Monthly Archives: January 2019

Farewell Mrs. Yoshiko Kitagawa.


This afternoon, January 26, 2019, I attended the funeral of my friend and long-time member of Jodo Mission of Hawaii, Mrs. Yoshiko Kitagawa that was held at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Mrs. Kitagawa was a friend of my late grandparents Maurice (passed away in 1992) and Bessie (passed away in 1996) Karamatsu. As President of Jodo Mission of Hawaii, I represented the organization in placing incense at the front of the service.

Mrs. Kitagawa passed away on December 15, 2018 at the age of 99. She was born in Wailuku, Hawaii. She is the founder of L&L restaurant, which was sold to Eddie Flores. Mrs. Kitagawa is survived by her sons, Hiram, Eric; daughters, Mary Lim, Dianne Douglas (Ashley), Audrey Kitagawa (Dr. Gary Umeda); grandsons, Ian Douglas, Kai Melton-Kitagawa.

For the last 3 decades, I would see Mrs. Kitagawa at Jodo Mission of Hawaii’s services and events. For awhile in the last 8 years, she would playfully ask me when I was going to find a girl and settle down. I enjoyed my chats with her. I will miss her.

#funeral #friend #jodomissionofhawaii #jodomissionofhawaii #jodoshuhawaii #jodoshu #buddhism #honolulu #hawaii #mindfulness #mindful #grateful #gratitude #thankful

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Filed under Buddhism, Friends, Gratitude, Mindfulness

Work Anywhere


Technology has made working anywhere possible! I love my @apple Macbook Pro, my R2D2, an extension of me. It’s been with me since November 16, 2013. My buddy has been with me through the ups and downs, but we’ll keep moving forward everyday.

Here’s a shot of my workplace while I stayed with my sister and her family in the Bay Area, California.

#workanywhere #workhardanywhere #macbook #macbookpro #apple #laptop #computer #work #hustle #grind #b2b #b2c #business #law #entrepreneurship #attorney #entrepreneur #consultant #challenges #struggle #keepmoving #keepgoing #consistency #staymotivated #crushit

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2019 Opening Day of the Hawaii State Legislature


I attended the Opening Day of the 2019 Hawaii State Legislature on Wednesday January 16, 2019. This is a photo I took from the third floor of the Hawaii State Capitol. 🏛

My business partners and I are working to build facilities, infrastructure, and services for private jets at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (“KOA”), which will create jobs and revenue for Hawaii island and the State of Hawaii. Further, our entities are helping the State on improvements they want in their KOA master plan. 🛫

Further, my other business partner and I passed out coupon fliers for our client Minori Craft Japanese Tavern @minorihawaii , a Japanese restaurant located near the Hawaii Convention Center at 1731 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii. 🥢

It was nice to see old friends and colleagues when I served in the Hawaii State House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010. I also got to meet recently elected politicians and new friends. 😊

Even though I’ve been trying to live quietly and alone for about 3.75 years, I still have the passion and love for playing a small role in Hawaii’s future, now entirely through the private and nonprofit sectors. To all my friends I saw hustling to make Hawaii better, thank you! 🤗

#hawaiistatelegislature #hawaiistatecapitol #politics #politicians #representatives #senators #colleagues #friends #oldfriends #newfriends #business #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #aviation #jets #privatejets #fixedbaseoperator #kona #airport #restaurant #japaneserestaurant #honolulu #hawaii #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful #optimistic #lovehawaii

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Filed under Business, Career, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Law, Restaurant

Pain is my Power


Kick my broken bones.

When they heal, I will return.

Pain is my power.

– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem No. 216, 12/31/2018 –

When you get taken down, take that negative energy to power your comeback. Rebuild, have empathy for your opposition, and keep providing value for others. Positivity will always rise.

#opposition #haters #poem #poetry #poems #poet #writing #writer #creativewriting #quote #quotes #story #stories #storytelling #comeback #rebuild #value #helpothers #experiences #mindset #positivemindset #positivity #empathy #compassion #love #peace #innerpeace #forgive #forgiveness #selfdevelop #selfimprovement #selfimprove #personallife #career #business #entrepreneurship #politics #law #goals #vision #happiness

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Filed under Business, Career, Compassion, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Haiku, Happiness, Law, Life, Life Coach, Love, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Motivation, Peace, Poems, Positive Living, Positivity, Quotes, Writing

January 8, 2019 Soft Opening of Minori Craft Japanese Tavern


Minori Craft Japanese Tavern’s Soft Opening is today, Tuesday January, 8, 2019!!! 🎆😊 Soft Opening business hours for 1/8/19 to 1/31/19 are as follows:

Mondays — Closed.

Tuesdays to Sundays from 5pm-12am.

Happy Hours from 5pm-6pm & 10pm-12am. 🥢

Reservations can be made at (808) 951-4444.

Take-out bento reservation – 1 day advance notice. Bento pick-up time is from 11am to 3pm. 🥢

10% discount when you bring the restaurant’s flyer or ad in the Nikkan Sun.

Minori Craft Japanese Tavern is located at 1731 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii, which is on the Westside/Ewa of Kalakaua Ave. & North/Mauka or mountainside of the Hawaii Convention Center & Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, Hawaii. There’s parking in front of the restaurant. Also, 2-hour parking validation is available at Century Center Condominium at 1750 Kalakaua Ave., East/Diamondhead of Minori Craft Japanese Tavern. 🥢

The restaurant serves various dishes such as nabe/hot cooking pot with chicken, pork, beef, and assorted vegetables; yakiniku or BBQ chicken, beef, & pork; sashimi; tempura; sushi; curry; other popular Japanese cuisine; & dessert.

Minori Craft Japanese Tavern has 2 floors & a bar, a great place for dining for lunch & dinner. They will be able to accommodate business & private events as well.

Minori Craft Japanese Tavern restaurant is on Yelp, Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest, & its website is at http://www.minorihawaii.com.
Tsukada Nojo was its former brand.

Mahalo!

#japanesecuisine #japaneserestaurant #hawaiirestaurant #hawaiirestaurants #entrepreneur #hawaiibusiness #hawaiibestkitchens #oahueats #yelphawaii #japanesefood #japanesefoodie #localkinegrindz #hawaiifoodie #hawaiitravel #hawaiifood #hawaiieats #hawaiigrinds #onogrinds #hawaiifoodporn #eatinghawaii #hawaiifoodfinds #eathawaii #bestfoodhawaii #honolulu #visithawaii #hawaiiinstagram #honolulueats #izakaya #happyhour

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Dead Flowers Won’t Grow.


Dead flowers won’t grow.

You act as if they’re alive.

Let them go. Plant seeds.

– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem No. 215, 12/31/2018 –

#haiku #haikus #haikupoem #haikupoems #haikupoetry #poem #poems #poetry #poet #poets #quote #quotes #writing #creativewriting #writer #writers #author #authors  #story #stories #storytelling #artist #art #regret #nonattachment #letitgo #moveon #keepgoing

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My Niece & I on 10/21/2018


My niece and I on 10/21/2018 in the Bay Area, California.

#family #lovedones #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful #memories #experiences

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Filed under Family, Gratitude, Happiness, Love

Live So I Can Live


All that’s left of me.

Words I wrote when I could breathe.

Live so I can live.

– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem No. 214, 12/31/2018 –

#haiku #haikus #haikupoem #haikupoems #haikupoetry #poem #poems #poetry #poet #poets #quote #quotes #writing #creativewriting #writer #writers #author #authors #story #stories #storytelling #artist #art

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Filed under Creative Writing, Haiku, Writing

Dinner with Friends on 12/23/2018 at Minori Craft Japanese Tavern


My friends and I at Minori Craft Japanese Tavern @minorihawaii on December 23, 2018. Three of us are December babies: Brandon, Ellen, and I. If you’re interested in checking the restaurant out, their business hours for 12/25/18 to 1/7/19 are as follows:

Mondays & 1/1/19 New Year’s Day — Closed.

Tues. to Sun. from 5pm-12am (Open on Christmas, Dec. 25, 2018). 🥢

Reservations at (808) 951-4444.

Take-out bento reservation – one day advance notice. Bento pick-up time is from 11am-3pm.

10% discount when you bring their flyer or Nikkan Sun ad.

Soft Opening business hours on 1/8/19 & for the rest of the month of January 2019 are as follows:
Mondays — Closed.
Tuesdays to Sundays 5 pm to 12 am.
Happy Hours from 5 pm to 6 pm & 10 pm to 12 am.

Minori Craft Japanese Tavern is located at 1731 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii, which is on the Westside/Ewa of Kalakaua Ave. & North/Mauka or mountainside of the Hawaii Convention Center & Kapiolani Blvd. There’s parking in front of the restaurant. 2-hour parking validation is available at Century Center Condo. at 1750 Kalakaua Ave., East/Diamondhead of Minori Craft Japanese Tavern.

The restaurant serves dishes such as nabe/hot cooking pot; yakiniku/BBQ; sashimi; tempura; sushi; curry; other popular Japanese cuisine; & dessert.

They’re on Yelp, Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest, & its website is at http://www.minorihawaii.com.
Tsukada Nojo was its former brand. Mahalo!

#japaneserestaurant #hawaiirestaurant #japanesefoodlover #japanesefoodie #foodie #foodies #dining #hawaiieats #hawaiidinner #hawaiidining #hawaiirestaurants #japanesecuisine #cuisine #yelphawaii #grinds #hawaiitravel #travelhawaii #eathawaii #hawaiibestkitchen #honolulu #hawaii #hawaiifoodfinds #pauhana #happyhour #placestoeat #eatout #hawaiisbestkitchens #hawaiistagram #hawaiifoodie #hawaiifood

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Floating Between Time


Years go by. You grow.

I’m fading further away.

Floating between time.

– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem No. 213, 12/31/2018 –

#haiku #haikus #haikupoem #haikupoems #haikupoetry #poem #poems #poetry #poet #poets #quote #quotes #writing #creativewriting #writer #writers #author #authors #story #stories #storytelling #artist #art

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Filed under Creative Writing, Haiku, Poems, Writing

Dirt Over Diamonds


They crush me for them.

They see what they want to see.

Dirt over diamonds.

– Jon Riki Karamatsu, Haiku Poem No. 212, 12/31/2018 –

The harder you work at your dreams, the further you go. The further you go, others will hate on you and crush you. All they see of you is dirt. Ignore them. They can crush the dirt for us. It is where we grind and hustle anyways. Focus on creating value for others, the diamonds underneath the dirt. Only those who appreciate the value you give them, will see and feel the diamonds!

#haiku #haikus #poems #poem #poetry #creativewriting #writing #writer #writers #career #business #attorney #politician #entrepreneur #haters #critics #judgmental #value #helpothers #dirt #diamonds #motivationalquotes #quote #quotes #mindset #nonattachment #positivethinking #positivemindset #positiveactions #positiveliving #love #compassion #empathy

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Filed under Business, Career, Creative Writing, Entertainment, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Goals, Law, Life, Life Coach, Mental Health, Nonattachment, Politics, Positive Living, Quotes, Writing

1st Exercise of 2019


I ran 4.19 miles on the 1st day of 2019! The sun was out, and the air was crisp and cool. I’m wore my 2017 @honolulumarathon shirt, @asics Kayano 23 shoes and socks, @underarmour shorts, and @armpocket case for my @samsungmobile Galaxy S7 Edge. I really enjoy using my @bose soundsport for exercise and everyday use. In 2018, I exercised 214 times. I plan to exercise at least 200 times in 2019 but with more intensity. Have fun with you 2019 exercise goals!

#run #running #runner #runners #jog #jogging #jogger #joggers #exercise #sports #health #mentalhealth #physicalhealth #spiritualhealth #mind #body #soul #honolulumarathon #bose #bosesoundsport #asics #asicskayano #underarmour #samsung #samsungmobile #galaxys7edge #goals #vision #hustle #tenacity

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Filed under Consistency, Exercise, Goals, Health, Life Coach, Mental Health, Motivation, Positive Living

Ozoni for 2019


Happy New Year! My dad made our family ozoni soup, a Japanese mochi soup for good luck!

#happynewyear #newyear #newyearsday #newyear2019 #2019 #ozoni #soup #goodlucksoup #goodluck #goodfortune #goodhealth #happiness

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