1 & 2. When my dentist, Dr. Reid T. Koyanagi, raved about the taro chips from Hawaiian Chip Co. I sheepishly said, “I don’t care for taro chips.” But then I tried them and OMG those taro chips ARE delicious. They’re so light and crispy. And since I got to season the warm chips myself they weren’t too salty. I am now a taro chip convert.
Hawaiian Chip Co. also makes fresh sweet potato chips (just as yummy) and if you can’t decide what kind you want, just order a combination. They come in 5- to 6-ounce bags ($6) or 1-pound boxes ($15). Nine seasoning shakers add flavor from barbecue to furikake. Owner Jimmy Chan said the nori and furikake are the most popular, but his new Maui onion flavor is quickly catching up. I just used plain salt, but my dentist swears by a bacon salt he gets from Amazon.
Chan also just started carrying HI Five ‘Ulu chips — original and garlic butter ($8 for a 4-ounce bag). So delicious! Luckily I got one bag of each flavor before they sold out (within two days). Chan has restocked his supply, but if he runs out again, the chips can also be found at the Ka Makana Ali‘i Farmers Market (4-8 p.m.Wednesdays) and Pearlridge Farmers Market (8 a.m.-noon Saturdays).
So now I had freshly made chips to eat as I drove away and a couple of bags of ulu chips for later. I’m sure my dentist would be fine with it; now if only I could get my doctors on board.
Hawaiian Chip Co. (hawaiianchipcompany.com) is at 1928 Republican St. Call 845-9868.
For information on the ulu chips, go to hifiveulu.com.
— Michelle Ramos, Star-Advertiser
3. After an expansion, the flagship Billabong store in Waikiki is now the company’s largest worldwide, with a new home decor section and surf, swim and lifestyle stock galore. When I browsed the shop, a few items caught my eye and opened my wallet:
>> Hawaii 2018 Pipe Masters T-shirts ($26.95) include a design “in memory of Andy Irons,” with a photo of the champion surfer sliding on the North Shore wave. With the competition wrapped in December at Pipeline, it provides a special connection.
>> Those straw “lifeguard” hats are still the gold standard for keeping the sun at bay, and great for beach days; a women’s version with the Billabong “Made for Living” patch and a fabric rim lining striped with the colors of sand and sunset is $29.95.
>> Sun Bum sunscreens are reef-safe, mineral-based and expensive ($17.99 for a 6-ounce spray can), but attractively packaged, and feel so good on your skin.
Find them at Billabong, 2424 Kalakaua Ave.; 923-4491.
— Elizabeth Kieszkowski, Star-Advertiser
4. It’s been a lifelong challenge dealing with fine, limp hair, and I’ve come to realize my best solution is a short cut executed by a skilled stylist — thanks, Kris (at Aviance Salon in Mililani). But making the most of a great cut means finding products that introduce volume and hold it through the day, which had been mostly a futile task until I discovered Living Proof. The hair-care company utilizes bio-tech science to address the gamut of hair woes, from taming frizziness to instilling body and fullness.
To address fine hair, Living Proof has patented a thickening molecule that it delivers in a line of products, two of which I now cannot live without: the Full Thickening Cream ($28 for 3.7-ounce size, $16 for 1.8 ounces) that, when applied to damp hair and then blow-dried, infuses volume; and the Dry Volume Blast ($29 for 7.5-ounce can, $15 for 3 ounces), a styling spray that delivers big on lasting volume without the stickiness and stiffness of a traditional hairspray. Now, I just run my fingers through my hair to maintain the fluffiness. Isn’t science wonderful? Find Living Proof products at Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, home shopping channel QVC and at livingproof.com.
— Joleen Oshiro, Star-Advertiser
Please keep in mind that featured products may be in short supply and may not be available at all store locations; prices may vary. The information presented represents the authors’ opinions and experiences; your results may vary. Tell us what you are loving this week by emailing features@staradvertiser.com.
