®
SPAM MUSUBI
Hawai‘i's Favorite Snack $5.00 FEB – APR 2014
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JAZZED ABOUT VEGAS // BURGER TIME // UH MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
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20 6
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28 32
CONTENTS
VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 1 | FEBRUARY/MARCH/APRIL 2014
LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT 6
SHOWCASE
10
VEGAS CALENDAR
14
DOWNTOWN DINING
15
CHEAP EATS
24
Can’t-miss Las Vegas shows and events A three-month guide to Sin City happenings
20
2
THE ALOHA STATE LIFESTYLE 28
Eye-opening breakfasts at three local eateries
32
Lucky you!
46
VACATIONS HAWAII What to know before you travel
BURGER TIME
JAZZED ABOUT VEGAS
THE MUSUBI Hawai‘i’s cultural culinary icon and favorite snack
BOYD CASINO WINNERS
Break away from the norm with Vegas burger creations
LOCAL SPORTS Local stars lead the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team
Gourmet pizzeria Pizza Rock
FEATURES 16
Living Aloha
48
TRANSPLANTS Living and working in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas jazz scene keeps it hip, smooth and relaxed
LasVegasBOUND
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BIG WINNERS! James F. from Honolulu, HI $4,000 Winner
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Call 800-634-6255 or visit TheCal.com to book your stay *Based on a 5-day/4-night package double occupancy. Price subject to change without notice.
Your Direct Connection to Las Vegas
Spoken Here Ala Moana Pacific Center 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 900 Honolulu, HI 96814 808-591-4700 BoydVacationsHawaii.com of the Home
DEN L O G ARM
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6032774A JR DTR1632A Las Vegas Bound Big Winners Ad_01.indd 1
1/31/14 12:48 PM
Volume 6 | Issue 1 | FEB/MAR/APR 2014
PUBLISHE RS
Bill Smith
Jamie & Naomi Giambrone Element Media, Inc.
Vice President / General Manager Vacations Hawaii
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER E. S. Adler
MANAGING E DITOR Kevin Whitton
ART DIRE CTOR Keith Usher
STAFF E DITOR Alyssa Fukumoto
Thank you. Two little words that seem inadequate when expressing our appreciation for your unwavering support of Vacations Hawaii. Whether you’ve purchased a Las Vegas charter package on Omni Air International or whether you’ve decided to fly on one of the many scheduled airline packages that we offer throughout the year, we know that you had a choice when selecting us to do business with and we are grateful that you selected Vacations Hawaii. Over the years, you’ve seen our operation grow both in Honolulu and Las Vegas and you’ve seen the transition from the DC10 to the B757 and now the B767 aircraft. But one basic element has remained the same—service. Service is the cornerstone of our business and you can count on Vacations Hawaii to continue to meet your needs and consistently provide you with the service that you deserve. Whether it’s something as simple as a request for a special meal or a particular type of room, we’ll make that possible for you. For those with special needs, we’ll eliminate the worry and ensure that arrangements are made to accommodate you. Vacations Hawaii and our partners are committed toward delivering a high standard of service to you. And the service begins the moment you call or visit us. You can count on it! Thank you for selecting Vacations Hawaii.
CONTRIBUTING W RITERS Kim Baxter Myra Rabanal Natalie Schack
ADVE RTISING Brian Lewis
ADMINISTRATION Kathy Bell Patrick Garrett
PUBLISHE RS’ ASSISTANT Chelsea Tsuchida
INTE RN Kara Jernigan
ELEMENT MEDIA INC. 1088 Bishop St. #1130 Honolulu, HI 96813 808.737.8711 info@elementmediahi.com
VACATIONS HAWAII 1585 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 900 Honolulu, HI 96814 808.591.4777 boydvacationshawaii.com
©2014 by Element Media, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. The views expressed in Las Vegas Bound do not reflect the opinions of Element Media or Vacations Hawaii.
ON T HE C O VE R :
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Las Vegas Bound
SPAM® musubi is a Hawai‘i favorite snack food across generations. Local chefs are putting a new twist on this classic staple.
@vegasboundmag
Photo: Da Kitchen
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Your guide to can’t-miss Las Vegas shows and events Moscow Festival Ballet: Cinderella Celebrate the month of romance with the newest production of a timeless fairy tale. Cinderella is brought to life in this creative and colorful three-act performance. The intricate choreography is met by 1940s-era music by Sergei Profokiev. Since the Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989, Bolshoi Ballet dancer Sergei Radchenko has directed this group of Russian artists on stages around the world performing new renditions of classic tales and ballets. WHERE: Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall WHEN: February 1 › $26.50–$76.50 › lasvegas.com › 877.847.4858
Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge The Club Deportivo Chivas USA takes on 2010 Major League Soccer Cup Champions The Colorado Rapids in the second annual pre-season Las Vegas ProSoccer Challenge. Get to the stadium early for food, drinks and an interactive soccer competition at the Futbol Fiesta hosted by Modelo. This year’s fan raffle winner gets an in-depth tour of the stadium, behind the scenes access to the players and a seven-minute, on-field scrimmage before the game with one of the teams. WHERE: Sam Boyd Stadium WHEN: February 16 › $23–$78 › unlvtickets.com › 702.739.3267
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Kaneohe branch ground breaking, circa 1964
W&M Bar-B-Q Burger CPB customer since 1967
Maebo Noodle Factory CPB customer since 1986
Nico’s at Pier 38 CPB customer since 2003
Building relationships for 60 years. One business at a time. 60 years ago, our founders embarked on a mission, “To serve all of Hawaii’s people.” Through the years, this principle has defined how we work for you. From helping to get your business started, providing the tools for growth and the guidance to help see your vision realized, it’s been our honor to serve you. Through every part of your journey, committed to your needs and your success.
808-544-0500 1-800-342-8422 centralpacificbank.com
Jerry Seinfeld From his 1976 beginning in comedy at amateur night at New York’s Catch a Rising Star to portraying a semi-fictional character on the sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld has become the “King of Comedy.” Ranked in the top 15 of Comedy Central’s list of the “100 Greatest Standups of All Times,” Seinfeld stops in Las Vegas for a quick, two-day appearance during his U.S. comedy tour.
L
B
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BP
WHERE: Caesars Palace WHEN: March 21–22 › $82–$165 › ticketmaster.com › 800.745.3000
Elton John: The Million Dollar Piano Performing the hit songs such as “Your Song,” “Daniel,” and “Rocket Man,” hits that saw him inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, Elton John returns to Las Vegas with a residency show. Accompanied by his band, guitarist Davey Johnstone, bassist Matt Bissonette, percussionist John Mahon, drummer Nigel Olsson and keyboardist Kim Bullard, Elton performs on the namesake piano specially designed by Yamaha featuring more than 80 LED video screens. English percussionist Ray Cooper is expected to make a special appearance at these performances. WHERE: Caesars Palace WHEN: April 22–26 › $55–$500 › tickets.axs.com › 877.427.7243
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Entertainment
FEBRUARY / MARCH / APRIL 2014
February 7–8 David Spade
Don’t say “Buh-bye!” to David Spade just yet. You may know him from Saturday Night Live favorites like “Rules of Engagement” or from big screen productions like Joe Dirt and Grown Ups. Catch Spade live on stage at The Sands to hear his witty dry humor. Photo by Mark Tucker
The Venetian $85.75–$175.75 venetian.com 702.414.9000
February
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February 15
Pops Series III “Love On The Big Screen: Casablanca” Las Vegas Philharmonic will perform Casablanca live on stage with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman on the big screen in this special presentation over Valentine’s weekend.
February 13
An Intimate Evening with Clint Black Acoustic Fans of hit country singer/ songwriter Clint Black know him as an accomplished guitarist, but might be amazed with his harmonica and drum work. The Smith Center $29–$79 thesmithcenter.com 702.749.2012
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The Smith Center $25–$94 thesmithcenter.com 702.749.2000
February 21–22 Legends of Motown
This compilation of psychedelic soul and up-tempo jazz will keep Motown fans on their feet. The artist line-up features performances of top hits from The Four Tops, Diana Ross, The Temptations, The Spinners, Frankie Beverly and more. Cannery Casino & Hotel $10 cannerycasino.com 702.507.5700
Entertainment
February 28 The Wailers
February 23 Pixies
Cannery Casino & Hotel $27.95 cannerycasino.com 877.847.4858
Featuring a brand new stage set and production, front man Black Francis, guitarist Joey Santiago, drummer David Lovering and touring bassist Kim Shattuck stop in Vegas to promote their newest single “Bagboy,” their first release in 25 years.
March 1
1964: The Tribute Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles in this rendition of their pre-Sgt. Pepper hits. Fans can experience the early 1960s with hits including “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Twist and Shout,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Got to Get You into My Life” and more.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino $37–$40 ticketmaster.com 702.693.5222
MARCH
Photo: Bajan Reporter
Jamaica’s most successful reggae group brings the island vibe to Las Vegas. Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s Legend Tour with memorable reggae hits by The Wailers, featuring Aston Barrett as their new singer.
M Resort Spa & Casino $19.50–$29.50 themresort.com 877.847.4858
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Feb 18–March 10 Celine Dion
Five-time Grammy Award and two-time Academy Award winner Celine Dion takes Vegas by storm after finishing her year-long world tour. With a brand new set, Dion sings her classic hits along with covers of Journey and Janis Ian.
March 1
10th Annual Touch-A-Truck Featuring more than 100 different vehicles, this family-friendly event allows auto fans to get up-close and personal with everything from big rigs to bulldozers. This is a unique opportunity for the average Joe to climb aboard a fire truck, an ambulance and other specialty vehicles. Orleans Hotel and Casino $6–$8 orleanscasino.com 877.847.4858
Caesars Palace $55–$250 Caesarspalace.com 877.423.5463
March 21–22
Monster Jam World Finals Hear the roar of engines as beasts of steel compete in side-by-side racing and show off with freestyle performances, featuring giant monster trucks crushing tiny cars and making spectacular jumps. Drivers will also be available for autographs and photos after this exciting competition of skill and horsepower. Sam Boyd Stadium $76–$395 vegastickets.com 702.895.3761 LasVegasBound
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Entertainment March 2014 Absinthe
Carnival meets spectacle in this burlesque-style theatrical performance featuring feats of strength, balance and danger. The intimate stage setting gives the audience amazing views of thrilling acts hosted by The Gazillionaire and his assistant Penny Pibbets. Caesars Palace $99-$140 ticketmaster.com 800.745.3000
MARCH
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April 1
March 28–30
Meat Loaf
The Lettermen
Reminisce about the days of close-harmony pop songs and easy listening. Performing originals that took the Top 10 charts in the early ’60s, The Lettermen treat listeners to “The Way You Look Tonight,” “When I Fall in Love” and other classic hits. South Point Casino Hotel & Spa $25–$35 lasvegas.com 877.847.4858
March 28–April 1
Las Vegas Wranglers Take a break from the slots to experience a wintery world of adrenaline and hockey pucks as the Las Vegas Wranglers face off against the Alaska Aces and Bakersfield Condors in this premier AA Hockey League weekend tournament. The Orleans Arena is located on the north side of the Orleans Hotel and Casino. Orleans Arena $18.75–$40 orleansarena.com 877.847.4858
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Grammy Award-winning musician and actor Michael Aday, known as Meat Loaf, returns to Las Vegas for a Q&A session with fans and a performance of some of his biggest musical hits. Planet Hollywood $82.50–$526.50 planethollywood.com 866.983.4279
Entertainment April 9
Diana Krall: Glad Rag Doll World Tour The new sound and style of Diana Krall will take listeners back to a reinvented ’20s and ’30s. Her blend of swinging rock and classic love songs is celebrated by the release of her second album Glad Rag Doll. The Smith Center $39–$149 thesmithcenter.com 877.847.4858
April 2014
Recycled Percussion Since their days on America’s Got Talent, Recycled Percussion has reinvented ways to make music with anything from ladders to buckets. This hour-long production gets the audience involved in the music from the moment you walk in the auditorium. The Quad Showroom $24–$49 bestoflasvegas.com 702.425.7513
APRIL
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April 24
Laura Taylor Featuring original duets and songs from Laura Taylor’s CDs, special guest guitarist Joe Lano joins award-winning songwriter Taylor to bring spring songs back to cabaret jazz. Signed CDs will be available after the performance during a meet and greet with the stars. Cabaret Jazz Theatre $28–$55 lasvegas.com 877.847.4858
April 26
Masterworks V: Love Around the World Featuring one of the world’s leading classical guitarists Pablo Sáinz Villegas, “Love Around the World” is conducted by Alondra de la Parra. This symphony orchestra performance is a Las Vegas Philharmonic production, which has been devoted to classical music since the orchestra was founded in 1998. The Smith Center $25–$94 thesmithcenter.com 877.847.4858
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Pizza Rock
Photos: Pizza Rock
Crust lust rocks this pizzeria hotspot
Owner and Chef Tony Gemignani
Review by Myra Rabanal Sometimes expectations unmet are a good thing. Before I walked into Pizza Rock, I was expecting blaring, heart-pounding music and having to shout across the table for strained conversation. Wrong. Ironically, the pizzeria was a Zen-like haven of yin and yang—old world fare meets contemporary industrial décor with hard rock playing somewhat softly in the background. You get my drift. While the big rig jutting out of the wall, which doubles as a DJ booth at night, is quite a spectacle, the real showstoppers are the ovens and the pizzas, of course. At Pizza Rock, it’s all about the ingredients and the ovens that elevate pizza making to another dimension. After a brief education in crust making and baking, the general manager prepared a pizza tasting flight in the same meticulous way a sommelier would plan a wine tasting. We didn’t linger over our calamari fritti ($11) before the cavalcade of pizzas arrived. Leading the way, the Napoletana margherita ($16) confirmed why it was a grand-prize winner in Naples, Italy, the motherland of pizza making. Pizza Rock makes 73 of the hand-mixed Napoletana-style pizzas with San Felice flour each day in its 900-degree wood-fired oven. The high heat and short baking time yields a puffy, charred crust with a chewy interior that must be eaten hot. The simple flavors of fresh basil, San Marzano tomato and mozzarella on a smoky crust make this pizza so easy to eat. The most surprising discovery was the gluten-free smoked pancetta Gorgonzola pizza ($18). Cooked in an electric brick oven, the crust is dense without the puffiness of the other pizzas, but it has a satisfying, hearty bite and crispness that holds up well. Topped with a mound of mixed greens in balsamic vinaigrette, this slice of life is a balance of textures, flavors and temperatures. Another award-winning pizza, The New Yorker ($23) is a bold and garlicky brick-oven pie loaded with house sausage, pepperoni and ricotta. Ending on a sweeter note with another of Chef Tony Gemignani’s award-winning pizzas, The Cal Italia ($18) is a classic Italian pizza with West Coast flavors. Baked in a gas brick oven, the crust is airy and delicate, topped with a mouthwatering combination of four different cheeses, sweet fig preserves, salty prosciutto di Parma and drizzled with a tangy balsamic reduction. Pizza perfection! For dessert, Tony’s Tiramisu, laced with Malibu rum, was a smooth landing after our glorious pizza flight into the craft of crusts. 14
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Pizza Rock 201 N. 3rd Street 702.385.0838 Reservations 702.385.0887 Take-out/Delivery pizzarocklasvegas.com
CHEAP EATS:
The Country Skillet and Pot of Bread
The Vegas Mixed Plate
Rise and Shine with Eye-Opening Breakfasts Reviews and photos by Myra Rabanal Breakfast often gets overlooked in a town that pulses 24/7, but a few Vegas hangouts have a way of bringing early birds and night owls together to co-mingle over some comfort on a plate. These restaurants are popular with the locals because of the family-friendly service, home-cooked dishes and the obligatory bottomless pot of coffee. *Menu items and prices may be subject to change
Mamas breakfast burrito
Mr. MaMas
Despite the line outside, this cheap eat is worth the wait. Go for the traditional scratch-made buttermilk pancakes with eggs ($6.00), the signature Mamas French toast with three eggs and choice of meat ($8.75) or the stick-to-your-ribs chili and cheese omelet ($7.75). One of the standouts is Mamas breakfast burrito ($6.25), which smells as good as it looks, a portable feast with eggs, bell peppers, onions, cheese and potatoes all wrapped up in a soft flour tortilla. 5580 Decatur Blvd., Unit 112 702.220.9224 mrmamaslv.com
JaMMs restaurant
Regulars come from all over the Las Vegas Valley to enjoy the friendly service and affordable meals served with a Pot of Bread, a blossom of cinnamon goodness sprouting from a muffin tin. The tender yet crispy signature French toast ($6.45) descends from an old French recipe that uses cornflake crumbs for a delicate crunch. The hearty Country Skillet ($9.75) mixes scrambled eggs, ham, onions and mushrooms under a warm blanket of creamy gravy. No matter how busy it gets, you’ll always feel like family. 1029 S. Rainbow Blvd. 702.877.0749 jammsrestaurant.com
The country-style scrambler
oMelet house
A long-time standard and award winner, this restaurant has been serving locals and tourists since 1979. If you get past the amusing and creative omelets on the menu, you’ll find breakfast specials that are served Monday through Friday, except holidays. Try the country-style scrambler ($5.99) with ham, mushrooms, onions, cheddar, toast and chip-like “spuds” or the egg sandwich with bacon or sausage ($5.09). The waffle special ($8.89) features a thick, plate-sized Belgian waffle. Try one of the lauded omelets, like The Californian ($9.99) with sausage, avocado and jack cheese. If that doesn’t wake you up, the unstoppable servings of coffee just might. 2160 W. Charleston Blvd. 702.384.6868 omelethouse.net LasVegasBound
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Break away from the norm with these Vegas burger creations
Photo: Sammy’s LA Pastrami and Burger
By Natalie Schack
here are few things in life more satisfying than a simple In-N-Out burger (wild style, please). But this is Vegas, baby, and Vegas can’t do anything just plain and simple. Frankly, they make wild style look pretty tame. While we all have our favorite burger joint in the islands, that doesn’t mean you can’t go a little hog wild by indulging in Sin City’s burger creations. This is, after all, the city of the 9000-calorie Quadruple Bypass Burger from the Heartattack Cafe, known for its macabre hospital humor, huge portions and hedonistic approach to food. While I won’t be sampling that monster, it does put things in perspective for the Vegas rationale that I’ve applied to my search for great Vegas burgers: if you want it, they got it. Check these burger joints out on your next trip to the desert.
Sammy’s LA Pastrami and Burger’s Big Ass Bacon Cheeseburger
What would a Best Burger list be without a good dive burger? Sammy’s LA Pastrami and Burger is a little off-thestrip hole in the wall that looks just as “legit” as it sounds. Sure, it might need a paint job, but its famously delicious burgers and hot dogs are the reason it was featured on the Travel Channel. The Big Ass Bacon Cheeseburger is just that, big, bacony and cheeseburgery. Including a half-pound beef patty, enough cheese to drown in and 12 strips of bacon, this monstrosity is not for the faint of heart, especially when its ordered with a side of garlic or pastrami fries loaded with cheese and chili. Bonus: if someone in your party orders a hot dog, have a bite of their lunch. sammysdoghouse.moonfruit.com 16
LasVegasBound
Photo: Holstein’s
holstein’s Billion dollar Burger
If ever there was a posterchild burger for the bourgeoisie, this would be it. Luxurious truffle mayo and buttery foie gras add a certain deliciousness to this rich and savory burger without pushing the all-important beef too far backstage. Top it all off with some port onion marmalade sandwiched between a bun that is satisfyingly substantial without being too dense and you’ve hit the burger jackpot. If foie gras isn’t your first choice, the Holstein’s menu is chock full of other interesting burger concoctions, like the Rising Sun burger, made with Kobe beef, tempura avocado, furikake and teriyaki. And don’t forget to wash it all down with one of the Holstein “adult” shakes (this is Vegas, after all) in flavors like pumpkin or s’mores. holsteinslv.com
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Photo: Bachi Burger
Bachi Burger’s Miyagi-san
Bachi Burger’s menu has so many delicious and inventive Asian-inspired burgers that it is hard to choose just one to try: the Kiki burger’s enoki mushroom, garlic chili aioli and sautéed shiitake mushrooms; lup cheong, mizuno, ginger, beef and pork on a taro bun for the Mr. Ho burger; seared foie gras, poached Asian pear, Yamomomo peach and miso butter in the Shogun burger; or maybe the banh mi burger with lemongrass, pork pate, shrimp and curry aioli. In the end, it was the idea of the Miyagi-san’s fried egg and grass-fed Wagyu beef that won me over, which is complete with a pile of furikake, caramelized bacon, crispy onion rings (yes, on the burger) and chili mayo. A cherry yuzu soda, boba tea, Bachi’s oxtail chili cheese fries or pork belly steamed buns will round out your meal perfectly.
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Photo: Bachi Burger
Photo: Burger Bar
So a dessert burger isn’t exactly conventional, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t genius! The Burger Bar at the Mandalay is perhaps best known for its astounding range of burger prices (the Hangover burger is a modest $13.75 while the foie gras and shaved-truffle Rossini clocks in at $60). However, it’s the very end of the menu that has the sweet tooth talking. Their adorable and creative dessert burgers includes the Creamy Cheese Cake burger, which pairs cheesecake and caramelized pineapple between a warm sliced donut. But the Chocolate burger’s mouth-watering combination of Nutella mousse, passion fruit, fresh strawberries and kiwis, also between a warm sliced donut, has me just about ready to swear off entrée burgers for good. Just about.
burger bar’s chocolate burger
burger-bar.com
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By Myra Rabanal
No matter where it’s played, the Vegas jazz scene keeps it real and relaxed in a gyrating city as Vegas’ entertainment scene is rich in diversity, but often caters to a crowd craving excitement and unrelenting, heartpounding music reverberating across the dance floor. For visitors looking for a subtler but no less exhilarating sound, the city’s variety of entertainment venues will appeal to contemporary jazz lovers and classic jazz aficionados. From gritty to grand, Vegas’ jazz venues attract some of the world’s top jazz artists while preserving its jazz roots in a city that more commonly uproots its past to make way for the new. Entertainment doesn’t begin and end at the spectacular Bellagio fountains. Step inside the palatial Bellagio, linger over a cocktail and people-watch from the cushy Baccarat Bar while listening to classic jazz performed by house pianists David Osborne, Peter Radd, Ray Glover or Shelly Taylor. From contemporary to Southern-rooted chops, you can enjoy live performances daily from 4:15pm until 1am within the confines of Italianate splendor. 20
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At the serene and elegant Mandarin Oriental, enjoy smooth jazz with a view of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip from dawn to dusk. Start your day in MOzen Bistro with an exquisitely prepared international Sunday brunch amidst the musical stylings of a live jazz duo. In the evening, wind down after a day of sightseeing and shopping on the 23rd floor in the Mandarin Bar featuring live jazz bands and libations from 6 to 10pm. Savor the ambience while nibbling on appetizers and sipping one of the bar’s exclusive cocktails, like the Tea-tini or the Golden Leaf Martini. As jazz permeates the room, gaze out of the floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the stunning vista of the Strip in all its luminous glory and get a taste of the lush life. Idle lounging may not be for everyone, so head to the Tuscany Hotel’s Piazza Lounge off the strip and dance to the contemporary jazz stylings of the Corro Van-Such Band. This cozy, not-so-well-keptsecret of a boutique hotel features a lobby lounge with a modest dance floor, where regulars dance to upbeat and soulful renditions played by Enrique Corro, David Van-Such and Derrick Cordero every Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30pm till 12:30am.
Photos: Mandarin Oriental
The Mandarin Bar’s Tea-tini
Mandarin Bar LasVegasBound
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Downtown’s jewel, The Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz sparkles year round with world-class jazz entertainment in this clubby showroom with Danny Final cabaret seating and table service throughout the show. Cabaret Jazz is becoming a regular stop for top artists on tour, including John Pizzarelli (February 15–16), Danny Wright (February 23, May 11), Lainie Kazan (February 28–March 1), Preservation Hall Jazz Band (April 11–12) and Jane Monheit (May 23–24), just to name a few. In Reynolds Hall, Satin and Soul, featuring Grammy awardwinning David Sanborn and Jonathan Butler, will be on stage March 21. For the real deal, go where the locals are and head underground, literally, to The Cellar Lounge. Pay attention or you may miss the nondescript entrance and signage over the stairwell down to The Cellar. Maybe the regulars, affectionately deemed “cellar dwellers,” like it that way on purpose. Home to Grammy-nominated artist Billy Ray Charles, listen to Billy Ray & Boys in the Parking Lot for dirty blues, hot jazz and sultry southern soul every Friday and Saturday from 11:30pm until the wee hours of the morning. Aside from open mic Mondays, enjoy a live band
every night of the week and an occasional, impromptu jam session with a local musician or jazz icon who may stop by. During the spring and early summer months, Clark County’s Jazz in the Park series is held annually in its Government Amphitheater in downtown Vegas. Open to the community and free of charge, Jazz in the Park has been attended by 3,000 visitors and features local jazz artists and international jazz legends, such as Earl Klugh, under the desert sky. In addition, Clark County will again host the annual City of Lights Jazz Festival April 25 through 27 at the amphitheater. So far, the entertainers lined up include KEM, Chrisette Michele, Boney James, Jeff Lorber, and BWB featuring Norman Brown, Kirk Whalum and Rick Braun. Jazz aficionados who long for more can look forward to the annual Las Vegas Jazz Festival on September 26 through 28 at the JW Marriott in Summerlin. Last year, the threeday event showcased a stellar line-up of entertainment, which included India Arie, Jeffrey Osborne & Euge Grove, Warren Hill, KEM, Nick Colionne and the ‘Sax Pack’ of Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole and Jackiem Joyner.
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Photos: The Smith Center
CABARET JAZZ THE SMITH CENTER
Dig it, baby!
Stay cool at these jazz venues Bellagio Baccarat Bar bellagio.com
Tuscany Hotel’s Piazza Lounge tuscanylv.com The Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz thesmithcenter.com/ cabaretjazz
the cellar lounge
Photo: Myra Rabanal
Mandarin Oriental MOzen Bistro mandarinoriental.com
Specializing In Korean Drama & Movies
The Cellar Lounge cellarlasvegas.com Medical Top Team
Photos: The Smith Center
Clark County City of Lights Jazz Festival facebook.com/pages/ Las-Vegas-City-of-LightsJazz-and-R-B-Festival Las Vegas Jazz Festival lvjazzfestival.com
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The food, fun and lifestyle of our Aloha State
The Musubi
28 Local Sports
Living Aloha
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Transplants
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By Kim Baxter
Local stars lead the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team this season 28
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Photos: Hawai‘i Athletics
Joby Ramos spent his childhood idolizing his University of Hawai‘i volleyball heroes. The Roosevelt alumnus copied his first serve from Mauli‘a La Barre, who also attended Roosevelt and excelled at the University of Hawai‘i. He pored over the play of former setter Sean Carney, an ‘Iolani product. He worshipped Tony Ching, who starred at Kamehameha-Kapalama before becoming an All-American as a Warrior. “That is what I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid,” says Ramos, “just being able to play in the Stan [Sheriff Center].”
Starting setter Joby Ramos is proud to play on this year’s men’s volleyball squad, featuring a host of homegrown talent. LasVegasBound
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Davis Holt
Kolby Kanetake
Joby Ramos 30
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Now the Warriors’ starting setter finds himself in that same bright spotlight as a local player excelling on the University of Hawai‘i’s men’s volleyball squad, playing to the adoration of thousands of young players around the state. Yet he’s not the only one. This year’s team, ranked 13th in the country in the preseason, predominantly features four homegrown talents, a welcome change from the years where the roster featured few locals: Ramos, sophomore libero Kolby Kanetake (Moanalua High School), junior middle blocker Davis Holt (Maryknoll High School) and freshman hitter Kupono Fey (Punahou). “It’s Hawai‘i volleyball. You’d think there’d be Hawai‘i kids here,” Holt says. “I wanted to stay here. Who doesn’t want to stay here? It’s the best place. The greatest thing I ever wanted was to play on this team.” While there have been a number of Hawai‘i stars in University of Hawai‘i history, as of late, the best players have been bolting paradise for the mainland. However, fifth-year coach Charlie Wade has made it a priority to keep the local talent in hometown green and white, and he’s starting to see the fruits of his labor. “It means a lot to the community,” Fey says of the local faces on the team. “It brings more fans out, hopefully. More people want to come out and see us because they know our faces, they know us, they’ve seen us grow up from high school, middle school. It’s awesome that people get to stay home and play for UH.” The Warriors have been a mishmash of mostly mainland and international players. There have been some stars, but the Warriors have struggled to attract the blue-chip local prospects. “We do want to have the best local players on our team,” Wade says. “And you can field a team that is capable of winning in the league and capable of winning the national championship with local kids. We’ve seen that for decades.” Last season, Ramos, Holt and libero Matthew Cheape started on a University of Hawai‘i team whose season ended with a heartbreaking loss to national runner-up Brigham Young University in the quarterfinals of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation’s playoffs. This year, Ramos and Kanetake are entrenched starters, Holt will compete for a
Co
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Say Goodbye to Cataracts and Discover Visual Freedom. Coach Charlie Wade starting job in the middle and Fey will be a serving specialist whose role will be expanded as he gains more experience. “It’s a weird feeling to know that I was one of those kids watching this team as I was growing up,” Kanetake says. “To be a part of it, it’s amazing.” This is just the tip of the iceberg of incoming local talent. Wade has already secured signed commitments from Luke Owens, a promising six-foot-seven middle blocker from Kalaheo, and Mamane Namahoe, a six-foot-one libero from the Big Island. He also has received verbal commitments from two other local players, but per NCAA rules, he cannot comment on them until they have signed official letters of intent. While the Warriors will probably never be a locals-only team (this year’s squad boasts five from Hawai‘i, five foreigners and nine Californians), Coach Wade has made it clear that scouting the islands for the best talent is the key. “It’s exciting for us because of how much the fans appreciate watching the local players, and they’re good,” Wade says. “They’re going to help us win. I don’t know if we’ll get to the point where they will all be local players, but certainly a significant number of our starters on the court will be kids from Hawai‘i, and there are so many positives from it.”
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Photo: Hormel Foods
Breakfast sizzles on the stove, filling the kitchen with heady smoke and the scent of cooking oil. This is a local breakfast table. An empty Hormel can sits by the kitchen sink as the chef swishes thick slabs of precooked pork shoulder meat in a pan until it browns, ready to be placed onto plates filled with eggs and Portuguese sausage. SPAM®, the preserved ham product so popular in local kitchens, becomes the star of any meal atop a soft bed of rice and wrapped in a generous sheet of nori, or seaweed. These extra touches make for the typical Hawai‘i-style musubi, a meal supplement or centerpiece easily transitioned from a typical breakfast food to an any-and-every time of day snack.
Hawai‘i’s cultural culinary icon By Alyssa Fukumoto LasVegasBound
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T
he musubi’s roots in the islands cannot be traced back to one culinary-inclined individual or auspicious event. Rather, the delicacy we enjoy today sprung up over time as a mixed plate of cultural integration, affordability and availability. The modern musubi’s path began with the introduction of a rice-influenced diet by an influx of Japanese immigrants, including making a staple meal of onigiri, the noriwrapped Japanese rice ball. Now inseparable from its typical SPAM® topping, the processed meat product found its way to Hawai‘i by way of Unites States military introduction during World War II. The canned meat was a portable, inexpensive way to ship food to Hawai‘i for consumption by the many GIs stationed here. By the end of the war, SPAM® was firmly entrenched in local food culture and incorporated into local dishes, including atop onigiri in what would become the common, modern musubi.
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Photos: Hormel Foods
While SPAM® musubi has sustained local popularity through the decades, becoming a Hawai‘i “cultural food icon” with a number of dedicated cookbooks, shops and Waikiki SPAM® Jam booths to its name, the delicacy is one that has not made its mark beyond our island shores. The musubi sits comfortably in local school lunch bags and alongside the last minute check-out items at convenience stores, but one prominent figure’s partaking of the unique Japanese and GI-inspired treat is cause for national attention. Mainstream pop culture and news sites marveled at President Barack Obama’s 2008 visit and musubi-eating activity. TIME noted that the Punahou graduate proved himself thoroughly local by purchasing two SPAM® musubi while golfing at Olomana Links. People saw fit to dedicate an entire story to the president’s food preference, titling an article “Barack Obama Snacks on Hawaiian SPAM® Sushi.” The combination of canned meat, rice and seaweed may well remain an oddity outside of the islands. Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods,, is known for eating unconventional fare like cow utter and horse mane, but didn’t have the stomach to try SPAM® musubi during his Hawai‘i episode. It’s difficult to imagine something so common in the islands being so strange and unpalatable to a famously adventurous foodie. No matter, locals will gladly keep the musubi close to home and an all-time favorite.
The annual Waikiki sPaM® Jam is a highly anticipated street festival celebrating Hawai‘i’s obsession with sPaM® and the beloved sPaM® musubi.
Photos: SJ Foundation
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Musubi Makeover The classic SPAM® musubi may never be passé in Hawai‘i, but local chefs are putting delicious twists on this treat by taking inspiration from traditional Asian cuisine and other popular local foods. Here are a few savory options sure to satisfy cravings of the musubi-inclined.
Chef Bruhl’s Korean Steak Musubi
Photo: Mana Bu’s
Photo: Duke’s Waikiki
Chef William Bruhl cooks up a regular slew of local deliciousness as the resident sous chef of Duke’s Waikiki and his take on a musubi is no exception. An adventure in Korean cuisine, this steak musubi is slathered in kalbi glaze and ko choo chang barbecue sauce and sits atop ko choo chang slaw. To top off this savory bit, Chef Bruhl finishes the dish with quick-fried pickled ginger chips. dukeswaikiki.com
Mana Bu’s Musubi Assortment This South King Street shop, owned by Manabu Asaoka, perpetually sells out of product early, for they have found that delicate, tasty balance of rice, fillings and toppings in each of the 35 different kinds of musubi they make each day. Combining traditional Japanese onigiri fillings of ume, baked salmon, unagi and Kombu seaweed with Hawaiian sea salt to work as a natural preservative, their offerings prove to be fresh, quality satisfaction for the tummy. hawaiimusubi.com
Photo: Da Kitchen
Da Kitchen’s Fried SPAM® Musubi Da Kitchen on Maui’s Co-owner and Chef Les Tomita prepares a unique, crunchy take on a classic. Panko crusted and deep fried, the musubi is drizzled with the eatery’s special homemade teriyaki sauce. Now a menu staple, Da Kitchen originally created this dish for their Kahului location when it was featured on Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods. Da Kitchen now sells more than 300 fried musubi a day. da-kitchen.com 36
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These professionals give expert answers to the most frequently asked questions in their respective industries.
ASK THE CATARACTS: SERIOUS BUT TREATABLE
CONTROL YOUR RETIREMENT FUNDS
Q A
Q
I hear about cataracts all the time, but what do I really need to know?
A cataract is when the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, blocking and distorting light that’s necessary for the retina to process images. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. Cataracts occur as a natural process of aging. Risk factors include exposure to ultraviolet light, diet, smoking, diabetes, use of some steroid medications, and serious eye injuries. Symptoms include blurred vision, sensitivity to light, fading or yellowing of colors, poor night vision, sensitivity to glare, and seeing haloes around bright lights. At age 40, you should get a baseline eye exam from an ophthalmologist to determine your overall eye health. Surgical treatment of cataracts is fast and painless. Technological advances allow for quick healing, better vision and, in some cases, reduced dependence on eyeglasses afterward. Talk to your doctor.
hile I contine to work, should W I rollover my 401(k) to an IRA (in-service distribution)?
A Dr. Christopher Tortora, M.D. Medical Director Hawaiian Eye Center & Dry Eye Clinic 808.621.2020 hawaiianeye.com
QUALITY 24-HOUR CARE
Q A
David Livingston Financial Advisor/ Franchise Owner Ameriprise Financial 808.441.4000 ameripriseadvisors. com/david.c.livingston
Join the dialogue to enact change for our planet!
aving trouble finding quality H 24-hour care for your loved one?
The accelerating number of families taking care of elderly parents or relatives in their homes is staggering. The licensure of Case Management Agencies and Foster Homes is an option for placement and care provided 24 hours and delivered in a loving family oriented setting. Your peace of mind is our goal. All Island staff will locate a certified home that will match the needs of your love one. Our role is to coordinate and monitor the care of the client. We provide education and training to caregivers specific to our clients’ medical and social needs. We advocate for clients’ rights, provide crisis intervention and integrate quality improvement to maintain safe placement. We accept private pay, long term care insurance and our competent financial manager can assist and offer guidance for individuals who are eligible for Medicaid benefits.
As you get closer to retirement, you’re likely looking for ways to gain greater control over how you manage and invest your retirement savings so you can feel more confident about reaching your retirement goals. A little known option called in-service distribution may be just what you’re looking for. It allows you to transfer assets from your workplace 401(k) into a personal IRA while you’re still employed. An IRA offers more investment options than what’s typically available in a 401(k) plan. This is important because as you near retirement, having greater control over your investment choices may be critical during market changes. Of course there are other factors to consider when rolling over assets to an IRA, including costs and eligibility—as not all employers offer inservice distribution.
Elsa P. Talavera RN, CMC All Island Case Management 808.536.7100 allislandcmc.com info@allisland-cmc.com
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Navigating Today’s Economy Solutions for concentrated stock positions While changes in the economy occur regularly, what we have experienced recently is anything but a “normal” change. The challenges of the current economy haven’t been seen or experienced in our country in decades. Like most investors, you may wish you could figure out some way to know when economic conditions were about to change, or what adjustments you should make in your portfolio based on current conditions. It’s a tricky topic, and even economists disagree about the nature and causes of economic cycles. Let us take a look at some of the issues you need to be aware of, and help familiarize you with how the economy works. Advance or Expansion When times are good and the economy is growing, we typically see indications such as falling unemployment rates and factories taking advantage of excess capacity, to name a couple. While the news during this phase is typically positive, you may soon start to see signs of problems ahead. If inflationary pressures begin to creep in, this is typically when the Fed raises interest rates in an attempt to help keep the economy from overheating. Peak By the time we get to this point, the economy tends to be operating at full employment, factories have generally used up their excess capacity, and inflationary pressures are usually building. When rising labor and materials costs squeeze companies’ profit margins, the Fed will usually move more aggressively in an attempt to slow growth by raising rates to help ease inflationary pressure. Decline, Slowdown or Recession Ideally, action by the Fed to tame inflation should allow the economy to gradually adjust to a sustainable long-term growth rate without
the threat of inflation. In reality, however, the combination of the Fed’s tightening and the need to correct accumulated imbalances in labor and materials supplies typically slows growth to a level that’s actually below the economy’s long-term potential. Unemployment rises, factories slow down, and inflationary pressures ease. Trough At this point in the cycle, inventories are depleted. The Fed lowers interest rates in an attempt to help stimulate the economy, and businesses and homeowners may consider refinancing mortgages to take advantage of lower rates. Companies will eventually purchase new equipment and expand operations, helping inventories to grow and marking the beginning of a new expansion. As you can see, there are some telltale signs that can at least give some idea of where the economy is in its cycle. However, to make matters more complicated for you as an investor, the stock market tends to move in advance of the economy, usually in response to investors’ anticipation of what they see down the road. The biggest challenge is knowing when the shift to the next phase will occur, because predicting the market and the economy is a bit like forecasting the weather. Wells Fargo Advisors has a number of tools and resources to help you gain a better understanding of how interest rates can affect your portfolio. Talk to your Financial Advisor to learn more about what changing interest rates mean for you and your financial situation. Stocks offer long-term growth potential, but may fluctuate more and provide less current income than other investments. Bonds offer a fixed rate of return and investment principal if held to maturity. In addition to market and interest rate risk, bonds are also subject to default risk, the risk that companies or individuals will be unable to make the required payments on their debt obligations. This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Al Sadanaga, Financial advisor in Honolulu, HI at 808.728.1565. Investments in securities and insurance products are: not fdic-insured/not bank-guaranteed/may lose value. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved.
Al Sadanaga is a licensed financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors in Honolulu with a focus on helping retirees navigate the complexities of today’s investment environment. Al.Sadanaga@wfadvisors.com
Al Sadanaga Financial Advisor 1001 Bishop St., Suite 1900 Honolulu, HI 96813 Tel: 808-547-5281 al.sadanaga@wellsfargoadvisors.com
Are you prepared for rising interest rates? Call today. Investment and Insurance Products: u NOT FDIC Insured u NO Bank Guarantee u MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors is the trade name used by two separate registered broker-dealers: Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, Members SIPC, non-bank affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company. ©2010, 2013 Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC. All rights reserved. 1013-00914
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Safety First Automotive brake tips for passenger cars and light trucks I’m John Linden, Master ASE Certified Technician and North America Training Manager for TBC/Midas International Corporation. Check out these tips to help you drive safe. If the amber-colored Anti Lock Brake light or the red brake warning indicator light is on, an ASE or Brake Certified Technician should check this as soon as possible. If the red warning light is on constantly, it usually means that you have a hydraulic issue in the brake system. This could be dangerous and should be checked immediately. The red warning light may also mean that the parking brake is on. If it is on, put your foot under the parking brake pedal and as you pull out on the release handle, lift upward. If the red brake light goes out, you most likely have a parking brake cable issue. The red brake warning light can alert the driver that the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir is getting low. This could be a sign that the brake pads or shoes are wearing down. A grinding noise means that the brake pads or shoes no longer have any friction material left. Unchecked, this could be costly. If you feel the brake pedal pulsate (go up and down) as you apply it in a normal stop, a brake rotor or brake drum could have, what is called, excessive run out. If it pulsates under a panic stop, this may be normal if your vehicle is equipped with Anti Lock Brakes (ABS). If you hear a squealing noise while applying the brakes, this could indicate that the brake pads or shoes are loose, vibrating or the friction material is getting low. The front and rear brakes work in conjunction, so any time you have your brakes checked ALWAYS have all four wheels inspected. The technician should show you and explain exactly why the part or parts are worn out or failed. If not, do not hesitate to get a second opinion. John Linden, Master ASE Certified Technician, North America Training Manager for TBC/Midas International Corporation. Watch video excerpts about automotive tips by John Linden and Midas on Youtube, AOL or Monkeysee, www.monkeysee.com/tags/47733.
Brighten Your Future Solar PV is still the best investment you can make in Hawai‘i Islandwide Solar is making it easy for Hawai‘i residents to put solar electric (PV) systems on their homes. Since 2008, we have installed over 4,000 systems throughout the islands and we continue to serve our local ‘ohana. Why trust Islandwide? Just look to our partnerships with SunRun and SunPower. SunRun is the largest and most trusted solar financing company in the United States. SunRun offers qualifying Hawai‘i residents $0 Down solar with a fixed monthly payment for 20 years in most areas. SunPower has engineered the most powerful solar panel in the world with the highest efficiency available. SunPower only offers their panels through a handful of premier companies in Hawai‘i. Only three solar companies in Hawai‘i are both SunPower and SunRun accredited. Islandwide Solar is one of them, placing us in the top 1% of all solar companies you could choose to work with. Do you live in a “saturated area” where the utility is putting up roadblocks to going solar? The truth is all residents in Hawai‘i have options to save money with solar power no matter what the saturation level in your neighborhood may be. Discover your options and don’t let the media scare you off. Let us help protect your family from the high cost of petroleumbased energy. We offer grid-tied and hybrid battery back-up solutions and can help you accomplish your goal of saving money and the environment with clean energy. Our pricing is competitive, yet our quality is unmatched. Islandwide Solar is the clear choice for the best value. Call us today at (808) 792-1890 or visit us on the web at www.islandwidesolar.com/lasvegas. Soak up the sun and save with Islandwide Solar.
Jeremy Pearl is the Sales Manager for Islandwide Solar and can be reached at jpearl@islandwidesolar.net.
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Creditor Protection 101
Winning with Medicare
Transferring tenancy by the entirety property to your trust
More benefits, better choices and lower costs
This may be a good time to review your estate plan with your attorney. Hawai‘i now extends tenancy by the entirety protection to transfers of real property to trusts. This law is applicable to spouses, reciprocal beneficiaries and civil union partners.
Everyone knows someone who just seems to have been born lucky. I call those people blessed. They just seem destined to win. Does that sound like you or someone you know? Well, if you have Medicare insurance coverage or are getting close to the eligibility age of 65, or qualify for other reasons, perhaps your Medicare insurance will prove to be your winning ticket.
Among the characteristics of property owned in tenancy by the entirety are: one owner, acting alone, cannot convey any interest in the property (in other words, both spouses/partners have to sign a deed in order to transfer the property to someone else); the property automatically passes to the surviving spouse/partner upon the death of the first to die; and the creditors of one spouse/partner cannot reach tenancy by the entirety property. Prior to the enactment of the new law, if spouses held property as tenants by the entirety and then transferred their property to their respective revocable living trusts (a very common estate planning strategy), they may have lost the creditor protection afforded by the tenancy by the entirety. If one spouse/ partner were to have a car accident or a business setback or otherwise incurred substantial debt, the formerly tenancy by the entirety property in that person’s trust might have been subject to creditors’ claims. This result can now be avoided by including special wording in your trust agreements and in the deeds transferring real property into your trusts. If you transferred tenancy by the entirety property into your trusts prior to July 1, 2012 or if that special wording was not included in your trust agreements and deeds, you might want to revisit the question of how to make sure your property is protected by tenancy by the entirety.
Scott A. Makuakane, Esq. is a lawyer whose practice emphasizes estate planning, elder care and trust law. He is a graduate of Duke University (cum laude 1979) and the University of Hawai‘i School of Law (1983), where he served as Articles Editor of the University of Hawai‘i Law Review. He has been rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell since 1993.
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Here is a quick glance at what Medicare offers: • More Benefits—Certain preventive benefits, including cancer screenings, are available with no cost to patients when furnished by qualified and participating health professionals. The annual wellness visit allows people to sit down and discuss with their doctor their health care needs and the best ways to stay healthy. • Better Choices—Medicare will notify beneficiaries about plan performance and use its online Plan Finder to encourage enrollment in quality plans. • Lower Costs—Average premiums for 2014 for prescription drug coverage and Medicare health plans will remain stable. People who are in the “donut hole” in Medicare’s prescription drug benefit will enjoy approximately 53 percent discounts on covered brand name drugs and see increased savings on generic drugs. So stay informed about your Medicare insurance choices and when you choose a plan count it along with your other winnings and blessings! AlohaCare Advantage (HMO) is a HMO plan with a Medicare contract. AlohaCare Advantage Plus (HMO SNP) is a HMO plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Hawaii Medicaid program. Enrollment in AlohaCare Advantage or AlohaCare Advantage Plus depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. Benefits may change on January 1 of each year. AlohaCare Advantage Plus is available to anyone who has both Medical Assistance from the State and Medicare.
Martha Khlopin, AlohaCare’s Medicare Manager, hosts KHNR-650AM “A Medicare Moment,” which airs Saturdays at 11am. Ms. Khlopin also conducts island wide Medicare planning workshops. Call (808) 973-0754 for details. (Calling this number will direct an individual to a licensed insurance agent/broker). H5969_400252_2 CMS Accepted 02112014
Ohana Deeply rooted at the Good Samaritan Pohai Nani
w w w. e l e m e nt m e d i a h i . co m
The word “Ohana” is deep rooted in Hawaiian culture. At the Good Samaritan Pohai Nani, ohana flows through its residents, family and friends. This year the Pohai Nani retirement community celebrates its 50th Anniversary—50 years of making a difference. While this Gold celebration happens only once, the employee awards ceremony occurs yearly. In January 2014, Pohai Nani recognized its Security Officer, Harold Stephenson as 2013’s Employee of the Year. Harold, a former officer with the Honolulu Police Department and current officer with the State of Hawaii Airports Division, is a perfect fit to safeguard Pohai Nani’s residents.
7TH
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
MODERN OFFICE
DESIGN
5 WATCH TO
rs unity leade Five comm successful share their ights ins s busines
$5.95 JAN–MAR 2013 thepacificedge.com
RICK RALSTON Transitioning from Crazy Shirts to Rix Island Wear
Harold’s exemplary performance earned him the selection, but his ohana bond to Pohai Nani does not stop as an employee. His mother, Leimomi Stephenson, is a former employee and now a resident there. “This opportunity enabled me to be close to my mother while using my training in law enforcement to keep the staff and residents safe,” shares Harold.
Nathan Richardson, Sales Director, is an expert in consulting with older adults about retirement living options in Hawaii. He has been with Pohai Nani since May 2013.
Vol. 5#1
94th Army Air Missile Defense Command
First Line oF DeFense
first Historic THaaD Deployment
CHRISTMAS IN VEGAS
FTO-01 pg. 24
Sisters in Arms Program brings female mentorship and development
Crystal Lee's Year of Service $5.00 NOV 2013 – JAN 2014
LANPAC Assuring Security and Stability in the pacific
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FOR LIVING HEALTHY
HALEAMANO // PARK ON FREMONT // RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL
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This heartwarming story is one of the intangible aspects of Pohai Nani making the community more than just a place to retire. With more than 250 residents, over 200 employees and volunteers, and all their families as part of the Pohai Nani family, this community emulates the breadth of the word “Ohana.”
OCT/NOV/DEC 2013
Pacific DefenDer
“Having my son Harold work here makes me feel good because I know how dedicated he is in everything that he does,” states Leimomi. Leimomi has her own long list of accolades that exemplify the aloha spirit. As the former Resident Services Coordinator for Pohai Nani, she’s coordinated countless events, raising thousands of dollars for the community. In the ’60s, she founded Hauoli Moana Kai, a Hawaiian Cultural Sea camp that served to educate and bring together over 400 girl scouts and their families residing in underserved areas of Hawaii. Currently she continues her work by volunteering on several resident committees. “Pohai Nani means surrounded by beauty. We were given that name by Mary Kawena Pukui. That is an honor,” says Leimomi. “After years of working here, I know that I came home the day I moved here.”
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KNOW BEFORE YOU
GO
What to expect on a Vacations Hawaii experience to Las Vegas ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION
CARRY-ON LUGGAGE
You are required by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to provide an acceptable form of identification at check-in and at the security checkpoints in Honolulu and Las Vegas. Acceptable forms of identification include photo identification issued by the US Federal or State Government or US and foreign government-issued passports. Additionally, the identification must contain a name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and some tamperresistant feature. Bus passes, library cards and fishing licenses are among the forms of identification that are NOT acceptable.
In addition to one personal item (briefcase, purse, laptop computer, backpack) each person is allowed one piece of carry-on luggage. The maximum dimensions for each piece of carry-on luggage is approximately 9 x 14 x 22 inches and the weight restriction is 25 pounds. No more than three ounces of liquids, aerosols or gels may be included in carry-on luggage. Additionally, all of the above items must be consolidated in a single quartsized zip lock bag, which must be placed separately in the security bin during the security screening process.
CHECKED LUGGAGE l In Honolulu, check in two hours prior to departure at Omni Air International’s ticket counter located in Lobby 6 of the Honolulu International Airport.
l PLEASE BE AWARE THAT : • Baggage that needs to be checked needs to pass through the agriculture checkpoint before heading to the ticket counter. • In addition to affixing the hotel tags provided by Vacations Hawaii, all checked luggage must be tagged with your own personal identification tag. • You are allowed two pieces of checked luggage with a maximum weight of 50 pounds and maximum dimensions of 62 linear inches (length+width+height). • A fee of $25 will be assessed for each of the first two pieces of checked luggage on each flight segment. Passengers who check in more than two pieces of luggage will be charged $100 per piece for each additional item of checked luggage per each flight segment. • In addition to the checked baggage fees set forth above, Vacations Hawaii may, in its sole discretion, accept oversized or overweight luggage when space is available, subject to the payment of a fee of $100 per piece on each flight segment. Checked baggage that exceeds a maximum outside linear dimension of 62 inches and/or exceeds a maximum weight of 50 pounds constitutes overweight luggage. Items heavier than 70 pounds will not be accepted for transportation. • First Class passengers and Emerald cardholders in Boyd’s B Connected program will be allowed two pieces of checked luggage at no charge, except for oversized and overweight pieces described above, which will be subject to fees. • Styrofoam coolers will not be accepted unless packed within an outside box or container. Special rules and restrictions govern the transport of dry ice.
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LasVegasBound
SPECIAL NEEDS (Wheelchairs, Oxygen, Oxygen Concentrators) Customers with special needs should make their reservations with Vacations Hawaii as far in advance as possible and should request the special services available to them. Arrangements can be made for special seating and handling at the same time that your charter reservations are made. Wheelchairs are available through the porter service at both Honolulu International Airport and McCarran International Airport for the convenience of passengers. Arrangements can be made in advance to rent wheelchairs for use in Las Vegas. Customers also have the option of taking their own personal wheelchairs with them as checked luggage on the chartered flights. Oxygen can be provided at a cost for any customer who provides Vacations Hawaii with a prescription that has an acceptable flow rate and meets the government’s criteria when the request for oxygen is made. Oxygen concentrators are allowed on the airplane but are subject to restrictions concerning the make and model of the concentrator and the amount of battery-charge available. Consult with a Vacations Hawaii representative for a full description of terms and restrictions.
DEPARTING HONOLULU
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Again, once at Honolulu International Airport, please check in two hours before departure at Lobby 6. A 5 1/2-hour flight will take you from Honolulu to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport. The charter approaches Las Vegas from the south, giving passengers a clear view of the Strip and Downtown as the plane descends for its landing.
ARRIVING IN LAS VEGAS
<
The flight arrives at Terminal 1, where a Vacations Hawaii ground agent will greet you, answer any questions
NEED ASSISTANCE? l If you need any help while you are in Las Vegas, please contact the Duty Escorts at the Vacations Hawaii office in the Main Street Hotel and Casino. Escorts are at the office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may also call 702.249.8404 for assistance.
Thank You For Choosing Vacations Hawaii!
Kikaha
and direct you to the buses that will take you to your hotel. At the hotel, you will be greeted by another agent and proceed to the front desk to retrieve your meal-ticket book and room keys. Your luggage will be brought to your room shortly. During your stay, there are countless ways to stay busy with gaming, shopping, day trips, sightseeing, free shows and more. For a list of some possibilities, contact your hotel’s bell desk representatives.
<
On the day of your departure, your luggage will be retrieved from your room by the bell desk. You will meet in a designated room and await the buses to take you back to McCarran Airport, Terminal 1. At the terminal, you will need to retrieve your luggage (or use a SkyCap) and take it to the check-in counter. Check in with the Swissport counter agents. There, you will be issued your boarding pass and luggage claim tags and directed to the proper departing gate. Once you arrive at the Honolulu airport, your luggage is typically sent to Baggage Claim E. An announcement will be made in-flight to let you know where to pick up your baggage. <
Passenger Entrance >>>
EXIT
LEAVING LAS VEGAS
LAVATORY
2D 3D 4D
2F 3F 4F
7D 7E 7F 8D 8E 8F 9D 9E 9F 10D 10E 10F 11D 11E 11F 12D 12E 12F
| 1-877-718-8901
Omni Flight Departure & Arrival Information EXIT
14D 15D 16D
LAVATORY
14E 15E 16E
14F 15F 16F
2H 3H 4H
2K 3K 4K
7H 8H 9H 10H 11H 12H 14H 15H 16H
7K 8K
First Class Rows 1 – 4
9K 10K 11K 12K 14K 15K 16K
Premium Class Rows 7 – 16
LAVATORY
LAVATORY
17H* 17K*
1
6 2 9 3 9 6 5
18D 19D 20D 21D 22D 23D 24D 25D 26D 27D 28D 29D 30D 31D 32D 33D 34D 35D 36D
9
6 8 2 4 8 4 7 5 6 3 1 3 7 9 5 6 Puzzle by websudoku.com
18E 19E 20E 21E 22E 23E 24E 25E 26E 27E 28E 29E 30E 31E 32E 33E 34E 35E 36E
18F 19F 20F 21F 22F 23F 24F 25F 26F 27F 28F 29F 30F 31F 32F 33F 34F 35F 36F
18H 19H 20H 21H 22H 23H 24H 25H 26H 27H 28H 29H 30H 31H 32H 33H 34H 35H 36H
18K 19K 20K 21K 22K 23K 24K 25K 26K 27K 28K 29K 30K 31K 32K 33K 34K 35K 36K
Coach Class Rows 17 – 36
LAVATORY
LasVegasBound
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Transplants
A HOME AWAY FROM HOME Meet Hawai‘i transplants now living and working in Las Vegas Stories by Myra Rabanal
ociate d Senior Ass nior Pastor an Se , hi ip os iy sh M Fellow Kent and Lisa gas Christian Hope Las Ve Pastor of New
Transplants: Kent and Lisa Miyoshi
Transplant: Shannon Stringert
In 2003, Kent and Lisa Miyoshi and their two young sons embarked into unfamiliar territory when they left the comfort of their island home for uncertainty in the desert. With not much more than faith in their back pocket, this couple followed their vision to the Ninth Island. “We felt a connection to come here and plant a church that would grow with the community,” Kent says. New Hope Las Vegas had a humble beginning as Pastor Kent and Pastor Lisa set up church in someone’s living room ten years ago. Despite the odds, the Miyoshis continued helping others grow in faith and fellowship in a city that is in constant overdrive to out-do itself. As NHLV celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the Miyoshis’ steely persistence and faith are yielding the fruit of their labor. “We’re 600 members strong and growing as a church ‘ohana, but still flexible enough to provide the personal connection,” explains Kent. “Our redeeming quality is that the aloha spirit is cultivated here. We are a down-to-earth church and we have fun.” The Miyoshis also discovered a gentler side to Las Vegas. “Vegas is a great place to raise a family,” says Pastor Lisa. “The suburbs are beautiful with nice homes, parks and landscaped communities.” In rare moments of free time, Kent goes fishing at his secret spot, while Lisa heads to the gym or outlet malls.
Shannon Stringert loves to share his passion for fitness and well being with Las Vegas visitors at The Sahra Spa & Hamman and the Violet Hour Salon in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas. “My job is not just about luxury and pampering, but more importantly, about wellness and education,” Shannon emphasizes. As a college student, Shannon’s sights were set on Vegas, the Mecca of the hospitality industry as he calls it, to learn from the worlds’ most talented and respected industry leaders in the city. His move has paid off with a position in one of The Strip’s hottest luxury resorts. When Shannon first moved to the city, he found Las Vegas to be a unique city where things never seem to stop, where the lights are always on and there is no such thing as a typical 9 to 5 job. Shannon enjoys all that the city has to offer beyond the neon. “There are great neighborhoods here, a thriving arts community and a downtown resurgence,” he says. “It’s an exciting time to live here.” He also takes advantage of 300 days of sunshine by hiking Red Rock Canyon, jogging his neighborhood or roaming the redeveloped Fremont East District in Downtown. As any Hawai‘i transplant discovers, visitors constantly trickle in when you live in Vegas. Shannon is looking forward to having family visit during the holidays and showing them The Cosmopolitan, but there’s one condition. “My family always makes a stop at Trader Joe’s as soon as they land.”
Hometown: Pearl City Years in Las Vegas: 10
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Shannon Strin gert, Director of Spa, Salon The Cosmop and Fitness olitan of Las at Vegas
LasVegasBound
Hometown: Honolulu Years in Las Vegas: 7
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Ala Moana Pacific Center Building • 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 900 Honolulu, HI 96814
SM
YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME
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o how do you choose the S right senior living community? Fun is important. So is comfort. But what about those deeper questions? Questions like whether our lives will have as much meaning and purpose? We’re the Good Samaritan Society – Pohai Nani, part of the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of senior care and services. And we’d like to help you answer those deeper questions that belong at the very center of your search.
To learn more about our community in Kane’ohe, call (808) 247-3448.
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society provides housing and services to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, national origin or other protected statuses according to applicable federal, state or local laws. All faiths or beliefs are welcome. Copyright © 2014 The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society. All rights reserved.
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