Dec 30 Honolulu GTG Report
 

There were actually two GTGs- a happy hour on the 29th and lunch on the 30th.

I could not attend the happy hour, but hear that Kal and Mrs Kal, MelissaHI and Kuranosuke had a good time...even managing to snare a 'dinner table" for their happy hour. HOpefully, they'll share some of the details later, if they remember them!

The lunch- Don Ho's at Aloha Tower Marketplace- was great..I really enjoyed meeting Kal and Mrs Kal for the first time. They are just as fun and nice in person as on line. MelissaHI and Chepar and I had all met at GTGs before, so it was a happy reunion.

Kal and Mrs Kal got there early to sample the bar for us, and then Kal continued the sampling by ordering a Loco Moco. As many of you hawaii fans know, this is a huge pile of rice with a hamburger patty, fried egg, and gravy on top. They come in various styles..Don Ho's must be good, as Kal ate the whole thing!

We had a lot of fun about talking travel, island life, other Fodor GTGs and other posters. Obviously some are more fun to talk about than others!

Kal noted that it was physically impossible for any of us to talk about things we have said online without doing an "air keyboard" thing with our fingers on the table as we talked. Try it...tell a friend about something you said on this site and see what happens to your hands!

Anyway, I had a great time, and wished I hadn't had to just eat and run back off to work. By now, the Kals should be on Kauai, having a good time discovering new places to hang out.

Happy New Years to all of you!

Lucy

The "air keyboard??" LOL!! Even I'm not that addicted!! Glad it went well, Happy New Year to all!!

Thanks for starting the thread lcuy!! I need to call you next week. I had a key fob in my purse that I forgot to give to you (from 2040) at lunch.

Just quickly on the Thursday evening at Longhi's: It's a great place to enjoy sunset cocktails, even if it is not on the water. However, I found out that Happy Hour on busy dinner nights is confined to the bar!! When I walked in, the hostess saw Kuranosuke and yelled, "Oh no! HERE COMES TROUBLE!" (Hmmm, go there often, Kuranosuke?) And proceeded to try and squeeze an extra table in just for us. That evening, crabby Mr. Charlie Longhi himself was managing the restaurant, and when he saw us taking a seat, he (impolitely) tried to relegate us back to the bar. The hostess came flying over, whispered something to him (hmmm, go there often, Kuranosuke?), and all was well.

At both GTGs, the conversation was sparkling. Lots of talk about travel, of course; about other places we post about travel; about posters we know and posters we wonder about; about certain fodor's staffers (ahem); and even fodor friends' recipes we've tried. With every GTG the world gets smaller. I love it!

Chepar, I forgot to commiserate with you about TCFH's. Next time. I'd love to compare notes.

We got a 10% discount at Don Ho's, by the way--you too can download your coupon at http://www.alohatower.com/promotions.html if you plan to come to Aloha Tower Marketplace. Mrs. Kal then got a pair of shoes at another store, and when the owner saw that she was my friend, proceeded to give her 10% off the shoes as well!

Missed Mari808 and kalena. Got emails from them after the GTG expressing their regrets, but we do hope the Kals stop in again next year so we can make this a tradition! And we promise not to make the GTG group *too* big.
;)

Am so glad the "Kal's" are in Hawaii and that you all got time with them. And imagine they are so glad that they are not here with our terrible rainstorms. They call the storms the Pineapple Express...so guess we get to blame all of you in beautiful Hawaii for the troubles we are dealing with? Aloha!

Melissa and Lucy,

"Air keyboard"! How true! What fun you must have had. Thanks for the report.
The Kals have been on my mind and I'm glad they are having a ball.

-Bill

Well... now it's scientifically proven - the more you gesture while talking, the more people pay attention to you. At least this is what they said on TV.

I think if your hands would be holding a wine glass and a fork you wouldn't need a keyboard. Were you just talking? Naw, I'm not buying that :)

p.s. I thought I should add that anyone else visiting Honolulu and wanting a GTG just has to holler.

:)

Melissa,

Noted for future reference! \:D/

-Bill

I had so much fun at the GTG and meeting the Kals - they are so much fun! Great fun meeting them and getting together with Melissa and lcuy.

Wish I could have stayed longer, but I had to get to work. Ran back up to my office and toiled away for 20 minutes before going home for the weekend.

Melissa - don't get me started about TCFHs - unless you're willing to sit for a while. Of course, I am always willing to drag out my gripes. :D

By the way, I saw Degas posting on TOP that he's in Honolulu for a while. Just visiting or temporarily residing, I'm not sure.

just sent out the photos. Check your email chepar!

Lcuy and MelissaHi and Chepar, Mahalo for the gtg report. Greetings to da Kals should they see this from Kapaa. Melissa, I LOVE Hnl, stop there on every trip to Hawaii, whether or not Oahu is the final destination, so thanks for gtg invite to future visitors.
Faina and I will be at mini gtg Friday in SF and will attempt to "air keyboard" (can that be a verb?) without spilling our drinks.
Happy New Year to all!

Melissa-

Got 'em. Kal sure was a hoot. :)

I guess I better eat some breakfast, because that picture is making my stomach growl.

So did you post them for us to see?

We want to see the old bald head too!((r))

I'll post a little later....I forgot my camera's USB at home today! Must be because I am so cold.

;)

melissa, you are giving a bad impression of me. lol. i've been to longhis only a couple of times, so couldn't have given anyone trouble. :-)

i think bob was rude, especially, since the other tables were still empty when i left. had fun with the kals. they were surprised that i've been to the area they live in ca. also to the wine bar at kuletos, one of my favorite places to wine and dine. a friend of mine said there was another great wine bar in the ferry bldg. down by the embacadero. will ck it out on my next sf visit.

lucy, i missed you that nite, wanted to talk story with you about your india trip. maybe next time.

Aaah yes the wine bar at the ferry building!! I always pass it but never have anyone to drink with. I have, however, tried the caviar bar (with the vodka oyster shooters) and it's divine.

Sounds like a great time! :) Looking forward to photos! ;)

Here ya go....only two photos. To record anything else would incriminate us!

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/264259/index.html

Great caption on the second photo, MelissaHi. Now everyone can tease Kal about his "big loco moco."

Melissa, Kuranosuke and Other Fodorites:
Please let me know when you're in SF next, I work equal distance to Kuleto's and the Ferry Building, so wine bar, caviar bar, and food! I love to eat, going to a business lunch at Slanted Door today, reservations were made before the New Year.
Melissa: I have MLK Day off, trying to find a press and learn to make mizubi (sp.?) this weekend, luv it cold or hot.
CaliNurse: are you in SF?
Kal: if/when you arrange a Sac GTG, I'll drive Faina and another 2 Fodorites up! I'm not a crazy driver ...

<I'll drive Faina and another 2 Fodorites up! I'm not a crazy driver...>

I understand that Faina will drive YOU crazy. :-) ((b))

Hi Shanghainese! It's actually <b>musubi</b> but good try. Maybe there is a musubi press in your Japantown?

I'm looking forward to visiting your lovely city (and you) this year!

hi shanghainese, mahalo for the offer. maybe this year, and hopefully, melissa will be there. why? because she knows how to live, and have a good time. lol.

M &amp; K: Looking forward to your visit(s).

Too funny, Budman, thanks for the warning, I'll shower her with a couple of molotov cocktails before we go, and I can cuss in russian.

LOL Budman, you are so right!

Hey guys I had a similar experience at Longhi's- guess they reserve the dining room for special guests or something. My girlfriend wanted a booth and Mr. Charlie Longhi let us know that the booths were for larger parties than two. Okay fine but then when a local celebrity and his girlfriend walz in and get a booth know problem I have to wonder. I asked Charlie Longhi who crisply let me know that the gentleman was so and so and a definite VIP! Wow, I'll say, my mom and dad think I'm special does that count? Anyway, dinner was so so but it was sorta a bummer to go out and spend half my paycheck only to be put down in front of my girl.

The same thing happened to me at Longhi's with that manager, the owner's son! Took my fiance out to Longhi's to treat her to a special dinner, or supposed to be special. The food is not bad, expensive and only average, but okay, and the view is nice even though it looks out over the mall parking lot. We were in over the holidays and waiting for the table I went to use the restroom, come out and observe the manager Charlie Longhi having a very friendly conversation with my fiance. Fine no problem there until I put my arm around her and he gives me stink eye as if I'm moving into his territory, weird already. So we sit down, enjoy each others company as two in love do, and I have to leave again to call my supervisor, return to the table to see Mr. Longhi back and being real friendly again to my fiance. As I approach he gives me a glare and says to my fiance 'I work so and so nights and come in and visit me anytime' and then walks away. Of course I was not threatended and anyone who has seen this character would understand, but still, I could not believe he could be so rude to me. My fiance later told me she was shocked by his behavior and felt terrible about the situation. We had a great night nonetheless no thanks to Longhi's. Safe to say we won't be returning anytime soon.

How jolly! the last 2 posters above have similar ways to express themselves and only 1 post each! Makes you wonder... what's the...

Yeah, one time posters. Sounds like there's some agenda there? ((b))

Wasn't this GTG like 2-3 yrs ago?!?!?! :`(

Thanks for showing me and Mrs. Kal a goodtime.

Hope to see you all again soon. We may tack on 2 days in Hono on the way back this time because we never saw New Year's after a pop or 3 at Tradwewinds and our usual good dinner at Bullshed.!!!

&quot;Kuranosuke&quot;..the &quot;Norm&quot; of Longhi's! ;)

When I met Faina, I joined AAAAA because she drove me to drink.

We all had a great time. Especially ME, the Queen of Threesomes, and I had quite a few of those in December alone!

;)

So, Melissa is the Queen of Threesomes, and I call myself the Drama Queen - all that after meeting Kal?

Melissa, what is it he's doing to us? We gotta fight it ;)