When I was a kid, it was such fun to go to different parks across the island, each with its own personality and themed playground equipment, from the giant shoe at Kahala to the submarine jungle gym in Nuuanu. Nowadays there’s little point in venturing past your neighborhood as most parks sport nearly identical equipment. But Waialae-Iki Park, on the corner of Kalanianaole Highway and Analii Street, is worth the drive. Tucked behind the vast soccer fields, the playground has taut rope webs, twisted monkey bars and 6-foot parallel bar slides — plenty to keep tweens busy with “American Ninja Warrior” training while the little ones delight on the swings. My kids’ favorites are the five spinning apparatus. From the red spinning bowl to the 6-foot ring, this park gets kids gleefully dizzy. And with clean bathrooms and plenty of benches and shade, parents can kick back and let the kids spin the afternoon away.
—Donica Kaneshiro
Special biscuits served hot off grill
Even before I moved to Aina Haina years ago, I had heard about the special biscuits at Jack’s Restaurant in the shopping center. These softball-size delights, which resemble scones, are served with whipped honey butter and come with most breakfast meals, although I often order them a la carte — split, buttered and grilled. The biscuits are so popular, the little family-run restaurant serves more than 150 of them on busy days. And the rest of the menu — hamburger steak with onions, oxtail soup and fluffy pancakes — isn’t too bad, either. Jack’s is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Call 373-4034.
—Catherine Toth Fox, Nuuanu
Thrift store offers cool bargains
If your partner hates to shop but loves a bargain, try a little togetherness at Holy Nativity Thrift Shop. After lunch at the Aina Haina Shopping Center on a 92-degree Saturday, I lured my husband on a shady walk to the shop, housed in a converted shipping container. (Yes, it is air-conditioned.) He picked a crisp, cool Ralph Lauren seersucker shirt ($9.50). I chose a satin bag with bamboo handles ($4). The shop is at 5286 Kalanianaole Highway (behind the church) and open Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Call 373-3744.
—Mindy Pennybacker
Bakery satisfies cupcake cravings
Satiate your sweet tooth at Cake Couture in the Aina Haina Shopping Center, where you’ll find half a dozen cupcake flavors that vary Monday through Saturday. On a recent Tuesday I found chocolate peanut butter (my favorite), pumpkin, red velvet, vanilla, orange creamsicle and “Faux-stess,” modeled after the Hostess treat, featuring a chocolate cupcake filled with marshmallow cream and double-dipped in bittersweet chocolate ganache. The moist cupcakes, topped with luscious buttercream frosting, are $2.75 to $3.75 each.
While you’re there, pick up a “Bake ’Em Danno” T-shirt ($17), a nod to “Hawaii Five-0.” Call 373-9750 or visit cakecouture.com.
—Nina Wu
Foodland Farms stocks variety of local produce
Nobody needs to convince me that farmers markets are great places to shop. But with limited hours, it’s not always convenient for me to get there. A good option is Foodland Farms in the Aina Haina Shopping Center, which makes it a priority to stock local produce. One mainstay here is veggies from MA‘O Organic Farms in Waianae. What’s for sale depends on what’s harvested, and I recently found beets ($4.89 a pound) and gourmet lettuces ($15.99 a pound). Colorful heirloom okra sold under the Mauka Harvest label was $5.79 a pound. Call 373-2222.
—Joleen Oshiro
A shortlist of newly discovered stuff you have got to see, hear, wear, use or eat. Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. Tell us what you are loving this week by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.
