Happy Birthday Māʻona, and a Raffle!
This little blog had its start three years ago today with a modest tale of a free lunch. Since then I've shared countless recipes, photos and restaurant reviews. I have grown as a cook and watched my son develop similar interests. This site has been the catalyst for new friendships and has opened doors to many culinary conversations with other amateurs like myself, as well as with professionals. The frequency and quality of the writing have varied, but the main focus has never wavered: food in Hawaii.
Site statistics tell me that a good number of you have appreciated māʻona and are returning regularly. Thank you! Aside from generic information about the various countries from which you connect, I have very little information about who you all are.
My request today is simple. Please take a moment and leave a comment on this post and, if you feel like it, where you live in the world. Even if you never, ever, ever leave comments on blogs I'm asking for you to make an exception this time just to say, "hi!"
. This book is gorgeous, filled with recipes that capture his unique approach to contemporary Japanese cuisine, a style that is respectful of traditional Japanese cooking even while combining new ingredients in new ways.
On January 31st I will write all the names below on slips of paper and randomly draw one to receive this book. All you have to do to be eligible is comment. Easy enough, eh?
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read this site. I hope I can make it worth your time.
* Email addresses are never displayed on this website, and I will only use your address for the purposes of contacting you if you win.
Update: We have a winner!
Hi Alan! Happy Birthday Ma`ona!
Have I really been reading your great blog for 3 years? I guess time flies when you're having fun and I hope you're still having as much fun posting as I am reading.
I am in Kapolei. That's on Oahu, Hawaii for your readers that don't know. :-)
Hi Alan,
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment! Happy birthday and congrats on 3 years. That's quite an accomplishment!
Wow, 3 years, Happy Birthday from Japan! Keep up the good job, enjoying Hawaii through your eyes.
. Three years?.. That's great.! Thanks for all the Hawaii updates.. I'll keep reading from Newport Beach CA
Happy Birthday Ma'ona! Wow, three year's old. I wonder if I'll live to be that old. Keep up the good work. I love your blog
Thank you for writing such a great blog. Please keep it up!
Hello Alan,
I'm a new reader from Ohio. Nice work on your blog. It is a good resource on Hawaii food culture. Congrats on your 3rd anniversary!
I think it's odd that I have to click anonymously to leave my personal information with you.
I've also very much enjoyed the blog, and Sophi enjoyed the grilled pineapple. :)
Happy birthday with the blog! Since moving to HI almost 2 years ago, this blog has been a great resource about the local food here in Honolulu. Looking forward to your future adventures....
Happy birthday from Manoa! I'm an occasional reader.
Hey Alan,
Congrats! For some reason, it seems much longer than that. Here's to many more!
It's -4 degrees celsius here in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, significantly warmer than the -17 on the weekend, but not quite as warm as where are right now... ;)
Congratulations on the blog.
I wasn't going to enter your contest because I've only read a couple posts on your blog, but you INSISTED in the coconut milk post. And as an Iron Chef fan, I would really love that book.
Congrats
I was looking for information on how pineapples grow... Then I found myself reading your recipes and posts on local food. Keep it coming.
Congrats! I just found my way to this site. I'm currently on the mainland for college, and I always find myself gravitating to local food...including blogs like this one that feature it. Can't wait to read even more!
Mmmmmmmm Japanese food.... Did I ever tell you my adventures cooking with my son taking sushi making lessons?
Keep on posting Alan!
Bruce Milne
Didsbury, Alberta (near Calgary AB)
Hi Alan,
Great blog! I read often, but not a commenter...until now. Live in town Moiliili/McCully area and love to eat at many of the same places. Keep up the great blogging!
Happy birthday Alan,
Like Bryan, I like to read and never comment but your request touched me. I am from Aiea and live in Southern California. This is my first visit to your site, found it through Reid (glad he's back). Thanks for bringing Hawaii to me.
Everyone who has commented, thank you. Normally I like to acknowledge and reply to each and every person who takes the trouble to comment on this site. In this case, I'd be saying variations of the same thing again and again, "Thank you for reading, for giving feedback and correction, and for indirectly encouraging me to push myself as cook, foodie and writer."
Happy birthday, and congratulations on running such a great (and wildly successful!) blog. It's frequently helpful, often visually stunning, and always a good read.
Peter Green
Lancaster, CA (Mojave Desert, north of LA)
Happy birthday Māʻona
Max here, from San Francisco. I'm still making that Puttanesca from years back and loving it. :)
Hi Alan - insomia tonight so dropped in on your blog. Three years passed quickly! I, too, enjoy your blog.
Congratulations! I found your blog linked from another blog (one can spend one's whole life merely following links from peoples' cooking blogs) and put it in the favorites folder because I so enjoy Hawaii and I love the "everyday" quality of Hawaii that infuses your blog. It is often difficult to access this while visiting but it really enriches the (very limited) time I get to spend on the islands when I am fortunate enough to do so. It's interesting to hear a different point of view on the restaurant scene. I also like getting to know some unusual ingredients (for me) from time to time, without being completely overwhelmed by them. Speaking of which...if you ever find that you have something to say about taro root preparations, I'd be all ears. :) I may yet give the leaf-wrapped meat preparations a try, ti leaves or no ti leaves!
hey there....i'm new(ish) to the islands and have read through your site often to learn about all things Hawaiian - grub-wise, that is. really enjoy this site, keep on rockin....
-josh
Found your blog when searching for a truck cake for my son's 2nd birthday party (did you know your image comes up first on google images for truck cakes?!). LOVE what you came up with and am going to take a stab at it on Friday night. Thanks for the inspiration. Enjoyed looking through your blog since finding it and have added you to my favorites. Look forward to reading more of your great food commentary from way over here in Massachusetts.