HB Life

No Work and All Play

Things We Love

photo: Jacy L. Youn

YOU, INC.
Much more than a ‘self-help’ or ‘motivational’ book, You, Inc. is actually an easily digestible and helpful guide to becoming the kind of person other people flock to.

SAKE ONE G JOY SAKE
Despite being marketed as a sake “crafted for the American palate,” we quite enjoy G Joy Sake’s subtle blend of fruity, spicy flavors. And whether you’re a sake traditionalist or a relative newbie, we’re pretty sure you will, too.

photo: Victorinox

VICTORINOX SWISS ARMY TRACKING ID TAG
Embedded with a unique 8-digit tracking number, Victorinox’s ID bag tags help reunite travelers with their lost luggage. Upon locating a lost bag, Victorinox will return it to its rightful owner, anywhere in the world, for free.

INKA PEN
Created by an engineer who designed de-mining equipment for NATO, the Inka Pen is a dream come true for writers on the go. Its stainless-steel ring attaches securely to your notebook.

It easily converts from a quick-use to full-size pen. And it writes upside down, underwater and at extreme altitudes.

photo courtesy Peter Lik Galleries

PETER LIK
Maui residents have long been fans of Australian-born Peter Lik’s brilliant landscape photography, viewable at his Lahaina-based gallery. Following the May grand opening of his Waikiki gallery, Lik will likely grow an even bigger following of locals and tourists alike.

-Jacy L. Youn

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Nobu Truth

It is one of the most recognizable brands in the fine-dining universe. Nobu is short for Nobuyuki, as in Chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. Nobu is also the name of 14 of the celebrated chef’s 18 restaurants, and it’s even used to describe his unique brand of cooking (Nobu Style), which blends Japanese cuisine with Peruvian and European ingredients.

photos courtesy of Nobu Waikiki

Late last month, Nobu opened Nobu Waikiki, located off the lobby of the Waikiki Parc Hotel. At least for the first several months, the menu will be strictly vintage Nobu Style, but with touches of local style soon to follow.

“The first couple of months we will do our signature dishes, because we want to establish our new chef and service staff,” says Nobu. “Then we will create new dishes from the Hawaiian fish and vegetables. I love Hawaii. I’ve been coming here for 20 years, so I want to feel local. I want to be supportive of the food culture and help make it a little bigger. I don’t want to be a stranger.”

Nobu Waikiki, Waikiki Parc Hotel, 2233 Helumoa Road, 6 to 10 p.m., open every day, 237-6999

–David K. Choo

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Charmed

photo courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

In the late 1990s, the Return to Tiffany silver charm necklace and bracelet (each priced at a little more than $100) were the must-have fashion accessories for the high-end jeweler’s “aspirational” customers, i.e. teenage girls. Since 2002, Tiffany has raised prices on its silver jewelry, slowly moving away from its teeny-bop market and back to its well-heeled base. The new line features gold, platinum, diamonds and colored gemstones. Goodbye, Lizzie Maguire! Welcome back, Audrey Hepburn. www.tiffany.com

–David K. Choo

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A Vacation of Historic Proportions

Looking for a vacation that will give you a sampling of good, old-fashioned America, one that doesn’t involve casinos, theme restaurants or roller coasters? Earlier this year, The National Trust for Historic Preservation released its annual Dozen Distinctive Destinations list of unique and lovingly preserved communities, that “represent a truly distinctive slice of America.” Here’s the 2007 list in alphabetical order:

1. Charlottesville, Va. 2. Chatham, Mass. 3. Chestertown, Md. 4. Durango, Colo. 5. Ellensburg, Wash. 6. Hillsborough, N.C. 7. Little Rock, Ark. 8. Mineral Point, Wisc. 9. Morgantown, W Va. 10. Providence, R.I. 11. West Hollywood, Calif. 12. Woodstock, Ill.

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Flight is a Bowl of Cherries

sources: choosecherries.com, webmd.com

Nothing ruins an international trip like jet lag. The drowsiness, the insomnia, the migraines. Next time you hop on a plane, munch on dried cherries. Tart cherries contain significant amounts of melatonin, a hormone produced in the brain that controls the body’s sleep-wake cycle, according to research by Dr. Russel Reiter of the University of Texas Health Science Center and author of Melatonin. On your trip, Reiter says to eat a handful of dried cherries half an hour prior to snoozing every night for the same number of nights as the time-zone difference. In other words, if your travel destination is six hours ahead of your original time zone, eat tart cherries for six consecutive nights. Sorry, no word yet on the effects of cherry cheesecake.

Other ways to combat jet lag:
• Eat light meals and avoid caffeine and alcohol, which cause dehydration
• Drink lots of water prior to, during and after flying
• Take small doses of melatonin, available in tablet form at pharmacies and health stores
• At your new destination, fight the urge to sleep during the daytime

–Cathy S. Cruz

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Roughin’ It

photos courtesy of Camp Timberlake

You work like a horse from Monday to Friday. Now’s your chance to sleep like one, too. At Camp Timberline on Oahu, old horse stables can be booked for overnight stays. The stables include mattresses, bunk beds and outdoor bathrooms. If that’s not your style, reserve a night in the “yurt village,” the Bunkhouse or the Hale Ohana, a cozy, four-bedroom cottage with a fireplace and modern amenities.

Camp Timberline, nestled in the mountains 1,600 miles above Waianae, is ideal for company retreats and family trips. The grounds include meeting rooms, a high-ropes course and three spacious campfire pits. Hikers and mountain bikers get their choice of trails, too. The best part about Camp Timberline, however, is watching the dramatic sunset every evening over West Oahu. For information call 1-888-345-4374 or www.kamaainakids.com

–Cathy S. Cruz

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