HAWAII 2015 - TRIP TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This blog post was supposed to come out on Tuesday but as I was editing the post, I back spaced to make a correction and whoosh, it all went away even though I had saved, it was gone.  I had to lick my wounds a bit to start over.

OAHU

Last year I did a post on some trip tips on a visit to Oahu.  We went again this year and my tips are all still go.  Here is the link to that post: Link. 

Uncle Bo's in Honolulu is still great and the taro root beignets are still memorable, they are served with a lemon dipping sauce and vanilla ice cream.  We shared an order and ignored the ice cream as it seem superfluous with the beignets. They have a new sign out front but it is still the same - not looking so good out front but the food is still great.  Just order pupu's (appetizers) and dessert - best thing to do at Uncle Bo's.

The Aloha Stadium is still great and their hours are the same this year.

Tip: We did find a great place for lunch. The Kahala Resort at 5000 Kahala Avenue, Honolulu.  It is down near Diamond-head and a really great place for an outdoor lunch by the ocean.

Just use the valet parking and let them know you are headed to the Seaside Grill - great place to watch the ocean and have a nice lunch.

It is a bit of a walk from the parking back to the Seaside Grill but you get to go across a bridge over the huge koi pond.  I have never seen mantas in a pond before.  Note the wire guard fence at the bottom of the photo - kept these guys from going to the other side where there were two big turtles (as well as lots of fish) - maybe they don't play well together.

                       

Last year we flew on another airline (won't say the name but is AA enough of a hint) and we were underwhelmed to say the least.  We had flown Hawaiian before on inter-island flights but never from the mainland.  We paid extra for Extra Comfort Seating and boy was that money well spent.  Here are just a few things that were included:

• Five or more inches of extra legroom
• Priority security line*
• Priority boarding
• Personal electrical power outlet
• Complimentary “Unlimited TV & More” entertainment pack**
• Pillow and blanket for use during the flight

Extra Comfort seats are available on all North America and international routes operated with our A330 aircraft.

We enjoyed breakfast on our way over and dinner on our way back plus drinks and snacks. Wine was complimentary with dinner.  Not first class but way close and the entire cabin crew was so wonderful - we kept that aloha feeling all the way home.

I would be remiss if I did not mention this little card that was on our dinner trays. Now when was the last time an airline gave you a free Shutterfly photo book so you could create a book to remember your trip?  I'm thinking never - me too.

KAUAI

 After a short inter-island flight (on Hawaiian of course) we landed in Lihu'e, Kauai's airport.  Kauai is our favorite island but we had not been there for many, many years and we knew it had changed a lot - both Walmart and Costco are  in Lihu'e - sort of a good news-bad news thing.  I have to give big thanks to my dear friend Kathleen Johnson as well as my dear son and DIL, Rich and Lindy Dewhirst.  The Johnson's spend time on Kauai each year and the Dewhirst's go almost every year so they were both fountains of information about where to go on the island and did not steer us wrong.

Kauai is not a big island and the road does not go all around the island because of the rugged terrain so you can easily go from one end to the other and take in all the sights.  This photo is of the front desk area at the Pono Kai Resort at Kapaa and is very centrally located - condo's - we were happy campers. If you go try and stay in a condo as you can really cut down on expenses - we had a budget and did not go over the budget.

View from our BR window - note the community BBQ, very nice and what a view for the person manning the Q!

There are feral chickens on the islands but especially on Kauai.  We are told that the huge population explosion on Kauai since our last visit is because during hurricanes their cages have broken open and freed them and they have no predators - no snakes in Hawaii (thank heavens) and other islands have a mongoose population (they will eat the eggs) but not on Kauai.  They are not good to eat so don't worry you won't find them on the menu but you will find signs that say "Don't feed the chickens."

Told you they were everywhere.....I came home with a Crazy Shirt tee shirt with a Kauai rooster and "Kauai Pride" on the front.  If you can't get rid of them - make them your symbol!

We did not have to be told to go here.  The first time we went to Kauai we stopped at the TT truck that was beside a canal and had a wonderful lunch. Huge tacos that were served in a paper plate that had been made into a cone and stapled - very clever. Gone is the truck and in it's place a nice restaurant, no more paper plates but still great tacos. Tip: Great place for a breakfast burro or a lunch - located at 5-5088 Kuhio Hwy, Kilauea, HI 96754.

   

This view has not changed - the road to Poipu, so beautiful.

Keoki's Paradise located at 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr, Koloa, HI 96756 -Phone:(808) 742-7534 Tip: great place for either lunch or dinner. If going for dinner call for reservations.

The outside of this restaurant belies what is waiting for you inside. Below are just a couple of shots I took at lunch on the patio.

  It really is a beautiful and relaxing place.

     

 Tip: Keoki's has a sunset menu 5:30 to 6:30 and for $26 per person you get a three course meal and the entree is a full entree. It is served in the dining room - be sure and call for reservations.

  

 Tip: Short side trip to Wailua Falls is well worth the drive, just north of Lihu'e, just watch for signs.

The day we were at the falls this hibiscus bloom flew onto our car and I just had to pick it up and take a photo and wear in my hair.

Is this not the best view ever? Tip: Be sure and have dinner ere - Duke's In Kauai (they also own Keoki's and other restaurants, so far all we have been to have been great). They are located at 3610 Rice St, Lihue, HI 96766, Phone:808-246-9599. Call for reservations or do as Hubby does and use Open Table - be sure and use the valet parking.

        
We were there for Hubby's birthday so we noted it was a birthday on the reservation and so he was given gratis their famous Hula Pie!  Good stuff.

Tip: Great place to shop for gifts. The Aloha Spice Company is located at 3857 Hanapepe Rd, Hanapepe, HI 96716 and is a must stop when you on on the Hanapepe side of the island. I did not do much shopping (except for gifts to take home for friends and family) but what I did purchase was here.  A really nice store and a great place to buy rubs, spices and the famous Hawaiian pink salt.

If you look at the lower left you can see the Spice Company, this beautiful banyan tree is just out front of their shop.

Waimea Canyon - Grand Canyon of the Pacific is also another great place to visit when on the Hanapepe side of the island. Well worth the walk up to the viewing area.

When we visit Hawaii we always find a way to see a great show that features the beautiful dances of Polynesia. Last year we went to the Cultural Center on Oahu and this year we went to Smith's. Tip: Great food and great show at a good price.  First you ride around their unbelievably beautiful property in a tram and then it's time for open bar for a Mai Tai or soft drinks, then a lovely Kalua pig dinner with all the trimmings including poi (my advise is taste it once), then a lovely show.  The surroundings by the Wailua River could not be more beautiful. The Smith Family have been doing this for years and they were all so gracious - you did not get the feeling that it was just another night to them.

Last meal at Duke's downstairs in the Barefoot Bar, more casual, less expensive but still great. Tip: Great place for lunch.

Sunset photo taken from the window on the plane on the way home. Aloha Hawaii, till next time.

Thank you for stopping by.