You can’t throw a stick in Honolulu without hitting a nabe, shabu-shabu or, as they are increasingly known, hot-pot restaurant these days. Most are Japanese restaurants, but a new take, at least for Hawaii, is coming to Ward Centre late this year.
The Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot restaurant chain boasts more than 300 locations, most of them in China, where it was founded.
Its first Hawaii location will open on the second level above Genki Sushi and will serve its brand of food cooked in a communal hot pot. Vegetables and thin-sliced meats are cooked by diners themselves, and a photo on its website shows a family around a bowl with three types of broth.
There are nine Little Sheep locations in Japan, five in Canada and eight on the mainland.
The space vacated long ago by Compadres will welcome Grand Leyenda Cantina, being opened by the owner of Just Tacos on Oahu and Hawaii island this summer. It will serve tacos, burritos, margaritas and more.
While not exactly a restaurant, a different kind of dining venue called CookSpace has been open since March on the second floor of Ward Warehouse above T&C Surf Designs. The studio, launched in collaboration with Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchen equipment, is open for cooking demonstrations, custom experiences and classes, among other events.
Volcano Fine Electronic Cigarettes and Master Pilates and Wellness, now open, and Nailtek, to open late this year at Ward Warehouse, round out the new tenant list for Ward Warehouse.
The Star-Advertiser previously reported on the planned opening of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable customer service office on the second floor above Wahoo’s Fish Taco at the corner of Ward Ave. and Auahi Street on June 7.
NEW ‘OLELO SERIES DEBUTS
‘Olelo Community Media will debut a new line of programming, its "Signature Series," with "Getting to Know You," a half-hour interview show hosted by veteran broadcast journalist Paul Udell.
Udell’s first interview subject: Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
"As we have continued to evolve as an organization, we’ve gathered a highly qualified team with the experience to concept and produce original series and specials that are in the community interest," said Roy Amemiya, ‘Olelo president and CEO, in a statement.
The programming is being added to its lineup of community-produced shows, Amemiya said. ‘Olelo will continue to work with "all of our producers in the community to present an even wider array of significant … shows."
"Getting to Know You" will focus on "people that are in the public eye," said Jack Bates, show producer and ‘Olelo senior adviser for marketing.
"We see this business layer or the entertainer layer, we don’t really know the person, so what we’re trying to do is dig in through that and find out what makes them tick," Bates said.
Shows will primarily be shot in subjects’ homes.
"The point of it is to give people an opportunity to share themselves with the community."
The interview show will seek to learn where their subjects grew up, what kind of influence Hawaii has had on them, what is important to them, what kind of charity work they like to do, even what their favorite TV show is, Bates said.
Having said that, host Udell is, at his core, a journalist.
"We want (interview subjects) to be comfortable, but Paul is a reporter. He’s going to ask the difficult questions once in a while," said Bates.
Udell, who has decades of experience in Hawaii broadcast news, as well as a résumé that includes stints as a Vietnam War correspondent and major-market news anchor, is volunteering his time for the new series.
He and Bates met on the set of the Hawaii-filmed "Battleship" movie.
"We played the old guys," Bates laughed.
Over time the concept of the show developed, and Udell made it clear he wanted to be involved as a volunteer.
"He’s just been incredible," said Bates, who said Udell is helping to get interviews.
Udell did ask Gov. Abercrombie a couple of pointed questions, and the crew wanted to end the show on a warm, funny, homey note, and sure enough, Abercrombie’s dog Kanoa stretched his legs "and gave us a great big yawn," laughed Bates.
How to find the show:
‘Olelo Channel VIEWS 54 at 6:30 p.m. June 4
Repeats: Saturday, June 8, 8:30 a.m.; Sunday, June 9, 3 p.m.; and Tuesday, June 11, 10:30 p.m.
Online via ‘OleloNet on Demand at www.olelo.org.
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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
