TGIFr!day

Week of Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 | Vol. 4, No. 38

Grinds & Da Kines For Your Weekend

DELIZIOSO!

Check Da Scene

Tom Iannucci brings Italian specialty to Kauai www.facebook.com/KauaiFarmbureau

Weekly at KCC Campus!

TASTE the SEASON!

SATURDAYS 9:30am–1pm

Buy locally grown Dragon Fruit!

From Farmers Market to Farm Fair The Kauai County Farm Bureau Supports Agriculture

2 | TGIFR!DAY | Sept. 23, 2016

IN THIS ISSUE: 2. OUT & ABOUT:

Top picks for the week

3. Film:

Screenagers

4. DINING OUT KAUAI: Pietro’s Pizza

6. BOOK REVIEW: Milk and honey

OUT & ABOUT: TOP PICKS FOR THE WEEK TODAY SATURDAY CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA OF HAWAII 7-8:30 p.m. Ha Coffee Bar All welcome to talk about direction of this country and how you can take your concerns and put them into both prayer and action.

‘HIDDEN HAWAI’I’ 7 p.m., Kapaa Library.

“Hidden Hawai’i” in which National Geographic explores the troical wonders of Hawaii’s pristine Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the largest marine protected area in the world. Call for information 634 8535

7. CHECK Da SCENE:

NENE AWARENESS CELEBRATION 2 p.m., Hanalei Community Center.

Celebrate Nene Awareness Day with events hosted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and the Kauai Nēnē Habitat Conservation Plan.

Learn about what makes our state bird unique and the world’s rarest goose at the “Discover the Nene presentation. Info: 320-3191.

FRIDAY NIGHTS • 5:30-9:00PM ADULTS $59 CHILDREN $28 (12 AND UNDER) ENTRÉES Lobster Tail - 6oz North Atlantic Lobster Tail served with drawn butter and lemon (1 per guest)

Slow Roasted Prime Rib Alaskan King Crab Legs SALADS Fresh Local Greens, Vegetables, Cheeses and a selection of Salad Dressings, Sweet Potato, Potato Mac

Mongolian Chicken Fresh Catch Fish Kalua Style Pork White Cheddar Mac & Cheese APPETIZERS & SIDES Ahi Poke, Peel-and-Eat Prawns, Northwest Clam Chowder, Steamed White Rice, Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Vegetables, Vegetable Chow Mein, Fresh Fruit & Cheese Tray

DESSERTS Chef’s choice of Delicious Sweets

Voyager Restaurant, serving daily breakfast buffet and dinner nightly

KOREAN COOKING WORKSHOP 5 to 8 p.m. Monkeypod Jam Sujin Choi was born and raised in Iksan, a city known as the region of gourmets in South Korea. Please wear long pants and toe covered shoes.

Bring a cutting board and kitchen knife if you are able. Contact: Aletha Thomas at (808) 378-4208

OHANA DAY 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grove Farm Museum At Grove Farm museum experience some of the Kauai island history strolling through the buildings and around the grounds. At the Locomotive Learning Park take a ride in replica cane cars behind an historic Hawaii steam locomotive. In Hanalei, enjoy guided tours of the Waioli Mission House. Info: 245-3202

CLEANUP 8 a.m., Kalalau Trail Join Friends of the Kalalau Trail for fall bushcutting work. The group needs five people to brushcut and one person to rake. Info: (808) 639-4746 FCC AMATEUR RADIO EXAMS 3 to 5 p.m. KIUC Conference Room on Pahe’e St., Lihue The Kauai Amateur Radio Club’s Volunteer Examiner crew is offering FCC Amateur Radio license exams.The exam fee is $14 cash, payable at the exam. Info: www.kh6e.org

Terno Ball

Courtyard Kauai At Coconut Beach 650 Aleka Loop, Kapaa

822-3455

At OpenTable; Voyager Lanai Dining

F

CAR SEAT CHECKS 9 a.m to 1 p.m., Walmart.

Free. Part of campaign to keep keiki safe while in cars.

CLEANUP 9 a.m. to noon, Hanamaulu Beach Join the Sierra Club and Surfrider for a beach cleanup. Bring water. Info: 482-1129

MON TUE WED THU OPEN AUDITION 7 p.m., Aloha Church Kauai Unites Theatre presents the musical “Scrooge.” We are looking for actors and singers of all ages.

Info:346-6759

2016 MEA HO‘OMANA‘O AWARDS PROGRAM 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Smith’s Tropical Paradise Kauai Chamber of Commerce will honor Ron Wiley of KONG Radio Group and Mark Oyama of Contemporary Flavors, Inc. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Christopher Miura.

CLEANUP 4 p.m. Anahola Beach Park Join Surfrider Net Patrol at 4 p.m. at Anahola Beach Park at the very far end, past the restrooms. Info: 781-5883

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Bill Buley | bbuley@thegardenisland.com | 245-0457 ADVERTISING: displayads@thegardenisland.com | 245-0425 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: tgiclassified@thegardenisland.com | 246-0325

SYMPOSIUM ON ‘LIVE WELL AGE WELL’ 4 to 7 p.m., Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall Sponsored by the County of Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs, Aging and Disability Resource Center.

Contact El Doi at 2414481 five working days before the event.

‘Screenagers’ Film looks at the impact of the digital age on children

When Mary Wheatley saw a piece on the film, “Screenagers: Growing up in the digital world,” it stayed with her.

Then, she heard about it later on Dr. Oz, and its message struck her again.

But it was a few months ago, when she saw a family of visitors sitting down for dinner at a Wheatley restaurant on Kauai, it hit home.

The parents, the children, aeven the nanny looking after a small boy, were all plugged into their phones. There was no conversation. No talk of their day. Just staring at the screens of their cell phones.

The boy, maybe 7, was the only one without a phone and looked around at the others. No one noticed him.

“I was very taken by that. I was really hurt for the family because I thought they were missing an opportunity,” Wheatley said. “That’s when I

and homework time, Wheatley said. The 68-minute film offers guidance on minimizsaid, ‘I need to bring this film ing the social and physical effects of all that screen time to Kauai.’”

She was true to her word. and finding balance.

“The digital world we live Wheatley, an “Inspired Parent Coach” who helps moms in affects all aspects of our family lives,” she wrote. and dads with parenting While young people must issues, is sponsoring the film be plugged into this digital that is scheduled 6:30 p.m. world for work, for school Oct. 1 at Kauai Community and socially, it should not College Performing Arts consume their daily lives.

Center.

The loss of face-to-face Screenagers, she said, conversation should be offers a universal message considered. about the digital age that “Are we interacting effeceveryone needs to hear. tively with our neighbor?”

“We’re all living it right Wheatley asked. “Are we now,” Wheatley said. sitting at the dinner table Its impact on children, and adults, too, is more than and there’s no interaction with mom or dad?” many might believe.

If we’re not talking with “Anyone who has a cell neighbors or at the dinner phone may not even know table, we should be, Wheathow absent they are to ley said. the effects of that device She said educators and and how it’s affecting their other community leaders reneighbor,” she said.

Kids spend an average of viewed the film and support her efforts. six and a half hours a day The Kalaheo resident is looking at screens, and that spending $2,500 of her own doesn’t include classroom

TGIFR!DAY | Sept. 23, 2016 | 3

money to bring the film here, rent space to show it, and cover other costs. It is worth it, she said.

“After seeing the film, many parents and students

alike feel more confident and better equipped to establish balance around screen time,” Wheatley wrote.

Tickets online are $8 for

adults and $5 for students, and $10 and $7 at the door.

They can be purchased at inspiredparentcoach. com Info: 635-7995

BILL BULEY TGIFR!DAY

Shops, Restaurants & Services at Ching Young Village: Aloha from Hanalei

Hanalei Strings

Na Pali Properties

Aloha Juice Bar

Honua Engineering

Ohana Shop

Banandi Creperie

Hot Rocket

On the Road to Hanalei

Big Save

Hula Moon Gifts of Hanalei

Pedal and Paddle

Bouchons

Jo-Jo Shave Ice

Puka Dog

Blue Tiki Tattoo

Kalypso

Reside Kauai LLC

Chocolat Hanalei

Kauai Nut Roasters

Spinning Dolphin

DeCamp Construction

Kauai Vacation Rentals

Styles Studio Hanalei

Divine Planet

Kayak Hanalei

The General Store of Hanalei

Chicken in a Barrel BBQ

Kealia Poke

Tresor Rare

Hanalei Bay Pizzeria

Kokonut Kids

Timeshare Resales

Hanalei River Healing

L&L Hawaiian BBQ

Village Snack & Bakery

Hanalei Surf Backdoor

Lee Acupuncture

Village Variety

Na Pali Catamaran

Saturday Night Prime Rib and Crab Buffet $48 (Adult), $25 (kids)

Call 245-1955 Aqua Kauai Beach Resort 4331 Kauai Beach Drive, Lihue, Hawaii

You’ll find us in the Heart of Hanalei...

Jane F. Abramo

PRINCIPAL BROKER

808-639-3773 P.O. Box 475, Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii 96714 Bus: 808-826-7272 • Fax: 808-826-7665 jane@napaliprop.com • napaliprop.com

Perfetto

4 | TGIFR!DAY | Sept. 23, 2016

I

Tom Iannucci, right, and Mario Vollera at the opening of Pietro’s Pizza at Harbor Mall in Lihue.

Tom Iannucci’s passion for creating the perfect Italian pie leads to the opening of Pietro’s Pizza

t’s always nice when customers leave a restaurant happy and even say thanks for a great meal.

But what happened Friday night at Pietro’s Pizza Kauai went beyond the usual show of appreciation for a pie done well.

Maria Lopez, a professional opera singer on her honeymoon on Kauai, stood up after finishing dinner.

“I haven’t had pizza this good since I left Italy,” she said. “I’m so happy, I’d like to thank you. Can I thank you

with a song?”

Of course, said owner Tom Iannucci.

For the next four or five minutes, Lopez delivered an aria, in Italian, loud and beautiful.

Everything came to a halt.

Customers stopped eating.

Cooks came out from the kitchen. Passersby walked in from outside.

They all listened.

And when Lopez finished, everyone applauded and cheered.

“I was taken aback,”

Photos by Bill Buley

BILL BULEY TGIFR!DAY Iannucci said “It was pretty amazing. It was a wonderful experience for me, my family, the employees and all the dining atmosphere, featuring to delivering the best pizza guests.” a brick pizza oven handmade possible, his kitchen staff Such experiences are in Italy and shipped to Kauai. underwent intensive training exactly what Iannucci plans So committed is Iannucci

by Mario Vollera, with the to continue making happen since recently opening Pietro’s Pizza — 3501 Rice St. — at the Harbor Mall in the location of the former Restaurant and Bar Feral Pig. Breakfast: 7:00AM-11:30AM Daily He has created an Italian Lunch: 11:30AM-2:30PM Daily

Verace Pizza Napoletana Association. The goal is to have Pietro’s Pizza certified by VPN as an authentic Neapolitan pizzeria, which would be the first in Hawaii.

It’s a lengthy process that calls for training, videos, inspecting equipment and products and then another visit.

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Lihue Harbor Mall, 3501 Rice St.

808-822-1612

808-246-1570

Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily (Friday and Saturday til 10 p.m. at Harbor Mall location)

TGIFR!DAY | Sept. 23, 2016 | 5

The VPN certification only comes when things are done to perfection, repeatedly. What it means is, they make pizza to the standards of Italians, who take their pizza very seriously.

Iannucci even went to Naples, Italy, last year for four weeks to study and practice the craft of traditional Neapolitan brick oven pizza.

“Naples is the birth place of pizza, so it’s a very unique style,” Iannucci said.

Their philosophy is, less is more. They believe in a little cheese, a little sauce, a little basil.

“You should be able to taste everything,” Iannucci

said.

It’s about technique and skill, which is what Vollera drilled into the staff in his week-long program.

Equipment is key, too.

The wood-fired brick oven cooks pizzas at 850 to 1,000 degrees in about 90 seconds. So the cook must watch it, turn it, the entire time. Timing is everything to achieve the ultimate aroma and flavor.

“New York pizza is very forgiving, ” Iannucci said.

“You can make mistakes, you can keep it in a little longer. If it cooks a little longer, it’s still good. Neapolitan pizza is unforgiving. If you let it go 15 extra seconds,

Mario Vollera trains staff at Pietro’s Pizza.

you burned it.”

Iannucci, an Italian who grew up in New York, has had a long love affair with pizza. He studied. He practiced. He trained. He

experimented. He learned.

He’s known for baking pizzas at his Eleele home for guests, friends and community functions.

With Pietro’s Pizza, he

wants to bring something authentic, traditional, and unique to Kauai.

Neapolitan pizza, he said, “is a craft. It’s an art.”

His staff of about 30 fulland part-time employees understands what’s at stake.

“These guys develop a passion for what they’re doing,” he said. “If we’re passionate about what we’re doing, it will come through in the product.”

Details matter.

The dough — water, salt, yeast and flour — is left to proof for at least eight hours. Dough is stretched exclusively by hand. The flour comes from Italy, specially made for wood-fired

brick oven pizzas. The pizza must be easy to fold and the crust, puffed and golden.

Consider some of the pizzas (they range from $15 to $25) and their ingredients on the menu at Pietro’s. ◗ Quattro Formaggi (four cheese) Whole Milk Mozzarella, Smoked Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Fontina, Basil, Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil ◗ Bresaola (Cured Beef ) Crushed Tomatoes, Mozzarella, Parmigiano, Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil, Kilauea Farms Arugula, Bresaola, Balsamic Glaze Drizzle “When it comes to pizza with the VPN plaque on it, SEE PIZZA, PAGE 6

Hyatt® and Grand Hyatt® names, designs and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2016 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

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6 | TGIFR!DAY | Sept. 23, 2016

under Vollera, said Pietro’s Neapolitan pizza will “definitely Continued from Page 5 change pizza on Kauai.” there’s a certain style of piz“This is a new way and it’s za you can expect,” Iannucci been a lot of fun learning said. something new,” he said.

Vollera said the training, The dining room is open the ingredients, the brick Wednesday through Saturoven, are all part of deliverday evenings until about 9 ing an artisan pizza to each p.m. The window is opened customer.

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday “We’re very proud of our to Saturday. It is closed product,” he said. “We share Sundays. it with family and friends, The name Pietro is after our culture.”

Iannucci’s grandfather, his In training, he hamfather and his brother. mered home the message Iannucci is pleased with everything must be done the response to Pietro’s and precisely and correctly. loves to watch people’s re“Not close or almost or action as they try the pizza. just about,” he said. “They When he gets the chance, understand why I’m so he visits customers and asks particular about the amount how they liked their dinner. of cheese and amount of It’s a family affair, too. Wife tomatoes on each pie. For D’Lissa, daughter Dondi us, it’s a tradition. and son Thomas all work at “Every pizza is good,” Pietro’s Pizza.

Vollera added. “Our pizza is “That’s really the big the best.” blessing in it.,” he said.

Isaac Worth, who prepares Iannucci, who served in the dough daily and trained the Marines and was a for-

Pizza

mer police commissioner on Kauai, is pastor of Breath of Life church in Lihue which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. He gives God the credit for the success of Pietro’s Pizza.

“He opened all the doors,” Iannucci said.

Not that those doors didn’t stick at times.

There were unexpected challenges, obstacles and expenses, and times Iannucci said he wasn’t sure about what he was doing. He estimated the investment to open the business at more than $100,000 in equipment and extensive renovations.

But there was nothing that could not be overcome with perseverance, dedication and faith.

“The end of the day, it’s about Jesus,” he said.

He plans to continue to lead Breath of Life. The congregation rallied around him in this new endeavor.

“They’ve been my biggest supporters,” he said.

Dave Erickson of Long

Beach, California, and a part-time Kauai resident, is Iannucci’s business partner and substantial investor.

Erickson believes the location of Pietro’s Pizza, near the Marriott, the harbor and cruise ship crowds, and easy to see off Rice Street with lots of parking, is ideal.

But it was Iannucci’s passion that made Erickson want to be part of this venture.

“He absolutely loves making pizza. He’s back there, working hard, but he’s enjoying every minute of it,” Erickson said.

He has known Iannucci about seven years and said he was always talking about pizza, always making pizza and mentioned how he would love to operate his own pizzeria.

“So we started off kind of looking. Really, it just kind of came together. The next right thing always seemed to happen,” Erickson said. “It seems like this was meant to be. That’s the feeling I get.”

We are moving our office!

As of September 26th, our office will be located at:

Lihue Industrial Phase II 2956 Aukele St. #101

(Brown building at the end of the cul-de-sac)

808-643-2100

Join Us For Breakfast!

CYNTHIA & ED JUSTUS SPECIAL TO TGIFR!DAY

Art in words

A

loha, poetry fans!

Poetry as the written word is art. Poetry inspires and evokes feelings in people in a manner quite unique to its form.

Yet with thousands upon thousands of new poets entering the world everyday, there are occasionally some poets whose style seems to connect with the spirit of the times and the universality of the human experience. Luckily, for many of us, poet Rupi Kaur, through her book “milk and honey,” has woven her words to create such a phenomena.

In the past few months milk and honey has been a steady seller in our bookstore. We regularly see women immediately drawn to the book while perusing our poetry section, and within just a few moments, the book is tucked under their arm in while shopping for more to buy.

Kaur’s book is an intimate

c w e n

and inviting mix of poetry and visual art. The art she expresses is through simple line drawings, yet they seem to automatically integrate with the words she’s chosen to accompany them on the page.

“Milk and honey” is not for the timid. According to author: “Milk and honey is a collection of poetry about love, loss, trauma, abuse, healing, and femininity. It is split into four chapters. Each chapter serves a different purpose, deals with a different pain, heals a different heartache. Milk and honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds the sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.”

Her words truly convey her experiences.

••• Ed and Cynthia Justus are the owners of The Bookstore in Hanapepe.

ontainer arriva l

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www.gardenpondskauai.com In Kilauea, next to Mini Golf Open Wed-Sun • 12 to 5 pm

CHECK DA SCENE Aileen Ibanez, Adilina Valera, Nevaeh Ibanez, Luke, Marween Ibanez

TGIFR!DAY | JANUARY XX, 2014 | TGIFR!DAY | Sept. 23, 2016 | 7 7

DENNIS FUJIMOTO TGIFR!DAY

Charlmaine Bulosan, Colette Nagao, Aida Riopta

Madelyn, Shanelle Juliano

ELEGANT NIGHT OUT

Dennis Cortez, Bryan Okino, Dominic Berales, Mel Manibog

Dan Sanchez, Liza Cabal Trinidad, Dr. Antolin Apalla

Elia Lagoc, Jo Tabay, Felina Garduque, Marlene McLaughlin, Nita Obiano

Ohana Band - including Kaez, Jerson, Reynel, Wawie, Dereck, and Edwin.

Orlando Mateo, Prudencio Labutong, Eddie Topenio, Lesther Calipjo, Irineo Soriano

Pacita Hyde, Sarah Cera, Kiana Ann Unziath

T

he 52nd annual Terno Ball hosted by the Kauai Filipino Women’s Club was just the second event held in the recently-reopened ballroom at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort.

“We have come a long way since the first event held at the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria with entertainment by The Starlighters,” said Charlmaine Bulosan, chairwoman. “Our first scholarships were $25 savings bonds. Fast forward

52 years, and we are now in the new ballroom at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort, and our scholarships are $1,000 to each recipient.”

Nearly 300 tickets were sold for the signature scholarship fundraising event which featured entertainment by the Kauai Dreamgirls — Juno Apalla, Daphne Sanchez, McKenna Pascua and Nialani Green. Each of the Dreamgirls are leading ladies from Kauai’s theater community.

Bruce Inouye, Lani Garcia, Faye Tangonan, Joy Jajich, Linda Yoshii, Aida Riopta, Tess Castro

8 | TGIFR!DAY | Sept. 23, 2016