Sorry, shmall kine sick right now, so this is gonna have to be a quick one. My aching head is a-poundin’ and my comfy cozy bed is a-callin’!
Photo #1
Where In the Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – February 23, 2011
Points for Photo #1…
* Location?: 2 points
* General area?: 1 point
* Closest street(s)?: 1 point each
* Month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Day of the month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Year photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Exact time photo was taken?: 5 points
* Google Street View link?: 2 points
Last Week’s Results:
Five of y’all scored last week when Ynaku, che, Masako, carokun, and Coconut Willy all guessed correctly! Big ups knockers, cheche, c-chan, C Dubbs and especially socks for breaking the triple digit mark! WOW! That’s just crazy business! 😛 Check out da leadahboard below for da updates!
Da Leadahboard (Round 2)!
103.0 – Masako
53.5 – Takeshi
46.5 – Paco
26.0 – rayboyjr, tweetpeep22
23.0 – Coconut Willy
22.0 – carokun, kuya.d
16.0 – che
14.5 – AlMan68
11.0 – Rosette
08.5 – NeedaHobby
07.5 – Ynaku
07.0 – HNL2LAS
06.0 – MakiSushi
05.0 – Kage
04.0 – Chicken Grease, am
03.5 – bB
03.0 – kickerbear
02.5 – pink lady
02.0 – onecupcoffee, sshawnn, M, EMM386
01.5 – mcat
01.0 – effenprincess, 9th Island Cuz
Eat the Street is back!
Poni Askew (@streetgrindz) and company are back with their 2nd Food Truck Rally this Friday, February 25th @5pm-9pm at 555 South Street in the Kaka`ako area. Following their wildy successful first event in Kapiolani, this second coming will feature almost twice the amount of vendors, space and parking! Oceanic Mobile will even have a booth there, providing free WiFi for one and all! Come on down and enjoy the festivities k?
WHAT: “Eat the Street” Kaka`ako – Hawaii’s Food Truck & Street Food Rally WHEN: Friday, February 25th from 5pm-9pm WHERE: 555 South Street WHY: Ono kine grindz of course!
DJ Mr. Nick & TKO will also be there spinning downtempo/acid jazz/etc. See y’all there! 🙂
FAST KINE NOTE: Anybody wanna be an extra in the final scene of our Oceanic Mobile commercial shoot this Friday at 7pm? Holla!
Hooooo, wea has da time gone!? Has it been a week already? Geez! Didn’t even get a chance to reply all week, but I’ll make up for it with three new pics that’ll keep y’all guessin’! Good luck!
Photo #1
Where In the Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – February 16, 2011
Points for Photo #1…
* Best caption: 2 points
* Location?: 2 points
* General area?: 1 point
* Closest street(s)?: 1 point each
* Month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Day of the month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Year photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Exact time photo was taken?: 5 points
* Google Street View link?: 2 points
Photo #2
Where In the Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – February 16, 2011
Points for Photo #2…
* Best caption: 2 points
* Location?: 2 points
* General area?: 1 point
* Closest street(s)?: 1 point each
* Month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Day of the month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Year photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Exact time photo was taken?: 5 points
* Google Street View link?: 2 points
Photo #3
Where In the Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – February 16, 2011
Points for Photo #3…
* What did the sign originally say?: 5 points
* Best caption: 2 points
* Location?: 2 points
* General area?: 1 point
* Closest street(s)?: 1 point each
* Month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Day of the month photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Year photo was taken?: 1 point each
* Exact time photo was taken?: 5 points
* Google Street View link?: 2 points
Last Week’s Results:
Six more joined in on the point scoring last week, when Coconut Willy, Takeshi, Masako, HNL2LAS, carokun, and rayboyjr guessed correctly! Big ups Dubbs, kesh, socks, H2L, c-chan, and beej! Check out da leadahboard below for da updates!
I gotta admit… One of the perks of working on these “best of” pieces is the eating. I’m lucky enough to grind some of the most onolicious foods Hawaii’s got to offer and live to write about it. This month, I’m covering one of my all-time favorite snack/food/pupu/whatever-you-wanna-call-it: Poke! Aurite!
According to Wikipedia, poke (pronounced poh-kay) is “a raw fish salad served as an appetizer or main course in Hawaiian cuisine. Poke is Hawaiian for ‘section’ or ‘to slice or cut’.”
The expert in local kine poke is local kine chef Sam Choy. In his new book, simply named “Poke” he shares some history: “In the old days, the whole slice would be eaten, skin, bones, and all. Inedible portions were picked or spat out. When the raw fish was ‘prepared,’ it meant the fish was mashed (lomi), or other ingredients were added to it, mostly salt and savories like ‘opihi, lobster, sea urchin roe, kukui nut relish, and different kinds of limu (seaweed) – manauea, lipe`epe`e, kohu, lipoa, etc.”
Growing up as a second generation Japanese-American, raw fish and seafood has always been a part of my life, so poke was a natural and, frankly, easy transition for my taste buds. In high school, I worked in the seafood department at my neighborhood market and became somewhat known for my poke concoctions. I remember customers asking if I made the poke that day, and, if I said, “No, I just came in,” they would frown and walk away. I took that as a great compliment.
My goal with this article is simple: Give props to the local establishments, big and small, who are doing poke right, right here in Hawaii. I’m proud to be from Hawaii, and feel that it’s almost my duty as a local boy to spread the word about those who are doing their part to perpetuate the rich culture that is poke.
Yama’s Fish Market
Yama’s is a small fish market I used to frequent during my old school UH days, back when they were near Poha Lane. Now, they’re right down the road on Young Street and is almost always a pumpin’!
Yama’s Fish Market Sign
Though their Hawaiian plate lunches are pretty mean, my main focus whenever I go to Yama’s is their Ahi Masago Poke. It’s to die for! Trust.
Ahi Masago Poke – just made for me! – $11.95/pound
Masago is already an escape from the norm of “standard” poke ingredients, but furikake on top of that? Combine that with green onions, sesame seeds (which may be part of the furikake), shoyu maybe?, and choke sesame seed oil, and you getcho self one winnah!
Yama’s Ahi Masago Poke up close
I’ve been trying to reach Yama’s Fish Market’s President Brian Yamamoto for a soundbite, but da buggah is hard to reach. If you’re out there Brian, holla, and I’ll add your quote here.
(UPDATE! Mr. Yamamoto emailed me, thanking me for the plug. Mahaloz!)
Until then, go give the Ahi Masago Poke from Yama’s a try, but be sure to save some for me kay? 🙂
Golden Mart
Not too many people know about this hidden gem in Mililani, but it’s quickly become one of my all-time favorite places to get my poke fix on (like Donkey Kong).
Outside Golden Mart in Mililani
Located in a small strip mall on the Mililani Golf Course side of Kamehameha Highway (across Mililani Shopping Center), Golden Mart sells what you’d traditionally find at a local mini mart like snacks, beer and cigarettes. How they separate themselves from the pack however, is their mouth-watering selection of hot foods, boiled peanuts, and poke.
Three popular pokes from Golden Mart: Creamy Wasabi Ahi, Spicy Tuna and the Golden Mart Special
Employee Cori, and owner Julie Miyatake, who doubles as a USPS employee, both agree that Fridays are the best days to come if you’re looking for poke as the entire display case is filled with the different varieties they carry. My personal favorites are the Creamy Wasabi Ahi Poke…
Creamy Wasabi Ahi Poke in the display case
Creamy Wasabi Ahi Poke up close – $10.99/pound
… and the Golden Mart Special.
Golden Mart Special with the special sauce on the side -$9.99/pound
Golden Mart Special with the special sauce inside
Although, I’m not a fan of wasabi (I don’t even use it on my sashimi/sushi), the Creamy Wasabi Ahi Poke brok’ da mout’! How they make it is still a mystery, but if I had to guess, I’d say the tobiko-like topping (they’re green!) is filled with (or marinated in?) wasabi flavoring, while the rest of the poke is mixed with mayo (and wasabi?) in a creamy ahi sorta way. 😛
The Golden Mart Special’s lure is the Golden Mart special sauce, hands down. Filled with a concoction of liquids including shoyu, sesame seed oil and other mysterious ingredients that I’d pay to know 😛 , this sauce is what keeps ’em comin’ back. You can’t even get the special sauce (other than paying for it separately) if you don’t order the Golden Mart Special!
For good measure (and since I’ve got the photo 😉 ), here’s also a shot of Golden Mart’s Spicy Tuna poke for kicks… another winnah!
Spicy Tuna Poke
Golden Mart
95-119 Kamehameha Highway
Mililani, HI, 96789 (map)
(808) 625-2442
While, we’re in the Mililani area, let’s visit the place that Diners, Drive-ins and Dives’ Guy Fieri recently visited: Poke Stop.
Poke Stop
Chef Elmer Guzman, a graduate of the Kapiolani Community College Culinary Arts program, has trained under Alan Wong, worked as a sous chef under Emeril Lagasse, and was the Executive Chef at Sam Choy’s Diamond Head Restaurant before opening his two Poke Stop locations (one in Waipahu and one in Mililani Mauka).
In addition to serving up “gourmet food at plate lunch prices” (their catch phrase), Guzman and company offer a bevy of poke to live up to their namesake. Some of their “must tries” are the Sweet Onion Ahi poke, the Blackened Ahi poke, the Furikake Salmon poke, the Ginger Scallion Shrimp poke, “Da Works” Oio poke, and my personal favorite, the Spicy Creamy Ahi poke.
Poke Stop – Mililani Mauka
95-1840 Meheula Parkway
Mililani, HI, 96789 (link on Google maps is inaccurate. Should be here.)
(808) 626-3400
And, to my neighbor island bruthas and sistahs, no worries. I gotcho back! Here’s a little Honolulu love to The Fish Express in Lihue, Kauai.
The Fish Express
Very conveniently located on Kuhio Highway in Lihue, Kauai…
Outside The Fish Express in Lihue, Kauai
… I like to pick up a quarter pound or so on my way to Hamura’s Saimin. The cold saltiness of the fish matches perfectly with the hot saltiness of the saimin.
(Previously Frozen) Ahi Limu Poke from The Fish Express – $6.99/pound
The Fish Express (Kauai)
3343 Kuhio Hwy. # 10
Lihue, HI 96766 (map)
(808) 245-9918
Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm
Sun: 10am-4pm
Alas, I’ve been tasked to make my poke for a New Year’s family gathering, so here’s a lil’ step by step action that will 1) help you if/when you make your own batch and 2) help to refresh my memory! LOL! Enjoy!
Diced/Cubed Ahi blocks with Hawaiian salt and green onions added (props to Ryan Moriguchi for reeling in the fish!)
Inamona (kukui nut) added
Limu Kohu/Ogo (seaweed) added
Close up of each portion greeting each other
Everything mixed together with sesame seed oil and shoyu
Though, I’d love to continue, I don’t think my stomach can take any more of this torture (it’s lunch time as I write this 😛 )! Besides, I need to save some poke shots for parts 2 and 3 (and 4?)! 😛
Here’s a sneak peek at what I’ve got in store: Tokkuri-tei, Tamashiro Market Inc., JJ’s Seafood, Pa`ina Café, Off the Wall, Safeway, Costco, and Sam’s Club. My “To Do” list includes: Ruger Market, Ono’s (Kapahulu), Fresh Catch, Masa & Joyce, Alicia’s Market, Tamura’s, and Tanioka’s.
If you have any hook-ups/connections to any of the places above, holla! I’d love to interview them! If you have any poke (dish) suggestions for the above as well, or new locations altogether, feel free to let me know in the comment area below!
A-ight peeps. Hurr it is! Your questions, answered by Kauai’s own, Ms. Colbie Caillat herself.
Boy, what an experience! Having dinner with her and her band in Reno, catching (part of) her show, then driving down to Sacramento to catch her appearance there, THEN jumping aboard her tour bus to get this interview. And on top of all that, she’s like the sweetest person you’ll ever meet. Please go out and buy her music and show some love for our Kauai girl. She soooo deserves it.
K, nuff awwreddy! I know you just want me to shut up and get to the video, so here it is… Check it!
Singapore. I think we’re going most likely in January or February (2010). As of now, that’s what the schedule is looking like so I hope that still happens.
[bB]: what is her favorite song that she wrote and why?
I think my favorite song that I wrote is “Battle” on my first album CoCo because I wrote the whole thing in a matter of minutes. It was because I was feeling so strongly about a situation. Family members of mine were having this feud and it was going on for years, and I was tired of all the drama and all the sadness that was tied into it, where people couldn’t be in the same place at the same time and I really wanted to write about it and express my feelings that we need to get past this and both people can be sorry and things can get better with the relationship.
[NeedaHobby]: is she able to get back to Kauai very often? What are some of the foods she has to have when she’s back home?
*laughs* The last time I was in Kauai was when I was writing in January ’09. *laughs* Before that, it was the summer before that, so I don’t get to go there enough. I want to go back right this second. When I go back to Hawaii, we always have barbeques at my aunt’s house, and I go to Bubba Burgers, and I get smoothies all the time. And all the local boys, we hang out at the beach. They go fishing and they cook us… I like ono, and my uncle goes out fishing and gets like really good ahi. I love fish, it’s amazing.
[rayboyjr]: Her music has a laid-back feel like music from Hawaii. Does she know of or ever heard the local Hawaii music? Any influences from Hawaii?
Well Justin Young! Who’s in my band… I actually knew of his music because my friends were listening to his music and every time I go to Hawaii and hear his songs. Every time I hear Hawaiian music or the ukulele, it brings back those warm feelings that I get when I go to Hawaii. And the people, how everyone’s so nice, and the weather. I heard… isn’t Pepper from Hawaii? Yeah so I mean just going there and getting to hear all of these artists and bands, I learn from them and I listen to them when I go back home.
[frankie]: I love the harmonies in “Magic.” Does she have any more collaborations planned?
Well, on my new album “Breakthrough”, Jason Reeves and I, we have a collaboration… we have a duet called “Droplets”, and I just did “Lucky” with Jason Mraz, and then after that, I really want to do a collaboration with a hip-hop artist like Common or Pharrell Williams or someone… Timbaland maybe. That’d be cool.
[skycastles]: How has becoming famous changed her life – the good and the bad?
It’s weird to say I’m famous because I don’t… it’s just weird. The good thing about it is that I get to travel the world and I have a nice tour bus and I stay at nice hotels. I get to travel and play my songs for people in different countries and all over the US. You get treated very well, people bring things to you all the time and you get to go to the front of the line, like stuff like that, that’s awesome. The bad part about it is that there’s so much work involved with it that I’m never home enough, I’m never with my family enough or I can’t have a dog out on the road with me, I don’t get to be in Hawaii as much as I want to, I have to miss out on things: weddings, birthdays, and having people… it’s very strange, when you have people taking pictures of you, you feel like you’re in a zoo in one of the cages and you’re like one of the zoo animals, so that’s weird, but it all comes together and you have to look at it in a positive way, so that’s what I try to do.
[mcat]: i’m curious on how much she visits HI & if she’ll ever do a concert here? (again)
I visit Hawaii… I try to go twice a year, and even that, that’s not enough. Right now, I’ve been begging my manager to try and book us a show in Hawaii. I haven’t played there for over a year now so I’d really love to go back. My band wants to go back, Justin Young who’s in my band is from there… we’d be sooooo happy to go back there and play a show, so hopefully soon. Really really soon.
[NEO]: Wow, Colbie Caillat, first off, you’re beautiful… I love your voice… secondly, where do you find most of the inspiration for your songs?
Aww. Well thank you NEO, that’s very sweet. I find inspiration for my songs from my personal experiences in life. Whatever I’m going through, whatever I’m observing with friends or family around me, going through a situation in life, or if I’m falling in love with someone or having to break up with someone. I just write about whatever is going on in here. *points to heart*
[kuya.d]: What “dream venue” does she want to perform at?
The dream venue that I would love to perform at is the Hollywood Bowl. That’s where I saw my first concert, I saw Fleetwood Mac perform there when I was younger and I’m from L.A. I want to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. Hollywood Bowl would just be “Ahhhhh!” *laughs*
[matt]: does she have any aspirations to transition to different media types or does she strictly see herself as a musician?
I pretty much see myself as a musician and eventually as just a song writer for other artists. I could be eventually talked into acting. I have been saying no for a long time, it’s not really my thing, but I’m trying to… that’s like my next goal is to be open to other situations and not be scared of things and acting I was kinda scared of so if a good opportunity comes up, I might try it, but I’m not sure. *smiles*
[MB]: does she have another duet with Mraz planned anytime soon?
Jason and I don’t have another duet planned yet but we’re friends, we see each other all the time, we perform “Lucky” together and I’m sure we will write another song together just by hanging out all the time and loving each other’s music so much.
…
With this interview, I’ve done three fairly high profile “Hawaii celeb” interviews in a row:
Not bad ah? Who you like me shoot fo’ next? I really think I’d enjoy one with Barack Obama, but I realize that that’s next to impossible. Plus, I no like get frisked in places I’ve never been touched before. 😛 I dunno, perhaps the peeps currently in the news might be interesting (e.g. Mark Dacascos or Carrie Ann Inaba from Dancing with the Stars, or the like)? The Rock would be fun too.
Apologies if I skipped your question. Tried to avoid repeating similar questions…
Hope you enjoyed it yo! Lemme know what you think!
In every lifetime, there comes one special star destined for greatness. A glowing beauty, full of energy and warmth, that shines big and bright for the world to admire.
In this lifetime, that star is Colbie Caillat.
Born Colbie Marie Caillat on May 28th, 1985 to a music producer dad and model mom, Colbie inherited greatness from both sides: the looks of a Hollywood actress with the voice of an angel.
Colbie could always sing and was a part of musical theater casts from 8 years old. At 11, she heard the Fugees’ Lauryn Hill sing “Killing Me Softly” for the first time and was blown away. She started taking things more seriously, writing, recording, and picking up instruments along the way.
In 2006, her producer friend convinced her to record several songs to put up on Myspace “just for fun.” Before long, her songs went viral. Members added her songs to their pages after seeing it on their friends’ pages. It multiplied and multiplied until she became the #1 unsigned artist in her genre for four consecutive months. That’s when the record companies came calling and the rest, as they say, is history.
Here’s her story…
Colbie Caillat – Personal Life
Personal Life:
Edward Sugimoto) Not too many people know that you have roots to Hawaii. Can you kind of explain your history with Hawaii?
Colbie Caillat) I grew up going to Kauai when I was 11 years old with my parents. And my aunt and uncle live there and they own Bubba Burgers in Hanalei. And ever since, I’ve been going once or twice a year with my family and bringing my friends and my cousins. And then I worked there for a summer, I worked there for a couple months at Bubba Burgers in Kauai. As so Hawaii is just… everyone, the people, the food, the weather… it’s just like my second home. It’s the one place that I would always want to be.
Bubba Burgers
Edward Sugimoto) What was it like when you first heard Bubbly on the radio?
Colbie Caillat) When I first heard Bubbly on the radio, I was in Southern California at this restaurant that my family and I always go to, and we heard it playing in the background, and all of the sudden my mom like gets up and starts dancing, and then everyone starts singing at the table. That was the first time I realized that it was actually really being played cause people tell you it’s played but that was my first time knowing that it was real.
Edward Sugimoto) I hear you are a true arteest. You like to take photographs and you like painting a lot. Are photobooks or art in your future?
Colbie Caillat) I’m really into photography and painting. I like watercolors. So my dream job is to move back to Hawaii and be a photographer and paint and live that lifestyle. That’s what I want to do eventually. And yeah, I paint all the time on my tour bus when I’m traveling. And I save all the paintings. We’ll see what I’ll do with them. *modest laugh*
Edward Sugimoto) A little art gallery maybe?
Colbie Caillat) I don’t know. Maybe. For my mom. *laughs*
Colbie Caillat
Edward Sugimoto) When you’re not out being “world famous” Colbie Caillat, what do you like to do in your downtime?
Colbie Caillat) Whenever I have downtime, if I’m on tour, I hang out with my band and crew and we barbeque outside of the bus, we go sightseeing, we take pictures, just super mellow since the schedule’s really crazy. When I’m home, I like to be with my family and my close friends and my dogs. Stay at home, listen to music, barbeque, go swimming. I’m super mellow.
Edward Sugimoto) I noticed you got some new ink on your arm.
Colbie Caillat) *laughs*
Edward Sugimoto) Any significance with that? Is there a story behind it?
Colbie Caillat) My flower tattoo, well this smaller flower I’ve always had for a couple years and that’s the logo for my first album CoCo. And then this new flower I got in Paris a couple months ago. And that is the Breakthrough flower for my new record. So this is the new logo for like all my merch, my T-shirts, on my CD. I had wanted it for a couple years and I new it was a big commitment getting a big tattoo on my arm so I made sure I still wanted it and I got it.
Edward Sugimoto) So after a few albums, your whole arm is gonna be covered?
Colbie Caillat) *laughs* My dad was actually like, “Honey, that flower better not keep growing!” I don’t want a sleeve, but I could see how tattoos are addicting.
Colbie Caillat
Edward Sugimoto) Let’s play Faves. First thing that pops into your mind when I say this/when I ask this question: Favorite all time song?
Colbie Caillat) Bob Marley “Waiting in Vain.”
Edward Sugimoto) Favorite musical artist?
Colbie Caillat) Bob Marley or Lauryn Hill.
Edward Sugimoto) Favorite TV show?
Colbie Caillat) The Office.
Edward Sugimoto) Favorite movie I heard is “Dumb and Dumber”. Is that still the case?
Colbie Caillat) Favorite movie is Dumb and Dumber. I quote it probably every day. *laughs*
Edward Sugimoto) Favorite web site (besides AroundHawaii)?
Colbie Caillat) I could promote myself, but no Youtube is way more fun! *laughs*
Edward Sugimoto) Favorite food?
Colbie Caillat) Favorite food is either Mexican food or sushi. Either one.
Edward Sugimoto) How about least favorite food?
Colbie Caillat) Least favorite food? Um, I don’t like goat cheese. Is that ok, or did you want like a full on like kinda food? *laughs*
Edward Sugimoto) What is the one thing you always need to have in your purse before leaving the house?
Colbie Caillat) I’m addicted to chapstick or lipgloss. My lips are, I always want to reapply every 5 seconds. My camera I always have in my purse. My cell phone, gum, water bottles.
Colbie Caillat
Edward Sugimoto) If you weren’t doing music, what would you be doing career-wise?
Colbie Caillat) I would be living in Hawaii doing photography and painting.
Edward Sugimoto) These stats are a little off cause I did it about a week ago, but you had over 438,857 Myspace friends and over 40,615 Twitter followers.
Colbie Caillat) Wow!
Edward Sugimoto) How does it feel having that kind of accessibility to your fans?
Colbie Caillat) I think the Internet is so amazing. I mean that’s how I got my career started was because of Myspace a few years ago. People found my music and played it so much that I became the #1 unsigned artist and I got a record deal. And now, to be able to keep in touch with my fans by sending out a text to Twitter anytime, telling them what I’m doing, and they can reply and I can reply to each person individually. I think it’s the coolest way of being able to just stay in contact with your friends, family, fans. Internet’s great.
Edward Sugimoto) So that’s actually you on Twitter then?
Colbie Caillat) Yeah it’s me.
Edward Sugimoto) Your songs are pretty huge for weddings I’m guessing. We (wifey and I) actually used your “Magic” for our wedding song.
Colbie Caillat) Awww, so did my friend.
Edward Sugimoto) And a lot of people cover your songs on Youtube. Is that pretty flattering?
Colbie Caillat) It’s really flattering. This year, I’ve heard that “Lucky” was the wedding song. Last year, I heard it was “Bubbly” and “Magic”. But to know people cover my songs and try to learn them like I’ve learned other artist’s songs that I admire and adore, it’s really cool to know that I could be like that for other people. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Edward Sugimoto) You mentioned today on the stage about your constant struggle with fear/fright and stage fright and that’s why you named the album “Breakthrough”. What kind of specific things can you tell other people who have that kind of fear on how to get over it?
Colbie Caillat talking about her struggle with stage fright
Colbie Caillat) It’s just like anything. It takes practice and you have to work on it every single day. I mean I went on tour and performed every night and every day for two years straight and as hard as it was for me, as difficult and terrifying as it was I had to keep doing it. And slowly each time it got better and I got more comfortable. And just the past 6 months I really trained my brain to just remember to have fun out there. People are there to hear the music and music’s supposed to make you feel good, and have fun and smile. So when I remember to smile and look at my fans who are smiling and singing back it calms my heart down a little bit and you just have to remember that you’re up there doing something great and people admire that so you have nothing to be afraid of.
Colbie Caillat – Music Life
Music Life:
Edward Sugimoto) You started singing at 11 after hearing Lauryn Hill’s/Fugee’s “Killing Me Softly”. Did you have “it” back then or is it something you had to really work on?
Colbie Caillat) “It”? *smiles*
Edward Sugimoto) It: the voice, the singing.
Colbie Caillat) I’ve always been able to sing. I remember my parents saying I could sing when I was younger, and like when I was 8, 9, I was in musical theater. I did musicals, but I was still always afraid of being on stage and performing so I would never audition for like one of the lead parts, I’d always be in the background. And then when I got into 6th grade, I sang “Killing Me Softly” with my two best friends for our school talent show. And my other two friends, who I’m still best friends with, they can’t sing at all. *laughs*
Edward Sugimoto) You carried the team!
Colbie Caillat) Yeah, I guess, I didn’t realize it at the time. But um, yeah I’ve always been able to sing but I had to also train my voice. I mean I followed Lauryn Hill and learned how she did her licks, and I took vocal lessons for years to keep… I still have to warm up every single day. You have to keep your voice. Just like working out you have to stay in shape.
Edward Sugimoto) You kinda touched upon your Myspace history. Can you kinda expand on how you got discovered after that?
Colbie Caillat) Well, pretty much I was writing songs and I was friends with my producer, and every time I’d play him a new song in the studio, he was like, “let’s record it right now and put it up on Myspace just for fun.” And so we would put it up on Myspace and after 6 months I had grown such a large fan base. They were playing my songs everyday like 50,000 times. People would add my songs to their pages and then their friends would hear it and I kept rising on the charts and I eventually became #1 and then I got all the record label calls. I went to New York and met with the different labels. Universal (Republic) was the first one that I met with and I just knew that I belonged with them. They were just great and so personable. So that’s really how I got my career started and then went on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls and ever since then, everything keeps going.
Edward Sugimoto) Your dad is famed producer Ken Caillat who produced people like Fleetwood Mac. Why didn’t he just hook a sistah up instead of making you work hard for it?
Colbie Caillat) *laughs* Well, first of all, like I said, I was shy and had stage fright and so, I didn’t know how to play an instrument because I wasn’t writing when I was younger. I could sing, but I was shy. If you asked me to sing, I wouldn’t sing. So he couldn’t have done anything for me in this business because I wouldn’t have made it. I was too shy and if someone asked me to sing and I had to, I would mess up because I was so nervous. Plus my dad really wanted me to become a musician and become a song writer and establish my career for myself and he knew that was the best way to go about it, and at the time I didn’t realize that, until I was 19 and I learned how to play guitar and I wrote my first song and I realized that he was right.
Edward Sugimoto) I read somewhere also that he was the one that kinda made you play instruments and pick up piano and guitar and all this kind of stuff. Are you kinda glad you took that advice?
Colbie Caillat) I’m so glad I took my parents’ advice. I learned how to play guitar, a little bit of the piano, and I can play a little ukulele now, and battle Justin. It’s great because I’m able to write songs now and I’m able to accompany myself when I’m singing and doing performances. It feels good to know how to play music and to be able to express your emotions in song writing.
Colbie Caillat with her ukulele battling Justin Young on stage
Edward Sugimoto) You mentioned the ukulele. Jason Reeves played it on “Tied Down” on the last album. Do you get to play it a lot and is it going to be featured on future songs possibly?
Colbie Caillat) The ukulele, I think we might have it on “Rainbow” on my new album “Breakthrough.” But yeah, I always want to keep the Hawaii ties tied into my music, the whole reggae islandy vibe. I want to learn how to play more chords on it. I only know a few chords right now so that’s my next goal: to get better on the uke. *laughs*
Edward Sugimoto) You guys shot “The Little Things” in Kauai. Was that kind of like your shout out to your hometown?
Hanalei Bridge in Kauai
Colbie Caillat) I always wanted to shoot a music video in Kauai. On the north shore, that’s just where I grew up going. The song “The Little Things” where I shot the video for, I wanted to sum up the summer that I had with my friends when I lived there. I worked at Bubba Burgers, we rented a rent-a-wreck car and had our jobs and we’d go to the Hanalei Pier and we’d jump off every day and go swimming and hang out with cute boys (*smiles*) and have bon fires. That’s what I wanted to show. What I’m like, what I like to do and what that song means.
Old Hanalei School Building
Edward Sugimoto) For the album “Breakthrough” I think you went to Kauai for a few weeks with Kara Dioguardi from American Idol? If things hadn’t worked out, is that something you might’ve considered (going on the show)?
Colbie Caillat) Oh, I would go on American Idol. Yeah, being a judge, it’s…
Edward Sugimoto) Oh actually as a performer. If you hadn’t made it until now.
Colbie Caillat) Oh. I auditioned twice actually. The second time I auditioned, I auditioned “Bubbly” right after I wrote it, but, like I said, I was shy and when I had the audition I was like, (*subdued*) “Been awake for awhile now.” Like I was quiet, I didn’t look at them and they want somebody outgoing and fun so no, I didn’t make it. *laughs*
Colbie Caillat
Edward Sugimoto) They must be regretting it pretty much.
Colbie Caillat) Well, now that I’m friends with Randy (Jackson) and Kara and all them, they laugh about it. They’re like, “I can’t believe that we passed that up.” But I understood why. I wasn’t ready for it at that point.
Edward Sugimoto) Had you made the show and Simon (Cowell) gave you like a negative comment, try and give us your best comeback to him.
Colbie Caillat) I wouldn’t have been mean to him. That’s the thing, I would be like, “OK.” I think criticism is, you need that. Someone can’t always tell you you’re good because you’re not. You need to learn and grow from it. I mean he is harsh, *laughs* but I think the combination of all the judges, giving them their compliments and then giving them their critiques is good.
Edward Sugimoto) Is it true that you and Jason Mraz traded emails to write the lyrics to “Lucky”?
Colbie Caillat) Well, yeah, Jason Mraz, he emailed me and that was the first time we ever contacted each other. He said, “Hi, it’s Jason. I like your music. I want to write a song with you.” And we exchanged numbers and we talked through email and on the phone and he sent me “Lucky.” He had it started, and so we finished writing the song together through email. We still had never met each other, and then I flew to London when he was recording his record (“We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things”) and we recorded the song.
Jason Mraz
Edward Sugimoto) Wow, that’s an amazing story.
Colbie Caillat) *laughs*
Edward Sugimoto) A lot of your songs make your listeners feel warm and fuzzy about love. Is this because your real love life is like that? 8)
Colbie Caillat) *blushes* *laughs* Yes, my love life is very warm. I’m very happy. I’m in love with someone right now. Yeah I guess when you can express how you’re feeling and people can relate to that, it’s really good. That’s how love is supposed to be. You’re supposed to feel just giddy and butterflies with that person everyday.
Edward Sugimoto) How about another warm and fuzzy: when you’re on stage and you’re singing to your fans and they’re actually singing back. That must make you feel pretty good?
Colbie Caillat) Well, the thing with my stage fright is when I see my audience singing all the songs back to me, smiling and cheering, it makes me feel sooo warm and comfortable up there and I don’t want to get off the stage anymore, I’m having so much fun. So it’s all because of them. They keep coming to my shows and making me feel good up there that I love what I do now.
Edward Sugimoto) CoCo – peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Top 200… (by the way, this is all from Wikipedia so I hope it’s accurate). *laughs*
Colbie Caillat) Yeah, that’s right.
Edward Sugimoto) … and sold 51,000 copies in the first week, and went to Double Platinum status! Breakthrough – already hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 200, and sold 106,000 copies in the first week, and debuted at #1 on iTunes.
Colbie Caillat) Yes. *big smile*
Edward Sugimoto) You must be pretty stoked, pretty excited!?
Colbie Caillat) It’s yeah, it’s incredible. You always hope for success like that. I never expected it because I don’t like getting my hopes up, and I don’t know, I can’t really explain it. It’s such a great feeling knowing that everyone involved on both of those records, helping me get to where I’m at, and all of our hard work and the love that we put into these songs, knowing that the world notices that, and wanted to support and listen to the songs, I’m just, I’m so honored.
Colbie Caillat
Edward Sugimoto) You’ve been on tour with The Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse, John Mayer, and had songs featured on movie soundtracks (“Here Comes the Sun” on “Imagine That”), TV shows (“Battle” on “The Hills”), and even for the Olympics you had a song (“Somethin’ Special”). Your music has been nominated for numerous awards (nominated for the AMA, Teen Choice, Teen Music Awards and won BMI Pop Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year). You’ve even been illustrated in a comic book (Archie). And this is pretty much just the beginning! How crazy is that!?
Colbie Caillat) It’s crazy. I mean it’s been two years and getting all of these great things that keep happening. I mean, it’s a lot of hard work. I mean every day it’s not just like “Oh, the life of a rock star.” It’s really difficult. There’s early early mornings, you go ’til late at night, people pulling you in all directions, but the people I surround myself with: my band, my crew, my management, my label… Everyone is so great so I have fun with it. We all work together. Seeing it pay off, it’s like a team effort.
Edward Sugimoto) Anything you’d like to say to your Hawaii fans out there?
Colbie Caillat) Aloha! *big smile* I can’t wait to come back to Hawaii to all the islands to play shows. I appreciate all of your support and for listening to my music and I hope to see you all soon. Aloha! *smiles*
Beyond her movie star looks and to-die-for voice, there is an inner beauty to this 24 year old songbird that is beyond compare.
Side story: You see, wifey and I had the honor of joining her and her bandmates for dinner the night before her Reno concert. She was warm and friendly and never once gave off the air that she was better than us (as other celebrities may). Mellow and laid back, she tried to blend right in with the rest of us, even though she obviously couldn’t. Due to an unfortunate case of food poisoning that night, I wasn’t able to make our scheduled interview the next night, but, instead of being upset, she was genuinely concerned.
The next day, they were going to play at “A Day In the Zone” in Sacramento’s Discovery Park, so she and Justin suggested that we meet up with them there, catch the show (with “all access”) and do the interview afterwards. They even told us not to worry about accommodations! Since we were catching our flight out of Sacramento early the next morning anyway, it was a perfect idea.
Following the show (which was amazing by the way), we headed to their bus and just hung out outside so as not to bother her post-show wind-down. I looked up to see her peeking out the window and as soon as she saw us, she practically ran out to give us a hug and see if we were feeling better. With the sun beating down, she immediately asked if we wanted something to drink and to come on board her tour bus which was cooled by A/C.
Remember, we were total strangers whom she met just two short nights ago. Granted Justin (who is in her band) is our mutual friend and yes, she knew that I was flying in special for the interview… She really didn’t have to go out of her way to be that nice to us. You could tell that it was just in her nature and that minus all the celebrity and bright lights, she was still as genuine and as sweet as they come.
It was refreshing to see such “realness” from someone who has made it so big. Much like her counterpart in the sky, this star’s warmth is breathtaking.
A star in every sense of the word. You know… The kind destined for greatness.
***
A special Mahalo to Diana Baron and Nicole Dona of D. Baron Media Relations, Inc., Diony Sepulveda, bruddah Justin Young, and especially Ms. Colbie Caillat. Thank you for being so nice and caring to us. All the best to you. You deserve everything coming to you. Enjoy the ride, and we’ll see ya back in Hawaii in the future! 🙂
Now, (I think) we got part-time Kauai native and talented singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat (“Bubbly,” “Realize,” “Magic,” Fallin’ for You”) lined up for an upcoming interview…
So… like before, gah-on and post any questions you may have for the beautiful songbird in the comment area below and I’ll try to get them answered for ya!
Colbie Caillat performing at the Diversity Harmony Peace Event (Photo Credit: Blaine Fergerstrom)
Talk to me: * Post your question(s) for Colbie Caillat below!
* Did you pick up her new CD Breakthrough yet (or download it on iTunes)?
* What is your favorite song from that CD? The CoCo CD?
* What is your favorite Colbie Caillat song overall?
* Who (from Hawaii) would you like to see me interview next?
* I’m probably gonna run into bruddah Justin Young too while I’m there. Got any messages for him?
Here’s her music video on YouTube of her latest single, Fallin’ for You:
Woah, is it Where in Hawaii Wednesday already? Guess time flies when you’re having fun not posting blogs eh!? 🙂
Coconut Willy followed up on kuya.d‘s big time hints and won his unprecedented 5th WIHES contest, correctly guessing Princeville resort on Kauai’s north shore. Congrats C Dubbs!
This week, let’s do a lil’ trickery (again) and go out of Hawaii. If you read my last few posts, you’ll know where this one’s from. Go get um!
Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – February 4, 2009
Since I’m currently in Cali (for my boy’s wedding), I’ve queued this one up in advance to stick with that theme of travel. Check out my top five travel destinations and list yours below yo!
Japan – the motherland… no question.
Ski/Snowboarding resorts – anywhere, as long as get snow fo shred!
Mainland – preferably west coast that has good culture and ono kine grinds!
Kauai – my fave of all neighbor islands. Might change to B.I. soon though eh daveboi and dsosa? 🙂
“Somewhere different” – I try to go to places errone hasn’t already been to. Makes life more adventurous!
Vegas? – Contradicts the above, but I guess I wouldn’t be too “Hawaiian” if I didn’t mention this eh?
Post your Fave Five below a-ight? I’ll be sure to check in periodically from the altar! Haha!
Happy Aloha Friday y’all and have a nice weekend k? Shoots!
No world “Where In Hawaii” records were broken this time around, but M gets the award for persistence as he takes home his second victory in the WIHIES contest (see further below for the answer). For now however, it’s this week’s entry. Post your guesses in the comments below baby!
Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – September 24, 2008
Hint: TBA if necessary… (part of me thinks it’ll be easy and part of me says maybe not) *grin*
Goodnight my darlin’, it’s time to go (doo doo doo doo doo)…
Alas, we’ve come to the final series in EATS! (at least for this week! 😉 )… Aww… there, there. Don’t worry *hug* There’ll be more… 😛
Before I get even sillier, let’s get this party started… (RIGHT)!
First stop is Kountry Style Kitchen in Kapaa for breakfast. Get here early as it’s crowded. I ordered my favorite (hash and eggs) and the lady got the garden omelette. Both came with their scrumptious cornbread. Check it out yo:
Corned Beef Hash & Eggs Any Style – $9
(Imported corned beef served with hash browns or rice. Corn bread or wheat or white toast.)
KSK’s Garden Omelette – $9.75
(Filled with fresh mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, and grated cheddar cheese. All omelettes include a choice of hash brown or rice, corn bread or wheat/white toast and jelly.)
Yummy Cornbread
That evening, we stayed at Princeville (mahaloz for the upgrade guys!) so of course we had to hit up the cute little city below called Hanalei. We settled on Postcards Cafe. The lady liked it there (and so did I for that matter… at least for the atmosphere), but my dish was ridiculously too miniscule, especially for the price!
Seafood Sorrento – $24
A divine seafood pasta with fish, shrimp and scallops, oven-dried tomatoes, braised organic greens, goat cheese, red onions and garlic, sauteed in a light Chardonnay sauce.
Saffron Risotto – $25
A colorfully divine rice dish with shrimp, mussels, scallops, mushrooms, and pesto, perfumed with white truffle oil.
On our last day on the north shore, we headed to the popular Kalypso for breakfast. Eggs Benedict and, of course, an Acai Bowl were on the menu for us that morning…
Blackened Mahi-Mahi Benedict (whole) – $14.95
Two eggs poached over blackened Mahi-Mahi on a toasted English muffin topped with a tropical Hollandaise sauce.
Blackened Mahi-Mahi Benedict (partially eaten)
Acai Bowl (whole) – $7.95
Refreshing blend of Acai & banana served with local made Anahola granola.
Acai Bowl (partially eaten)
Hope you’ve enjoyed this series of EATS!… Send me some feedback below and let a brutha know what you like and don’t like about what I blog about please. I’m still trying to figgah out what y’all want me to do with this little space on the Internet and how I can make it better/more interesting for ya. Shoots!
World Wide Ed 