We’ve all seen it happen. The steamer basket of xiao long bao arrives at the table. Your one friend with no patience reaches in, scoops up a dumpling and eagerly plops the entire thing into his mouth. Scalding hot soup squirts from the dumpling, injuring your friend and anyone sitting within dumpling-squirt radius at the table.

The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa is seen from the edge of the fish pond at Anaehoomalu Bay.

Even though she was moving into a rental apartment, Alexa d’Argence was eager to put her personal stamp on it.

A superb end to the day in Kailua Village.

We are traveling in Europe and seeing the effects of climate change. Record heat, fires and to the other extreme of floods make us mindful of our little bit of Paradise, Hawaii.

Bookcases, especially those that are built-in, are often viewed as a decorating challenge. From functional uses to display purposes, if dressed and styled properly, bookcases can serve as a highlight or focal point in a space. Looking for bookcase design inspiration? Here are some top tips.

I’m a sucker for eggplant in any form, but really adore it in Chinese food, especially when it’s tossed in a spicy garlic sauce accentuated with the gentle heat of chili. So the second I saw the cover of Hannah Che’s stellar new cookbook, “The Vegan Chinese Kitchen,” man, did I squeal in delight.

A cup of tea just got a bit more relaxing.

An anole lizard clings to a gardenia bush.

A few years ago, I encouraged readers of this column with small yards to plant the dwarf poinciana. Today, a large gloriously blooming royal poinciana just off my Kona lanai begs for my attention, needing to be noticed and described. The tree is a perfect addition to this spacious property. When maintained with a well-pruned base and a large spreading canopy, a royal poinciana offers wonderful beauty and shade to a tropical landscape.

Honeybees collect pollen from a night-blooming cereus plant during the early morning hours

Captain Jack – a carving on Waterfront Row in Kailua -Kona – receives a fresh coat of paint.

Smash burgers are all the rage. They’re ground beef rolled into balls, and smashed with a burger press into thin patties. This creates a large surface for extra browning and flavor. The thin patties cook in 3 to 4 minutes. For this recipe, you don’t need a special press. You can place the burgers between two sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and flatten them with bottom of a frying pan or pot. They’re a perfect dinner to celebrate Labor Day weekend or for anytime you want a burger.