live. BTW, they’ve got full-length movies on there too! According to Hulu’s website:

Hulu’s ambitious and never-ending mission is to help you find and enjoy the world’s premium content when, where and how you want it. We hope to provide you with the web’s most comprehensive selection from more than 50 content providers including FOX, NBC, MGM, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and more to deliver premium programming across all genres and formats, television shows, feature films, and clips. Watch full-length episodes of current primetime TV shows such as The Simpsons and The Office the morning after they air, classics like Miami Vice and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and clips from Saturday Night Live, In Living Color, and others. Hulu also offers full-length feature films like The Usual Suspects, Ice Age, Sideways, and The Big Lebowski as well as clips from films such as Napoleon Dynamite, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Devil Wears Prada and many more. Hulu is free and ad-supported — available anytime in the U.S.

If you don’t believe me, give it a try. But don’t blame me if you can’t break away from your computer and happen to become a TV junkie…or media junkie as I like to call myself.

-NGK

The King of His Domain!

Okay, so I think Kelly and I have a monster named Ensen on our hands.  A cute, super cuddly monster that is! But a monster nonetheless. Just take a look at these photos below from the weekend. Not only does Ensen think he rules the bedroom when he wakes up in the morning, he’s claimed the living room and every toy in it as well! Wow, little fella…why the mean looking face?

If anyone knows how to keep these kinds of cute monsters at bay, we’re all ears! For now, we’ll keep this one contained with hugs and kisses.

-NGK

Ensen and Kaui sitting in a tree…

…K-I-S-S-I-N-G! Well not exactly a tree as you see above, but rather in our living room last night. How cute are Kaui (17 months) and Ensen (10.5 months)? Aunty Erin (my sister) and Kaui’s mommy Aunty Kim (my sister’s friend) stopped by for dinner. Not even five minutes after getting here, we were egging them on. Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss! And they did! So what did they both think after their first kiss together? Click here to find out.

After a little more playing and getting to know each other better, Ensen ditched the kissing and insisted on showing Kaui his more aggressive way of showing affection. That would be his “ram-like” head butting technique. Check out the video below.

So will this love connection go any farther than just one night? Only time will tell.

-NGK

The kid can walk!

The video below taken last night says it all. Ensen’s walking ability is improving every day. What a cutie!

Just another working day in paradise!

A typical West Maui sunset from the beach fronting The Westin Maui in Kaanapali. Spectacular!

Another great day of shooting with the Three Sheets crew on Maui in the books! I can’t believe there’s only one more day left. I’m keeping this one short as I’m about to head out the door for dinner with the crew. Simply put, the Hawaii show is going to be awesome!

Zane’s “hangover cure” was a lomi lomi massage in a cabana at The Westin Maui in Kaanapali.

Zane samples Pau Maui vodka distilled from Maui Gold pineapples. Another Three Sheets First!

More Magnum P.I. spoofing! All about recreating the opening scene as close as possible.

Eric the Sound Guy gives the whole Magnum P.I. thing a shot.

-NGK

Three Sheets heads to Maui!

It’s a wrap! Eric the Sound Guy, me, Zane, Shay (Ocean Vodka), Garrett (Maui Brewing Co.), and Curtiss the Cameraman below.

After finishing up on Oahu, the Three Sheets crew moved to Maui on Sunday. Again, I’m not going to disclose too much (you’ll need to watch Three Sheets Hawaii in January on MOJO HD) but since you’ve been asking, here’s a little recap of our recent shoot on the island.

Zane at the Ocean Vodka facility in Kahului. This stuff is awesome!

The show wouldn’t have been complete without a visit to Ocean Vodka and its “unmarked” distillery in Kahului. Zane had a bast getting to know the family that makes this unbelievably delicious handcrafted spirit and also getting hands on working in the factory. By the way, there was a “Three Sheets First” that occurred during this visit, so you’ll have to watch the show. Let’s just say it involves the number 1-9-2. Any guesses what this means?

Zane also visited a new bar in Lahaina called the Mai Tai Lounge on Front Street. Sorry, no photos of this one as I was responsible for taking care of Curtiss the Cameraman’s light on the floor below all the action.

Yesterday, we shot the open of the show which included a little spoof on the whole Magnum P.I. thing! This open alone will be worth tuning into the show.

Then Zane was invited to a backyard paina to drink it up local style. The segment will speak for itself when you see it, so I’ll keep you hanging there. The folks from Ocean Vodka were in attendance, along with Garrett Marrero of Maui Brewing Company. I became a big fan of their Coconut Porter during a visit to Maui with the family a month or so ago. Garrett and Zane broke it all down and tasted a few of the brewery’s offerings. Ocean Vodka cocktails were also abundant and a good time was had by all. George Kahumoku Jr. also showed up and played some Hawaiian music, while girls from the Old Lahaina Luau showed Zane how to hula.

Garrett from Maui Brewing Company with Zane and guests.

Everyone yelling “Three Sheets Hawaii” for the camera. Curtiss the Cameraman and Eric the Sound Guy with the lovely girls from Old Lahaina Luau. Zane with Grammy Award-winning entertainer George Kahumoku, Jr.

Zane with Shay and Garrett. Producer Christina with the guys. Zane being entertained.

The production winds down over the next couple days with more fun stuff on the schedule. Stay tuned for more vague updates. Once production wraps I’ll get into more detail as we head towards January’s airing of the Hawaii episode.

Okole ma luna (bottoms up)!

-NGK

Three Sheets and Zane Lamprey in Hawaii!

The one and only Zane Lamprey with yours truly.

As a fan of the drinking show Three Sheets with Zane Lamprey on MOJO HD (Oceanic Channel 1561), it was amazing to finally meet the man himself on Oahu the other day at Duke’s Canoe Club (Outrigger Waikiki). You never know what these celebrity encounters will be like, but Zane is as cool as they come and the guy is funny as hell!

Don’t have HD cable? No problem. You can still watch the show online at MOJOHD.com or Hulu.com.

I’ve been working with Zane’s production team (Christina, Curtiss, and Eric you guys are awesome!) to get the show to Hawaii since the beginning of the year and all the hard work has finally come to fruition. A little PR project for my client the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau to showcase a little different side of what Hawaii is all about.

Shooting a scene with Zane on the beach in Waikiki. Those familiar with the show, that’s Curtiss the Cameraman and Eric the Sound Guy to the right.

I’m not going to give away anything about the show, but I can assure you the stuff we’ve been filming the past two days on Oahu have been great. Things even the locals here probably didn’t know about.

We’re off to Maui today for more fun and exploration of Hawaii’s drinking culture. I’ll try to post more tidbits along the way. Oh, and by the way, Pleepleus the monkey made the trip too!

-NGK

Here’s the proof!

Ensen decided to show off tonight and show the world that he really is walking!

-KK

Travel today is expensive period, not just to Hawaii!

Another beautiful day at the Hanalei Bay Pier on Kauai.

News headlines these days have been pretty grim for Hawaii following the shutdown of Aloha Airlines and ATA. Most outlets are speculating airfare to the islands will rise due to a reduction in seats and jet fuel prices at all time record highs. I think it’s fair to say travelers will certainly see higher fares in the near future.

But despite all of the negative headlines, I was curious to find out just how expensive it is to fly to Hawaii this summer from some of this destination’s key markets (versus other competitive destinations like Orlando, Jamaica, Mexico, Bahamas, London, etc.).

So I did some very non-scientific research yesterday on Kayak.com. I picked travel dates (July 3-11), which I thought airfares were most likely to be at a premium. And here is what I found (rates based on one round trip ticket):

Los Angeles

• LAX-HNL (Honolulu) - $538
• LAX-MCO (Orlando) - $369
• LAX-KIN (Jamaica) - $550
• LAX-FPO (Bahama) - $476
• LAX-MEX (Mexico) - $357
• LAX-LHR (London) - $1,103

San Francisco

• SFO-HNL (Honolulu) - $652
• SFO-MCO (Orlando) - $399
• SFO-KIN (Jamaica) - $700
• SFO-FPO (Bahama) - $513
• SFO-MEX (Mexico) - $545
• SFO-LHR (London) - $1,123

Vancouver, B.C.

• YVR-HNL (Honolulu) - $754
• YVR-MCO (Orlando) - $648
• YVR-KIN (Jamaica) - $1,004
• YVR-FPO (Bahama) - $777
• YVR-MEX (Mexico) - $723
• YVR-LHR (London) - $1,215

New York

• NYC-HNL (Honolulu) - $868
• NYC-LAX (Los Angeles) - $366
• NYC-KIN (Jamaica) - $445
• NYC-FPO (Bahama) - $347
• NYC-MEX (Mexico) - $342
• NYC-LHR (London) - $912

To summarize:

• No matter what destination you’re thinking of traveling to, airfares will generally be high across the board, particularly to Europe.
• Airfare from the West Coast/Canada to Hawaii remains very competitive with other destinations. The current exchange rate for Canadians makes a trip/vacation to Hawaii very reasonable.
• Airfare from the East Coast to Hawaii is higher versus travel to competitive destinations. No surprise here regardless of the current airline situation.

Looking at the bigger travel picture, if you’re determined to take a tropical overseas vacation this summer regardless of the cost, Hawaii is still a great value! What are you waiting for? Do your research, book early, put your tax refund to good use, and make that Hawaii vacation a reality.

To start planning your Hawaii vacation, visit GoHawaii.com.

-NGK

Big Break Kaanapali tees off tonight!

FORE! The Golf Channel’s Big Break Kaanapali (ladies edition) begins its new season tonight at 4 p.m. HST (with repeats at 6 and 9 p.m.). Beautiful Kaanapali Beach Resort will be in the spotlight for the next 12 weeks and from the looks of the preview below, the show is sure to include some drama on and off the golf course.

My prediction to win it all? Kim Welch. Don’t ask me why. I just a hunch. Who do you think will take the top prize?

-NGK

The Contemporary Museum is a hidden gem!

If you haven’t been to The Contemporary Museum (TCM) on Makiki Heights Drive, here’s my recommendation: GO!

It’s been a favorite spot for Kelly and I for years dating back to when we lived in the Punahou area. While we aren’t die hard art enthusiasts by any stretch of the imagination, the relaxing ambiance of the museum and interesting art always make it an enjoyable experience. And now that Ensen is 10 months old, it was time to take him to the only museum in Hawaii devoted to contemporary art. And we had some fun!

Having fun in with the mirrors and Ensen enjoying Cade Roster’s artwork in the main gallery.

After paying the $5 admission fee (yes, you read that right…$5!), we immediately toured the main gallery and wandered through the Biennial of Hawaii Artists (VIII) show currently in full swing through August 17. According to the TCM Web site:

Inaugurated in 1993, The Contemporary Museum Biennial of Hawaii Artists (VIII) presents a selected sampling of exceptional recent work by Hawaii artists. The selected artists collectively represent the remarkable range of contemporary expression in Hawaii. The exhibition includes seven invited artists: three from Oahu, two from Maui, and one each from Kauai and Hawaii. Each artist is provided with a space and is able to show a body of work or develop an installation.

We saw a lot of great artwork in the gallery, but one artist whose work we enjoyed most was Cade Roster and his mixed-media cartoonish creations. Just brilliant! Here’s a few of his pieces above and below:

For a “real” review of the Biennial of Hawaii Artists show, check out the Honolulu Advertiser’s story “Spacial encounters” which ran this past Sunday.

After touring the galleries and exploring the grounds for over an hour, it was time for lunch at The Contemporary Cafe. This restaurant alone is reason enough to make the trip up the hill. The menu here is unpretentious and simply delivers delicious food! Not to mention, everything is reasonably priced. After feeding Ensen his lunch, it was time for Kelly and me to dig in. I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Lunch began with the Hummus & Pita and Crostini of the Day which came with a garbanzo bean and couscous spread. Both were very tasty and are must orders. My Grilled Vegetable Salad on homemade focaccia bread with a side of hummus was the perfect lunch.

Kelly indulged in the Hot Special of the Day which was a Bacon Wrapped Baked Ahi with a side of wilted spinach and white rice. We usually don’t like ahi cooked all the way through, but we both agreed that this dish was moist, tender, and full of flavor. Pork fat rules! And for the finale, we ordered the Gateau, a layered chocolate cake with strawberry whipped cream in the middle. Decadent!

I’ve never had a bad meal at the Cafe and highly recommend lunch here if you’re seeking something different. The service is great and atmosphere is wonderful. Your family, friends, and colleagues will surely be impressed.

Once again, it was an amazing day at The Contemporary Museum and the first of many more to come for the Kam family. I hear ArtSpree in July is a wonderful event for adults and kids. If the following photos of Ensen in the Cafe are any indication, he’s sure to have a lot more fun getting hands and creating some art. You can bet we’ll be there.

The Contemporary Museum
2411 Makiki Heights Drive
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: 808.526.1322
Tuesday-Saturday (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) / Sunday (Noon – 4 p.m.)

The Contemporary Café
Phone: 808.523.3362
Tuesday–Saturday (11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) / Sunday (Noon – 2:30 p.m.)
Reservations recommended.

-NGK

Ensen hits the pool for the first time!

Ensen and Uncle Kevin cool off in the pool at Kailua Grandpa’s house. Nikki (the dog) loves to swim too.

It was Ensen’s first time swimming in a pool yesterday at Kelly’s dad’s house in Kailua. The water was a bit chilly so he wore his RipCurl wetsuit that Aunty Erin bought for him a while ago. Here’s a few photos of Ensen getting ready to go in, then figuring out if he’s having fun or just plain scared.

Kailua Grandma helps get Ensen ready for some pool action. Me and the little guy braving the cold water for a little afternoon fun. I need a tan!

He enjoyed the water at first, then got a bit fussy and demanded out. It was a good first time in the pool and we had some fun. If you though he looked good inside the pool, check out these photos of him outside. The next Hugh Hefner?

-NGK