Every geographical area seems to do its own special version of a hot dog, and for a tasty dog Hawaiian-style, Puka Dog is the place to go.

What is a Puka Dog?

It’s a special bun-sized loaf of bread with a hole at one end, pierced through the length of the bun, forming a hole throughout. Secret-sauces, relishes, or just the usual mustard and catsup, are then poured into this hollowed out bun creating a soft nestling area for a Polish-type sausage. Take a look a the photo to get an idea of what it looks like.

To order a Puka Dog you specify sausage or veggie, followed by your choice of garlic lemon sauce (mild original, spicy jalapeno, hot chili pepper, or hot hot habanero), followed by your choice of relish (mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, starfruit, or catsup, mustard and sweet pickle relish).

I’ll be visiting Hawaii later this year, and can’t wait to have a Puka Dog. It’s been a long time since I’ve had one.

Puka Dog is not fine dining. It’s an old-fashioned hot dog stand, with Aloha hospitality, and is a great option for a casual meal.

There are two Puka Dog locations:

• On Kauai: Poipu Shopping Village (map it), open 11 am – 6 pm daily
• On Oahu: Waikiki Town Center (map it), open 10 am – 10 pm daily

Even your four-legged friends can enjoy Puka Dogs. ,Nothing goes to waste, as the daily left overs are made into dog Biscuits called Puka Dog Treats.

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“Hawaiian Eye” was a television series that ran from 1959 – 1963, and starred Robert Conrad and Anthony Eisley as crime fighting detectives in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The detectives hung out at the Shell Bar, where at least once an episode that ran into “Cricket,” a singer and photographer at the bar played by Connie Stevens. The bar was located at the Hawaiian Village Hotel, where the guys were house detectives and also had an office. Some viewers would swear that the guys spent more time with the sassy Cricket than they did with any crooks.

While most of the television show was shot on the Warner Brothers lot in Los Angeles, the Shell Bar was a real place — then, and now.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village, on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, is home to the real Shell Bar, and provided the basis for the show’s bar. You can still have a drink or two and listen to some music, but Cricket is nowhere to be seen.

Photo credit: personal collection

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If you are able to get your hands on enough ‘opihi to make a nice dish, try this excellent BBQ ‘opihi recipe from Bobby Flay.  Just remember, whatever you do, don’t eat ‘opihi in front of the sea. 

You can learn more about limpets from the Waikiki Aquarium.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by Eric_Caballero

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If you happened to catch NPR’s piece on heirloom tomatoes,”Heirloom Tomato Farmer Finds Beauty in the Ugly,” you’ll be glad to know that you’ll be able to find a little piece of that kind of wonderful ugliness right there on Oahu.North Shore Farms is the home of homegrown tomatoes and the big wave of flavors that go with them. Drop by, call, or just check out some of their recipes online.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by jackie-dee

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It’s been while since I was at O’s, and in fact, I still remember when it was called Oodles of Noodles.  But now Oodles of Noodles is all grown up– in fact, I think the name alone makes this quite apparent.

O’s Bistro is now in the same location at the Crossroads Mall in Kona on the Big Island, near Wal-Mart and Cold Stone, which makes it possible for you to eat too much, but you can buy a bigger pair of shorts for the ride home.

But what endears me to O’s  is that they’ll make you a nice little order to go, or for you to finish making at home, and put it on a nice little platter that you can return the next day.  It’s the little things like that that make you feel like you have friends in town, even if you’re just there for a week.  Happy eating.

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 If you think Kona’s just about the coffee, consider also its grapes.  For one, The Volcano Winery at the 30 mile marker in Volcanoes makes award winning wines that can’t be had anywhere but in the great state of Hawaii.  (For a list of states to which you can have wine shipped, check out the rates and availability here.)

Attend a tasting, or just take a tour. And when your friends ask you how it tastes, tell them, “Like chicken.” Gets ‘em every time.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by jesiehart

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Do you love Hawai’i, rainbows, drive in restaurants, and good red chili? Me too.  That’s why whenever I’m in Honolulu, I set up camp at the Rainbow Drive In.  The Rainbow’s been around since 1961, when a former Army cook and restranteur joined forces to provide working folks and the Waikiki crowd with good food at good prices. (And did I mention the chili?) If you’re the no-frills type, you’ll love it, too.  Try the mixed plate!

Rainbow Drive In
Address: 3308 Kanaina Ave
Honolulu
Phone: 808-737-0177

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by bobster1985

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Whole Foods Market’s first store in Hawai’i is scheduled to open at 7 a.m. on Sept. 10 at Kahala Mall, the company announced today. At 28,000 feet, The Kahala store will be the third biggest Whole Foods; it’s the first of four stores Whole Foods plans to open in Hawai’i.My personal reaction is mixed. As someone who’s been looking for some variety in food shopping experiences, the Market makes a welcome addition, but then again, I have been known to avoid Whole Foods, calling it “Whole Paycheck” among my friends and family.

Stay tuned for more from this interesting development.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by parislemon.

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In other news: I’m starving.

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

Hotels & Resorts

From September 2 to December 18, Halekulani will begin an extensive renovation of its public area.

The 81-room Aqua Coconut Waikiki opened on June 1 after completing a $2.6 million renovation.

The Wyland Waikiki Hotel recently welcomed a new restaurant and spa to its 403-room property. Spada Bar and Restaurant features Northern Italian-inspired cuisine by Executive Chef Tony Domingue and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Outrigger Waikiki’s new Hawaiian Memories Package lets guests choose what they’d like to include in their Hawaiian vacation.

Activities & Entertainment

Waikīkī Nei, an innovative theatrical production, opened at the Royal Hawaiian Center on July 22.

The North Shore Surf Girls Surf School, located on the North and South Shores of O’ahu, offers surf lessons to men, women and children with surf experience ranging from beginner-level to experienced surfer.

The Honolulu Symphony announced its concert line-up for the Halekulani MasterWorks 2008-2009 season, led by principal conductor Andreas Delfs and featuring an array of concerts starring gifted artists from Hawai’i and around the world.

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is enhancing its nightly entertainment lineup of live, authentic Hawaiian music with the addition of The Keawe Ohana & Friends.

Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park has opened two new attractions: the Tornado and Dive’n'Movies. Resembling a giant household funnel, the Tornado is the park’s largest ride to date.

In collaboration with the Wild Dolphin Foundation, Wild Side Specialty Tours’ Ocean Trekker Expeditions will offer an enriching weeklong journey of discovery through the ocean world of O’ahu beginning in October 2008.

Dole Plantation is attempting to set a new record for the world’s largest maze from the Guinness Book of World Records.

Restaurants & Cuisine

Tanaka of Tokyo West Japanese Seafood and Steak House recently opened at Ala Moana Center’s Ho’okipa Terrace.

Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill, an establishment run by fish wholesaler, Fresh Island Fish, recently began serving dinner in addition to lunch. Featuring live entertainment by Ernie Cruz, Jr., the restaurant is also a frequent haunt for many local musicians who come to play kanakapila style.

Recently appointed chef Francois Bougard offers his Five-Course Tasting Menu at Bali by the Sea, the award-winning restaurant at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa.

Shopping

Royal Hawaiian Center is celebrating the completion of its $115 million revitalization, the first major renovation to the center since it opened in 1979.

Following the grand opening of its major retail expansion, Ala Moana Center welcomes new retail and dining tenants in locations throughout the mall.

O’ahu residents and master shapers Jeff Bushman and Kyle Bernhardt recently created Country Feeling Surfboards, a line of surfboards made with environmentally friendly materials.

Festivals and Events

From September 24-27, Honolulu hosts the Textile Society of America’s 11th Biennial Symposium, a gathering of textile collectors, experts and enthusiasts from around the world.

The Honolulu Culture & Arts District Association will present the second annual Taste of the Arts Street Fair on September 19 from 5-10 p.m. The fair will feature food, wine and jazz from The Arts District in downtown Honolulu.

The Kahala Hotel & Resort is hosting the Kahala Food & Wine Classic, which takes place four times per year.

From September 11 to November 16, an array of paintings, calligraphy and ceramics from the Japanese art collection of noted Seattle-based garden designer and collector, Terry Welch, will be on display at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

The University of Hawai’i Art Gallery presents Writing with Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities from September 21-November 30, 2008. Shown in the United States for the first time,

On September 27, Bishop Museum and Hawai’i Maritime Center will host Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day, celebrating the country’s cultural offerings. Admission is free and open to the public.

Women of Our World, Inc., a Hawai’i-based corporation honoring women through art, music and dance, is holding its first annual event, “The Women’s World Festival,” on October 10 and 11. The event will take place at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

Interisland Flights

Island Air has welcomed back nonstop service between Honolulu and Lihue, Kaua’i. Nonstop frequency between Honolulu and Kahului, Maui; Kahului, Maui and Kona, Hawai’i; and Kahului, Maui and Lihue, Kaua’i has increased.
Hawaiian Airlines began daily nonstop service from Oakland to Honolulu on May 1.

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