Hawaii

I am very lucky that Hawaii has become a regular trip for me.  I went to visit my parents and it felt like I was going home.  It is such a beautiful place and we had the greatest week!  The first night, we went for sushi at Imanas and it was just as wonderful as I remembered!  After dinner, it was over to the Kahala Hotel to see if we could spot Elton John and hoping he'd do a guest performance!  No such luck!

The beautiful leis they gave me when I got off the plane!

The next day was beach in the morning, shopping in the afternoon and then Town for dinner that evening.  If you've been reading, you know all about our celebrity citing at Town!  So fun!  The place is also great and they had some cool pieces, a lantern and bookcase that I loved.

After the citing!

Very cool lantern at Town

A neat idea for a room separator

Thursday was pretty much the same routine, beach in the morning, shopping in the afternoon (there are so many stores that I love out here.......C.S. Wo is a very cool, asian inspired furniture store, Montsuki is a clothing and accessory store owned by the sweetest lady named Patty who makes beautiful clothing, Anne Namba, another Hawaiian designer that makes beautiful clothing, and then a bunch that I know where they are, but not a clue of the names!).  That night, we decided we were going to try something new for dinner.  We had read about Sam Choy's restaurant and decided to give it a go.  The food was delicious!  Mom and I had poke and kalbie marinated butterfish that was amazing!  Dad went with the crab legs, which he loved too.  The atmosphere, well, I'll let you see for yourself........

Bright Lights!!

Your eyes aren't fooling you, that is a giant boat with lights on behind us

Maybe a good happy hour spot?

All smiles after a great meal

Friday was more of the same.  Beach, shopping, Waikiki and a dinner at Run Fire.  Waikiki is so different from Kahala.  It's filled with energy and lots of tourists!  Kahala is a bit removed, quiet and serene.  It's nice to be able to get a taste of both when in Honolulu!  The flower arrangements at the hotels are amazing!  I had to share!

Sitting on rockers at the Moana

Saturday morning, we went to the open market, a honolulu tradition for us, then to the beach and then to the Academy of Arts before we went shopping!  I had never been to the Academy of Arts.  They have all sorts of different exhibits, mostly from various places in the far east. Although the most amazing were the courtyards in between the exhibition rooms.

Mom at the open market....I thought I got all the people in here, but guess not!

The strange and very tasty fruit we bought at the market

Honolulu Academy of Arts

One of the courtyards.  I love the tree and fountains!

That night, it was off to 12th Avenue Grill for dinner.  Another one of my favorites and another wonderful meal with the best company!

Sunday, we went to the beach all day!  I know, can you believe no shopping?!?  That evening, we stayed in, made dinner and watched the Oscars.  A perfect relaxing evening!
The fish we made - my aunt had given us the recipe and I must share it because it's easy and delicious!

Snapper with capers, lemon and fresh thyme served over swiss chard
2 - 6 oz snapper filets (or any white fish)
1/4 c capers
zest of one lemon
2 sprigs of thyme
1 tbls evoo
sea salt
4 c swiss chard

heat over to 425.  place snapper in baking dish with grated lemon zest, capers and thyme.  drizzle with evoo.  season with salt and pepper.  cover with foil and bake 15 minutes (maybe a bit longer if you have a thicker fish)  heat a pan with 1 tbls evoo and chopped garlic, add swiss chard when hot, cover and steam for 2 minutes.  serve fish over the swiss chard and spoon pan juices on top.  I promise, it will not disappoint!!

My favorite island and what I stare at all day on the beach

These two little ones are mom and baby.  The baby was born on this branch, right outside my parents window, so we have the pleasure of watching it grow!  

The view from the condo

The pond outside in between the buildings

Monday morning we ventured to a different part of the island, a little village I would call it, called Ko 'Olina .  Its on the west side of Oahu and is where Disney is building a new hotel.  The lagoons are all man made - they put rocks out to form a barrier.  It was a nice spot, very quite and removed from everything.  We walked around, had lunch and headed home.  That evening, we went to watch the sunset at the Halekulani and then to dinner at Alan Wong's.   A big treat to do both, especially in one night!

Ko'Olina and the man made lagoon

Mom being silly

Sunset at the Halekulani

Another amazing flower arrangement at the Halekulani

My favorite dish called da bag.  It comes out this way and they open it for you at the table!  

Kahlua pig, clams, shitake mushrooms and spinach.  YUM!

Any trip to Alan Wong's would not be complete without the Coconut!  A dark chocolate shell with delicious coconut sorbet inside.  And the presentation!!!!

Tuesday was filled with more of the same wonderful relaxation, followed by a bit of a "bar crawl".  The Moana Surfrider has the best mai tais and I had yet to have one AND I was leaving the following evening, so....first stop, the Moana for a mai tai and a little entertainment.

Mom, looking lovely!

Finally a mai tai!

This guy was hilarious.  He said something along the lines of....I bet you're thinking, hey, what is that security guard doing up there with a guitar?

I tried to get the banyon tree in the back, but it was too dark

Next stop was the Edition, a new hotel at the beginning of Waikiki.  It looks like South Beach inside.  There is a bar upstairs by the pool, which is done with palm trees and white flowing curtains, Morimoto is the restaurant (also has 2 bars - one inside and one out) and then there is  a bar downstairs behind this bookcase.  Totally different for Hawaii and rumor has it, there is a very hip club in here somewhere!  No, we didn't go!  It was a Tuesday after all!

Very trendy!

The bar was behind here

For dinner, it was back to Imanas for some shabu-shabu.  What the heck is shabu-shabu??  It's when you have broth, flavored with the vegetables you put in it and swirl your meat around to cook it.  I guess the meat swirling is the shabu-shabu part!  Oh, and its finished with Udon noodles.  It was weird and fun after a few cocktails!!

I did say we had a few cocktails!  Actually, mom was imitating Katie's little one Paige, who loves beer bottles!

Shabu-Shabu

Wednesday was a little cloudy, so I packed, we went to Chinatown for some manapua for breakfast and flitted around a bit.  We then had an early dinner/late lunch at the Plumeria at the hotel and off to the airport.

The beautiful grounds of the condo

The last supper

It was a wonderful visit!  Again, I am so blessed to be able to think of Hawaii as home and to be able to travel here time and time again!  Spending the time with my parents is something I will always remember - thanks for all the laughs!  Love you!