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Today was a pretty unique day in my newborn Kailua life. The LVHIFF officially started today and it was the first day that I spent a chunk of time with the staff. This morning I woke up late and made both Chuck and Sean late for the press conference. I was mortified when I woke up at 8:17. Chuck was picking me up at 8:30. Egad.
Eventually everyone arrived where they were supposed to and the press conference was really lovely. I’m glad I didn’t miss it. I saw Sarah there and had a great chance to chat with her and Anderson. Sean had told me earlier that Cliff Curtis was going to be at the press conference and I didn’t really make much of the fact that I didn’t know who he was talking about. As Sarah and I were chatting by the entrance he came in and I realized that I’m a total fan of his work. So that was really nice.
I ended up spending much of the day with Sarah. I had such great time, particularly because I’ve been missing my girlfriends back home. She took me to lunch at Nicos (my second time) and rather than ordering the special of the day I ordered what Sarah orderd: the Furikake ahi. It was deeelicious.
I’ve written about this before but Sarah is the Art Director for a really unique magazine out here called Smart. She described it as a Hawaiin Lucky but I find it to be much more than that. As a newcomer to Hawaii it’s so refreshing to find a publication that goes deeper than the rest—an inside perspective to local talent as well as fashion insider favorites. I picked up a copy at the hospitality suite and will definitely send away for a subscription.
The festival staff is so nice. I don’t really know how else to put it. I suppose it’s what everyone refers to as Aloha spirit. Even under stressful circumstances they’re friendly and unfazed by last minute obstacles or tight spots. I really respect what they’ve built.
Not much else is new. we had to burn the bunnies when Rebecca came over for dinner. She was an ideal first guest. I can’t think of better circumstances in which to sacrifice the heartbreaking cuteness of wax lagomorpha.
Let me say a couple of things I hate about Kailua:
- giant roaches
- gecko droppings
- portuguese man o war
- rats that climb trees
- and finally living in a place that is bookended by screaming children.
The final item has been particularly irritating the past couple of days. On the one side it’s unavoidable: a family with young kids one of which is a baby and it can’t help screaming. On the other side is a schoolyard which sometimes makes me want to tear my hair out. I love kids. I mean I even want kids but until you’ve heard kids playing together and screaming like individuals on the verge of a nervous breakdown, I don’t hink you’ve really heard kids. I mean we think they’re so sweet and innocent and spontaneous and we should strive to be as uninhibited as they. But the way kids scream in a schoolyard, you know I think it’s not a good thing. I think they’re in existential pain. Anyhow, I would take the noise of a troop of drunk adults coming down an East Village street over a group of 9 year olds running amok in a school yard.
My intention was to write about how lovely today is (see picture above). We are, in fact. having our first guest over for dinner. I’m excited. The house is clean; all the food is prepped; and the wine is chilling in the fridge.
Too bad there’s an army of rabid boys playing basketball in painful earshot.
Today was errand day. Here are my notes:
BLOOD
K and I learned from the lady posted in front of Foodland that Hawaii needs blood! So we signed up to donate blood. It seems that they have a monthly blood drive at the Bloodmobile at Don Quijote Kailua. You can call 808-845-9966 to make an appointment.
Here are other people parked out in front of Foodland:
YOGA
When I got my hair cut at The Fix there were fliers for a yoga place in the same complex. I’m trying to find a good yoga school and as far as I’ve assessed Koa Yoga is as good as any of them. What it seems to have above the other schools is Sunrise Yoga with breakfast on Lanikai Beach.
KAILUA SHOPPING CENTER & GIFTS
Under the Hula Moon at Kailua Shopping Center in Kailua Rd. is a great place to find odd little gifts like hula mouse pads, turtle drawer pulls, handmade Kailua cards, and starfish.
Today we also bought a birthday present for my mom at Lanikai Bath and Body. I haven’t personally tried their products or even heard about them but they seem to be all natural products made in Hawaii. I particularly liked the Pikake lotion we got for my mom which is a combination of kukui, noni, and macadamia. As we were leaving a curious shopper came in to check the place out. I asked her to pose for a picture:
Finally we went to Lanikai Juice in the same strip of stores. Matthew Fox took Oprah and Gayle there as one of his favorite places in town which naturally gave the place a higher profile. It was fine. I’m not crazy about complicated juices. I like plain pineapple and kalamansi juice or sweet soy bean milk. I got the Ginger Snap which was perfectly fine. Maybe I’ll try the popular Monkey next time. K got Coco Champ and he said it was good enough for him to finish the whole thing.
At Lanikai Juice we ran into some Aloha overload:
Afterwards we went to Kailua Public Library. It was quite nice. Though I don’t know many libraries that aren’t.
I haven’t posted in what feels like a long time. But it must only have a been a couple of days. We tried the restaurant Baci the other day before we headed to a work party for K. Baci was alright though oddly filled with Haoles: the staff and the patrons. I ate veal which was weird. I never eat veal. I only ordered it because it was the waiter’s recommendation. Everything was perfectly nice but seems to exist in Kailua more like a novelty. I’m not opposed to going back again.
The party was in Waikiki in a lovely two story house. It was a moving party for one of K’s coworkers. It was fine. The most notable thing being how pretty the house was.
I miss New York.
I thought I had alot to write but I don’t really.
