Books By Patti Liszkay |
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...if not for all the palm trees,
...the mountains off in the distance on one side,
...and the beach on the other.
However, among the boutiques of the haute couturiers could be found the ABC Stores.
The ABC Store is a Honolulu-based convenience chain that sells sundries, souvenirs, Hawaiian clothes, snacks, necessities,
...lunch,
...dinner,
...and just about anything else one might find oneself in need of.
One can scarcely walk a block without coming upon an ABC store, nor does one have to wonder where the closest ABC store is; wherever one is in Honolulu, one is not far from an ABC store, one need only keep walking in any direction.
One can scarcely walk a block without coming upon an ABC store, nor does one have to wonder where the closest ABC store is; wherever one is in Honolulu, one is not far from an ABC store, one need only keep walking in any direction.
It's said that ABC stands for "All Blocks Covered." That's accurate.
Books By Patti Liszkay
Available On Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
Available on Amazon.
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
Available on Amazon.
SHARK'S COVE, O'AHU
...Continued from previous post:
On Monday morning after breakfasting on sublime breakfast burritos from Kono's in Waikiki (see previous post),
On Monday morning after breakfasting on sublime breakfast burritos from Kono's in Waikiki (see previous post),
...we headed to the north end of the island to Shark's Cove, a tide pool beach that's a prime spot for sea critter-watching among the shallows,
...and taking in the panoramic views.
I waded into the tide pool but stayed closed to the shore and by just looking down into the crystal clear water I was able to see among the rocks a number of striking tropical fish, including some striped varieties and a bright blue and yellow one that looked something like this:
The others in our group who swam out into the deeper water to do some snorkeling near the reef that surrounds the tide pool were treated to the sight of more wonderful sea creatures, among them interesting and unusual fish, schools of colorful fish, sea turtles and sea urchins. One of my daughters spent some time watching an octopus playing among the rocks.
As for me, being neither a strong swimmer nor a great water aficionado in general, after a having a look at the fish and a brief swim I was happy to recover my land legs,
As for me, being neither a strong swimmer nor a great water aficionado in general, after a having a look at the fish and a brief swim I was happy to recover my land legs,
...and stay on shore snapping pictures.
Across the highway from the beach there was a food truck park where we went for lunch.
There were as many chickens in the park as humans.
I had lemon shrimp over rice with greens. It looked lovely but actually wasn't all that great.
In truth the food there in general wasn't all that great. Except for the shave ice.
However it was sufficient to hold us over for another round of fish-watching,
...and picture-taking.
Books by Patti Liszkay
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
FINDING THE BEST BREAKFAST BURRITO ON THE PLANET IN HONOLULU AT KONO'S
...Continued from previous post:
We had heard from a friend that the best breakfast burrito they'd ever had was at a downtown Waikiki carry-out called Kono's.
Much as we loved our Hale Koa breakfast buffet,
...there was no turning down the opportunity to have what might in fact be the best breakfast burrito one would ever have.
So at 7 am on Monday morning we met up in the lobby of the Hale Koa,
So at 7 am on Monday morning we met up in the lobby of the Hale Koa,
...then set out for Kono's,
...which, along with the rest of Waikiki, was already hopping by 7:30 am.
For being in the middle of a busy city, Kono's had a nice location, opening off the street onto a cute courtyard with tables and chairs.
And for what appeared to be a small operation, there were quite a number of choices.
...including several vegetarian options.
And though there were eleven of us, we didn't have to wait terribly long either to place our order or for our order to be filled.
One imagined quite an efficient assembly line going on behind that small counter. (Or else it was just our good Honolulu food Karma kicking in again - see previous post, https://www.ailantha.com/blog/good-food-karma-or-the-keys-to-the-honolulu-food-kingdom-at-the-ala-moana-food-court ).
As to whether this was the best breakfast burrito we all had ever had: Most of us agreed that it was. Some of us held that our Kono's burrito exceeded even our highest expectations.
As to whether this was the best breakfast burrito we all had ever had: Most of us agreed that it was. Some of us held that our Kono's burrito exceeded even our highest expectations.
As for me, I had an item called the Wendy's Bomber, which was a warm flour tortilla loaded with seasoned potatoes, scrambled eggs, cheese, a strip of bacon, and roasted seasoned vegetables.
I fell in with the group whose highest expectations had been exceeded. In fact, I'm willing to put it out there that Kono's might well be the best breakfast burritos on the planet.
Books by Patti Liszkay
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
GOOD FOOD KARMA; OR, THE KEYS TO THE HONOLULU FOOD KINGDOM AT THE ALA MOANA FOOD COURT
...Continued From Yesterday:
My greatest worry over our Hawaii trip - besides the worry that it might not happen at all if the latest COVID variant should go nuclear in the spring – was what we would do about dinner.
Breakfast, I knew, would be no problem as we could - and in fact did - meet mornings,
My greatest worry over our Hawaii trip - besides the worry that it might not happen at all if the latest COVID variant should go nuclear in the spring – was what we would do about dinner.
Breakfast, I knew, would be no problem as we could - and in fact did - meet mornings,
...at the Koko at Kalia, one of the Hale Koa eateries and plenty spacious enough to seat our party of eleven,
...and where we would dig into the awesome breakfast buffet.
The Omelet Station
So breakfast was always a breeze to manage and hands down the best meal of the day.
Nor, I assumed, would lunch be an issue, as our group would, I figured, break up during the course of the day and if people got hungry they could fend for themselves at one of the on-post eating spots such as Happy's,
...or the pool snack bar,
...or venture off-post to one of the many eateries in Waikiki within walking distance of the Hale Koa.
But it was dinner time that I feared would be a hassle of major proportions.
Last time we came as a group to the Hale Koa in 2019 the Koko served not only a great breakfast buffet but a great dinner buffet as well, and at the end of the day we could all once again just pile into the restaurant and go for the buffet.
But it was dinner time that I feared would be a hassle of major proportions.
Last time we came as a group to the Hale Koa in 2019 the Koko served not only a great breakfast buffet but a great dinner buffet as well, and at the end of the day we could all once again just pile into the restaurant and go for the buffet.
However, alas, the Hale Koa has not yet fully recovered from the COVID downturn, and guest numbers still have not picked up enough to warrant re-opening the Koko dinner buffet.
(The Warrior's Lounge, a bar where one used to able to grab bar-type food, has likewise not re-opened since COVID).
(The Warrior's Lounge, a bar where one used to able to grab bar-type food, has likewise not re-opened since COVID).
So I wondered what we would do about dinner. I imagined trying every night to find a reasonably-priced restaurant in tourist-crowded Waikiki that could accommodate a party of eleven,
...with several vegetarians among us. I envisioned us waiting an hour and a half every night to get seated and then another hour and a half to be served.
I frankly thought we'd likely end up eating dinner at Happy's, chowing down every night on combo meals with fries,
I frankly thought we'd likely end up eating dinner at Happy's, chowing down every night on combo meals with fries,
...or personal pizzas,
...or deli wraps and salads.
But it turned out that on this trip we were gifted with some exceptionally good food Karma.
Our first night there – that is to say, our second night there but the first night that we would need dinner – the group expressed a general craving for pizza. We knew from our previous trip of a pizzeria called Round Table Pizza located in the mall of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which was the resort next door to the Hale Koa.
So around 6 pm we walked next door,
Our first night there – that is to say, our second night there but the first night that we would need dinner – the group expressed a general craving for pizza. We knew from our previous trip of a pizzeria called Round Table Pizza located in the mall of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which was the resort next door to the Hale Koa.
So around 6 pm we walked next door,
…to the Hilton Hawaiian Village mall,
…and to the Round Table Pizza, where we asked for a table for eleven. Much to our surprise, we were seated immediately.
However soon after we were seated the place began to fill up and by the time we left there was a line of folks at the door waiting for seats.
But for us the service was fast and we shared some yummy pizzas.
But for us the service was fast and we shared some yummy pizzas.
After dinner we walked around the mall for a bit,
…then some of us walked down to the beach then back to the Hale Koa,
…where we stopped at Happy’s for ice cream,
…before calling it a night.
The following evening, Monday evening, we were kind of at loose ends so I suggested we try to get a dinner reservation at the Bibas Courtyard Grill, which is a restaurant conveniently located off the courtyard of the Hale Koa that we’d never tried, it being a weence on the upscale-ish side. However we needed to eat and I figured it was either this, another round of Round Table Pizza or Happy’s.
I called the Bibas at 5 pm and asked if we could possibly have a table for eleven people at 5:45.
“Yes, you can,” the friendly hostess assured me.
And so forty-five minutes later we met up at the Bibas.
I called the Bibas at 5 pm and asked if we could possibly have a table for eleven people at 5:45.
“Yes, you can,” the friendly hostess assured me.
And so forty-five minutes later we met up at the Bibas.
…where we were given a table with a lovely view.
We all agreed that the food was not only terrific but really nicely color-coordinated.
I ordered a burger that arrived just the way I like a burger: as rare as is legally permitted. Not only was my burger perfect and my fries exceptional,
...but the bun was fun.
After dinner we lingered in the courtyard and pow-wowed over what to do next,
..before deciding to head over to Happy’s for ice cream.
Afterwards we walked down to the beach,
...and joined the other strollers along the Waikiki strand.
The strand along the beach was lined with enterprising merchants selling little rubber-band-propelled light-up rockets .
And so the beach was bright with whimsical shooting blue lights.
The next day, Tuesday, one of our members had a birthday and we wanted to go somewhere for a celebratory dinner. We learned that there was an Olive Garden about a mile away at a shopping mall called The Ala Moana Center. I called the restaurant to find out if I could make a reservation but was told the best I could do was to call half an hour before our arrival to check if a table might be available for us. So I called at 5:45 pm and asked if we might have a table at 6:15. The answer was a positive.
As soon as we arrived we were seated at a nice table in an almost empty back room,
As soon as we arrived we were seated at a nice table in an almost empty back room,
…with a lovely harbor view.
It was on Wednesday that our food-finding karma, which had been holding steady so far, took a great fortuitous turn thanks to a tip from a friend of our son-in-law.
This friend, who used to live in Honolulu, shared with our son-in-law that the place where the locals eat is the food court at the Ala Moana Center. Once we discovered it, the Ala Moana food court became our nightly go-to-dinner place.
The mile from the Hale Koa to the Ala Moana Center made for a nice before-dinner walk each evening.
This friend, who used to live in Honolulu, shared with our son-in-law that the place where the locals eat is the food court at the Ala Moana Center. Once we discovered it, the Ala Moana food court became our nightly go-to-dinner place.
The mile from the Hale Koa to the Ala Moana Center made for a nice before-dinner walk each evening.
...through town,
...and across a scenic canal,
...on the other side of which was the Ala Moana Center,
...inside of which we'd head for the Makai Market food court,
...where everyone, whether vegetarian, carnivore, or health-food aficionado, could find something they'd like.
Thus were we given the keys to the Honolulu food kingdom.
- Amazon review of "Equal and Opposite Reactions"
Books by Patti Liszkay
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
...Continued from yesterday:
Tom's and my third floor room at the Hale Koa was the standard issue: basic, but perfectly comfortable and more than adequate.
Tom's and my third floor room at the Hale Koa was the standard issue: basic, but perfectly comfortable and more than adequate.
But the view from the balcony was five-star.
The other members of our group were also on the third floor, but they were located across the hall from us so that, rather than the ocean views, the balconies of their three rooms offered the panoramic land views,
Of course if one happened not to have a room with a view, one need not go wanting, as beautiful outdoor views abound at all the portals of the the Hale Koa.
The Hale Koa main entrance/exit:
In truth, views abound in Honolulu,
...and the whole island is rich with them.
Mayhaps one could say that all of O'ahu is a room with a view.
Books by Patti Liszkay
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
Available on Amazon
"Equal and Opposite Reactions" http://amzn.to/2xvcgRa
and the sequel, "Hail Mary" https://www.amzn.com/1684334888
SLEEPLESS AND MASKLESS IN HONOLULU
...Continued from Previous Post:
I made a reservation for the next morning, Sunday morning, for breakfast at the Koko at Kalia, a restaurant located at the Hale Koa,
...which opens all around to the outdoors and beautiful ocean views,
...and which offers the most sublime breakfast buffet on the planet,
On this first morning only nine of the eleven of us were present for breakfast, as Tommy and Emily arrived in Honolulu a day later than the rest of us.
As it turned out, when I made a reservation the previous day for breakfast at 9 am my brain had forgotten about the time differences between Hawaiian-Aleutian Time and all the other time zones we’d traveled from: there was a six-hour difference for those of us coming from Columbus, Ohio,
...a five-hour difference for the Chicagoans,
...and a three-hour difference for the L.A. crowd.
Subsequently most of us were up by four am. A few of us had been up since two am. By 9 am some of us were ready for lunch and others of us were three-quarters of the way to dinner. I made a note that I would make future breakfast reservations at the Koko for 7 am, which I did and which worked out well, as within a few days most of us were managing to stay awake until 9 or 10 pm and to sleep until 5 or 6 am, though every morning the first question to go around the breakfast table was, “How did everyone sleep?” The answers varied from day to day and person to person, generally skewing more favorably as the week progressed.
Besides the time zone changes, there was something else we found ourselves having to acclimate to: going maskless.
The Hawaii mask mandate had been lifted, the COVID numbers were low on the islands, and we were all at least triple vaxxed, so we decided to cautiously ease into masklessness.
We also felt encouraged by the fact that the Hale Koa is mostly an outdoorsy venue.
The lobby is a vast, breezy, meandering open-air terrace,
Besides the time zone changes, there was something else we found ourselves having to acclimate to: going maskless.
The Hawaii mask mandate had been lifted, the COVID numbers were low on the islands, and we were all at least triple vaxxed, so we decided to cautiously ease into masklessness.
We also felt encouraged by the fact that the Hale Koa is mostly an outdoorsy venue.
The lobby is a vast, breezy, meandering open-air terrace,
...that overlooks a garden courtyard.
...in the center of which is a massive tree known as Gus,
...which at night glows with a beautiful blue light.
The courtyard leads to a path that rambles through a botanical garden,
...past a small restaurant called Happy's,
...where we enjoyed quite a few noshes, including some most excellent soft-serve cones.
The path also passed a pool,
...an outdoor bar,
...and a little further on a much larger pool area,
...that included a snack bar,
... a children's splash pad,
...and an infinity pool that looked out over the beach.
The path ended at Waikiki Beach.
And where the beach began was where the Fort Derussy-Hale Koa property line ended; For in Hawaii all beaches are open to the public, even the beaches attached to the hotels.
Here no one owns the sand and the sea,
Here no one owns the sand and the sea,
...which is how it should be.
"Tropical Depression"
by Patti Liszkay
Buy it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTPN7NYY
by Patti Liszkay
Buy it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTPN7NYY
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I am a traveler just visiting this planet and reporting various and sundry observations,
hopefully of interest to my fellow travelers.
hopefully of interest to my fellow travelers.