Monthly Archives: February 2019

February 28, 2019 · 4:29 pm

Dreams, Mentors, & Daily Practice


Since I was young, I would dream or have visions of what I wanted to achieve or experience. I observed people who were at a level I aspired to be. Then I would relentlessly work on my skills & knowledge everyday for hours. Over many years, usually at least 7 years, I would attain my dreams or at least a portion or variation of them. I would like to note that I had many failures too.

When I was about 9 years old, I was determined to become a better soccer player. I admired a skilled & speedy soccer player, Shane Uemoto who played as a wing forward on the Pearl City High School soccer team & had number 12 on his jersey. I loved the exciting way he played the game & how he was well-liked by his teammates. Shane was also a very good student, eventually becoming an accountant as an adult.

I would often practice soccer by myself for many hours in addition to the practices with my team. I would train by myself at parks or in my yard until dark & run up & down the hill of my street or at parks to build up my speed. I played with the ball in the house & watched soccer videos over & over on ball handling & strategy. I ran several miles from my house to Pearl City High School to get a peek at Shane & his teammates practicing. I remember riding a school bus on a field trip & I had a vision of Shane running alongside of the bus. Funny right! 😅 Anyways, after a number of years, I ended playing as a right forward on the Pearl City High School soccer team. I scored a whole bunch of goals & assisted others in scoring goals. I proudly wore the number 7 on my jersey & was so elated to live my dream!!!

As an adult, I continue to work hard daily on my dreams & observe amazing people in public service, business & the arts, areas I have a passion for. I’m just as relentless & obsessive as I was when I was a kid in love with soccer. I may not be wearing number 7 on a soccer jersey but it’s in my soul everyday.

#dreams #vision #goals #mentors #virtualmentors #soccer #sports #publicservice #politics #politician #attorney #business #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #art #writing #fiction #nonfiction #passion #habits #dailyhabits #practice #dailypractice #consistency #determination #tenacity

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February 28, 2019 · 1:29 pm

Clouds, Sunrays, & Blue Skies Over Waikele!


I enjoy the beauty of clouds! Since I’m always walking to places, I often look up at the sky. Here’s one I took a picture of as I walked to Waikele Premium Outlets @waikelepo , heading to Starbucks @waikelestarbucks to work on 2/5/19. I like the contrast of light and shadows off of the white clouds before a backdrop of blue skies! It’s so soothing for our soul.

#clouds #sunrays #blueskies #light #shadows #photography #photo #picture #nature #art #beautiful #peaceful #waikelepremiumoutlets #waikele #oahu #hawaii #hawaiilife #mindfulness #mindful #grateful #gratitude

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February 23, 2019 · 12:47 pm

If you have problems and flaws, you have a story!!!


Dim the light of my laptop.
Darkness moves all over me.
I play a song.
The melodic sound pulls my soul.
I float to a place where only emotions flow.
The feelings of love overwhelms me.
Tingling sensations move throughout me.
I cry.
– Poem, Jon Riki Karamatsu, 2/22/19 –

I wrote this poem in about a minute in the early morning of 2/22/19. Poems are a way for us to write at a higher emotional realm. It’s therapeutic for me. When I was younger, I would go to events & gatherings that often involved alcohol. I would work super hard, nonstop & saw charity events, business mixers, & social gatherings as a break to look forward to, a reward for the hard work I’ve done. Socializing with positive people is good but the alcohol part led me to my DUI incidents, one I called the police on myself, the other I was placed in jail & charged with refusal when I asked questions that only a prosecuting attorney would ask, which I was at the time. There’s other ways to relieve stress, anxiety, & sadness. I spend a great majority of my time with my laptop, my partner. Together, we produce things for myself & others. I catch the bus & only go to events if it’s something I have to do for my business or client, or if it’s for someone I care about. Sometimes I get rides with my mom or my business partner.

To heal my suffering, I have to go within me. By working on creative writing, especially fiction, I can live other lives, experience different places, & fall in love. The words we put on paper evoke our five senses & feelings. Every journey, like our own lives, has its conflicts. Every protagonist has his or her flaws & vulnerability. Without conflicts & character flaws, there is no story. If we did write it, it would be boring. So if you have problems & flaws in your life, you have a story! You’re our protagonist, our hero who we are rooting for!!! Keep going my friends!!!

#poem #poems #creativewriting #poetry #micropoem #poet #quote #quotes #motivationalquotes #motivational #hero #journey #story #storytelling #fiction #nonfiction #experiences #lifeexperience #challenges #conflict #flaws #vulnerability #keepgoing #staypositive #sendinglove #positivemindset

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February 22, 2019 · 1:16 am

I float to a place where only emotions flow.


Dim the light of my laptop.

Darkness moves all over me.

I play a song.

The melodic sound pulls my soul.

I float to a place where only emotions flow.

The feelings of love overwhelms me.

Tingling sensations move throughout me.

I cry.

– Poem, Jon Riki Karamatsu, 2/22/19 –

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February 18, 2019 · 1:39 pm

Sending Love to Those Who Compare, Complain, & Hate.


I ran my 11th Great Aloha Run, an 8.15 mile race from Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium! It felt nice to get out in the sun & run, one of my practices to lower my anxiety, stress, & any low feelings.

I recently lost my aunty, a really sweet & kind person. I’m still in shock & grieving. Her passing has hit me really hard.

Today, I got blasted by a blogger for my efforts on an aviation business project I’ve been working on w/ my business partners since 2015. It really hurts. My business partners & I have been working tirelessly w/ no pay for about 3.5 years. I’ve never been so poor in my life. For those business people who told me they lost or almost lost their home because of their sacrifice to build a service or product, I totally understand. There have been times where I’ve cried by myself, wondering why I put myself through such struggle. Yet my business partners & I keep working despite the pain because we have so much passion in what we do & believe in the potential it will provide for the community. The critics should try putting themselves out there & risk their money & time on business, politics, & the arts. Maybe they would feel empathetic for those who put their heart & soul on a value for others to use or enjoy. I don’t understand how humans can be so cold as to try & damage others & even desire suffering onto others. I invite my critics to spend a week with me as I draft documents, meet w/ community leaders, write fiction & nonfiction, read books & laws, create branding content for a restaurant, volunteer for a nonprofit, meditate, do my gratitude prayers, play with my little nieces & 2nd cousins, go through anxiety on my business projects, & face the deaths of people I love. Maybe then, they will see me. I hope by the end of that week, they can feel that I care for them to find happiness within themselves. Creating & working with others is much more upbeat & positive than always comparing, complaining, & hating. Heck, there is nothing positive w/ comparing, complaining, & hating. I wish these people love & happiness.

#empathy #compassion #business #politics #arts #entrepreneurship #critics #haters #exercise #anxiety #stressrelief #love #happiness

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February 11, 2019 · 5:17 pm

Happy Birthday to My Friend Itoko!


Happy Birthday to my friend Itoko!!! She had the Polar Bear Shave Ice @minorihawaii Minori Craft Japanese Tavern, which she wanted to try for awhile since the restaurant was Tsukada Nojo.

#minoricraftjapanesetavern #birthday #happybirthday #celebration #restaurant #japaneserestaurant #hawaiirestaurant #shaveice #dessert #happy #happyday #friends #friendship #mindful #mindfulness #gratitude #grateful #thankful

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February 11, 2019 · 2:53 pm

Support Tommy Waters for Honolulu City Council’s 2019 Special Election on April 13, 2019


After years of remaining silent, I’ve decided to speak up on compassionate candidates like Tommy Waters @friendsoftommywaters for elected and appointed office. Unfortunately, power attracts some people who resort to anger, tantrums, and vindictiveness in our government, whether they be politicians, judges, or appointed officials. The only way to attain peace in our world is for all of us to attain peace within ourselves, especially with our leaders.

Tommy Waters @friendsoftommywaters cares for us. I know this from my experience with him when we served together in the Hawaii House of Representatives and when he was my opposing counsel in court. Know that even with difficult decisions, he puts all of his heart in. I saw this when he served as House Judiciary Chair, a position I served after him. Tommy is focused on providing value for us, not power. I’m getting a bit teary-eyed writing this because I know the struggles and attacks within politics and law, an area I once had great passion for. We really need good people like Tommy Waters, thus please vote for him on April 13, 2019!

#tommywaters #honolulucitycouncil #citycouncil #politics #politician #law #hawaiikai #waikiki #diamondhead #ainahaina #easthonolulu #honolulu #election #specialelection #love #compassion #empathy #vote

Repost @friendsoftommywaters (@get_repost)
・・・
Good morning!
#LeadershipWithAloha #HonoluluCityCouncil

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February 8, 2019 · 9:21 pm

My Dad & Brother-in-Law’s Birthday Dinner at Vintage Cave Cafe


Celebrated my dad (2/8) and brother-in-law Ross’ (2/7) birthday with my mom and sister Lara at Vintage Cave Cafe at Ala Moana Shopping Center in Honolulu, Hawaii today, February 8, 2019 from 5:30 pm.

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February 7, 2019 · 10:56 am

Win a $100 Gift Card from Frolic Hawaii!


Congratulations Frolic Hawaii for 5 great years in business! They’re featuring Minori Craft Japanese Tavern in their Frolic-Turns-5 daily giveaway of $100 gift cards!

Visit Frolic Hawaii ‘s website linked below, which will lead you to their website, to enter their $100 gift card giveaway. Complete their entry form. Valid entries require first and last name, email and phone number. Giveaway ends TONIGHT, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. They’ll be picking a winner TOMORROW at 9 a.m. Good luck!

https://www.frolichawaii.com/…/frolic-turns-5-daily-giveawa…

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#frolichawaii #giftcard #giveaway #prizes #minoricraftjapanesetavern #minorihawaii #restaurant #japaneserestaurant #japanesefood #honolulu #hawaii

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February 4, 2019 · 5:53 pm

Learn, Hustle, Live With Patience, & Be Grateful!


Since I was little, my mom and dad encouraged me to try different things, learn, & work hard. You never know, anything is possible. You may live your dreams. Some of mine came true, like becoming a politician, practicing law, building businesses, & helping nonprofits with a mission of peace within ourselves & the world.

However, when you take a chance on a dream, a vision, a value you want to share with others, you put yourself at risk of failure, criticism, & even hate. I get most of my anxiety worrying about whether I will fail or if someone will attack me or my organization. Most of these anxieties are about things I can’t control. To lessen this darkness that slows down my progress & deflates my happiness, I practice what I can control: (1) Always keep learning & building new skills; (2) Hustle like I’m a fiercely determined soccer striker with #7 on the back of my jersey, practicing my craft everyday so I can play for that championship title; (3) Have patience in the process, as I understand many big goals take years to achieve; & (4) Be grateful from the moment I wake up until I sleep. I appreciate the chance to be alive, all the good things in my life, the lessons of my failures, the ability to learn new things, Hawaii, travel, & my loved ones.

It’s not always easy. We all have our down days. Yet, tomorrow is always another day to crush it! And yes, with a positive mindset, we can achieve great heights & fill our lives with happiness a vast majority of our time. So attack your dreams! Learn, hustle & live with patience. Most importantly, be grateful for your shot at life & all the wonderful things around you!

With Warmest Aloha,
Jon

#thoughts #practices #learn #hustle #patience #grateful #gratitude #quotes #quote #motivationalquotes #dreams #goals #vision #personallife #career #business #entrepreneurship #books #novels #writing #law #politics #events #peace #innerpeace #worldpeace #hawaii #lovedones #family

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February 3, 2019 · 3:56 pm

3rd & Last Day for Minori Craft Japanese Tavern’s Grand Opening Specials!


The 3rd day of the Grand Opening specials is this evening, Sun. 2/3/19 from 5pm-12am!!! Here, I’m with my friend Itoko Uchikura at Minori Craft Japanese Tavern @minorihawaii for its Grand Opening on the evening of Fri. 2/1/19! 🎉 🎊 🎉

The 1st 50 parties to dine per day on the evening of Fri. 2/1/19 (5pm-2am), Sat. 2/2/19 (5pm-2am), & Sun. 2/3/19 (5pm-12am) will receive a $10 gift certificate for dinner that can be applied that evening! 🎊 Raffle ticket drawing for prizes! 🎉 A DJ will be playing music! 🎶

Reservations can be made at 808-951-4444.

Grand Opening hours for Sun. to Thurs. are 11am-3pm (lunch!) & 5pm-12am. Happy Hours are from 5pm-6pm & 10pm-12am.

Grand Opening hours for Fri. & Sat. are from 11am-3pm (lunch!) & 5pm-2am. Happy Hours are from 5pm-6pm & 10pm-2am.

Call for take-out bento with pick-up time from 11am-3pm. 🥢

10% discount when you bring their 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. 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. 🥢

They serve various dishes such as nabe/hot cooking pot with chicken, pork, beef, & assorted vegetables; BBQ; sashimi; tempura; sushi; curry; other popular Japanese cuisine; & dessert.

They have 2 floors & a bar. Call them to arrange private events.

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.

#hawaiirestaurant #hawaiirestaurants #oahueats #eatinhawaii #localkinegrindz #hawaiifoodie #hawaiifood #hawaiieats #hawaiigrinds #onogrinds #hawaiifoodporn #eatinghawaii #hawaiifoodfinds #eathawaii #bestfoodhawaii #honolulu #hawaii #honolulueats #izakaya #happyhour #business #happyhour #afterwork #events #grandopening #pauhana #newrestaurant #openingevent #businessopening

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