Since many of us have the day off today (let’s face it, we only read this blog during work hours π ), we’ll take a break from our “Where In Hawaii” game this week. Just wanted to wish you a nice day off to celebrate Prince Jonah Kuhio’s birthday. Go beach, go hike, go do something fun and we’ll catch y’all next week.
For those interested, the Yajiima-Ya “Shop & Eat” Pop Up Event for VH07V went suuuuuuuper good! So much so that we were thinking of doing it again, perhaps with a handful of other vendors? Click on the photo below to see some of the sights from the day:
We’re partnering with our friends at the Yajima-ya Lunch Wagon (located off of Sheridan Street behind Hinone Mizunone between South King & Liona) and holding a fun, Shop & Eat pop-up event on their lot THIS SATURDAY, 3/22 from 10am-3pm! This is your chance to pick up your favorite #VH07V merchandise at show-special pricing, while also pounding some of the most ono kine grindz this island has to offer! You can even pre-order online with a special code (see below) and we’ll bring it with us on event day, saving you $$$ on shipping (today is the last day to qualify for this service)! Here are the details:
1) EAT & SAVE! – Purchase a plate lunch from Yajima-Ya on Saturday and receive an immediate 10% OFF your #VH07V purchase!
2) PRE-ORDER & GET FREE SHIPPING! – Order online at http://a7oha.com through today (3/19/14) with the special, free shipping code “YAJIMAYA322” and we will bring your order to the event for pick up!*
* Last day to qualify for free shipping service is today (3/19). Orders using this code will not be mailed & must be picked up. Offers not combinable with any other. Additional rules and restrictions may apply.
** PARKING: Yajima-Ya will be making 2-3 stalls out front and up to 8 stalls in the lot next door (to the left) available specifically for this event! See you there!
* Did you enter for your chance to win Bruno Mars concert tickets (from Oceanic Time Warner Cable) yet?
* Sad passings over the last few days. Prayers and condolences to the families of KCC Farmers’ Market accident victim Annie Runland, Seattle helicopter accident victims Bill Strothman and Gary Pfitzner, and Mick Jagger’s girlfriend L’Wren Scott. π¦
* Mailing List
If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our mailing list to get the latest scoops! I promise I don’t email too often (takes planny effort you know da kine! π ).
* Order Online!
Get all of the latest VH07V gear at:
Wow, lau lau. Last week‘s post got a whoppin’ 5 comments! Maybe the pics were too easy, cause sistah Lia got all three answers right away! This time, I’m insuring a slightly more challenging contest (I hope!)… Go getum y’all!
Last week‘s Winnahs:
* Leonard’s Bakery (Lia)
* Jewel or Juice (Lia & jknakas1)
* Ala Moana (Lia & jknakas1)
*** POP-UP EVENT AT YAJIMA-YA – NEXT SATURDAY 3/22! ***
We’ve partnered with our friends at Yajima-ya Lunch Wagon to hold our next pop-up event on their lot (located off of Sheridan Street behind Hinone Mizunone between South King & Liona) NEXT SATURDAY, 3/22 from 10am-3pm! Details below!
1) EAT & SAVE! – Purchase a plate lunch from Yajima-Ya that day and receive an immediate 10% OFF your #VH07V purchase!
2) PRE-ORDER & GET FREE SHIPPING! – Order online at http://a7oha.com/ from now through next Wednesday (3/19/14) with the special, free shipping code “YAJIMAYA322” and we will bring your order to the event for pick up!*
* Orders using this code will not be mailed & must be picked up. Offers not combinable. Other rules and restrictions may apply.
** PARKING: Yajima-Ya will be making 2-3 stalls out front and up to 8 stalls available in the lot next door (to the left) specifically for this event! Come on down!
* Spotted!
This week’s “Spotted” shot for VH07V is another funny video from Bruddah Bryan from the Skinny Hawaiians. This one covering the Hawaiian word: Lua!
Pidgin English Lesson – Lua
* Mailing List
If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our mailing list to get the latest scoops! I promise I don’t email too often (takes planny effort you know da kine! π ).
* Order Online!
Get all of the latest VH07V gear at:
* Thoughts on the new WiFi at Kakaako?
* Thoughts on this supposed hoverboard from HUVr Tech?
* Thoughts on the Oscar’s?
* Thoughts on Comcast’s possible takeover of (Oceanic) Time Warner Cable?
* Did you guys partake in “Fat Tuesday” yesterday with some Malasadas? I swear, Leonard’s (hint, hint) owes whoever invented that concept some money. π
* Spotted!
This week’s “Spotted” shot for VH07V is preview from the newest Cookin’ With Cutty episode hitting the airwaves this Saturday, March 8th at 9am on OC16 (Oceanic Time Warner Cable channel 12 or HD 1012) and simulcast on www.oc16.tv! Entitled “You Are What You Eat”, the show focuses on Bragg Health Institute’s newest Health Education and Outreach program, BraggHealthKids.org, which, in the coming months, will release a series of online lessons and curriculum based on the Bragg health Philosophy, “you are what you eat drink, breath, think, say and do”. The curriculum, which meets school-age educational guidelines, will be made available to teachers, students and parents around the world, both online and in print. The online curriculum features a kid-friendly website with educational videos, games and exercises for school-age kids.
* Mailing List
If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our mailing list to get the latest scoops! I promise I don’t email too often (takes planny effort you know da kine! π ).
* Order Online!
Get all of the latest VH07V gear at:
When you hear the words Pioneer Saloon, the first thing you probably think of is an old, rowdy bar in the wild, wild west. With tumbleweeds rolling by, you picture a clean-cut sheriff greeting people with "howdy pardner" as he enters swinging batwing doors looking for the bearded bag guy.
Well, this place in Diamond Head off Monsarrat, is not quite that place.
Outside Pioneer Saloon
Although some of the exterior and interior trimmings give it that rustic, cowboy-ish vibe…
Inside Pioneer Saloon
… this Pioneer Saloon is actually a very popular, Japanese style plate lunch eatery, just minutes away from the iconic Diamond Head.
On our first visit, we were the first in line (we got there a little too early, prior to their 11am opening), but within minutes, there was a line out the door.
The line at Pioneer Saloon just after opening
While waiting for our food, we had the chance to peruse their other merchandise, which included apparel and cute little trinkets and tchotchkes.
Apparel and goods at Pioneer Saloon
Because owner Chef Nori Sakamoto is from Japan, his eatery has received a good amount of coverage from the Japanese media. As a result, much of his clientele are tourists from Japan. More and more these days though, you'll see your local and mainland folk grinding his concoctions from the kitchen, which range from Ahi Katsu to Mochiko Chicken to Thai Style Green Curry.
Here's a peek at some of the dishes we tried that day.
The Halibut was dope! Halibut is probably one of my favorite cooked fishes, so it wasn't easy to impress me, but the Wasabi Ponzu was something I've never tried before on that fish. On point! The wife, who split the Shio Salmon and Mochiko Chicken with her mom and our daughter, liked hers as well.
The portions are not hu-MANG-ous like we're used to at your typical kanak attack inducing "plate lunch" kine place, but it was still enough to fill us up. The neat thing about Pioneer Saloon is that you can choose from 4 very different rice options: White, Brown, Mixed Grains & Beans, and Shiso Wakame. The Mixed Grains & Beans and Shiso Wakame options are $0.50 extra but very worth it if you're looking for something different. You'll see the Mixed Grains & Beans option with the Mochiko Chicken above and the Shiso Wakame option in the other two plates above. I'm not a big fan of Shiso, but totally love this one.
With satisfied tummies, we were already eager to figure out when our next trip to town would be so we could have an excuse to visit again. That day came a few weeks later during a busy lunch hour when every single table inside was taken… more the norm. Good thing we were getting our grindz to go!
Typical crowd at Pioneer Saloon
Here's a look at some of the other options we picked up this time.
Grilled Teriyaki Salmon – $9
Hamburger Steak w/ Ponzu Sauce – $9
Wasabi Shoyu Ahi Poke Bowl – $11.50
Wife enjoyed her Salmon again, while we shared the Hamburger Steak with each other and my mom. It looks hard and dry in the photo, but braaaaah! She go! Was super moist and juicy. It reminded me of the γγ³γγΌγ¬γΉγγΌγ (hanbaa-gah sutee-ki) I used to pound at this small hole in the wall in Kyoto Japan.
The ahi poke bowl to me was a slight disappointment. I don't really like avocado in my poke and this one had it in bunches. It also had shiso (see shiso reference above). Also, the tuna salad, though super delish, was VERY sparse. I think they were just running low on the visit though because it wasn't like that the last time.
Overall, love and highly recommend Pioneer Saloon. It's not really a new discovery (they took over the space vacated by the old Mi Casa Taqueria restaurant back in 2009), but it seems like it is still not widely known by us locals. Hopefully, this encourages some of you to check them out… pardner.
Pioneer Saloon 3046 Monsarrat Ave Honolulu, HI 96815 (808) 732-4001
World Wide Ed 