Aloha Friday!

Aloha Friday!

Just a quick post before I go hike Diamond Head this morning.

I woke up at 5:50am.  Threw on some clothes and walked over to the Ala Wai canal so I could see the sunrise.


It was *so* bright! and beautiful. Lots of joggers were out along the canal.

Yesterday I went to the Food Pantry supermarket to get more tissues and fruit and nuts.

Yes! It's the Mac Nut aisle!! and they weren't lying, either. TONS of mac nuts in all different ways, including Spam flavor:

They take Spam very seriously here. In fact, Apr 27 was Spam Jam in Waikiki, while PR shopping day was going on.
My neighbor on the balcony next door pointed out this rainbow to me yesterday:

Here's a cat I saw on the way back from the canal this morning; something is wrong with its right paw but it seemed to get along ok.  Last trip I saw a lot of one eyed cats...

Here's the bracelet I bought at the craft fair on May 1; it's Oahu, in sterling silver!

Happy Aloha Friday!!!  It even says so in the newspaper!

Make it a good one!

Aloha Thursday

Gosh, is it really Thursday already?

Speaking of firsts in Hawaii, I have my first head cold while in Hawaii.  So this morning I am lounging around and resting. But I'm not complaining, I'm in paradise!!

Yesterday I hiked the  Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail (first time).  The sign said it was 1.5 miles round trip, but it felt a lot longer than .75 going up.


Apparently they used to let peeps go right up to the lighthouse, not anymore.

Here's some fun vegetation sprouting out of rock. This kind of thing always amazes me.

Then I headed over to Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha (first time), ranked #1 on Trip Adviser for Honolulu restaurants. It serves shave ice and ice cream with a huge side of aloha, my kind of place.  

I might need to go back. It was really good.

Half milk chocolate and half pineapple, why not?

Then I went to the big "May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii" celebration (there is even a song! which is stuck in my head!) at Queen Kapiolani park (first time). Lots of crafts and hula and leis on everyone (including dogs). Quite fun. Was glad I pushed myself to go when all I wanted to do was go back to the room and nap.

The real lei I bought was $5 and made of plumeria.  It smells great!  and matched my shirt.  I took this photo as the sun was starting to sink into the ocean.  I'm wearing my favorite honu (turtle) necklace that I bought on my last trip in 2008, from a craft fair in Queen Kapiolani park.  I love craft fairs there.  Next post I will show you the bracelet I bought yesterday.

Aloha!!

Aloha from Waikiki Beach

Aloha from Waikiki!
After PR weekend (which was a blast, I will write about it sometime), I flew here, because SF is half way to Hawaii for me, so why not???
Next to my own home, Hawaii is my favorite place on earth.  This is my sixth visit to the islands, so below I will point out some things I did for the first time ever.

Last night's sunset at Waikiki Beach:

My glasses are falling apart, but this is a great sunset. The brightest I think I've ever seen!

Portuguese donut (malasada) as recommended by Sunny Gal (my first one):

They make them to order, so I ate mine hot in the car on a Waikiki side street after getting out of their scary, minuscule parking lot.
The chocolate filled one was the best, but the custard filled was a close second.

I went to Lyon Arboretum (first time). This was the weirdest looking but cool looking piece of vegetation (first time)!

I hiked Manoa Falls (first time):

I was a little afraid of falling on the muddy path after reading the trip advisor reviews, but I was slow and careful and only slid a few times, never fell.
So, if it doesn't rain a lot, then there isn't much water to fall at the waterfall, and I swear in real life it looked like more water than this!!


Oh and here's Waikiki at night:

And the view from my hotel room:

More to come...aloha!!!