Malia Yoshioka is a freelance Food & Travel Writer and ESL Tutor from Hawaii. She's slowly eating her way around the world, 43 countries and counting so far! Get behind the scenes news, travel tips and the best food stories from around the web in her weekly Savor the Journey newsletter.
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Stillness, Stewardship, and Something to Savor 🍃
Published 6 months ago • 4 min read
😎 Hello from the edge of Sequoia,
Earlier this week we celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which reminded me that I’d mentioned Owamni in last week’s email but never shared the details. The modern Indigenous restaurant in Minneapolis, founded by Chef Sean Sherman, ended up being one of the most memorable meals of my travels.
My Instagram post (also on Facebook) about the experience seems to have struck a chord with people and has more than 32,000 views to date since the chef shared it too! If you’re curious, I highly recommend Sean Sherman’s TED Talk on reclaiming and celebrating Indigenous foodways.
It almost doesn't look real! But this was Tunnel View last Saturday, October 11.
Across the country, the effects of the shutdown have rippled through other communities too. In Washington DC, Jose Andres' restaurants have been serving free meals to affected workers, and on Maui, the Maui Fresh Streatery truck has brought back a pay-it-forward initiative to support local families. It’s a powerful reminder that food continues to connect and sustain us, even in uncertain times.
Let's hope the shutdown ends soon. 🙏
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Helping hands in western Alaska
My friend (and proud Alaskan) Valerie of Valerie & Valise shared a way to help western Alaska communities after the recent Typhoon Halong caused flooding and swept away homes. World Central Kitchen has also been on the ground, delivering food with their partners by ATV.
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The New York Times recently featured “Napa on the Aegean” with Turkiye’s Urla wine region is getting international attention. Also, expert Andrea Lemieux was quoted in the piece and has just released the 2nd edition of her The Essential Guide to Turkish Wine!
Hawaii Food & Wine Festival kicks off with events in the Big Island this weekend. There’s also an online auction with tons of great items, many with no bids yet! Proceeds benefit culinary and agricultural programs throughout Hawaii.
When you travel, what kind of spot are you happiest to discover?
The Meal-a-Day Method shows you how to use one meal a day as your language practice anchor, with a short video and printable guides you can use on your next trip. Just $5 for newsletter readers.
There’s something about ink, paper, and faraway postmarks that feels like analog magic, don't you think? If you’d like a handwritten postcard from Hawaii, just reply with your mailing address and I’ll add you to my list. ✨💌
👋 Hi, I'm Malia Yoshioka!
I'm a freelance food and travel writer and guidebook author from Hawaii, slowly eating my way around the world and sharing the flavors with you in these weekly updates and on ShoyuSugar.com
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Malia Yoshioka is a freelance Food & Travel Writer and ESL Tutor from Hawaii. She's slowly eating her way around the world, 43 countries and counting so far! Get behind the scenes news, travel tips and the best food stories from around the web in her weekly Savor the Journey newsletter.
👋 Aloha friends, Whew, I made my deadline! Now I’m taking a little time to visit friends and family and make my way to as many local spots as possible before it’s time to go back to the rails. Two "firsts" that have been on my Maui list for a while: First Friday in Wailuku and something people might be surprised to hear… my first time trying the "World Famous Pancakes" at Tasty Crust! Tasty Crust is the kind of local diner where generations have gathered. My dad told us about going there...
👋 Aloha friends, If you joined me through the 2026 DIY Trip Summit, another warm welcome. I hope your trip planning is going well! After nearly three months in Japan, I’ve swapped plum blossoms and takoyaki for trade winds and poke back home in Hawaii. I’ll have my head down this week, putting the final touches on a guidebook update. It’s not glamorous work, lots of fact checking phone calls, photos and on-the-ground research, but I'm grateful to be able to show visitors some of my hometown...
🌸 Greetings from Osaka, The first blossoms are beginning to open against blue skies, such a contrast to the snow from only a week ago. This month I’ve been taking a food writing course, and there's one idea I keep returning to when the rest of the world feels too heavy to be writing about something like food or travel. Writing about food is rarely just about the food. It opens into culture, history, language, identity, power. It is a way to stay curious and connected. During Mahina ʻŌlelo...
