MAKING SPICY POKE FOR MY LUNCH AT WORK!!!

I GOT SOME RAW "AHI" TUNA IN THE FREEZER FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND I FIGURE WHY NOT MAKE "SPICY POKE" FOR MY LUNCH & DINNER TO TAKE TO WORK.

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

WATCHING GAMES AT THE ARMORY & LUNCH AT SHOGUN'S AFTERWARDS



KEKOA & KA'IWA JR.

BRADA KA'IWA & HIS BOYS.

ME AND DA KOLOHE KREW WOKE EARLY IN THE MORNING TO GO SUPPORT SOME FRIENDS PLAYING BASKETBALL AT THE ARMORY.  IT WAS A FUN START FOR THE DAY AND AFTER WATCHING 2 GAMES, WE WENT OVER TO SHOGUN'S TO EAT AT THEIR JAPANESE & MEXICAN BUFFET WHICH WAS VERY DELICIOUS.  AND AFTER THAT WE INSTALLED A 47" FLAT SCREEN TV FOR SHOGUN'S.  A VERY FUN SATURDAY FOR ME.

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

HANGING WITH DA "KOLOHE KANES KREW".



AFTER WATCHING THE K-300 START OFF WE WATCHED THE FIREWORKS SHOW AND THEN ATE AT SHOGUN'S FOR DINNER.  BUT AFTER THAT, OUR KOLOHE BROTHER, JOEY HAD SOME PLUMBING ISSUES WITH POSSIBLE FREEZE UP.  SO KA'IWA AND I WENT OVER AND SEE IF WE COULD HELP AND FIX THE PROBLEM BUT AFTER COUPLE HOURS OF TRIAL AND ERRORS WE COULDN'T DO MUCH.  BUT THE NIGHT DIDN'T END RIGHT THERE, WE ENDED UP WATCHING A CLASSIC FILM, "COMMANDO" WITH ARNOLD SCHWARTZENEGGER AND ALYSSA MILANO AND WE LAUGHED UP THE WHOLE TIME AND TO TOP THE NIGHT OFF, WE BAKED THE BUTTER COOKIE DOUGH, "MY SWEET BAKING BABES" MADE THE DAY BEFORE AND IT TURNED OUT OKAY.  ALSO JOEY MADE US SOME ROOTBEER FLOATS TO GO WITH IT AND THAT CONCLUDED MY EVENING.

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

GETTING READY FOR K-300!!!



SINCE I MOVED TO BETHEL, ALASKA IN 1998, I ALWAYS ENJOYED WATCHING THE ANNUAL "KUSKOKWIM 300 DOG SLED RACE" AKA "K-300" WHICH IS A RACE FROM BETHEL TO ANIAK AND BACK.  IT IS VERY AWESOME TO SEE THESE SUPERSTAR DOGS BEING ABLE TO PULL AND HULL THEIR WAY WHEREVER THE MUSHER PLEASES TO GO.

MY RESPECT GOES TO THESE PEOPLE WHO ENDURE EXTREME COLD WEATHERS AND UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES THAT MOTHER NATURE PUTS BEFORE THEM WHILE RACING ALONG THE TRAILS.

SO THIS YEAR I WAS ABLE TO HELP OUT RAMY SMYTH AND HIS TEAM OF WINNING DOGS AT THE K-300.  I MUST SAY, I AM VERY HAPPY AND HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS EVENT AS I KNOW I'LL NEVER FIND SUCH AN AWESOME EVENT LIKE THIS IN HAWAI'I WHEN I GO HOME SOON.  HOLDING THOSE DOGS ON THE ROPES FOR A LITTLE WHILE WAS APPRECIATED ENOUGH AS I GOT TO SEE THEM ONE BY ONE AS THEY ANXIOUSLY GET READY TO RACE.

I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK MIKE & KATHY TURNER FOR INTRODUCING ME TO RAMY & BECCA SMYTH PLUS AVA AND BANYAN.  HAD I NOT MET THEM BEFORE, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE.

AN EXPERIENCE I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER AND TREASURE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

EATING SUSHI AT BETHEL, ALASKA'S SHOGUN RESTAURANT!



SHOGUN'S OWNER, ANNA AND HER SON, JOEY.

SHOGUN'S SUSHI CHEF DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST!!!

ONE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT ROLLS AVAILABLE FOR YOU CHOOSE FROM!!!

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL!!!

ANOTHER ASSORTED SUSHI ROLLS!!!

WARREN "DA BODYGUARD" FOR SHOGUN'S...  LOL!!!

LUCILLE HAVING KALBI WITH FRESH JALAPENOS ON TOP!!!

ALOHA EVERYONE!!!  I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TASTE THE SUSHI'S AT THE SHOGUN RESTAURANT IN BETHEL, ALASKA.  I MUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I CAN GO AND NOW EAT SUSHI AT ANYTIME I PLEASE TO GO.  I ENJOYED SEVERAL ROLLS RANGING FROM THEIR OWN SPECIALTY, THE "BETHEL ROLL", I ALSO ENJOYED THE "SCORPION", "AVALANCHE", AND THE "ROCKY" ROLLS AS WELL.  AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, DON'T FORGET TO TRY THE "AVOCADO" SHAKE FOR DESSERT.  IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME FAVORITE OF MINES AND FINALLY I CAN NOW HAVE ONE AT "SHOGUN'S".

APART FROM V.I.P. RESTAURANT, IT IS VERY NICE TO KNOW THAT I CAN CHOOSE FROM TWO DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS.  THE PRICE IS FAIR AS WE ALL KNOW THAT BETHEL IS GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN EVERY YEAR, SO EXPECT TO SPEND I LITTLE MORE AND AT THE SAME TIME, ENJOY YOUR FOODS AND THE POLITE SERVICES OFFERED BY SHOGUN'S!!!

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

SHOGUN'S FOR LUNCH AGAIN IN BETHEL, ALASKA!!!



ANOTHER OUTING TO SHOGUN'S.  THIS TIME I ORDERED THE "SHRIMP SALAD" AND "SASHIMI COCKTAIL" WHICH IS VERY GOOD FOR THE FACT THAT YOU CAN GET DECENT RAW TUNA IN BETHEL, ALASKA. 

BRADA KA'IWA ORDERED THE STEAK FAJITAS AS YOU CAN JUDGE FOR YOURSELF WHEN YOU SEE THE VIDEO.  I LIKE MY STEAK VERY RARE BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE IT COOKED TO YOUR PREFERENCE...  ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS ASK.  THE OLD LOCAL HAWAIIAN SAYING: 

"IF CAN...  CAN, IF NO CAN...  NO CAN"

NOW JOEY ORDERED THE "TWICE COOKED PORK" WHICH IS A CHINESE CANTONESE DISH WITH PORK AND VEGTABLES AND THEIR WELL POPULAR "HOISIN SAUCE" WHICH IS NICELY SWEET AND A DASH OF SEVERAL CHINESE SPICES.

LUCILLE ORDERED THE "CHILI CHEESE FRIES" AND ACCORDING TO HER, SHE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH WITH THE ADDITION OF FRESHLY CHOPPED JALAPENO PEPPERS.

I'LL SAY THIS...  I DO APPRECIATE THE NICE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SHOGUN STAFF AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THEY ARE VERY OPEN TO FEEDBACKS ON HOW THEY'RE FOODS TASTES AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED WITH INTENT TO IMPROVE.  I FEEL THAT THEY ARE DETERMINED AND COMITTED TO "GIVING" THEIR CUSTOMERS 100% SATISFACTION THEY DESERVE AS SOON AS YOU WALK INTO "SHOGUN'S".

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA 

BREAKFAST AT SHOGUN'S IN BETHEL, ALASKA!!!



ANOTHER OUTING TO SHOGUN'S FOR BREAKFAST WITH "DA KOLOHE KANES KREW".  SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING SHOGUN'S AS ALWAYS.  HOPE THIS WILL BRING MORE CUSTOMERS TO SHOGUN'S.

BIG MAHALOS TOWARDS TO "DA TWITCHMEISTER" FOR PICKING UP THE TAB!!!

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

SINGING KOREAN KARAOKE!!!



A LAST MINUTE GET TOGETHER WITH MY FRIEND, HOK.  HOK CALLS ME UP AND WANTS TO SING KOREAN KARAOKE WHICH WAS FINE BY ME AS I GOT OFF WORK AT 11PM.  I LOVE KARAOKE WHEN NOBODY'S LOOKING...  LOL!!!

ANYWAYS, HERE IS A FUNNY CLIP OF ME SINGING KOREAN KARAOKE WITH THE HOK HELPING ME PRONOUNCED THE THE KOREAN WORDS...  LOL!!! 

IF I OFFENDED ANYONE BECAUSE OF MISPRONOUNCING THE KOREAN WORDS, FORGIVE ME AS IT IS OF NO INTENTION TO OFFEND ANYONE.

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

ANOTHER FUN SATURDAY EVENING FOR ME IN BETHEL, ALASKA!!!

PICTURES FROM SARAH & ISAIAH'S ENGAGEMENT PARTY!!!

PICTURES FROM SHARON'S BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

ANOTHER FUN SATURDAY NIGHT FOR ME.  I WANT GIVE A SHOUT OUT OF "MAHALO" TO SARAH & ISAIAH ON THEIR ENGAGEMENT, A SHOUT OUT OF "AWWWRITE!!!" TO SHARON ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A GOOD DOWN TO EARTH GET TOGETHER WITH "DA KOLOHE KANES" AT "TWITCHMEISTER'S" PLAYING UKULELE AND PLAYING X-BOX 360 KINECT!!!

MAHALO EVERYONE FOR THE FUN EVENING!!!

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

MAKING "20 ROLLS OF SPAM MUSUBI!!!"



SPAM MUSUBI IS A VERY POPULAR SNACK AND LUNCH FOOD IN HAWAI’I. IT IS MADE IN THE TRADITION OF JAPANESE “ONIGIRI” ALSO KNOWN AS “OMUSUBI”. “SPAM MUSUBI” IS COMPOSED OF A BLOCK OF RICE WITH A SLICE OF GRILLED “SPAM” ON TOP AND “NORI” (SEAWEED) WRAPPING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.

I CAME TO BETHEL, ALASKA IN 1998 AND WHEN I STARTED SHARING THIS SNACKS TO MY FRIENDS, IT BECAME A BIG HIT TO THE PEOPLE OF BETHEL. WHEN I GOT INVITED TO POTLUCKS, IT WAS EXPECTED ALREADY FOR ME TO BRING “SPAM MUSUBI”.

SO NOW I WILL SAY THAT I MADE 19 ROLLS OF SPAM MUSUBI WHICH MEANS: 4 CANS OF “SPAM”, 20 CUPS OF RICE, MY SECRET MARINADE FOR THE “SPAM”, ANOTHER SECRET MARINADE FOR THE RICE, AND 20 FULL SQUARE SHEETS OF “NORI” SEAWEED. THIS WAS REQUESTED BY MY GOOD FRIEND SARAH WHO IS LIKE A SISTER TO ME AND IT IS FOR HER “ENGAGEMENT PARTY”.

HAPPY ENGAGEMENT, SARAH & ISAIAH!!! YOU HAVE MY BLESSINGS!!!

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

SMALL KINE EMERGENCY CALL FROM MY BRADA, KA'IWA.

NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION...  ALWAYS GOTTA HELP ANOTHER HAWAIIAN WHEN THE CALL IS OUT FOR "KOKUA!!!"

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

GOING TO SHOGUN'S GRAND OPENING IN BETHEL, ALASKA!!!



I WANT TO SAY THIS TO ALL MY BETHEL, ALASKA VIEWERS INCLUDING FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THE GRAND REOPENING OF “SHOGUN” RESTAURANT WAS AN AWESOME AND FUN GET TOGETHER WITH MY FRIENDS. “BIG MAHALOS” TO THE HARD WORKING STAFF AND RESTAURANT OWNER, ANNA FOR SERVING “CHOW FUN” WHICH IS MY FAVORITE MEAL WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY IN HAWAI’I!!! AND IT IS GOOD KNOW THAT I CAN HAVE IT HERE IN BETHEL, ALASKA WHENEVER I WANT. ALSO ANOTHER “BIG MAHALOS” TO KA’IWA, JOEY, THOR, AND JENNA FOR THE FUN AND LAUGHTER!!!

IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD THE CHANCE TO GO TO “SHOGUN’S” YET, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO AND CHECK IT OUT. THEY HAVE VARIOUS CUISINES RANGING FROM CHINESE, KOREAN, JAPANESE, AMERICAN, AND MEXICAN DISHES. I ALSO HAVE TO ADD THAT THEY HAVE SOME “HAWAI’I FAVORITES” TYPES OF DISHES SUCH AS “POKE”, “SEAWEED SALAD” WHICH I CANNOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE IN BETHEL, ALASKA UNLESS I MAKE IT MYSELF AT HOME, LOL!!! AND I ALMOST FORGOT TO MENTION, THEY EVEN HAVE A SUSHI CHEF THAT MAKES FRESH SUSHI WHEN YOU ORDER RIGHT AWAY!!!

SO HURRY UP AND DON’T WASTE TIME AND GO CHECK OUT “SHOGUN” RESTAURANT!!!

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA

MY 1ST "SLAVIC" IN BETHEL, ALASKA!!!

I AM VERY HAPPY AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE SUCH AN AWESOME EVENT.  I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS IN FOR.  BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER, AN AWESOME EVENT.  BIG THANKS GOES OUT TO THE ALEXIE FAMILY FOR THE HOSPITALITY AND HARD WORK PUT INTO THIS.  ALSO ANOTHER THANK YOU TO JENNA FOR INVITING ME TO GO WITH HER.  I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS.

AWWWRITE!!!

WAIPA