...Attended the TweetUp event at Shirokiya Yataimura celebrating the Hawaiian Airlines flight! Lotsa fun, prizes, tweets and pics! Had the shrimp garlic gyoza (which was AWESOME, but boooy that garlic is pretty strong). Media, bloggers, PR folks, and fans of Hawaiian Air were in attendance. Shout out to Asiana, Melissa and Mona-great event!

Known for the incredible ramen, yatai (out door food stalls), Fukuoka Tower, Hakata Station, Matsuri
(festivals), culture and then some..

Fukuoka rocks! Been there before to perform with the band and had the opportunity to stay
there for a few days-loved every minute of it.

Also, while at Shirokiya, popped by the KZOO studio!

Haneda, Osaka and now Fukuoka! Congrats to Hawaiian Airlines and see ya'll at the gate!

Aside from some great tv commercials (not to mention very funny ones), sometimes there are some great (and more often than not, what the?!?!) ads. On a train ride over, these were some of the great what the?!?! ads I came across.

Innovation indeed!

1. The mouth muscle tightener. Lips and mouth tightening. Not much can be said about this.. other than.. o-k.

2. Like to sing karaoke but am afraid of anyone hearing you? Here's the solution! Private karaoke!

3. Portable stone foot therapy. For those that have gone to onsen before with the stone/rock walk paths, these are designed to knead (painfully) your feet. Now, you can bring the pain wherever you go!

4. This one makes LOTSA sense for those not accustom to sitting on your legs, tatami style. For most (ok, some) of us, sitting like this for long periods of time (for me, about 10 seconds), will equate to numbness and pins-n-needles in your feet etc.

5. A swear word catcher! unleash your audible attacks and verbal vulgarity into this little bad boy and then find your happy place afterward.

Kiwotsukete and more to come!

Happy Holidays! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and sorry, I know it's been a while!

KIKU! Mahalo to everyone that's checked out Doko Ga TV: JapanMania on KIKU! It's quite an honor to precede Soko Ga Shiritai!!! Something about that show, if it's on, I have to watch it! also, check out the new website! www.dokoga.tv!

We're on KIKU (Oceanic Cable 9/Digital 89 (Oahu), Oceanic Cable 10/Digital 89 (Maui), Oceanic Cable Digital 89 (Kauai, Big Island), Monday through Friday, 6:30pm to 7pm!

New Doko Ga TV Tour! Looks like Doko Ga will be working with JTB for a Niigata tour in Feb! We'll be advertising and putting details about the tour up very shortly. There's a 'kimochi' bridge that exists between Honolulu and Niigata (not to mention being known for their incredible rice and sake-nice combination!). More info coming soon!

Hawaiian Airlines->Fukuoka! I know it's old news by now, but starting April 2012, Honolulu to Fukuoka begins with Hawaiian Airlines. Within a year, Hawaiian Airlines started non-stop flights to Haneda, Korea and Osaka-and now Fukuoka! Amazing! Can't wait have some oishii Fukuoka Ramen! Oh, and if that weren't enough, Hawaiian Airlines will also start direct flights to New York! (I hear there's some GREAT Japanese restaurants there!).

Season 9! some pics previewing Season 9 of DGTV! Look for a brand new preview-week of episodes during KIKU's special New Year's programming!

* best Sushi (incredible taste, money left in your pocket afterwards)
* dining in Chinatown, Yokohama
* Kamakura!
* The 'Costco' of all Japanese foods!

and a whole lot more...

Shirokiya-スゲイ！ Growing up here in the.. before 80's, ahem, Shirokiya used to be one of my favorite stores (this will confirm your age, remember the giant bird aviary next to Liberty House?!?!).

If you haven't been back to Shirokiya in a while, do check it out... it really looks and feels like a 'in Japan' Department store! Pretty amazing and the entire food court on the 2nd floor-oishii! Also, huge congrats to KZOO! they have a satellite studio right in the front of Shirokiya!

Again, Happy Holidays and all the best to ya'll!

The `ukulele boom continues strive through the islands and in Japan as it has for decades now... in fact, it's started to carry out to Korea as well. Proof positive is the Korean band 'Ukulele Picnic'

Japan's annual `Ukulele Picnic celebrates it's 12th year on August 6th and 7th in Yokohama. The event draws 20,000+ attendees annually. This year, estimates are over 30,000!

As for lineup, the band and I, Kalei Gamiao (Mr. Mach 4, uke wizard), Chris Kamaka (uber famous from Kamaka `Ukulele, Ho`okena and Hema Pa`a) Konishiki (sumo, music and all around Japan celeb) will be representing the 808!

Click here for the website for the Japan Picnic and Hawaii Picnic in Feb. 2012!

In addition, there will be a special concert at Motion Blue Yokohama, and `ukulele workshops held at Tokyo Poepoe shop and Nagoya Poepoe store too.

8/6のモーションブルーYOKOHAMA、そして8/7のウクレレピクニックに是非お越し下さい！パリは東京のポエポエ、そして名古屋のポエポエでウクレレワークショップも予定しています。
是非ご参加ください！

This year, for the folks in Japan (日本人だけ）can enter to win a ticket from Japan to Hawaii courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines! Here's how!

ウクレレピクニック　TWITTER!
ハワイアン航空のツイートをフォローしてハワイへの旅行があたる！
エントリーのしかた
１．ウクレレをもって自分の写真を撮る
２．『I love the ukulele @ HawaiianAirlines please take me to Hawaii #HAUkulele” と書いて、その写真をツイートする。
３．メッセージには必ずハッシュタグ、#HAUkuleleをいれること、そして写真をお忘れなく。
４．ウィナーは、2011年9/30に抽選で選ばれます。

http://twitter.com/HawaiianAir

and.. join the Ukulele Picnic in Hawaii Mailing list and be eligible to win a Koaloha `Ukulele 'Uke Picnic' `ukulele by joining here!

そしてハワイアン航空のニュースレターにサインアップして、コアロハのウクレレがあたるチャンスに是非トライしてください！ウクレレピクニック・イン・ハワイの開催される 2012年2月まで、毎月コアロハのウクレレを１本プレゼントしています！

Mahalo all and all the best!! マハロときをつけて！ヨコハマあいましょう！

Nov. 17, 2011 marked a milestone for Hawaiian Airlines `ohana. That day marked the inaugural flight for Hawaiian Airlines to Japan, to Haneda Airport-their entry to Japan. It was truly a proud moment for the Hawaiian Air `ohana and for the rest of us as in attendance as well. Hawaiian Air then pushed into Korea via their Incheon flight and as of today, July 12th, Hawaiian Air started their daily service to Osaka!

Our sincerest thanks, and HUGE Mahalo to Blaine Miyasato, Hawaiian Airlines VP of Product Development, Nadine Mahiai & the Gals at Anthology, Aman @ Hawaiian Air for their kokua.. we got to cover Hawaiian’s inaugural flight to Kansai, and again, the energy in the air electric. Smiles everywhere from the Hawaiian staff and `ohana.. Hawaiian music with Kawika and the Hawaiian Airlines serenaders and dancers provided ono (oishii) mele and hula, cake and refreshments were served as well as traditional Japanese dance performed (to song Yappari Osaka). Cameras clicked away, leis were given and before you knew it, it was time to board.

We got a chance to speak to ‘the’ Chai from Chai’s Island Bistro..Again Chai and his staff was hard at work in preparation for this inaugural flight as well as handling catering for the rest of the Hawaiian Air fleet. It’s seldom that you can brag about the food on an airline, and trust me when I say-Hawaiian Airlines + Chai’s is a match made in heaven! Chai explained that they change the menu every six months. From first class to coach-the food is AWESOME (and, if you’re curious to try the exquisite meal served in First Class on Hawaiian, just head to Chai’s Island Bistro @ Aloha Tower-he serves the coarse there!)…

Hawaiian Airlines VP of Product Development and dear friend Blaine Miyasato was emcee for the Gate 34 reception. It’s incredible that 18+ months of work from Blaine and the rest of the Hawaiian Air team resulted in flights into Haneda,Tokyo/Japan, Incheon/Seoul, Korea and Osaka.. Nov. 2010, Jan. 2011 and now July 2011. I can’t imagine what it took in an 18 month window to be able to do all of this within a year’s time-congratulations!

Blaine, I’m hoping for a Moon Lunar flight by end of next year

Next up, from the Hawai’i island-2011 multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner Mark Yamanaka will be performing in Osaka at the Hawaiian Airlines reception/event-always a pleasure chatting and hanging out with Mark. Also in attendance, Mike McCartney, President/CEO of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.. Mike shared some statistics in regards to the cultural importance of this flight, and the economics of what this means for Hawai'i-the Osaka flight/bridge equates 128 million dollars to Hawaii in visitor spending-which helps the Japanese people in general and their travel sector in terms of their own recovery… in addition, up to 18 million in tax revenue. Hawaiian Airlines Korea, Haneda and Osaka flights total up to 350 million dollars in visitor spending and up to 38 million in state tax revenue.

More coverage from the inaugural flight coming soon..

Imua Hawaiian Airlines and がんばって！

Kōkua Tōhoku has kind of taken on a life its own... we'll be featuring a number of people and businesses, both big and small that are doing something to kōkua!

Ono to Go, known as having one of the best plate lunches on the island... great meats.. great bbq grill food (try their pulehu chicken!) !!! Scott and Wedge created a Doko Ga TV Poke Bowl! Proceeds from sales will be going to some of the direct relief efforts!

*Pulehu Chicken
*Poke (shoyu or spicy)
*Rice/Mac Salad

Check it out!

Doko Ga TV Poke Bowl

and another eatery..

Iyasume... wow, if you're familiar with
onigiri/musubi... you have *got* to check out Iyasume. They have a few locations, and we got to shoot/try some of their incredible onigiri (musubi stuffed with chicken karage, tuna mayo, salmon, bacon and eggs! you name it!), and Otake-san (owner) created a Doko Ga Musubi, ume musubi with made to look like the Japan flag/icon. Again, all proceeds will go to the direct Tohoku relief effort.

Doko Ga Musubi

Do try some of their many Onigiri... and when you need some of the best plate lunches-Ono to Go! Mahalo to Scott, Wedge and Otake-san for your efforts...

E kala mai & Gomen ne.. it's been a while.. tonight, at 8:30pm, OC16 (channel 16 HD 1016), we launch a special Doko Ga TV: Kōkua Tohoku series. The purpose of the series was to show that while Japan may no longer be in our daily news, they, now more than ever, still need our help. The series will be (4) episodes each Wed., about our time in the Tohoku are, as well as a special report from in the Minami-Soma city in Fukushima. The final (2) episodes highlight what some local folks here are doing to help...

The band, Sachi and I headed to Tokyo to do a number of benefit concerts and `ukulele workshops.
Sachi, myself and two of my fellow band members, Kapono Naili`ili and Jenn Jroq Wright head down to the Tohoku area to film, bring/deliver goods, perform for the shelter folks and spend some time with the brave folks there.

We're very thankful that KHON and KITV have done very in-depth reports from those areas and one thing we all can agree on-images on television, online and in magazines can't compare from being there in person. It's terrifying, heartbreaking and left us speechless.

Tonight's episode is our arrival there... the episode will also be online at OC16.tv and be repeated:

Wed: 8:30pm
Thu: 2:30am and 11:00am
Sat: 6:00pm
Sun: 12:00am
Mon: 11:30pm
Tue: 5:30am and 2:00pm

We will also be posting direct schedules and numbers for city offices and shelters for those that want to
donate (money or goods) directly to them.

Just a few shout-out and notes..

A huge mahalo to the Willows, all the musicians that performed for the Pakele Live! Kōkua Japan Fundraiser series-we're coming up on the 5th one on April 14th, hope you can come out. We've had thousands of viewers tuning in to the live stream online as well. Of course to all the volunteers and donors-HUGE mahalo to you. So far, we're at $16,000+ raised from the series for the relief effort!!! thank you to all that donated!

It's the Kōkua for Japan benefit this weekend! Sachi and I will be answering phones and thanks to Sekiguchi-san (Southern All-Stars), Amuse and APF News Tsutomu Harigaya, we were able to get some footage from Minami-Souma City for the event and will be featured on Doko Ga TV..

Want to send out a huge がんばってときをつけて！！to Kirby Fukunaga. He's the surfer and all around awesome guy that went over there to help out. Met him a few times-nicest guy on the planet and he's friend of Sachi's too. Prayers and well wishes to you.

Here's a link to his english blog-scary stuff:
http://www.go-naminori.com/kirbyfukunaga/

Hoping the quakes and aftershocks stop already...

Wishing all of you the best..

Kiwotsukete (take care!) and Aloha.

Pali

Just finished skypeʻing with the in-laws. Still trying to get them to fly over here, but each night they say itʻs ʻokʻ and find good humor with all thatʻs going on... though we laugh, we want them to be here and safe. Before logging off, I yell a 愛してるよ!!! (AISHITERU YO, or LOVE YOU!!).. of course, they crack up because thatʻs not something very common in Japanese traditional society (thankfully my okaasan got over getting hugs from me whenever I see her).. My otoosan has always been all-in with hugs

We just had our first Pakele Live! Kōkua Japan Fundraiser Concert series last night with Tony Solis @ the Willows. We had only 2 days of actual ʻPRʻ for it, and people still came out and supported. Was very happy that Japan media showed up as well. Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winners Ken Makuakāne, Ku`uipo Kumukahi, Natalie Ai Kamauu and Keale were in the house and it was a blast. A huge thanks to all the artists that contacted us to take part!

A huge mahalo to businesses that kicked in with free donations for us to be able to auction with. Koaloha `Ukulele (always kicking in with the help and support), Easy Music Center (without question-Peter and the `ohana there contributed), fellow NPO PeaceBridge (for over 60 years, helping the Osaka Orphanage children), Malulani, Lani Stone, Day Dream Spa, Naoko Nail, the Willows (not only our ʻhomeʻ for Pakele but also kicking in as well-incredible food, ambience and a community partner)..
ありがとうとマハロ！！！

One of the contributors was GRP Home Co. Sachi and I had talked to Jun Jo of Aloha Army a number of months ago. What I didn't know was that competing t-shirt companies (FittedHawaii, In4Mation, Aloha Army, ButtiGroove & Barefoot League) banded together 6 months ago. Their first joint project was the 'Aloha for Japan' shirts.

Mahalo to Jun and the GRP Home Co `Ohana.. we sold out before we even started!

I know there will be a number of concerts, fundraisers and events-and I applaud all of you for all your efforts!

Here's a quick list (sorry if I've missed a few, please post in the comment section if so! there are so many coming up fast.. so gomen ne!)

*Unshakably Yours + Hands Across the Ocean, this Saturday, March 19th @ Restaurant Row, click here for info!

*Pakele Live! Kōkua Japan Concert II (Kūpaoa, Manoa Madness, Hapa Folk, Herb Ohta Jr).. Thursday @ Willows, 6pm March 24th and all month long, Thursday evenings. Also streamed live at www.pakelelive.com

*Kokua For Japan on April 10th @ Hilton Hawaiian Village

*Heart & Soul Benefit, end of April (date TBD)

* Finally, thereʻs a HUGE one planned for May, will post details when confirmed.

I encourage all of you to try get out and support these events and if you can, whatever you can, donate-if can.

Needless to say, the events since Thursday of last week (Hawaii time) have been quite the traumatic ordeal for the people of Japan, and for friends and families of folks living there.

Thursday evening was tough.. not even focusing on the incoming tsunami, but trying to get ahold of my in-laws/Sachi's parents-while watching the heart wrenching news and footage was an exercise I'm sure many of you had to go through as well. We thankfully got through to them-and thankfully-they were ok.

Thank God for Facebook, Twitter and Skype.. we were able to reach friends via Twitter and Skype, and getting posts from friends that live/visiting there via FB is priceless.

Sachi's been keeping in touch with a few links (in Japanese):

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110312-00000048-impress-inet

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-gtv

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tbstv

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/japanhelpchannel

I know a lot of folks want to know how to help. I know the texting of Red Cross (donation of $10) is what many are doing (REDCROSS to 90999). An article with various sources of how to help, donate:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/11/how-to-help-japan-earthquake-relief_n_834484.html

Yet another method.. relief shirts.. 100% of the purchase price ($28) is donated to the Red Cross.

Our TV is glued to CNN and constantly keep shooting out emails/text to friends and hope we get a reply. Hope, thoughts, prayers (lots of them ) and well-wishes to everyone over there.