Healthy start

Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona will appear at Friday's opening of Hawaii's first Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats outlet, in the Market City Shopping Center.

Aiona will speak on community involvement in the war against drugs and announce the winners of an essay contest on drug prevention.

Robeks -- a chain with 65 stores nationwide -- sponsored the essay contest for high school students, offering a prize of a free smoothie a week for the school year.

Opening-day celebrations will run from 12:30 to 4 p.m. and will include samples of smoothies and other Robeks items, as well as live music. Dave Lancaster of Booga Booga and radio station 95.5 will emcee.

Robeks sells smoothies, frozen yogurt and shakes, fruit and vegetable juices, soups, sandwiches salads, high-protein baked goods and a line of nutritional supplements.

The owners of the Hawaii franchise, Lei Kaniaupio and her husband, Dmitri Spadaccini, hope to open several Oahu outlets.

More smoothie news

Jamba Juice has expanded its line of Enlightened Smoothies, lower in calories and carbohydrates. The Blueberry Balance and Tropical Awakening flavors were introduced on New Year's Day.

Enlightened Smoothies, sold since March, use a low-calorie dairy base made with nonfat milk, whey protein and the noncalorie sweetener Splenda in place of sherbet, sorbet or yogurt.

The average 16-ounce smoothie has 160 calories and 28 grams of sugar, from fruit only, compared with the average 498 calories and 98 grams of sugar in an average 24-ounce Jamba Juice smoothie.

News and notes

Vino: The Maui restaurant has changed its name to Vino Italian Tapas & Wine Bar and revamped its menu along the lines of the "small plates" served at Vino in Honolulu. Also, artists Clark Takashima and Gary Godina replicated the Tuscan village look of Vino in Restaurant Row in Kapalua, too. Call 808-661-8466.

Compadres Bar & Grill: The Ward Centre restaurant celebrates its 21st anniversary in January with half-price enchiladas at lunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and pau hana parties on Fridays with complimentary pupus and reduced drink prices form 4 to 7 p.m. Call 591-8307.

---