Our grandchildren are growing up much too fast for my wife and me to be sitting on our bewtocks, so in a few days we are off to New Zealand again, this time at a more favorable time of year. It will be late summer when we arrive, a far cry from the chilly, wintry... Continue Reading →
Matsumoto Shave Ice (Hale’iwa, HI)
It was good fortune that we were able to compare not only shrimp trucks but shave ice as well. Earlier on our trip, we sampled shave ice at Waiola store in Honolulu. Matsumoto’s is a destination stop for many fans, including busloads of Japanese tourists. Waiola draws mostly locals. The lines at both can get quite... Continue Reading →
Shrimp Wars: Giovanni’s vs. Fumi’s (Kahuku, HI)
The usual money on the North Shore shrimp trucks is on Giovanni’s, which started the phenomenon back in the 1960s by offering fresh shrimp (from their own farm) cooked in olive oil, butter and garlic and served with two scoops of rice (what else!). Since then, there have been many imitators, some who have their... Continue Reading →
Koko Head (Honolulu, HI)
Some of the most spectacular scenery in the islands can be seen along the coastline of southeast Oahu. Past Diamond Head, you’ll begin to notice steep sides of Koko Crater’s caldera on the left and on the right, rugged lava and sandstone cliffs overlooking beautiful beaches and pounding surf. This is the area of the... Continue Reading →
Bubbies (Honolulu)
Bubbies is a premium ice cream store that has been doing business on Oahu since the late 1980s. They are based in Aiea and have two outlets on Oahu, including one on University Avenue between Waikiki and the university. Oprah’s “O” Magazine featured their island-favorite mochi ice creams. They are served in many hotels and a few... Continue Reading →
Kona Brewing Company (Honolulu, HI)
On our way to southeast Oahu and the North Shore, we stopped at Kona Brewing Company, a restaurant that serves food and the beers made on the Big Island, which the staff affectionately calls the “Mother Ship.” One of their distinctive brews is the Pipeline Porter (available on the mainland), a smooth and dark beer... Continue Reading →
Leonard’s (Honolulu)
Among the island’s favorite pastries are Portuguese malasadas. Leonard’s is generally regarded as Oahu’s best, and for good reason. Our visit here last year hooked us. My favorite malasadas are those filled with custard. Why are they so good? First of all, they are served warm out of the oven. Their yeasty shell is slightly crispy on... Continue Reading →
Sweet Home Cafe (Honolulu, HI)
Sweet Home Cafe is another restaurant that specializes in one thing, and one thing only–Taiwanese hot pot. There is no shortage of patrons. By the time we arrived at the restaurant at 5:30pm, there was already a waiting list. We didn’t get seated until after 6:30, and I’ll say it right now, the wait was... Continue Reading →
Honolulu Saturday Market
The Honolulu Saturday Market is, without doubt, one of the best farmers markets in the country for foodies. It has its share of produce stalls; they mainly benefit the locals who come here for fresh fruits and vegetables. But, I’ll wager that the vast majority of visitors come here for the incredible selection of prepared... Continue Reading →
Waiola Shave Ice (Honolulu, HI)
The subject of the best shave ice is a hot topic in Hawaii. For years on Oahu, the faithful have been heading to the North Shore to Matsumoto’s (and Aoki’s next door). Even busloads of Japanese tourists stop by there to pay homage. We went there last year and made it a point to stop... Continue Reading →
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