When you’re in the mood for a sweet bite, Hokulani Bake Shop at Restaurant Row may well satiate your appetite. The cupcake of the month is Kahlua Coffee with Vanilla Bean Buttercream.

There are real vanilla beans mixed into the frosting, according to owners Tushar and Ana Dubey. “It’s a true vanilla bean butter cream” said Tushar.

There are several cupcakes to choose from, besides the cupcake of the month, including the popular Southern Red Velvets, Guitttard Chocolate Organic Peanut Butter, or Guittard Chocolate Cream Cheese, Carrot Spice and Port Wine-Black Cherry.

The most popular? Red velvets, hands down.

There are also hand-decorated cookies of popular Hawaii items, like a humuhumunukunukuapuaa, slippers and Aloha shirts.

For this holiday season, Hokulani is gearing up for another ginger-spiced cupcake. A cupcake mobile for catering at parties is also in the works.

The cupcakes, which range in price between $2.25 and $3.25 apiece, are all made from scratch, with no hydrogenated oil, according to Tushar — just butter.

Tushar and Ana recently had a baby son, Akash, who can sometimes be seen at the shop. “We have a little cupcake of our own,” said Tushar.

Special orders are also available.

Hokulani Bake Shop

Restaurant Row
500 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 4-B
808-587-7098

Here are a few more photos I shot during a couple of meals at Yuzen, featuring the beautiful work of Edgar San Juan, who trained in the art of Kaiseki in Kamakura, Japan. My review appeared yesterday. This is for those who prefer visuals over words.

Yuzen is at 1518 Makaloa St., across from Walgreen’s off Keeaumoku Avenue. Call 943-0131.

Moi sashimi

Second round of moi, with the tail and head deep fried and presented anew.

A few examples of sushi off the Yuzen nigiri platter, $30.

Shrimp and vegetable tempura with sashimi, $24.

Yuzen Harumaki basket, an $8 salad of greens and sashimi.

Chef's chirashi, $30.

Dessert of cream anmitsu, $4.