Kai Market

If you wish to splurge on a high-end buffet in Waikiki, Kai Market in the Sheraton is just the place.

Wonderful dishes, including this steamed fresh Onaga. Demand for this delicacy was high, but the chefs quickly put out new offerings just before running out. Nice to see a classy place that would not compromise the moist freshness of seafood.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

Soft Waikiki Sand

As we walked along a Waikiki beach, the soft sand beneath our feet reminded us again, we were home.

Waves gently washed the sands with endless ocean water.

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Rainbow Tower

The tile rainbow on the side of the tower is the largest in the world. On the other side is another like rainbow.

We took a leisurely walk on the beach--from where I took this picture.

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Hilton in Honolulu

We moved our digs to the Hilton on Thursday. It's nice to be back "home."

This lobby is near the front desk. Usually there's a large round table filled with flowers displayed with lots of flair. We miss that, but the area now has an open feeling.

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Our Last Evening at Ko 'Olina

Couldn't resist the sunset again. This time through the cocoanut trees, over the lagoon.

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Surprise at Tanioka's

Lest I forget, my older son spied these wonderful morsels. No, they did not have any ingredients from the sea. Just chocolate chips, Arare (rice crackers), flour and butter. A real find. Make sure you pick up a bag when you're there.

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Tanioka's Seafood

Found another good Japanese seafood/rice plate/poke local lunch place one the Ewa side of Oahu.

A bewildering number of dishes whetted our appetites. We now have a good alternative to Poke Stop (See a few posts back.). Both are on Farrington Highway, which is one of Ewa end's commercial thoroughfare.

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Ihilani Hotel

We visited the Ihilani Hotel, one of the resorts in the Ko 'Olina complex.

These ponds featured ocean water tropical fish. One of the species was baby hammerhead sharks. Not quite 30 inches, these sharks leisurely patrolled the ponds. Most other fish gave them wide berth. Tiki torches reflected on the surface ripples like magic fires.

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Right Outside on our Condo's Front Lawn

Not a bad view, is it? Actually, this is from the left side of the Condo's Lagoon 4. I

t was really this nice. Weather was 85 high (with ocean breezes) and 74 low--all week, honest....

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Our Condo

Our condo is the Hale Naia (dolphin) tower at Ko 'Olina. You'll see some sites from the outside in the next couple of posts.

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Did I Say We've Been Eating Well?

Oh yes! Here we sat in the condo, devouring manapua from Chun Wah Kam in Kapolei.

The first dish held five types of bau. Charsiu (baked), duck, spicy thai pork & two others. Each bau had coded colors placed there with the end of a chopstick dipped in various food colorings.

The second dish featured desert. Hawaii 9-layer rice cake, with eight white layers topped with a special brown sugar delight. And the gin dui, big as a man's fist. 




Yummmmmm.

A Simple Hedge

While I walked to a store in Mililani Town near Waipahu, I notice sunset clouds on the mountains. Out of the corner of my eye I spied some vibrant hibiscus bushes. Their yellows screamed fri a picture to be taken. So I obliged.

A simple scene, otherwise not noticed. A slice of life reminding us that what you find along your journey many times rewards more than what lies at the end.

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The Malolo

At the entrance lobby sits a replica outrigger canoe. Carved from a single trunk, The Malolo (Flying Fish) reminds us of the wayfaring nature of the Polynesians.

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Painting at Ko 'Olina

At various alcoves you can be surprised at the peaceful art adorning the walls. Here is a typical Hawaiian beach scene with some real anthuriums surrounding a protea.

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Traditional Hawaiian Cuisine

Not often can you experience a local restaurant that was part of your youth. My parents took me to Helena's when I was very young.This past Friday was one lunch that I'll always remember. I revisited that past at this wonderful institution.

What you see above is fried butterfish (sable) collar in the foreground and pipikala ribs in the background. The waitress served us like kings, and the kitchen staff was most accommodating to me when I wanted to photograph the pipikala hanging above the stove. The cook swiped the delicious morsels from the rack and quickly transform them into devourable pieces.

Wish I could return there every day.

Stopping for Dinner

Our first dinner was here at this specialty take-out. Great food. Mostly poke sides with Ahi & Moi mains. See the next picture to see what I mean.

Mm mm mm mm mmmmmm.

Lagoon 4 This Morning

Just a wonderful view, now that morning has risen.

Picture from Wei' iPhone.

Lagoon 4

Here's looking out on Lagoon 4, straight westward. This pucture was taken yesterday in the late evening The vast Pacific stretches my mind across the horizon. Not bad, eh?

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Ko 'Olina

For those of you unfamiliar with Ko 'Olina, this resort is on the west (Ewa) side of Oahu. There are four lagoons in the resort, and we're in Lagoon 4.

Picture sent from Wei's iPhone.

I'm Back again

I've been away from posting for some time now. Been on a travel bent to China, Hawaii, Washington, Reno, Eastern Sierras and now back in Hawaii. I started a blog about my China trip, but I confused some who thought I was now there.

Nope. I'm in Hawaii. So I'll restart the blog with where I am now. Which is not a bad place to be.