6-15-11 Happy Birthday, Eliana at Hapuna Beach, Big Island Hawaii

Hey Young Chefs!

When I woke up on Day 10 of our Hawaiian vacation, it was my birthday! I turned 11 years old in Hawaii! How cool is that?! We spent our last few hours at Hapuna Beach, just a short drive from our hotel in Waikoloa.

6-15-11 Explorer Eliana at Hapuna Beach

My sister, Soleil, and I played in the sand and swam in the clear waters. The sand was white and was sugary fine.

6-15-11 Eliana and Soleil have fun in the sun at Hapuna Beach

We discovered some cool sand art. Check out this shark and sea turtle!

6-15-11 Will Honu be eaten by shark on Hapuna Beach?

Soleil buried me in the sand right when it was time to leave and I was stuck. My mom kept fussing at me to hurry but I couldn’t wriggle free! LOL Thanks, Soleil!

6-15-11 Eliana is stuck in the Hapuna Beach sand

After Hapuna Beach, it was time to leave the island paradise of Hawaii. It was so sad to leave but I had an amazing birthday vacation! Aloha!

Cool Kids Cook and Go to the Beach!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-14-11 French Toast made out of their homemade luau bread

Hey Young Chefs!

The day before we leave to go home, I ate homemade French Toast made out of luau bread from The Coffee Shack. It was really good. At The Coffee Shack, I saw two Madagascar geckos eating guava jelly next to our table. It was so funny!

6-14-11 Two Madagascar geckos eating guava jelly at The Coffee Shack

After we ate, we drove to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach where the water is crystal clear. The wet black sand and dry black sands’ colors are totally different.

6-14-11 Wet black sand and dry black sand

Soleil found a rainbow rock that is so pretty.

6-14-11 A cool rainbow rock

Punalu’u is so pretty and so different from any other beach I’ve been to.

6-14-11 Me at Black Sand Beach

After we changed, we headed to Volcano National Park. We saw the steam vents, that feel like a sauna. It was cold and hot at Volcano National Park.

6-14-11 The hot steam vents

Then, we drove to the crater. The crater was huge. There was hardened black and brown lava everywhere! This is a panorama of the rainbow and the crater. My camera didn’t stitch it well. LOL At least it looks like a double rainbow.

6-14-11 A panorama of a rainbow and the crater

Next, we walked through a rain forest in Volcano National Park.

6-14-11 Eliana and Soleil walk through the rainforest at Volcano National Park

After walking through the rainforest, we finally reach inside the Thurston Lava Tube!

6-14-11 Inside the Thurston Lava Tube at Volcano National Park

When we were finished walking through the lava tube, we left Volcano National Park and drove around the rest of the island, eating dinner in Hilo. Finally, we went back to our hotel. What a day!

Cool Kids Cook and Visit Black Sand Beaches and the Volcano National Park!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-13-11 A sea turtle from the glass bottom boat ride

Hey Young Chefs!

On the second day of the Big Island, we went on a glass bottom boat ride. We saw many honu (sea turtles) like this one above. We saw yellow tang and lots of other fish too!

After the glass bottom boat ride, we went to the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory. They grow and process their own chocolate. This is the inside of a cacao pod.

6-13-11 The inside of a cacao pod

There are many steps to processing cacao. This is one of the steps called tempering. It looks delicious!

6-13-11 The delicious chocolate swirling in a pot

When the tour was over, we bought chocolate and then left to go to Kona Joe’s Coffee Factory.

When we got there, we saw coffee cherries. This is what coffee looks like on a tree.

6-13-11 These are coffee cherries

This is what the medium roast, dark roast, and espresso coffee beans look like after they are dried and roasted. Wow!

6-13-11 Medium, Dark, and Espresso Coffee Beans

When we finished touring, we went to Magic Sands Beach.At the time we went in the late afternoon, the sand was disappearing.

6-13-11 Mommy and I frolic at the Magic Sands Beach

At least it was still pretty. In the morning, where we were standing, it would have had a lot of sand there.

6-13-11 The water is so pretty and the sand is so white at Magic Sands Beach

We had such an adventure that day. It was spectacular!

Cool Kids Cook and Explore!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-12-11 I say I love you to my family on the beach!

Hey Young Chefs!

Before leaving to go to The Big Island, we went to the Waikiki beach. one last time. On the airplane, I take a picture of Diamondhead. How beautiful!

6-12-11 Beautiful Diamondhead from the airplane

When we landed, the ground was all lava rock. As we drove along Ka’ahumanu Highway, we saw all this lava rock graffiti. We pulled over to take pictures. Here is an example of this Hawaiian graffiti.

6-12-11 An example of lava rock graffiti

I found a bunch of coral on the ground… so I made my own lava rock graffiti! It’s so cool!

6-12-11 I made my own lava rock graffiti

When we got to the hotel, we went to the beach and had a sunset dip in Anaeho’omalu Bay. Then, we swam in the infinity pool. It was awesome! The first day on The Big Island was fun!

6-12-11 A night dip in the pretty pool at Waikoloa

Cool Kids Cook and Go to The Big Island of Hawaii!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-11-11 Ms.Kaiulani and I at the KCC Farmer's Market

Hey Young Chefs!

At the KCC Farmers Market I met Chef Kaiulani. She has a whole line of spices that we bought. She even showed us how to make her Curry Fried Rice. Mmmm!

Chef Kaiulani's Curry Fried Rice

For lunch, I ate fresh Bruschetta Pizza. I want some right now.

6-11-11 Me eating Fresh Bruschetta Pizza

After KCC Farmers Market, we go back to The Polynesian Cultural Center to tour the the rest of what we didn’t see. First, we saw the people in Samoa make fire out of sticks and dry coconut husks.

6-11-11 Making fire at the PCC

Then we saw a man climb a coconut tree with his bare feet. That was awesome!!!

6-11-11 A man from Samoa climbs a coconut tree

After Samoa, we went to Aoetearoa to learn how to use poi balls and play a Maori stick game. It was fun playing the stick game.

6-11-11 I am trying to learn poi balls

Then, we saw a wonderful canoe pageant with all of the Polynesian islands taking their turns dancing. My favorite was Tahiti. I loved watching them do their fast hip-shaking dance.

6-11-11 Tahitian dancers at the canoe pageant

When the canoe pageant was over, we went to Tonga to learn how to make an angel fish out of palm frond and reed. In this picture, you can see me holding it in front of my shirt.

6-11-11 I am holding up my angel fish in Tonga

I had a great time at the PCC. Finally, we drove to Sunset Beach. Here I am admiring the gorgeous sunset.

6-11-11 I am admiring the sunset

I had so much fun that day!

Cool Kids Cook and Go to KCC Farmers Market, Polynesian Cultural Center, and Sunset Beach!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-10-11 Soleil, my mom, and I make orchid leis and receive our Hawaiian names

Hey Young Chefs!

On this day, the first thing we did was make orchid leis. The orchids were freshly picked. They were gorgeous. It was pretty easy to make the leis.

Next, we took hula lessons. The hula lessons weren’t as easy as I thought they would be. It was still fun dancing hula.

6-10-11 My mom, Soleil, Nana and I take an hour long hula lesson. What fun!

After lei making and hula lessons, we ate at Puka Dog. There are only two Puka Dogs in the whole world! There is one on Oahu and one on Kauai. They have different tropical relishes to choose from.

6-10-11 We fell in love with Puka Dog, a Hawaiian tropical hot dog. Ono!

The bun has a hole in the middle of it. I had a Lilikoi mustard and Mango relish Puka Dog. (Lilikoi is passion fruit.)

6-10-11 My Puka Dog, Mango Relish and Lilikoi Mustard

For dessert, we had Blue Hawaii Shave Ice. It is Coconut, Coco Cream, Tahitian Vanilla, and Condensed Milk. YUM!!!

6-10-11 A Blue Hawaii Shave Ice from Puka Dog

After Puka Dog, we went to Chinatown. At Chinatown, I ate Filipino halo-halo, Singapore noodles, coconut tart, pork hash, and ginataan bilo-bilo. Ginataan bilo-bilo is a sweet thick dessert soup made of coconut milk with gummy balls made of glutinous rice. It’s really good.

6-10-11 I eat Filipino halo-halo!

When we got back to Nana’s hotel, we watched hula dancing as we ate.

6-10-11 We watch a lovely hula dancer at the Sheraton

I had a very fun day! I love Puka Dog!

Cool Kids Cook and Go to Puka Dog, Chinatown, and Watch Hula!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-9-11 Soleil and I at Hanuama Bay

Hey Young Chefs!

On Thursday, we went to Hanauma Bay, which used to be a volcano crater. But, it eroded and formed Hanauma Bay. Hanauma Bay has so much coral and fish. It is such a great place to snorkel. It is about 10 miles east of Waikiki.

6-9-11 The beautiful clear water and plenty of coral.

Here I am, kissing a fish. ;<3 LOL

6-9-11 Me kissing a fish. LOL

This a is a wonderful picture of a rooster walking on the beach of Hanauma Bay.

6-9-11 A beautiful rooster at Hanuama Bay

After we go back to our hotel to take showers and change, we eat dinner at Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room for my birthday dinner. It is an upscale restaurant in Macy’s. The first food item I ate was bruschetta.

6-9-11 Eliana makes a perfect bruschetta with tomatoes, chevre, macadamia nut pesto, and olive tapenade

Next we ate a watermelon and tomato salad. It was compliments of the chef. Watermelon and tomatoes taste so good together.

6-9-11 A tomato and watermelon salad compliments of Executive Chef Lance Kosaka from Alan Wong's Pineapple Room

I ate off of everyone’s plate. I had so much food that I can’t remember what I ate. LOL

For dessert they brought me an ice cream cake. Also, we each ordered our own dessert. Plus, we had two palate-cleansing sherbets. We had seven desserts all together. NO JOKE!

6-9-11 Happy Birthday Chef Eliana from Alan Wong's Pineapple Room

This is me and Executive Chef Lance Kosaka. He was so nice. We all liked him a lot. He even gave me a birthday present: He gave me sacred sea salt from the island of Kauai. I was so happy! What a special gift. Thank you Chef Lance!

6-9-11 Me with Executive Chef Lance Kosaka from Alan Wong's Pineapple Room

I had an awesome time at Hanauma Bay and Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room!

Cool Kids Cook and Visit5 Hanauma Bay and Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-8-11 An awesome family photo

Hey Young Chefs!

On Wednesday, June 8, 2011, we went to The Polynesian Cultural Center on the Northshore. First, we visited Aotearoa where the Maori people sang, used poi balls, and played a stick game.

6-8-11 Playing a stick game in Aotearoa

After Aotearoa, we went to dinner at the Ali’i luau. We arrived at the PCC late so we didn’t have time do do a lot. At the luau, we watched kids perform with uli ulis (feather-topped gourd shakers) on stage. They were so talented!

6-8-11 Kids performing uli ulis at the luau

At the luau, I ate kalua pork, rice, baked potato, tarro roll, chicken long rice, pineapple, and poi. I liked everything on my plate. I couldn’t believe I liked poi!

6-8-11 My dinner at the luau

After the luau, we saw a show called Ha-Breath of Life. It was full of dancing and singing from different Polynesian cultures. We weren’t allowed to take pictures. Sorry. The show was amazing. Wish you could have seen it.

Cool Kids Cook and Go to Luaus!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-7-11 Me at the market in Chinatown

Hey Young Chefs!

I got back from Hawaii less than a week ago! Hawaii is an AMAZING place to go visit for a vacation!!!

On this day, we went on a food tour with Hawaii Food Tours. We toured different local restaurants. This is spam musubi, marinated tuna, and fresh mango. Spam musubi is spam and sticky rice wrapped in nori, which is seaweed.

6-7-11 Spam Musubi, Marinated Tuna, and Mango

Next, we went to a noodle factory in Chinatown. This is what the noodles look like after they’re folded. It was so cool to see them make the noodles. We also ate rice noodles with chicken and rice noodles with shrimp. It was delicious!

6-7-11 Fresh stack of noodles on a cookie sheet

We tasted so many different foods that day, but my favorite is manapua. In Hawaiian that means flower power. Manapua is sweet bread with a sweet or savory filling inside. I ate a coconut manapua. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.

6-7-11 Me in front of a big batch of manapua

After the food tour was over and we went back to our hotel, we swam at the hotel’s beach! The water was so cold. You get used to it after a while. The water was super clear and very pretty.

6-7-11 My mom and I at our hotel's beach

Then we went to Uncle BobKat’s house for dinner. For dinner, we had homemade pizza.

6-7-11 The fresh homemade pizza that my mom's Uncle BobKat made

This is the best pizza ever!!!

Cool Kids Cook and Go on Food Tours!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana

6-2-11 Kid Chef Eliana performs her song, Cool Kids Cook, at Webster Parish Library in Minden, LA

Hey Young Chefs!

At Webster Parish Library in Minden, Louisiana, I performed my “Cool Kids Cook!” song again in my mom’s show. After I sang my song, I signed cookbooks and took lots of pictures with fans.

Then, we went to Moody’s Place to eat. It is a small restaurant but the food is amazing! The first thing they bring out is hot water cornbread. The cornbread is baked and then fried. Yum!

6-2-11 Hot water cornbread at Moody's Place in Minden, LA

After eating hot water cornbread, I had fried pork chops with creamed potatoes and yams. The yams are my favorite!!!

6-2-11 The fried porkchop plate with creamed potatoes and yams at Moody's Place in Minden, LA

Then it was dessert time! We had Peach Cobbler, Blackberry Cobbler, and Apple Pie. Yummy in my tummy!

6-2-11 Pies and cobblers at Moody's Place in Minden, LA

This is me and Ms. Moody, the owner and chef. She is the one who makes the delicious food! It’s true Southern cooking.

6-2-11 Ms. Moody with Kid Chef Eliana

Cool Kids Cook, Read, and Eat at Moody’s Place!

Bon Appetit, Kid Chef Eliana