Road Trip to Hana

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/6000 sec, ISO32
“Hana Bay” Hana, 2022

Day 3 on Maui started with a run around the neighborhood. On our last visit to Maui, I went on the same run, but I was injured so I couldn’t run very far, but this time I feel much stronger so I ran the whole way, and even ran up some killer hills. And by killer, I mean that they really killed my legs and lungs. It was probably the toughest workout I’ve had in many years. But it felt good. I love running hills.

We had some coffee and dragon fruit for a light breakfast and then headed out on a big trip today: The Road to Hana. We’ve been to Hana a few times but it’s a fun drive (if you like tight turns) and there are some interesting stops along the way. We even got to see a rainbow tree, which was pretty neat.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/100 sec, ISO50
“Road to Hana” Maui, 2022

Eventually we made it to Hana, but we were unable to see the black sand beach. We didn’t know we had to make reservations, so we missed out. But I did swim a bit in Hana Bay which was fun. We took Bay and Koa here when they were little and they enjoyed playing in the waves. So this visit brought back some nice memories.

We also got some ice cream at Tony’s Place, visited Hasegawa General Store, and bought some chocolate at Hana Gold. I never used to really enjoy doing these activities when I was younger, but now I really like them! It’s fun to check out stuff and chat with the shopkeepers and locals.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/1400 sec, ISO32
“Hasegawa General Store” Hana, 2022

The drive back was fun as well, but I guess I was getting a bit tired towards the end. Just too much turning and turning. And turning. 🙂 It was exhausting.

So when we pulled into Mama’s Fish House in Paia and got two seats at the bar, that cocktail tasted extra yummy! We just had a couple of appetizers and drinks to relax after the road, but what was really nice was just hanging out at the beach by Mama’s Fish House. We saw some sea turtles lounging on the rocks, and watched the clouds change color as the afternoon turned into evening. It was really magical!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 25.4mm, f/5, 1/100 sec, ISO5000
“Mama’s” Paia, 2022
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/100 sec, ISO400
“Honu” Paia, 2022
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO1000
“Honu Sign” Paia, 2022

What wasn’t so magical was the blackout that happened in the neighborhood when we arrived home. The power stayed out until 1 am, but before that, we found some candles and enjoyed the alternate reality of no electricity. 🙂

またね~

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/4 sec, ISO250
“Blackout” Wailuku, 2022

Day Two on Maui

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/690 sec, ISO32
“Loco Moco” Wailuku, 2022

Hello! Day two on Maui started out with breakfast in Wailuku at SixtyTwo MarcKet. I was joking with Mariko and my nephew that Loco Moco always sounds better than it tastes, but that doesn’t stop me from trying it again and again at different places.

Well, I tried another Loco Moco at MarcKet, and I have to say it was one of the best I’ve had. The burger was excellent, with some nice char from the griddle, but I guess it’s the gravy that makes or breaks Loco Moco, and MarcKet has some great gravy. It was more like a Japanese-style hamburg steak sauce, but unique in its own way. Also, there were two sunny-side up eggs on top.. and that runny yolk! Mmmm

Mariko ordered the Brioche french toast which was also great. The combination of the sweet French toast and savory Loco Moco was perfect. Definitely recommend!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/750 sec, ISO320
“Pumpkin Patch” Kula, 2022

After breakfast, we dropped off our nephew and his girlfriend at the airport for their trip to Los Angeles, and then headed up-country to visit Kula Farms and the pumpkin patch. We bought some papaya, dragon fruit, and other goodies and enjoyed the beautiful views. Really awesome.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 21.4mm, f/6.4, 1/2000 sec, ISO320
“View from Kula Farms” Kula, 2022

Next on our agenda was a visit to Maui Brewing Company in Kihei. Did I mention that we love visiting breweries? The flights we ordered were great, and the huli-huli chicken was yummy. I liked the open space of Maui Brewing Company and would love to come back next time we visit Maui. Plus they had some cute chickens roaming around. Fun!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/1000 sec, ISO32
“Flight Time” Kihei, 2022
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/2700 sec, ISO320
“Beach Time” Kihei, 2022

After a short trip to the beach at Kamaole Beach Park II, we drove back to Wailuku and stopped by Iao Valley.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/150 sec, ISO32
“Cloudy Mountains” Wailuku, 2022

The valley is actually closed at the gate until January while they do renovations to the park, but we hung about at Kepaniwai Park by the Nature Center and took in the views for a bit before going back to town to visit Takamiya Market, Tamura’s (market), and Foodland. We are on the search for Li Hing Mui powder, which was served on fresh pineapple to us on our Oahu circle-tour. But we were unsuccessful in our search today. We did, however, pick up some poké and mac salad for dinner. 🙂

I hope you had a great day!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 31.5mm, f/6.4, 1/300 sec, ISO320
“Rainbow” Wailuku, 2022
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/6.4, 1/45 sec, ISO6400
“Evening Light” Wailuku, 2022

Oahu to Maui

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/22, 1/100 sec, ISO1000
“Sunrise” Honolulu, 2022

It was travel day today! After watching our last amazing sunrise over Diamond Head, we checked out of the Park Shore Hotel and caught the bus to the airport. Again, the fare is only $3 per person, compared to $35 for a Lyft of Uber. What a deal!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/2000 sec, ISO32
“At the Airport” Honolulu, 2022
Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/14900 sec, ISO32
“Bye Oahu” Hawaii, 2022

It was a short island-hop over to Maui where my nephew picked us up and brought us back to the house in Wailuku. Our house was designed and built by my grandpa in 1956, and has been in the family ever since. It holds so many memories for us, and I’m looking for more memories to be made there! 🙂

Mariko and I settled in and then went out for some food at Tin Roof. I haven’t eaten there before, but everyone has good things to say about their chicken sandwich, so I had to get one! We also ordered some saimin, then took the food to the beach and ate at the picnic table behind the canoe club building. The sandwich was really tasty, but the chicken was a little dry (which seemed to be an anomaly). We did enjoy the crunch and flavor, though, and it’s really high on my chicken sandwich list, for sure. The saimin was also yummy and made for a perfect first meal on Maui.

After that we did a little grocery shopping at Foodland, then went back to the house to relax with a couple beers with my nephew and watch the baseball game. Welcome to Maui! 🙂

またね~

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/120 sec, ISO64
“Supplies” Kahului, 2022

Oahu Tour and Meeting the Family

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/11, 1/150 sec, ISO320
“Diamond Head Road” Oahu, 2022

Today we went on a “circle tour” around the island of Oahu. The mini-bus picked us up at about 7:30 am and took us east to see the sights before heading north and continuing counter-clockwise around the island. Mariko and I had both driven around the island before, so we’ve seen most of the sights before, but it was nice to hear the tour guide talk about Oahu and some of the local history. We also stopped by Fumi’s shrimp restaurant and had a delicious plate of spicy garlic shrimp. Yum!

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/11, 1/150 sec, ISO320
“Eternity Beach” Oahu, 2022

The only bummer about the tour was that there was a traffic jam in North Shore because of construction, so we were stopped for a hour or so and the air conditioning wasn’t the strongest… it was pretty uncomfortable! All-in-all though, I enjoyed the tour. It was $79 per person, and since it lasted about 8 hours, I think it was a good deal.

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 24.3mm, f/5, 1/200 sec, ISO320
“The Boss” Oahu, 2022
Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/8000 sec, ISO25
“Chinaman’s Hat” Oahu, 2022

We exited the tour bus in the heart of Waikiki so we could stroll back to the hotel, do some souvenir shopping, and get some fresh air after spending so much time in the mini-bus. I really enjoy being in “tourist mode”!

In the evening, my cousins took us out for dinner at La Ciccia for some delicious Italian food. It was actually sort of Japanese/Italian, with dishes like mentaiko pasta, kumamoto oysters, and other delicacies. Really yummy, and it was fun to catch up with my cousins, a couple of whom I haven’t seen in 15 years or so!

After dinner, it was back to the hotel and some much-needed sleep.

またね~

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/4800 sec, ISO32
“Sunset” Honolulu, 2022

Honolulu and Waienae

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-E4, 18mm, f/13, 1/30 sec, ISO320
“Sunrise” Honolulu, 2022

Today, Mariko went out to breakfast and shopping with her friend, so I had some free time before meeting back up with her in the afternoon. I of course put on my running gear and headed out for a run, this time heading farther east towards Diamond Head and just continuing around it counter-clockwise. When I got to the entrance of the state park, I decided to get some hill-work in and ran up the entrance road, then through the tunnel, and into the crater itself. You need reservations to enter into the actual park, and since I didn’t have any, I just turned around and went back down to the road that circles Diamond Head and continued on my circle path and back to the hotel. It was a great run!

Back at the hotel, I looked out at the beach and the blue ocean and thought I might as well take advantage of the awesome location (and free beach towel) and go for a swim. The water felt so good! It was the perfect temperature – not too warm, but not chilly either. The relaxing swim was great after a sweaty run and I felt refreshed and ready to go!

After a quick shower at the hotel room, I was feeling pretty hungry and I looked at a few options nearby. There were a couple ramen shops, but Rainbow Drive-In was calling my name! The legendary plate-lunch place wasn’t very crowded at 11:30 so I was able to order right away and enjoy my mix-plate at the picnic tables in the back. Just 15 minutes later, a long line had formed so I guess I had perfect timing. 🙂 The mix-plate was pretty huge but I was so hungry after running and swimming that I finished it no problem. That morning exercise really keeps my appetite going.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 4.2mm, f/1.6, 1/580 sec, ISO32
“Mix Plate” Honolulu, 2022

I still had an hour before meeting back up with Mariko, so I strolled around Waikiki, got a coffee at Kai Coffee (and the barista spelled my name correctly on the cup!) and people-watched for a bit. Ah, vacation is great!

Soon I met Mariko back at the hotel, and then her friend and her friend’s husband picked us up and we drove out to Waienae for dinner at The Beach House by 604, We munched on appetizers, enjoyed beer and tropical drinks, and then watched another beautiful Oahu sunset. It was so fun to meet new friends and chat about work, kids, family, and life in general. Shiawase!

I hope you had a great day!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 12 mini, 1.55mm, f/2.4, 1/230 sec, ISO25
“Sunset” Waienae, 2022