Hawaii Day 4 (Honolulu, HI): Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, Leonards and an upscale Zippy's

Today was a very long day. We had to pack and transfer hotels to meet up with the rest of my mom's hula sisters before we head out to a botanical garden. The group decided to grab lunch before they headed out which pushed our schedule up half an hour. We were able to get a ride so that saved a lot of walking time. We cut it close. We ended up getting food at Masa & Joyce Okazuya for lunch on the way out. I got a katsu bento and spicy tuna inari. That was the most chaotic part of the trip so far.

After all of our errands we arrived at Hoʻomaluhia botanical garden. The garden was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to control floods and protect Kaneohe. This rainforest garden has plantings from all over the world and is organized by region. We hiked to the lake on the property and a couple of the trails. We ate lunch at a picnic spot in the garden. 

Before rehearsal we hung out at the beach as a group and the haumana made lei. They didn't have time to finish because of rehearsal.

On the way back to the hotel we made an impromptu stop at Leonards, my favorite dessert shop. I got a regular malasada and tried a guava malasada for the first time. The guava malasada was really good but not my favorite, the haupia one is still my favorite.

Rehearsal was at a high school today. I attended so I could join them for dinner at Zippy's.

The Zippy's we went to was the fanciest Zippy's I've ever been to! All of the Zippy's I've been to have been walk up, fast food type places. This one was a sit down restaurant. It wasn't fine dining but still nicer than I'd expect it to be. It was like a Denny's, Ihop or Mel's Diner. The menu was the same as every other Zippy's.

Now that we're back at the hotel, I'm going to unpack a little and head to bed.

Tomorrow is a workshop day.

Hawaii Day 3 (Honolulu, HI): Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, Waimea Falls and the Forty Niner Restaurant

Today was an exhausting day. We walked way to much and I think I've been eating way to much, 

We woke up early today to head to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Not much has changed since the last time we were there. It was a weekday so only the core group of vendors were there. This year we walked the full market. Normally we do that in two separate days. Since everyone in my mom's halau arrived at different times and they didn't rent a van this year it kinda served as the meeting place. 

After the swap meet we went to the forty niner restaurant. The forty niner restaurant is a mom and pop Hawaiian restaurant. Their menu is very similar to places like Zippy's and Rainbow.

Our next stop was the Waimea Waterfall. The trail leading up to the falls isn't a hard one but there's so much to do that you can spend hours getting there. There was also a snack shack.

On the way back we stopped at Matsumoto Shave Ice and it seems to be a favorite dessert spot of the group. The shaved ice is ground down to a really fine powder. It was good

Today was exhausting so I'm going to stop things here for now. Maybe I'll elaborate on some of these things in tomorrow's blog. 

Hawaii Day 2 (Honolulu, HI): Bishop Museum, Zippy's and The Ala Moana Mall

 Today we went to Bishop Museum

My mom's hula sister was nice enough to give us a ride out to the museum today she took us around the area she lived in and showed us where she lived before she left for California. 

Bishop's Museum is absolutely huge and there was soo much to look at! There were 3 buildings, and each was filled with artifacts and trinkets. I think I mentioned that Hawaiian's perceive clutter as wealth during my last trip here. Well, there was definitely a lot of "clutter" but it was interesting, historically significant clutter. There was a lot of art, sculptures, weapons, clothes, musical instruments, historical documents and even a whale skeleton. Each floor and room of this building had a different theme. The most significant items in this museum was a feather cloak worn by Captain Cook, a stone statue of a god that could not be moved, a canoe and that whale skeleton

The second building on the property was closed for renovation so we moved onto the third

The last building on the property was a contemporary "hands on" museum. It taught a lot about Hawaii's wildlife and volcanos. 

We could've easily spent the whole day there

On our way back we went to Zippy's and met up with some of my mom's hula sisters at the Ala Moana mall

Tomorrow we go to the Aloha Stadium swap meet and hike to a waterfall.

Hawaii Day 1 (Honolulu, HI): Aloha!

Today we headed back to Hawaii!

It was a pretty smooth travel day. Not a lot of hiccups or complications at all. Sometimes we arrive at the airport super early and lounge around the airport but this time we timed it just right.

This plane ride seemed a lot longer than normal but our itinerary said it was about a 5 hour flight... just like it always is. We also gained a few hours on the way out here so it felt like we had a whole day left. The first hotel that we're staying at is at the edge of everything that happens in Waikiki so a lot of our time was spent walking so there won't be much to report other than walking. It's warm and rainy here right now and I don't mind it at all.

After we unpacked at a leisurely pace we headed out to some of the mini markets that are placed in the alley ways around here and did some shopping. Not much has changed around here since we were here last. Somehow we ended up at the other end of town and the high end shops.

We went to one of our favorite spots out here for dinner, Marugame Udon. It looks like they added a few new things to the menu but I got the same thing that I always do. 

We have a few things planned but I'm not quite sure what we're actually going to do. I guess we'll find out at the same time.

We have an early day tomorrow so I'm probably going to head to bed early. 

Hawaii Day 7 (Honolulu, HI): The Last Day

Today was our last full day in Hawaii. We went out to Pearl Harbor, the Ala Moana Mall, Sam’s Club and Don Quijote.

We got there pretty early and were able to get on a ferry to the USS Arizona Memorial pretty quickly from the standby line. We didn’t have reservations or pay for a tour and we only waited about 30 mins. There was a cost to check our bags but that was it. You’re not allowed to take anything bigger than a wallet and water. They made sure to specify clear water. The memorial is a very controlled environment and you’re given clear concise instructions throughout your time there. It’s pretty quick and they get you in and out. After we went through the exhibits, the gift shop and watched the introduction video that looked like it was meant to be an intro to the memorial. We did things backwards.

After we spent a little bit time at the Ala Moana Mall. Then we went to the Sam’s Club down the street. My mom likes the snacks at the Sam’s Club here. They sell a lot of the same stuff that the convenient stores sell around here at a cheaper price. A lot of it is unique to Hawaii. 

On the way back we stopped at Don Quijote and grabbed a few pre made things for dinner. This time around I noticed some halloween decorations were setup. I’m not sure if they set them up over night or I didn’t notice them last time. 

Tomorrow we have a cab scheduled to take us to the airport. We're also going to try to get some snacks at an ABC Store for the plane, Marugame Udon one last time and haupia pie's at McDonald's before we leave. It's a bit ambitious but I think we can do it.

This trip I got to spend a lot of time with my mom’s halau and her hula sisters. I learned a little more about Hawaiian culture and was able to do some of the less touristy things. It was such a fun experience. Hopefully, we can come back next year. 

Until next time Hawaii, 
Aloha ‘oe. 

Hawaii Day 6 (Honolulu, HI): Shopping at Ala Moana, Marugame, and A Trip To The Water

We didn’t do much today. My mom went to the muumuu factory with her hula sister and my sister and I hung out in the room for a little bit before heading out to the Ala Moana mall and meeting with my mom. We hit a lot of stores that we did come across last time. As much time as I spent there last time, there’s a lot of stuff that didn’t notice last time we were here.

After the mall we headed to lunch at Marugame then we went to the International Marketplace to hit the asian market and a couple of other stores. 

My mom and her hula sister had some lei’s that they had to release back to the ocean so we decided to take a quick trip to the beach. My mom’s hula sister got her lei’s and met us back at our hotel. In the Hawaiian culture, flowers and other vegetation have to be returned to the land that they came from as a sign of respect. A quick google search also tells me that people release their lei’s into the ocean to guarantee a trip back to the islands but I think it has more to do with respect for the land. After, we spent some time at the street market that was happening at our hotel. We went last year and it was mostly the same stuff. 

We headed out to some of the smaller shops on the beach side of the street and spent some time out there before we went back to our hotel for the night.

I can’t believe this trip is almost over. Tomorrow is our last full day.

Hawaii Day 5 (Honolulu, HI): Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, Marugame Udon and A Little More Shopping

Today was kind of a transitional day for us, we moved to another hotel, went back to the Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium and did some shopping

There was only a few more vendors than the last time they went and most of them sold second hand garage sale items. Nothing too interesting or different than last time. We spent way to much time there.

After we checked into our new hotel down the road and went back out to Marugaume Udon, International Marketplace, A couple of ABC Stores and a 7-11. I make a point to stop at longs to get a pair of Local’s. Mission accomplished! 

We ended our day early and are going to try to catch up on some much needed sleep. 

Tomorrow we’re heading to the Ala Moana mall.