la vie en rose

Last day in Hawaii.

The Weather Channel in Hawaii does not give a local forecast for the islands. It only gives the forecast for the mainland. So we were relying on J's weather app on his phone, which said rain in Waikiki, rain in Kailua, rain on the North Shore. Whatever - it was our last day and we weren't going to let that stop us.

J's dad had extended the rental car until Wednesday to return to the airport, so we had it all day on Tuesday to drive around the entire island. It was a convertible, which was awesome, but it was as long as a tank, which was not awesome.


We drove up the Pali Highway to the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, which looks over Kaneohe and Kailua on the eastern side of the island. They weren't kidding when they said it was windy!



There were also a bunch of chickens running around up there.

How romantic.

We went into Kailua in search of breakfast. (Note to self: spend more time in Kailua on the next trip.) We found Boots and Kimo's, home of the world famous macadamia nut sauce. (Note to self: spend as much time as it takes to replicate this recipe.) We shared an omelet with Swiss cheese, corned beef hash, and tomatoes, and a stack of banana pancakes smothered in that heavenly sauce.


We searched online for the recipe - it's a total secret. Some say it is melted ice cream (which I am positive that it's not) or that it is too light to be just whipped cream (maybe only beaten halfway?). All we know is that it was delicious.

Someone didn't tell the clouds to show up in Kailua that day. We were so glad that we took the chance to drive over there.



This is how you properly ride a wave:

First, dive in just as it's coming to you.

Second, get swallowed up in the surf.

Third, laugh it off.

Fourth, punch the wave.

I don't know that I've ever seen J as happy as when he's playing in the waves in Hawaii.

We continued driving north along the coast, soaking in the sun and the beauty. We both got sunburned on just the tops of our feet (still have the tan line!).





We stopped in Laie at a shrimp truck famous for well, its shrimp, but also that its owner was kidnapped and held at gunpoint by thugs sent by the former owner, demanding that he sell the business back to her. I had the lemon garlic, J had the spicy (and boy was it).


It was windy on the North Shore, a perfect day to watch the surfers in action.




J set up his tripod and got a chance to get some really good action shots. This is the best one:


Of course since we were on the North Shore we had to stop in Haleiwa to get some shave ice from Matsumoto's.


It was as good as we remembered it.


We finished our perfect Hawaiian day on a deserted beach on the northwestern tip of the island, watching the sun set.

The end.