Mellow Sunday

Aloha, peeps!

There’s nothing like waking up on a quiet Sunday morning as the smell of fresh brewed coffee and our Christmas tree fills the air!  Like I said, this is my favorite time of the year – and not because of the gifts and stuff, but because people just generally seem to be in a happier mood.  We performed for the Lokahi donation drive yesterday down at Center Stage in Ala Moana Center, and I want to thank everyone who came and donated.  These tough economic times have really taken its toll on our community and we all have to step up and help.  I also want to send a special mahalo to our good friend, Nao, for bringing us the beautiful green lei which we wore on stage!

After we were done with our Lokahi performance, I drove the boys out to Aloha Stadium for the UH game and then headed back to our IOLANI store for a taping and interview by a Japan TV crew.  As soon as that was completed, I rushed downstairs to Side Street Inn to watch the UH vs. BYU football game.  As always, our valiant Warriors held their own in the first half and then were totally out-played in the 2nd half … an all too familiar trademark in recent games!  Oh well, at least the Side Street’s spicy chicken, poke, fried rice, and ice cold draft helped to ease the pain of yet another loss.  It’s crisis time up at the UH campus and the athletic department needs to find a way to halt the football program’s “death spiral” or next year will be a disaster! (Can you spell HUGE budget deficit, boys & girls?)  I sure wouldn’t want to be in UH athletic director Jim Donovan’s shoes right now … but then again, that’s why he gets paid the big bucks …

Oh yeah, almost forgot … they were making fresh strawberry mochi at Nijiya Market at Ala Moana yesterday!  Linda picked some up and they were AWESOME!  Soft mochi rice filled with sweet bean paste and fresh strawberries!  Soooooo ono!  I don’t know if they’re still making ’em today but if you’re in the area, be sure to stop by and get some.

Gotta go now … almost time for the first NFL kick-0ff!  Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Aloha, “D”