Two popular restaurants shut their doors in March.
Sayonara: Hokkaido Ramen, the tiny Japanese eatery in the Kaimuki municipal parking lot, served its last meals in early March. Regulars loved the friendly staff and besides great food, the prices were reasonable Hokkaido will be missed…
Romano’s Macaroni Grill at Ala Moana Center also has closed.
A lockdown: Romano’s Macaroni Grill, at the Ala Moana Center, apparently closed abruptly, even locking out surprised staff workers reporting for work on March 2. Certainly not the way to call it quits. In its prime, Macaroni was a popular family and date destination, with Italian fare affordably price. Online chatter mentions declining quality, and the usual matter of competition in a tight economy when higher prices are charged for everything from bread to coffee…
Liliha Bakery has shelved its coffee pot, shown behind the cup of coffee.
Speaking of coffee: As a longtime and frequent patron of breakfast (lunch and dinner, too sometimes) at Liliha Bakery at Macy’s Ala Moana, I noticed that the usually mini pot of coffee, always there when you ordered coffee, has disappeared. You still can get a refill by asking the server, but often, it’s a task to find the wait staffer because of the flock of diners. That silver coffee pot was a trademark of the Liliha experience. Wonder if that basket of the grilled dinner roll, with Liliha’s red jelly in the tiny container, might be the next to go?…
As a veteran Hawaiian entertainer, he’s done a lot of different things in his ongoing career, and is truly a pioneer and survivor in a field where many others have struggled and even failed.
As a serenading singer-pianist at Chef Chai’s on Kapiolani Boulevard, Cazimero makes his magic work, month after month.
And March being his birthday month, and March 20 being his birthday, Cazimero soldiers on, demonstrating his flexibility as kumu hula, crooner, and raconteur. He’s at Chai’s through Sunday (March 23), in an ongoing fundraiser for his Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua.
Robert Cazimero
Best known as a Hawaiian trouper, Cazimero possesses a quick mind and a wide repertoire, and thus is capable of delivering hapa-haole tunes like “Hawaiian Hospitality,” “For You a Lei,” “Lahainaluna,” and “Hanalei Moon.”
He also programs melodies with instinct, sharing “Wahine Ilikea” and “Puu Hone,” two of many iconic favorites he recorded with his late brother, Roland Cazimero. There’s plenty of memories in these flashbacks. There’s also a renewed vigor where he’s revisiting songs he shelved because they required competency and integrity with Roland, like the “Hokulea” song his bro composed back in the day.
I’ve come to anticipate his occasional surprises, where he dusts off an oft-forgotten number, like “Aioa,” and a gem of a song from the left field, “Trees,” a lyric poem by Joyce Kilmer that also is a song seldom heard. Nifty job of discovery and recovery.
Yes, there are hula interludes with his regular dancers, Sky Perkins Gora and Bully Keola Makaiau
And special guest hula dancers, like six from Halau I Ka Wekiu, were invitees to perform to fill he aisles with their “My Sweet Gardenia Lei” number.
On this particular eve, Malia Ka‘ai was an invitee to render “O Makalapua,” a rare honor for a singer, since most guests are hula dancers.
Every so often, Cazimero dusts off Disney ditties, and travels the childhood trail as he did last night with a medley of “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” a Mouseketeer chant, and “Bibbidi -Bobbedi-Boo”… plus the ancient “I’m a Little Teapot” tune.
Reservations for the birthday celebration/halau fundraiser is $159, at www.opentable.com/r/chef-chai-honolulu …
Around town
Mary Gutzi
Mary Gutzi, a Broadway actress who’s often at home in Honolulu, will be featured in “Lillian,” a Readers Theatre presentation, at 7:30 p.m. March 24, 25, 26, 31 and April 1 and 2, at The Actors Group’s Brad Powell Theatre at Dole Cannery.
The show, by William Luce, is directed by Vanita Rae Smith, and is set in a room at a New York hospital, where Lillian Hellman awaits the death of her companion, Dashiel Hammett, in a seductive memoir of her life and times. Tickets: https://taghawaii.net/reader-s-theatre …
Shari Lynn, center, flanked by Jim Howard, left, and John Kolivas, right.
The Shari Lynn Trio will take the stage at Medici’s at Manoa Marketplace from 7 p.m. Saturday (March 22).
Singer Shari, backed by keyboarder Jim Howard and bassist John Kolivas, is known for her repertoire of jazz, the Great American Songbook and Broadway fare.
Zippy’s wun ton min, a mainstay on the daily menu, remains a valid lunch choice.
It’s been so long since I’ve ordered it — last time, perhaps three years ago— but I was at the Makiki Zippy’s the other day and opportunity knocked.
At $11.15, the small wun ton order is still affordable with no frills.
The presentation remains the same: Saimin noodles and wun ton dumplings — four or five pieces — swimming in the broth. There were two slivers of pink and white fish cake, the size of quarters, plus a couple of pieces of egg. The stem of spinach in the soup was a great addition.
Zippy’s photol: note char siu pieces, top.
However, on this day, the char siu pork was a wash-out. There seemed to be) single piece dissected into four teeny shreds, and I guess the days of scoring three of four actual wedges of char siu are long gone. Guess char siu prices are high and not generously served.
My photo: note char siu shreds, top left.
For proof, Zippy’s online wun ton photo, date unknown, displays actual char siu pieces; my photo shows the char siu flaw.
Good to know that the serving of wun ton min has 460 calories, but not sure if the total is higher with the side of mustard and shoyu added. Further, there seems to be no formal right or wrong, when it comes to spelling wun ton min. Take your pick: won ton min, wun tun mein, wonton min.
Signage of the times
You’ve seen the makeshift sign at one of the busiest corridors in Waikiki, where Kalakaua Avenue merges with Kapiolani Boulevard. You know the forthcoming drill.
It’s already a hot traffic spot, even without a current tenant at the site, so imagine the anticipation of the snarling traffic when Chick-fil-A roosts at the prime triangular corner where a low-profile coffee house was the last occupant. Earlier, Hard Rock Café settled into that fabled turf but pioneering tenants like Kau Kau Korner (which boasted a Crossroads of the Pacific landmark sign) and Coco’s Coffee House prevailed back in the day, with no strain in traffic. Must be there were fewer drivers and cars then, but these were establishments that locals flocked to, particularly after movies and Waikiki nightclub shows, for late night snacks.
But now, there’s a clear worrisome issue. Whoever approved this Chick-fil-A location didn’t learn about the chaos of the chicken fast food eatery opening on Beretania Street, where Burger King was located, across the street of McDonald’s.
In Waikiki, there’s no clear resolution to the anticipated mess; one way in, one way out? No left turns into or out from the property. Is there a plan, or is someone even interested in the potential headache?
Is the chicken worth the pilikia? Just asking.
Sorabol is history
Fans of Korean food should already know that Sorabol, a mecca for kal bi and grill chicken for four decades on Rycroft Street off Keeaumoku Street, had been at its “new” site, Pagoda Hotel/Restaurant, for a short spell. Haven’t heard if Sorabol has landed a new location, so it’s the end of the road for the family-run, 24/7 Korean restaurant.
Pagoda is part of the Highgate hotel chain and clearly will undergo a makeover. Highgate already operates the Alohilani resort (the former Pacific Beach Hotel) and will soon open the new Romer House Waikiki (the ex-Ambassador Hotel). In July, the Kaimana Beach Hotel will join the Highgate brand.
It’s quite certain that new dining spots will evolve at all new sites
Finally, the Easter bunny delivered the final 2025 Easter pins. So: if you’ve not received yours, you’ll likely get ’em tomorrow or Saturday, in plenty of time to celebrate Easter.
Made, too, a limited number of Easter baskets with a pink rose attachment on the front.
