Letter from the Editor

Metro-Christina-MugWhen I moved back to Hawaii after spending a few years on the Mainland, the main questions I seemed to get revolved around the idea of “island fever.” “Don’t you ever get sick of living on an island?” people would ask me.

Other than the fact that each fall I lament no longer being able to experience the leaves changing colors, the short answer is no. It’s not something I ever experienced growing up — and it’s certainly not something I feel now. I think most people would agree that within the past few years, there’s been a lot going on here in Hawaii — and perhaps in Honolulu specifically. When I returned home, it was to vibrant creative enclaves and a bustling nightlife — especially in the Chinatown and Kakaako areas.

In this issue, we go right to the center of some of that creative energy at Lana Lane Studios on Page 12, and take a peek at some of the latest art exhibits around town on Page 8. Music columnist Roger Bong divulges the secret behind Secret Record Store on Page 19. And we visit one of the newest culinary gems at L’Aperitif on Page 16.

Another thing to come up in Honolulu in recent years is a growing tech/entrepreneurial community. If you’re among aspiring entrepreneurs, Founder Institute co-director Russel Cheng has some advice to share with you on Page 14.

If your own calendar is somehow looking sparse, check out our events calendar on Page 6.

Luckily, with all of these things that we have going on here, Christa Wittmier has the lowdown on an app that will help us organize all of it on Page 9.