Hawaii Favorites in Pics

We took so many great pictures during our trip to Hawaii, it was so hard to narrow it down with so many different places we experienced and the beauty of the island. If I had to pick a few of my favorite scenic shots these would be towards the top of my list

No Small Journey

Let me start from the beginning.... We embarked on the longest plane ride of our lives to get to the other side of the globe (well it felt that way). It took 11 hours of sitting on a plane and we were there and after that flight I'm not sure how I would feel about going all the way to Japan or Australia. To say it was a long day on the plane would be an understatement but we knew it would be worth it. It wasn't exactly the most comfortable or enjoyable flight either, we had an 'adorable' five year old seated right in front of us who may as well have been the energizer bunny, she kept going and going, she didn't stop all 11 hours. Plus the in flight entertainment system wasn't exactly state of the art, they looped the same three movies (Alice in Wonderland, Grown-ups and Tinkerbell) three times over. Unfortunately since we were flying through the day we were awake for the whole 11 hour flight (along with our little friend in front of us).

Eventually though we made it there and it was all worth it. When we arrived we were greeted with our Hawaii Orchid Lei's in the airport which was fun. After a short bus ride we made it over to the Hyatt in Waikiki. Although the hotel was not directly on beachfront property it was right across the street with nothing in front or blocking the view so it was practically on the beach. The hotel itself was beautiful we were surprised to see how everything was constructed with open air in mind and the atrium had a ton of shops right in it (including Coach and a few others, but I didn't make any stops while I was there).

We settled into our room and then headed up to the hotel pool restaurant for a quick bite and to enjoy the beautiful night outside. We split a pizza while we had a gorgeous view and got the cliche Hawaiian pizza toppings on our pizza (but we usually order that anyway, but who could resist), and to wash down our pizza we started the trip off right with our first two 'umbrella' drinks, a Hana Passion and a Strawberry Lava Flow. We could def get used to this for our two weeks in paradise....

Back to Reality

It's hard to believe that we've been back from paradise for a week already, as in life time seems to just fly by all too quickly. We made sure to take advantage of every minute in hawaii though. We had such an amazing trip, the best part was being able to get away from everything and everyone and just relax for two weeks in paradise. After what felt like a short eternity to get there, just eleven hours on a plane, but who's counting, we arrived  in the middle of a whole lot of nothing, with 5,000 miles between us and the next closest land mass and it was perfect. Before it all starts to become a blur I'll do my best to try and remember all the fun places we went and (almost all) the fantastic meals we had, as I told Mike I was planning to eat my way through the islands. First a quick run down of some impromptu posts from my new smart phone.....


Monday, October 25, 2010 - We Made It 

Nearly eleven hours later we made it. To say it was a long day would be an understatement but we made it and it was all worth it already!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - Hotel Arrival 

Had our first drinks at the hotel pool bar last night when we got in and split a pizza, Hawaiian of course along with some delicious drinks, one Lava Flow and one Hans Passion, so good!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - Our First Morning

We started our first morning quite early to say the least at about 3am. We had our first morning breakfast with all kinds of delicious treats like coconut pineapple butter on waffles, coconut pancakes, guava juice to drink and lots of fresh pineapple to eat!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - Relaxing Day

We spent the majority of our morning sitting poolside relaxing and by noon were ready for some more delicious drinks. After that we took a walk around town and had some really good hotdogs for lunch from this place that was on diners, drive-ins and dives, mine had mango mustard and pineapple relish on it and for snack this afternoon we tried our first shave ice. So far a great day relaxing and enjoying Waikiki.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - Dinner at Duke's

Had an awesome dinner at dukes right on the beach. Had the most incredible dish a monchong fish in a macadiam nut crusted, caper white wine sauce. Mike had steak and coconut shrimp which was also really good.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - Oahu Sights 

We had a fun filled and packed day of sightseeing today. We did a circle island tour of oahu and spent the whole day touring the island. We saw hanauma bay, halona blow hole, Pali lookout where it was ridiculously windy, a Japanese temple a horse ranch and drove past the north shore, too bad there were no 50 foot waves there today, and our last stop was the dole pineapple plantation, which was a lot of fun, there was pineapple soft serve involved! We had fun walking around the grounds. It was a great way to see so much of the island and get a lot of great pictures along the way.

Thursday, October 28, 2010 - A Day of History 

This morning went to pearl harbor which is one of the most popular sites in oahu. It was amazing to be witness to such a historical memorial. We had an absolutely beautiful day for it. It was amazing to see the video from that day and then to go aboard the memorial where the ship is still underneath. We truly enjoyed seeing this memorial that is ingrained in memories forever.

Thursday, October 28, 2010 - Hawaiian Fast Food 

After pearl harbor we walked around town and found an authentic Hawaiian lunch spot. We went to this place called l&l for lunch, its like a Hawaiian McDonald's it felt like. It was Hawaiian fast food. I had something called chicken katsu and mike a bbq'd chicken. It was fun to try an authentic Hawaiian lunch place and the food wasn't bad either.

Friday, October 29, 2010 - Paradise

Mike and I are thoroughly enjoying our time in Hawaii. It is the perfect combination of touring and relaxation. After lunch we decided to spend the rest of the afternoon poolside. We were going to go to the beach bit the pool seemed so much more appealing with drink service and lack of sand. We are already looking forward to what maui holds for us.

Saturday, October 30, 2010 - Cruisin' Oahu 

Yesterday mike and I decided to rent a car and cruise around the island on our own for the day, much thanks to IBM and their hertz discount. We started our morning out at Leonard bakery which we knew right away it was going to be good judging by the line. We got these amazing don't type things called malasadas, mine was filled with banana and mike had coconut, they were pockets of deliciousness. After that we needed to go burn off the calories so we headed over to diamond head. I probably should have planned my outfit better because I had to hike in a sundress and flip flops but I made it and failed better than mike I might add. After that we headed up for a scenic drive around the island and headed up to the north shore. For lunch we stopped at one of these famous lunch tricks along the road for an incredible shrimp lunch plate, it was so good. As if our day wasn't packed enough already after lunch we then headed to the polynesian cultural center for an educational afternoon learning about Hawaii history, it was very interesting. We then headed back to Honolulu and finished our night downtown.

Fun in Hawaii

Thanks to the success of our honeymoon registry we have lots of fun activites on our agenda to cover while we're in Hawaii. We've been hearing so many great things about the Islands from friends and family that have been before and we can't wait to discover everything as well. Here's some of the activites and tours we're planning to do while we're there (and more to come as I figure it out).

Oahu

1. One of our days will be spent on a Circle Tour of Oahu - The best of the best” of Oahu. From the lush, green mountains to the clear blue waters, across the pineapple fields, and beyond. 
2. Another fun trip we're told is checking out the Polynesian Cultural Center - The Polynesian Cultural Center’s eight island villages give you the rare chance to participate in the daily adventures of Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures.
3. We're also planning to take a day trip tour over to the Big Island from Oahu. Big Island Day Trip: Volcanoes National Park - The Volcano Tour and Lava Walk is a true adventure. This tour gives you an exciting view of nature at work. Later, walk out over rough terrain and experience the power of mother nature
4. Of course we can't miss out on Pearl Harbor! 

Maui

1. We arrive in Maui on Sunday afternoon and plan to take it easy and enjoy the grounds of the Grand Hyatt hotel which will hopefully include sitting pool and beachside for the afternoon. 
2. One morning bright and early we'll do the Sunrise Bike Tour Haleakala Park - The Sunrise special arrives at Haleakala's 10,023' summit about an hour before sunrise. You watch the sun come up over the crater, a truly spectacular sight. The freedom and independence of mountain biking down Haleakala Mountain at your own pace.
3. We're also going to do a Snorkling trip - This tour offers two great adventures in one: snorkeling at Molokini Crater plus snorkeling at a beautiful reef off the island of Lana'i. We'll also visit areas along the coast where dolphins live!
4. No visit to Maui is complete without the experience of a Romantic Sunset Cruise where we'll enjoy sipping complimentary champagne while watching the moon rise and the sunset across the Hawaiian Islands.
5. Another trip we're planning to do in our rental car is the Road to Hana which is an all day adventure driving around the beautiful island.

So many fun things to do, I can't wait!

Meals in Hawaii

Mike seems to think I am always thinking about my next meal (which I probably am) so you can imagine how much time I am putting into picking out where we'll be eatting in Hawaii. There are so many fantastic choices I don't know how we'll ever decide. Since breakfast is included at both of our hotels while where there we will likely try to eat a big breakfast so we won't need lunch so our dinner meals will have to count and I have no doubt they will all be excellent. Here's some of the places that are on my list of places to check out while we're there.

Maui

1. Mama's Fish House 
2. Duke's Beach House 
3. Lahina Grill 
4. Lahina Fish Company 
5. Son'z Maui at Swan Court
6. Pineapple Grill 

Oahu

1. Roy's Waikiki Beach 
2. House Without a Key 
3. Alan Wong's Restaurant
4. Ono Hawaiian Foods

Other

• Leonard's Bakery 
• Matsumoto Shave Ice

Hawaiian Food

I am so excited about all the restaurants and new foods we'll have the opportunity to try while we're on our honeymoon in Hawaii. I've already picked out a few restaurants that I want to try while we're there but then the even harder part is going to be picking out what to have for dinner! I am loving looking up all these great restaurants and drooling about all the delicious choices to pick from. I've been also intrigued about all the great local dishes and favorite foods native to the islands of Hawaii. So of course there's all the typical foods that people think of like coconuts (I think I'll even try coconut milk with a straw in the coconut - I do love mounds bars, I mean coconuts). And things like fish and even more Hawaiian, pineapples.

I might not be into eatting all of the local dishes, such as things like "poi" which is the traditional Hawaiian staple, is a starch dish made by pounding boiled taro roots and mixing with water until it reaches a smooth consistency. "Taro is one of the most nutritious starches on the planet." One of the things I can tell you that I know I will definately be having a lot of is shave ice!

One of the recommended restaurants on Oahu to get a taste of the islands is called Ono Hawaii Foods. This seems like a great - and inexpensive - way to get a real taste of all the local favorites. "When in Hawaii a taste of Hawaiian food is a must and for that special taste we recommend Ono Hawaiian Foods. This restaurant was recognized in 1998 as one of America's Top Restaurants and was rated "Excellent" as reviewed by their valued patrons in the Zagat Survey. On the menu you will find a wide range of Hawaiian food items ranging from the Kalua Pig Plate to the Chicken Long Rice Plate. Kalua Pig is juicy and tender shredded pork smoked Hawaiian style. This dish is cooked in an underground oven called the imu with hot rocks and banana leaves. The Kalua Pig is the highlight of any luau. Chicken Long Rice is a Cantonese contribution originated by the first Chinese immigrants to Hawaii. It has become a popular staple to luaus. I like to think of it as comfort food. The blending flavors of the chicken, its broth, ginger and onion can relieve all the stress that you may be feeling."

Maui Restaurants

My new wedding planning obsession has moved onto the Honeymoon space. Since I'm done with so much of the wedding planning (I think I'm pretty ahead of schedule), I'm now looking into all kinds of fun honeymoon activities and restaurants (of course while also procrastinating doing my homework). I have been having so much fun looking up all these delicious restaurants especially ones that feature Hawaiian cuisine. I've already lined up a couple that I plan for us to check out during our honeymoon.

I'm thinking our first night in Maui (Sunday night) will be the perfect opportunity to check out the luau at our hotel. Since we are probably just going to hang out the beach/hotel that day when we arrive, that would prob be a good night for that. The luau at the Hyatt is supposed to be one of the recommended ones to go to.

The next big dining experience I am looking into is Mama's Fish House. This is supposed to be one of the best and most famous restaurants on the island, as well as a very romantic dinner on the beach during sunset. I am thinking I would like for this to be our last dinner on the island and a perfect way to end our trip. The Frommer's review had the following to say, "For over 35 years Mama's has been the Maui destination for special occasions. A stone path leads you through the cool coconut grove to what would be, in an ideal world, a good friend's house. The Hawaiian nautical theme is hospitable and fun—the menu even names which boat reeled in your fish. Despite its high prices—even for Maui—the restaurant is always full; dinner reservations start at 4:30 PM. Chef Perry Bateman outdoes himself with lobster guacamole; Kula corn and crab chowder; and Big Island hearts of palm salad. The daily catch steamed in traditional luau leaves is outstanding—and worth the cash. Follow up with the Polynesian Pearl—a gorgeous affair of chocolate mousse and passion-fruit cream." This truly sounds like a can't miss dinning experience!

Another local recommended restaurant I'd like to check out during the week is the Lahina Fish Company. I've also found some local favorites, such as this famous banana bread stand that we'll be able to check out on Road To Hana trip (Mike made fun of me for this one when he came down and saw the banana on my screen and I tried to tell him about it). And of course we'll have many trips to have the famous hawaii shave ice. So that's three meals down in Maui, and 3 more to pick (this will be hard to narrow down there's so many great choices it seems). And then my other project of course will be looking into restaurants in Oahu.

Hawaii Checklist

I'm so excited to start planning our Hawaiian Honeymoon. I've def got my work cut out for me in researching different activities to see and do so we can maximize our sightseeing AND relaxation time while we're there. But there are a few essentials that we'll need to bring along, and of course the other fun things like cute new sun dresses to wear. I've already got my eye on a few of those, and started looking at new bathing suits on Victoria's Secret to take along. Of course there's also things like the basics getting some new sunscreen, ooo maybe some new sunglasses, bug spray, some water shoes, and other things like that. I can't wait to start making my list and picking up some things for our big trip. And I've got my fingers crossed for a new camera, I've dropped some not so subtle hints to my honey for a great wedding present for his future wife.

Two of my first purchases are going to be the following books Oahu Revealed and Maui Revealed. In all of my research and reviews I've read so far these are the go-to books that every one needs to bring with them. And I am all about the travel books. I can't wait to pick up a copy.

Honeymoon is BOOKED

I am very happy to announce that as of last Tuesday our Honeymoon is officially booked, no changing our minds now on that big trip! After many, many phone calls back and forth to our wonderful (and patient) travel agent Linda (who has been a pleasure to work with), the plane tickets are purchased and hotels are booked. I am very pleased to say that we will be spending almost two weeks in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Maui (with 6 nights on each). We'll depart for Hawaii on Monday after our wedding and will be back in NJ the following Sunday.

We'll be starting our honeymoon in Oahu at the Waikki Hyatt with a beautiful ocean view. We'll spend the next 5 days (Mon - Sun morning) seeing sights such as Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation, Diamond Head, the North Shore and many other beautiful sights. And of course we'll leave plenty of time to sit beach side and enjoy some delicious pina colada and mai tai's.

After that we'll make our way over to the island of Maui where we'll stay for the duration of our stay. On Maui we'll check out things like the Road to Hana, a sunrise bike tour of Haleakala Park, snorkeling and other romantic activities like a sunset cruise or romantic dinners on the beach. While on Maui, we'll be staying at Maui Hyatt and we'll also have a convertible car to get around the island with.

I'm very excited about our big trip. Neither of us have ever been to Hawaii before. Although it's definitely a big trip (and I was def a little nervous about that), as Mike pointed out we only get to do our Honeymoon once, so go big or go home :-)

I'll post more about some more of our plans and activities soon. I've already started doing tons of research!

Hawaii

Our dream honeymoon to Hawaii is becoming a closer reality. After some preliminary research on the web and reaching out to some travel agents. We are def getting very close to booking. I spoke to the travel agent again yesterday and right now we are looking into a Honeymoon of 4 nights in Oahu (think Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond Head) and then 7 nights in Maui. We'd be staying at the Hyatt Waikiki and the Hyatt Maui. I'm so excited, I've already started looking at different activities and restaurants to check out while we are there!

Cruisin' To Hawai'i

I've been day dreaming a lot lately about a possible Hawaiian Honeymoon. We've talked to a several people recently that have highly recommended going to Hawaii for our honeymoon. In fact few have recommended the idea of taking a cruise to each of the islands which sounds fantastic! I've been looking into it and have come across the following cruise on NCL. It would leave from Honolulu on October 30th which would give us time to get to Hawaii and spend a few days relaxing and then follow it up with a 7 day cruise around the islands. It sounds like the best of both worlds to me! I've already sent away for (and received) a travel brochure on Hawaii and started looking into different excursions like a real luau or this one. I hope it'll fit in the budget, but for now I'll keep day dreaming :-)