Ninja Sushi Hawaii

When I really feel like I need raw fish, I usually go to Star Market at the Mililani Town Center for a quick fix of poke. But one day, I remembered that there's also a sushi place at the Mililani Town center called Ninja Sushi. At first glance this Hawaii Restaurant is really clean and the photos of the menu are enlarged and plastered all over the restaurant. You are basically salivating the moment you walk into the place. Not only do they have large colorful pictures of their menu all over the restaurant, they have a rather large detailed picture menu at the take-out counter. I'd say that the menu is at least one third the length of the counter. The only thing that I don't like about the menu is that they don't have scallops! AHHH! Scallops are my favorite.

Ninja Sushi isn't very big, I'd say they can seat only about 40 people tops, typical for a mid budget restaurant in Hawaii. But if you don't want to take up an entire table if you're sitting by yourself, they offer bar-style seating (but sorry no bartender). The service is pretty good--I haven't run into a bad egg yet. There are no conveyor belts passing sashimi around for an hour--everything is made fresh upon demand. You basically place your order like you're at McDonald's, but they take your name. They'll either call your name or serve you at your table. I only believe in giving tips at restaurants if the help actually waits on me at my table, and clean up after me when I leave. So I've never left a tip at Ninja Sushi because that's not how the place is set up. On the other hand, they do have a jar for tips at the front counter if you feel inclined to give a tip no matter what.

I have written a lot about many Hawaii Restaurants but now let's get down to the nitty gritty-- the food. I've only been to ninja sushi Hawaii a few times, so I can only comment on a few things. While I think they slice their fish on the thin side, the creativity of the menu was pretty amazing. My favorite thing to eat at their restaurant is the Lion maki. I really liked how all of the different textures come together for each delectable bite-- especially the use of french fried onions on top of the roll.

Hawaii - The Hothouse of Orchids

Orchids are classic trademarks of Hawaii. We see them featuring in the movies; they take pride of place in garlands and are emblazoned upon many of the shirts that are characteristically worn and produced here. Homes all over the island will be adorned with Hawaii orchids and they appear to be in plentiful supply. They are truly part of the culture of this land.

The hot, humid weather of Hawaii is the perfect place for this charming plant to flourish and many kinds are cultivated here. The dendrobium variety, or flowers of the trees as they are often called, are raised here in especially high volumes.

Hawaii is largely responsible for promoting the reputation of this plant around the world and supplies many of the Hawaii orchids that are exported to North America and other places, this is actually a massive industry that contributes hugely to the economy here and is responsible for the creation of many jobs. In spite of this, there is still an astonishing number of orchids that are actually shipped into the state from other parts of the world, mainly from the Far East.

The people of Hawaii take orchid cultivating very seriously indeed, needless to say, these are the most popular flowers amongst the residents here. Many societies devoted to these Hawaii orchids have been formed as this appears to be a hugely popular hobby. There is even an Alliance of Professional orchid growers which supports farmers and encourages research and the furthering of related education into the cultivation and conservation of these species.

Surprisingly, there are only three rare kinds of orchids that occur here originally. Hawaii orchids are very hard to come by because they reside mainly in rain forests so as their habitat becomes increasingly threatened, so does their survival.

Liparis Hawaiensis

Also known as the Twayblade, these have tiny, delicate, greenish blooms and reside at very high altitudes in trees. They are very rare. Perhaps the best feature of this variety is its long blossoming life.

Platanthera Holochila

These grow on the ground in damp, shady regions and are incredibly hard to come by and one has not been seen on the island for some time. Appearance-wise, they are very understated and consist of yellowish-green buds extending from spike-like stems. Sadly, they have been officially classified as a threatened species and only the presence of a mere handful can be documented anywhere.

Anoectochilus Sandvicensis

These are seen more often than their other two relations and reside in similar habitats. Like the twayblade, they flower for a large proportion of the year and are comprised of an explosion of yellow blooms sprouting out of thick stems.

If you visit Hawaii, a wonderful treat would be to explore the many public gardens that house countless exquisite Hawaii orchids. Some of the horticultural Societies even have meetings and lectures that are delivered by professional experts and enthusiasts and can be attended by visitors or members of the general public; definitely worthwhile events.

How To Find A Business Loan In Hawaii

The Hawaiian government has put in place many schemes and programs for those who wish to get a business loan in Hawaii. From state funding to grants and private aid, there is no dearth of sources from which you can get a business loan.

This article discusses some of the ways to get a business loan in Hawaii.

Source of Loans in Hawaii:

From banks to grants and credit insurance, you will find many sources of business loans in Hawaii. Some of them are discussed below.

1) Small Business Loan Providers
There are significant number of small business loan providers and banks available in Hawaii.

2) Guarantees
Guarantees reduce payment risks and encourage private lenders to offer loans to entrepreneurs.

3) Export Import Bank
The Export Import Bank has been set up by the US Government to finance businesses. It offers loans to entrepreneurs when the risk may be too high for private lenders.

4) Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) of US was created with the aim of providing guidance and financial aid to small businesses. In Hawaii, the SBA office is located in the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Building on Moana Boulevard in Honolulu.

5) OHA Business Loans
Native Hawaiian small business owners can approach the OHA for either the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund or the Export Import Bank funds. The former aims to promote the growth of businesses owned by Native Hawaiians.

6) immigrants overseas investment programs
This program allows non-US citizens to obtain a green card by investing in American society. This helps small businesses get even in remote areas of financial support.

7) Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation (HSDC)
The HSDC is Hawaii's efforts to develop venture capital in the organization is committed to technological innovationcommercial use, and is concerned with providing employment opportunities to Hawaiians.

8) Small Business Grants
The Small Business Innovations Research program rewards useful innovations of small businesses by providing those grants. The innovations can be in fields as diverse as energy, defense, education, commerce, health and science.

9) Export Credit Insurance
Organizations like Export Import Bank offer credit insurance to entrepreneurs, and this includes small business insurance policy.

The Hawaiian government is trying to encourage entrepreneurship and establish a venture capital industry in the area. If you are a small business owner, or want to set up a small business in Hawaii, then there is no time like the present. Finance and loan options are many, and interest rates are low.

If you want to know more about business loans available in Hawaii, you may seek help from a small business consultant.

Fun Facts About Hawaii

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Hawaii is called the "Island of Flowers".Like Colombia, Uganda and Thailand, Hawaii is very rich in flora, with a great diversity of native and exotic species.There are many orchids and other rare plants such as hint´o hib, plumerian, ilima,silversword, and candlenut. Certainly, Hawaii has the world record for gardens.The state flower is the yellow hibiscus.The state flower is a symbol for each state in the United States.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

The Pearl of the Pacific or Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is famous for its rich marine life and pristine white beaches.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. It was a sport invented in Hawaii by kings and chieftains.Hawaiian islanders called their sport he´e nalu in the 18th century. Currently, surfing is a popular sport in countries such as South Africa, Cape Verde, Barbados, Peru, South Africa, Australia, and the United States.Unlike some sports, surfing isn´t an olympic sport yet.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

King Kamehameha I was a great man in Hawaiian history.He unified the islands in 1795.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Like Egypt (Hatshepsut and Cleopatra), Madagascar (Ranavalona I and Ranavalona III) and Ethiopia (Uizero Taitu and Judik Melenik), Hawaii had two queens. In 1823, Kaahumanu became queen of Hawaii. The second queen was Liliuokalani. She came to power in 1891.She was an ardent nationalist. However, her government was defeated in 1893.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters: a, e, h, I, k, l, m, n , o, p , u, and w. For example: ae (yes), ala (path), aole (no), hale (house), hana (work), haole( foreigner), hele mai (come here), hoomalimali (flattery), huhu (angry), hula (dance), kai (the sea), kane (man), kapu (forbidden), kaukau (food), keiki (child), ko (sugar), mahalo(thanks), mahimahi (a delicious fish), maikai (handsome),manu (bird), mauna (mountain), moana (ocean), nani (beautiful), oe (you), and nui (large), and aloha (welcome, friendship, good-bye and love).

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

The aloha skirt, a sport shirt with exotic designs, became fashionable in the world in the 1980s.The Hawaiian shirts were worn by superstars such as Richard Gere, Bob Barker, Timothy Hutton, Jack Nicholson, and Paul Newman.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Hawaii has many famous people: Yvonne Marianne Elliman (singer and actress), Tia Carrera (actress), Hiram Bingham (archaeologist), Bette Midler (singer and actress), Nicole Kidman (actress), Betty Jones (dancer), Keala O´Sullivan (sportswoman), Brooke Mahealani Lee (Miss USA and Miss Universe 1997), Don Ho ( actor), Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (sportsman), Samuel Kahanamoku (sportsman), Warren Kealoha (sportsman), Jack Johnson (singer-songwriter),Israel Kamakawiwo´ole (singer), Kristina Anapau (model and actress), Andy Bumatai (actor), and Kelly Hu (model and actress).

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

In the 18th century, Bernice Pauahi Bishop should have been princess of Hawaii, but she did not accept it.She donated a number of sums of money and time to charity works. She died in 1884. Bernice Bishop is a national heroine in Hawaii.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

The state motto is "Ua Ma ke Ea o Ka Aina I ka Pono" (the life of the island is perpetuated in righteousness).

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Like Iceland, New Zealand and Taiwan, Hawaii is one of the most industrialized islands in the world, but at the same time, it has a sense of nature and a sense of beauty.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Machu Pichu is one of the most famous ruins in the Latin America. It was discovered by a team headed by Hawaiian archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911.

DID YOU KNOW THAT...

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was one of the best athletes of the United States in the 20th century. He was born on August 24, 1890, in Honolulu, Hawaii. In his swimming career, he never lost a race from 1912 to 1920. He died on January 22 , 1968, in Honolulu.Duke Kahanamoku is a member of the American Olympic Hall of fame.

Slide-Baiting - Extreme Fishing in Hawaii

A recent conversation centered around "extreme fishing." It started with one's comment about these "wild men," somewhere along the Mississippi, who would stick their hands in submerged traps to let a catfish try and swallow their hands then pull the greedy catfish up and flip in into a boat. We all agreed it was pretty extreme to stick one's hand in the mouth of anything as large as the "cats" they were pulling up!

Then, of course, the conversation turned to local fare--kayak fishing in the deep blue... free-dive spear fishing for big tuna and wahoo in open ocean... trying to tag a marlin while it's thrashing a bill and hook alongside the boat. In this congenial arena of fishing tales one-upsmanship, all of the well-known fishing venues for which Hawaii has been noted were discussed except one which I reflected on after everyone had left.

For all of the fishing Hawaii offers, few are so uniquely tied to the islands as slide-baiting. Ask any local fisherman to name a single prized fish here in Hawaii and many of the responses will come back an "ulua" (oo loo' ah.) The Hawaiian name for a trevally weighing over ten pounds, the ulua is the largest of all Hawaiian fish caught from the shore. Growing well in excess of a hundred pounds, ulua are fierce fighters and popular table fare as well.

Among the most popular environs for ulua are the deep drops that lie off of many of the islands' rocky coasts. And while the underwater topography might be perfect for fish, the anglers wanting to fish these domains are faced with some precarious fishing spots often characterized by steep ledges, sharp rocks, and threatening waves.

The volcanic origin of the islands in which lava flows added to the coastline over the years in which the islands were formed created a miles of shorelines which end abruptly with a drop into the ocean. In these areas, it's not uncommon to find immediate water depths of sixty feet or more within an easy casting distance. These areas, often ten feet or more above the water, are the haunts of Hawaii's slide-bait fishermen!

As a youngster, I was always fascinated by a white marker on an overlook along a highway on Oahu's east side. I had learned that it memorialized a fisherman who had drowned after being washed off the ledge by large waves. Looking over the rocky coast which jutted anywhere from three to ten feet above the water, it was easy to see that getting back on to land after falling into the water was pretty close to impossible on a calm day let alone at night (the preferred time for this type of fishing) and when there are any waves to speak of.

Yet despite the obvious risks, slide-baiting is the venue of choice for many of Hawaii's top shore fishermen many of whom have achieved membership in the 100# club, an elite group of anglers who have caught an ulua of a hundred pounds or more.

Slide-baiting starts off with the largest shore fishing tackle you will come across. The poles are heavy-duty twelve to fourteen-foot casting poles equipped with conventional reels like the Penn 4-0's and 6-0's loaded with 50# - 75# test line. The rig is comprised of weights between 8-10 ounces connected to the main line with a large ring and weaker line intended to break away when the fish is hooked or when the line needs to be retrieved. Generally, a slide baiter will cast his line out once at the beginning of the session. Since each member of a group might have three to four poles making for a pretty crowded fishing perch, the only time lines are reeled back in is when a fish hits or when it's time to leave.

During the session, the fishermen slide their chosen bait down the line with a special leader. A hook is fastened to a stiff wire leader with a pigtail swivel on the other end allowing it to be attached to the main line. The bait slides down as far as the ring at the end of the main line preventing the bait from touching the bottom. Baits are slid down throughout the session without the fishermen ever having to worry about checking their bait or risking entanglement with other lines.

When a fish is caught, the prospect of bringing it up on the rocks from waters some ten feet or more below can be pretty tricky. A special gaff hook with an open ring and rope is slid down the main line down to the fish which is gaffed by jerking up from under the fish then pulling it up with the rope. It's a pretty slick technique that takes a bit of practice especially with a fish that weighs in at fifty to a hundred pounds and more.

Most of us will never experience fighting a hundred pound ulua from a rocky ledge but a look at any of the trophies these skilled anglers have brought up might convince you that this is a pretty extreme form of fishing. It's a form of fishing you'll seldom hear about but is going on in Hawaii at some awfully precarious spots on almost any moonless night!

The author, Richard Young, is the creator of HawaiiBeachcombers.com, a site which includes Hawaii Fishing along with other favorite island ocean activities.

Cost of Living in Oahu on Hawaii Island

Oahu is one of the biggest islands on Hawaii. This beautiful island is considered as a wonderful place to reside. It has great climate which suits the needs of all. If you are looking for place that is less than an hour drive to countryside, then Oahu is one such destination. It has variety of diverse recreational activities, which includes windsurfing, sailing, golf, world-class surfing, kite surfing, paddling, tennis & hiking.

For sociable people, there are different communities with their own character. It has small group of minorities (i.e. people from different countries) and they live up their spirits. They believe in harmony and prefer unity. It is due to their efforts that has made Oahu a great place to live. Even tourist who visit the place are amazed to see the preservation of rich flora and fauna here.

To some cost of living may appear to be high but here you pay for quality living. The prices here of town houses and apartments vary from place to place. So when you contact a real estate agent ask him about the posh areas and middle class areas. They both are equally good but you need to check your pockets and budgets as well for buying Real Estate on Oahu.

Some of you might find food here to be very expensive and yes it is. 90% of the food in Oahu is imported and you can buy the food from one of the chain stores there. Buying the food from regular market can be really expensive. If you think to have your meals from a good restaurant then check out their price menu before ordering a lavish meal.

A Short History of Hawaii

Hawaii has been admired for its heavenly islands and its history of rich culture. It continues to attract tourists from around the world to visit it again and again. Its beaches frequently host international surfing champions. However, there is also fearsome chain of volcanoes as it is located in the Pacific. Hawaii is also rich in source of natural resources like bananas, coconuts and sugarcane products. Apart from beaches, volcanoes and natural products, Hawaii takes pride in its people called the Kanaka Maoli. They are a happy and warm group who managed the kingdom before the British colonization.

The islands of Hawaiian Archipelago are the most inhabited in the world. They are situated at a distance of nearly 2400 miles from California, 2400 miles from the Marquesas Islands and 3800 miles from Japan. The Marquesas Islands is believed to be the place where the first settlers known as the Menehune arrived around 300 to 400 AD. Later, group of settlers from Tahiti displaced this settlement and they overthrew the Menehune people because the Tahiti people were taller and physically stronger.

Hawaii's isolation from the rest of the world is the reason why it was one of the last places to be discovered. It was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1778 searching for passageway between Asia and Alaska. He named them Sandwich Islands. A lot of Americans and Europeans explored the islands after Cook.

The first people of Hawaii who were called Kanaka Maoli lived in thousands in a system that was highly organized, self sufficient and subsistent social. This number has been severely reduced to less than 40,000 people since first contact with explorers and missionaries.

War and diseases caused the reduction in numbers. Kanaka Maoli were basically healthy people but were not prepared for the diseases like smallpox. Besides that, the Hawaii people who were divided earlier as kingdoms started to fight with more aggression with the availability of weapons like swords and guns. Although after thirty two years of the arrival of Captain James Cook and his crew, Hawaii got united under the kingdom of Kamehameha I with the help of a mighty army and foreign weapons.

He was succeeded by his son Kamehameha II also named Liholiho, not only changed Hawaii politically but also socially. He eradicated the a taboo system called kapu in his reign breaking one of them by eating with his stepmother and other higher ranked women. Men and women eating together was forbidden and was one of the kapus, punishable by death.

Liholiho was succeeded by Kamehameha III who continued to carry the torch for the family's propensity and make political, governance and evolutionary changes in Hawaii. He issued the Hawaiian Declaration of Rights and promulgated the Constitution for the Hawaiian Islands, this changed the governance of Hawaii from a complete monarchy a constitutional monarchy.

Kamehameha III was two others who later ruled the Hawaiian monarchy. Kamehameha V. looking for her daughter on the throne when he was dying to get the increase. However, she refused and went to a private life with her husband to live in English. Despite this rejection was ruled a woman capable of Queen Lili'uokalani in the country. She was the only woman and the last monarch of Hawaii has decided before the kingdom was overthrown by foreigners.

The AmericanEuropean merchants and traders overthrew the Kingdom of Hawaii, where his rise monarchy ended in 1893. E 'became an independent republic from 1894-1898, when it was annexed by the United States. Later, in 1959 was the 50th state in the United States, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill to their state. Hawaii quickly became a modern state after statehood, there was a rapid increase in construction and industry.