HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) informs Oahu motorists that the pavement preservation project on the H-1 Freeway Waimalu Viaduct has been completed The stretch of improved roadway includes a 1,300-foot stretch of the H-1 Freeway between the Kaahumanu Street overpass and Kaonohi Street overpass the contractor filled potholes and applied an epoxy surface treatment across the freeway’s five eastbound lanes and seven westbound lanes including shoulders The epoxy surface treatment technique is the first to be used by HDOT which incorporates a combination of epoxy binders and aggregates It is designed to protect the freeway deck and underlying reinforcements and provide a uniform surface by covering old lane markings The epoxied surface has a higher frictional value than the current concrete deck which improves handling and breaking for vehicles and increases the service life of the structure “The H-1 Freeway between Pearl City and Halawa remains the most heavily used highway in the state,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Highways Ed Sniffen “After we completed our H-1 Shoulder and PCCP Rehabilitation we realized we could address the surrounding areas with a low-cost preservation solution that would improve the drive for years to come.” This project was completed at a cost of $2.86 million and took approximately three weeks of night work to finish To view pictures of the Waimalu Viaduct improvements “We’re excited to have another tool for pavement preservation with minimal impact to highway users,” added Sniffen “The epoxy treatment allows HDOT to protect and extend the life of our pavement surfaces This will help us tremendously in improving the quality and speed of repairs to our roadways.” The next location for the epoxy surface treatment is the H-1 Freeway in the Kaimuki area This work is tentatively scheduled to begin by the end of September 2020 HDOT will notify the public of details when the schedule is finalized HDOT thanks the traveling public for their cooperation as we continue to maintain our state roadways Photo of the new surface on the H-1 Freeway Waimalu Viaduct Photo 1 of crews installing the surface treatment Photo 2 of crews installing the surface treatment a 27-acre garden that started as a sugar plantation’s arboretum in the 1930s Pack mosquito repellent for a picnic in the cool higher-elevation weather then stroll into the ravine to see native plants or visit colorful Mindanao gum trees on the shady terrace you’ll find Mānana Falls at the end of the hourlong hike (Watch for markers to avoid ending up on the ridge trail.) SEE ALSO: Your O‘ahu Neighborhood Guide: Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City it’s in a fountain drink cup—at Baldwin’s Sweet Shop is always a good idea Houseless people have taken over the waterfront pavilions look for the Bell of Peace built by Japanese craftsmen as a gift 50 years after the bombing of Pearl Harbor Let the aromas fill the car on the way home SEE ALSO: A Local’s Guide to an O‘ahu Road Trip: Waialua to Kahuku Pick up breakfast to-go at Rise & Shine Café in Mililani Taqueria El Ranchero or Barrio Café Drive 15 minutes to Waimalu Shopping Center Build your own lunch at eateries including Kabuki Restaurant and Delicatessen ‘Aiea Bowl or Fort Shafter Bowling Center to get a lane Pick up fresh J&S lumpia and Soon’s kalbi for dinner O‘ahu’s North Shore is more than just big waves and small towns shops and activities will keep you busy in the country Drive through 13 ahupua‘a as you shop for fresh finds explore a hidden garden and eat your way up the coast of Windward O‘ahu catch a foreign film and discover the lesser-known parts of East O‘ahu From plantation towns to planned communities Central O‘ahu has its share of secret spots a bumper crop of bowling alleys and neighborhood eats Start with a view of one of the last sugar mill stacks left on O‘ahu then sit for drinks in one of the best places to watch the sun set but when your everyday routes feel more like ruts road trips can break you out of the routine So we asked locals for their best one-day itinerary for other locals outside of the urban core slippers and a good amount of respect—don’t leave that trash behind!—before you go Kelsey’s Baby SpecialtiesFor more than 20 years this family-owned business has supplied the area’s families with everything baby Recaro car seats and Mustela skincare products for mom and baby are among some of the most popular finds manager Brian Oshiro has focused on bringing harder-to-find Crazy CanineIt’s easy to spoil your favorite furry friend at this store With everything from organic dog food and doggy bikinis to peanut butter cookies and lavender-mint shampoo any dog whose owner shops here should consider himself one lucky puppy Crazy Canine’s unusual inventory also features gourmet goodies such as chicken jerky Customers don’t mind taking a number at this often-packed restaurant It gives them extra time to browse the extensive menu of manapua There are nearly two dozen manapua flavors alone and “char siu is definitely the local favorite,” says owner Steven Wong “We open at 7:30 just to handle the morning manapua rush.” For lunch a two-entrée plate with your choice of starch—there were three kinds of fried rice when we visited—is more than enough for two people Don’t blame us if you can’t decide what to pick But in addition to a large selection of apparel the store is the only place in Hawaii to offer SoccerTots a fun physical development program for kids ages 18 months to six years old Budding soccer stars develop their motor skills physical fitness and confidence on a kid-size field right inside the store Stamps & Memories owner Roxanne Kaahaina may have put it mildly when she told us “paper crafting has gained popularity in the past five years.” Stamps & Memories is more than popular The store is constantly abuzz with die-hard scrapbookers and general paper crafters ribbons and a wall of more than 1,000 rubber stamps keep inspired customers coming back is especially popular for making professional-looking custom cards and invitations Stamps & Memories can work with you to create the perfect look              HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is pleased to announce the entire new lane on the H-1 Freeway Pearl City Viaduct from Waimalu to Waikele is now open for use The new lane begins at the Waimalu/Pearl City offramp (Exit 10) to beyond the H1/H2 split The two and a half miles of new lane will accommodate more than 2,000 cars per hour easing congestion through the State’s busiest corridor the new shoulder lane on the H-1 Freeway westbound will be available for use beginning Monday The shoulder lane will be open for travel during the evening commute from 3:30 – 6:00 pm The new shoulder lane begins at the Aiea Heights Drive Overpass to the Waimalu/Pearl City offramp (Exit 10) The new shoulder lane is two miles in length and brings added capacity during the busy evening hours New signs and pavement markings will be added indicating the shoulder area and times Drivers may enter the shoulder lane near the Aiea Heights Drive Overpass Those using the shoulder lane and continuing west on the H-1 Freeway toward Kapolei will need to merge one lane to the left before the shoulder ends as they approach the Waimalu/Pearl City offramp The merge must be completed prior to the solid white line HDOT advises drivers to give themselves enough time to safely advance to their preferred lane Please be alert and avoid dangerous maneuvers Remaining construction activities includes resurfacing the far right westbound travel lane of the Pearl City Viaduct to create a smooth roadway for motorists The new lane consists of what used to be the former shoulder Repaving work will add a fast setting concrete overlay The latex modified concrete mix is more durable and designed to protect and prevent damage to the structure The work will be scheduled during the overnight hours and/or weekends in an effort to minimize traffic impacts The paving work could not be completed earlier because the concrete barriers that separated the freeway traffic from workers had to remain in place New sections of the lane were also opened as they were finished so drivers could enjoy the congestion relief benefits right away Now that the entire lane is constructed it will be repaved all at one time crews will shift the overhead destination signs to align with the new lane configuration by the end of December The Waipahu offramp (Exit 8B) in the westbound direction will be restriped to allow two lanes of travel before the Kamehameha Highway and Farrington Highway merge HDOT advises the public to check its website at hidot.hawaii.gov for weekly lane closure updates and follow HDOT on social media. Motorists are encouraged to use the GoAkamai.org website and mobile apps for up to the minute traffic conditions and see live pictures from over 200 traffic cameras on Oahu to help plan your outing For more information, call the project hotline at 808-945-1144 and visit the Pearl City Viaduct Deck Widening and Repair project website HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) is happy to announce the substantial completion of the H-1 Freeway Shoulder Widening and Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Rehabilitation (PCCP) project which is finished ahead of schedule The project replaced some of the worst pavement on the state system with new precast concrete pavement in both directions between Pearl City and Halawa as well as widened the eastbound shoulder lane between the Waimalu Viaduct and the Aiea Pedestrian Overpass The shoulder will serve as a safety area during morning contraflow operations and can be converted to a shoulder lane to provide more capacity in the future “We are thrilled to be able to finish this project ahead of schedule and before the holiday season begins,” said Gov “This is just one of many projects that aim to improve our transportation infrastructure and help improve the quality of life of our residents across the state.” The H-1 Freeway on the Pearl City Viaduct is the busiest roadway in the state with an average traffic count of more than 247,000 vehicles each day With that in mind HDOT and its contractors worked to minimize impacts to the traveling public by working overnight and utilizing efficient techniques such as precast concrete panels that were built offsite and then placed on the roadway to shorten the lane closure time by significantly reducing concrete curing time The new pavement sections were rebuilt at final grade of the roadway to ensure a level surface The project also widened the shoulder lane on the H-1 Freeway eastbound in Waimalu and Aiea to 24 feet allowing a safe area for disabled vehicles to pull over without blocking the travel lanes even during morning commute hours when the shoulder lane is open Additional upgrades were made to the highway lighting and drainage system “Commuters may remember the bumpy sections of asphalt that covered uneven areas of the freeway Those sections are now gone and replaced with a smooth riding surface,” said Deputy Director Ed Sniffen Hawaii Department of Transportation Highway Division “The new widened shoulder increases safety and allows greater flexibility to make additional improvements The project broke ground May 2018 and was originally estimated to be completed in early 2020. HDOT invested $68 million in Highways funds to the improvements. To view the project website click here. To view project photos click here Sam Kong (left to right); FHWA Assistant Division Administrator Richelle Takara; Sen Ryan Yamane; Governor David Ige; HDOT Director Jade Butay; HDOT Highways Division Deputy Director Ed Sniffen; and Kiewit Infrastructure Manager Manager Jon Samole celebrate the completion of the improvements on the H-1 Freeway Ige addressed the importance of infrastructure projects that help improve the quality of life for residents Enrolling in Hawaiʻi’s public schools is a straightforward process that involves determining school eligibility and completing an application either online or in person We are committed to providing a high-quality education for all students and we look forward to welcoming your child to our school system. Learn how to determine your school through the SchoolSite Locator App The Department provides bus service in neighborhoods around the islands to ensure broad access to educational opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s students and serves about 25,000 student riders across the state.  Students who consistently attend school are more likely to achieve academic excellence students gain access to a world of knowledge and develop the confidence to reach their full potential.  educational specialists and staff to foster equity and excellence in our public schools skilled and passionate professionals who will help bring the Department’s Strategic Plan to life stories and events from Hawai‘i public schools 1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813Main Line: 808-784-6200Email Subscribe! Honolulu Magazine | Honolulu Family Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February 2021 Bring a pan of crispy gau gee to a potluck It’s one of those Hawai‘i-only Chinese restaurant staples that you’re unlikely to find outside of the 50th state The wrapper has an irresistible crunch with a savory meaty filling that is more substantial than a won ton Crispy gau gee has earned its place in the pantheon of classic local pūpū The aunties at Duk Kee fill the gau gee by hand Studies show that our strongest food connections are usually established during our first encounter those first impressions become the benchmark for foods we eat later in life our benchmark for crispy gau gee is often tied to our neighborhood Chinese restaurant While some have faded into the pages of history Thank you to our readers who responded to our poll with your top 5 gau gee After checking out nearly all of your recommendations A few of our initial personal favorites did not make the final cut; however we discovered and rediscovered places that are now destinations for us when we have a party to please SEE ALSO: Poll Results: Here’s Your Top 5 Crispy Gau Gee New Mui Kwai is part of a well-established trio of Chinese restaurants in Kāne‘ohe Their gau gee yields a distinctive sesame oil flavor and has a roughly chopped pork filling that is similar to what you would find in a good pork hash 45-1052 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, newmuikwai.com this 8 Fat Fat 8 has many loyal customers that come for the laidback atmosphere and stay for the killer Chinese food 8 Fat Fat 8’s gau gee surprised us with how mouthwatering it was The only shortcomings were that it was fried a bit too long for our liking and that you only get five pieces per $8 order making it the most expensive candidate on this list While it makes a great pairing with a cold beer 1327 S. Beretania St., Makiki, 8fatfat8hawaii.com, @eightfat Located in the former Bakery Kapi‘olani in Makiki on King and Pi‘ikoi streets Golden Duck has been dishing out solid Cantonese fare for decades It’s very similar to our top pick for gau gee in flavor and crunch This Kaimukī staple has been around long before Kaimukī became a hotbed for hip new restaurants and they’ve been famous for their crispy gau gee for just as long you will likely see a mountain of pork filling sitting near the kitchen with stacks of wrappers waiting to be filled What kept Duk Kee from the top spot is their inconsistency of the wrappings which have the tendency to open during the cooking process resulting in unevenness in the overall experience SEE ALSO: What’s Up, Duk Kee? New Owners Take Over the Chinese Restaurant Tucked away on South King Street in Mō‘ili‘ili near Sweet Home Café Golden Eagle recently changed hands (again) but their crispy gau gee game remains on point pork-forward filling that has that rougher grind of meat and seasoning that is jusssst right Perfectly crunchy all the way through and perfectly balanced meat-to-wrapper ratio 2334 S. King St., Mō‘ili‘ili, @goldeneaglehonolulu The cross-section of each offering revealed a lot about each filling and the cook on the wrapper you’re sure to wow the crowd at your next party with a pan of gau gee from any of these spots By Craig T. Kojima Homeless in Hawaii HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises Oahu motorists that H-1 Freeway lane modifications will be implemented in the westbound direction between the Pearl City/Waimalu Off-Ramp (Exit 10) and the H-1/H-2 Split beginning Sunday morning A new right lane will be opened near the Waipahu Off-Ramp (Exit 8B) HDOT will open up additional segments of the newly widened H-1 Pearl City Viaduct as they are completed Drivers can anticipate a new 400 foot section to be opened every two weeks until the new right lane eventually meets with the Waimalu Off-Ramp Motorists are advised that the H-1 lane modifications will make the following changes: None of the lanes have been narrowed and will remain 11 feet wide The speed limits have not been changed as a result in the lane shifting “Motorists heading to the H-2 Freeway and Waipahu will need to alter their lane selections so we ask that everyone drive carefully and with aloha as we all adjust,” said Ed Sniffen “The new H-1 westbound lanes in Pearl City will be opened in segments as work is completed to give motorists the earliest possible benefits.” Following the anticipated completion of the overall project in September, all concrete barriers around the work site will be removed, fully opening the new sixth lane.  Motorists are advised to drive with caution through the area while familiarizing themselves with the new lane patterns.  Weekend and weekday lane closure information will be posted at the HDOT website at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/oahu please visit the project website or call the project hotline at 945-1144 Click image above for a larger view four left lanes will proceed to H-1 westbound at the H-1/H-2 Split Two right lanes will proceed to H-2 northbound at the Split Motorists heading to the H-2 will need to use Lanes #5 and #6 The new Lane #6 will open just after the concrete barriers bordering the construction site Motorists using the Waipahu Off-Ramp will also need to change lanes to Lane #6 to access the exit ramp 1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813Main Line: 808-784-6200Email By Erika Engle erika@staradvertiser.com Entertainer-turned-restaurateur Iva Kinimaka stirred a pot of beef stew in the kitchen of the Diners Drive-In location in Kalihi The Diners chain was founded by the Sugai family in 1965 but various locations were run by independent operators such as Kinimaka Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading The last vestige of a 51-year-old Oahu restaurant chain closed on New Year’s Eve taking along with it generations’ worth of local favorites Wingdings and Wingzings (mild and spicy chicken wings The Diners Drive-In location in Waimalu was the last of several plate luncheries established by Kiyo­shi Sugai The company eventually passed to a series of new owners who bought it from her brother Danny Hwang 12 years ago so for 25 years we ran the business,” Nakamura said but that store was open for only 18 months Nakamura wanted to keep the Waimalu operation running but she couldn’t secure a renewed lease She said she wanted to sell the restaurant’s equipment to the next tenant but the leasing agent told her he didn’t know who would be taking the space The leasing company did not respond to requests for comment Nakamura informed her customers of the closure plans via a Dec who worked part time at the restaurant from 1979 through 1981 Sugai and his brother would alternate monitoring the crew’s work from behind one-way glass “I had one customer one year; he was so — I guess you would call him rude and demanding I was trying to get his order correct,” she said “The full-timers would pass him to me.” When the customer continued to give Sen a hard time “I jumped (over the counter) and grabbed that guy and said “I thought he was going to yell at me,” but he told her to “just sit there and be quiet,” she said “And then he told me I have to go out there and look like I got yelled at.” Knowing she was planning to undertake culinary studies after high school graduation She went on to work in kitchens including at the Sheraton Waikiki both through company expansion and franchising Among Diners’ operators was late Hawaii entertainer Iva Kinimaka who took over the Kalihi location after retiring from his music career “Diners was my very first experience with local food; for the first time ever I had a teriyaki sandwich and I was hooked,” said Janet Scheffer founder and president of Mana Means Communications Scheffer recalled eating at Diners regularly for 10 years Retired Hawaii radio executive Jeff Coelho recalled hosting a couple of live broadcasts from Diners’ North King Street location “Diners was one of my first sponsors when I was on KORL radio,” he said Diners had “the tastiest spare ribs,” he remembered The North King Street location now sports the name New Diners with signage touting catering and takeout by Sorabol Diners owner Nakamura says New Diners is not connected to her now-closed business Much of the kitchen equipment and cookware is up for bid through 6 p.m. Thursday in an online auction run by Oahu Auctions, oahuauctions.com Items may be inspected at the Diners’ location through Thursday Nakamura must vacate the Waimalu space by Jan These recipes from Diners’ Kalihi location were provided to Honolulu Star-Bulletin “By Request” columnist Betty Shimabukuro by operator Iva Kinimaka in 1999 Combine marinade ingredients and pour over pork Marinate in the refrigerator at least 24 hours Approximate nutritional analysis per serving mix well and refrigerate at least one hour to allow flavors to mix and mellow based on 2-1/2 cups mayonnaise: 560 calories which means shave ice season is in full force—although pretty much any day is a shave ice day in Hawai‘i this roundup of new- and old-school favorites will be relevant as long as these shops are around Baldwin’s Sweet Shop in Waimalu had lemon peel syrup even before the lemon peel craze—it’s just one of the unique local kine flavors they offer that I love I revisited Baldwin and found that they now have grated lemon peel (the dried Not only does it add more lemon peel flavor to my shave ice I love having the chewy peel in every bite of the tart ice 98-040 Kamehameha Hwy., (808) 488-0505, @baldwinssweetshop Legendary plant-based frozen treat purveyor Banán serves up their take on fresh and fruity shave ice where the water breaks at Fort DeRussy Beach Each creation starts with a base of their signature banana soft serve that’s layered with a mountain of fluffy snow and fresh fruits My favorite part is choosing among several tropical flavors like mango guava and dragon fruit that they make in-house using locally sourced fruit Then I finish off my guilt-free indulgence with drizzles of coconut cream or sweet local honey The silky smooth ice and syrups are so pleasantly refreshing especially after a day at the beach. —Thomas Obungen Banán Waikīkī Shore, 2161 Kalia Ave., (808) 773-7231, banan.co, @banan SEE ALSO: Shades of Shave Ice: Local Fruit Shines at Waikīkī’s New Shave Ice Shop The line at Island Vintage Shave Ice’s kiosk in Waikīkī is usually formidable But brave it for soft shave ice drenched in syrups made with real fruit Favorite combinations include Heavenly Liliko‘i the ice shaped around a frozen yogurt center then topped with fresh strawberry and liliko‘i pulp and handmade mochi Multiple locations, islandvintagecoffee.com, @islandvintageshaveice SEE ALSO: Worth the Splurge: Island Vintage’s $19 Honey Cream Pineapple Shave Ice in Waikīkī When I’m craving something sweet and cold my taste buds direct me to a Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Wave from Kawaii Ice Wave There’s sweetness from the strawberry purée over a soft and fluffy bed of shaved ice with strawberry slices and cheesecake chunks finished with condensed milk drizzled on top Did I mention there’s also soft serve on the bottom but this shave ice satisfies all my dessert cravings in one bite you might even find a sneaker to pair with your dessert 1111 Dillingham Blvd., (808) 725-0651, @kawaii_icewave With super ‘ono options like soursop and liliko‘i topped with a cloud of haupia cream and dotted with bouncy house-made mochi or a cacao lover’s dream complete with chocolate shell this organic-fanatic trailer is the coolest excuse to holo holo up North 57-146 Kamehameha Hwy, kulashaveicenorthshore.com, @kulashaveicens SEE ALSO: Hawai‘i Island’s Kula Shave Ice Brings Its Natural and Organic Bowls to O‘ahu’s North Shore You know you’re lucky when you stop by this tiny window next to Pioneer Saloon and it’s actually open and serving The elusive Monsarrat Shave Ice is worth the gamble and fight for parking Silky smooth ice and fresh organic fruit syrups are painstakingly layered into a bowl until a sugarloaf mountain of flavored ice is formed My favorites are the borderline-haupia coconut syrup and the sweet mango which go well with chewy mochi and a scoop of Meadow Gold vanilla ice cream Go on a sunny weekend closer to noon and you’ll probably time it just right 3046 Monsarrat Avenue, (808) 732-4001, @monsarratshaveice Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i’s Favorite Kitchens I love that their syrups include classic flavors as well as contemporary and their cones are big—still a good deal I’m especially enamored by “The Larry,” the ginormous shave ice mound that’s bigger than your head there is always someone in the store getting a Larry for themselves Multiple locations, @shimazu_shave_ice SEE ALSO: 4 Favorite Halo Halo on O‘ahu, One You Need to Get Now Waiola Shave Ice was the perfect cheap eat My friends and I would hunt for change in my Honda Civic to pay for Waiola’s finely shaved snowballs splashed My go-to flavor was and still is rainbow with mochi and I love that my small size comes in a cup—not cone It makes it easier to eat in a short amount of time I love slurping my treat and fishing around for chewy balls in a pool of purple-y sauce Multiple locations, @waiolashaveice SEE ALSO: Shades of Shave Ice: Kapahulu is Home to Two Old-School Shave Ice Institutions Kailua General Store and Island Snow have fed us icy treats for years specifically the liliko‘i-lychee combo with a request to layer the powdered dried lemon peel into the ice for a salty-sour-sweet combo that keeps calling us back 20A Kainehe St., (808) 728-3855, wilson-store.business.site, @wilsonskailua SEE ALSO: Shades of Shave Ice: Kailua’s Neighborhood Shops With Shave Ice Counters This shop in ‘Aina Haina specializes in all-natural the Classic Rainbow is a combination of strawberry It’s the shave ice version of an ice cream sundae This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Business A Zippy’s restaurant on Vineyard Boulevard Zippy’s Restaurants has settled a class-action lawsuit involving a breach of credit and debit card systems over four months from Nov The company alerted its customers April 27 of the data breach at its 25 restaurants Kahala Sushi and Pearl City Sushi locations It also said cards used to buy drinks at Dole Cannery Pomaikai Ballrooms also may have been affected who say they were victims of fraudulent charges after the breach filed the complaint against Zippy’s owner FCH Enterprises Inc Oahu resident Joshua Bokelman said in the lawsuit that he used his debit card nearly exclusively at Zippy’s Express in the Waimalu Shopping Center and incurred more than $300 in fraudulent debit card charges since the breach Suchandra Thapa of Illinois said he used his credit card at Zippy’s McCully on Feb 4 and fraudulent charges appeared 17 days later An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered that FIN7 an international criminal group responsible for hacking national restaurants and retailers had accessed card information from the popular local restaurant chain Zippy’s said it has improved system security and monitoring of payment processing “Zippy’s is committed to making things right for our customers impacted by this incident,” said Paul Yokota “While we’re grateful that no personal information was exposed in the attack we continue to recommend that customers closely monitor their credit or debit card statements and immediately contact their bank or financial institution if they identify any suspicious activity.” customers who used a credit or debit card during the breach period may file a claim The amount paid depends on whether patrons can prove unauthorized charges “plausibly connected to the security incident” and on how many people submit valid claims Following the deadline to submit a claim on June 2, Zippy’s will donate any unclaimed settlement funds to Cyber Hawaii, a local nonprofit that works to mitigate cyber risk. For more information or to file a claim go to zippyssettlement.com or call 888-906-2033 gau gee satisfies with a one-two punch of texture and porky goodness in a single bite It’s no mystery as to why it’s the first to go at potlucks we’re just curious where you get yours from readers voted on and recommended more than 60 restaurants from Wai‘anae to Lā‘ie that make it the best With three locations from Kapolei to Ala Moana lo mein noodles and pork hash on the way to the office Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory is also where many get their crispy gau gee ($1.25 apiece)—they make the wrappers after all It’s lunchtime and the line’s out the door—don’t worry, it’s worth the wait. Roast Duck Kitchen is an ‘Aiea institution known for roast pork but insiders know to add a few crispy gau gee ($0.89 apiece) to their plates before leaving it’s our readers’ fourth most popular spot to get this local delicacy SEE ALSO: You Voted: Here’s Your Top 5 Meat Jun Kāne‘ohe has no shortage of Chinese restaurants but it’s Kin Wah Chop Suey that leads the pack when it comes to its fried dumplings (10 pieces for $7.50) Kin Wah netted 12% of the poll to be the third most popular restaurant with crispy gau gee Intrepid readers made sure to note Waimalu’s crispy gau gee ($11.99 for 8 pieces) are now smaller than the overstuffed versions that looked too big for their wrapper Waimalu Chop Suey earned 15% of the poll to place second on our readers’ list of favorite crispy gau gee Kunia Chinese Restaurant’s crispy gau gee ($8.95 for 8 pieces) just might be worth checking out if you love crispy wrappers and a clean readers agree that these golden dumplings are worth the effort Stay tuned for Frolic’s Top 5 crispy gau gee due later this month By Nadine Kam The Waimalu Shopping Center has served as Leeward Oahu’s casual restaurant row for more than 40 years home to anchors Zippy’s and Kapiolani Coffee Shop with many of the dominant island ethnic cuisines represented by small restaurants sandwiched in between A couple of my longtime favorites have been Jin Joo for Korean food and Jackie’s Diner for pastele plates diners have also been able to enjoy Hawaiian Japanese and Chinese selections here as well but at the moment the center seems to have entered experimental mode with its mix of smoothies and Himalayan plates an unassuming name for a place with huge aspirations If the tone of the menu and the appearance of the dishes seem familiar it’s because chefs Desmond Teves and Matthew Espiritu spent time in Roy’s kitchens re-purposed in an are that hasn’t seen much of this retro 1990s-style plating and saucing area residents might have driven to Ko Olina or Honolulu for similar fare but now they can stick a little closer to home a blessing at a time when there’s no end in sight to high gas prices the heart of the restaurant is the warm and eager-to-please Christie Morikawa "I love the people I meet (at her other restaurant) "It’s not that I want to accumulate for myself She and her daughter Kimberley really care what their customers think and in the times I was there had been actively quizzing guests about what they liked what they didn’t like and how they might do better though it’s to the point where if you don’t eat all the food on your plate Sometimes there’s only so many sweet potato fries one can eat Food Service Ambience Value Cost: $25 to $35 for lunch for two; $50 to $60 for dinner for two Ratings compare similar restaurants: – excellent – very good – average – below average RIGHT NOW more people are finding their way to dinner here than lunch Dinner is generally viewed as more of a special-occasion time with people more willing to shell out for $20 entrees Appetizer and salad costs are same as at night Christie’s pepper-crusted ahi salad ($12) could serve two encompassing a huge layer of spinach topped with corn kernels crumbled egg and a generous helping of seared ahi the whole plate rimmed with grape tomato halves A California-style black angus burger ($10) is char-grilled and topped with two strips of bacon and a chunky version of guacamole A couple of the real treats are a dish of balsamic grilled shrimp and pasta ($14.75) with thick tubes of penne enveloped in a mellow tomato sauce strewn with strips of basil and chunky summer vegetables So are the fork-tender lilikoi BBQ char-grilled braised short ribs ($20 Appetizers in the evening weigh in on the heavy side with such selections as lilikoi sauce-coated baby back ribs ($10.95) furikake beer-battered shrimp and chips ($9.50) which I have yet to try and deep-fried pork dumplings ($8.50) that have the heft of crispy gau gee It’s served with a spicy Sriracha aioli and rich unagi kabayaki sauce I ordered Hawaiian purple heart sweet potato and crab croquettes (two for $9) with no great expectations because most crab cakes in this town are not that great I figured it was more sweet potato than crab but was pleasantly surprised by the intense crab flavor Seafood lovers will find more of the pepper-crusted seared ahi at market prices and oven-baked macadamia nut- and dill-crusted salmon ($16.95) the fish of the day was herb-crusted mahimahi but even better than the fish was its accompaniment of mushroom and asparagus risotto Christie’s original kalbi short ribs ($19.95) are straight from her other restaurant Other selections include a bleu cheese-crusted rib eye ($19.95) and popular lemon- and thyme-roasted chicken ($15.25) Herb-grilled filet mignon ($21.95) paled next to the lilikoi short ribs mentioned earlier Rounding out the menu are "guest choice" pastas creamy mac-nut pesto) and toppings (shrimp but for the record you can leave having tried chocolate mousse ($6) cheesecake of the day ($7) or Mama’s homemade banana bread pudding ($6)