Chinatown, Cheese Corn Ice Cream, And Other Honolulu Delights

"Tropical Depression" by Patti Liszkay will be released on April 27, 2023 by Black Rose Writing

"What do Nicaraguan migrants leave behind when they come to the United States? Patti Liszkay’s uplifting, heart-warming Tropical Depression will introduce you to the loving, squabbling Guzman family as they deal with births, adoption, poverty, and family feuds. WARNING: This novel could change the way you think about our immigration policy!" 
 - Sid Meltzer, author of "Unwitting Accomplice"

​CHINATOWN, CHEESE CORN ICE CREAM, AND OTHER HONOLULU DELIGHTS

...Continued from previous post:
      On Thursday morning some of the group went on a hike, some opted for a beach day, and Theresa and Mayren, 

...decided to trek into downtown Honolulu to visit Chinatown.

     Along the way they visited some of the markets,

...and sampled some of the wares.

     
​A watermelon green tea smoothie and a taro smoothie.

      When lunch time rolled around they stopped to look in the window of a Thai-Lao restaurant on Hotel Street called Olay's.

         While they were looking a man exited the restaurant and said to them, "This place is really good." And so they decided to give it a try.
             The interior was cute and whimsical, 

...but then they were led to the back of the building, which opened into a charming garden.

...with a fish pond.

      They ordered beef pho, which they said was great,

...and a salad with black crab and papaya, which, despite its enticing appearance, was apparently not particularly great.

       After lunch they walked a few blocks north of Chinatown to Kukui Street,

...to visit the Izumo Taisha Hawaii Shinto shrine.

       On their way back to Waikiki Mayren and Theresa stopped at a halo halo store, halo halo being a frozen ice creamesque confection that nonetheless comes in some unexpected flavors.

      They each decided to try a pick-three sampler. ​Theresa tried avocado, lychee, and ubi (a kind of purple island yam), 

...while Mayren opted for ​mais con queso (corn with cheese), coconut with pandan (a sweet tropical plant),  and ubi.   

     I asked the girls how they liked their halo halos. Amazing, they both agreed, like delicious ice cream.
      But what did the corn cheese flavor taste like? I asked. 
       "The flavor was so soft but so good," said Mayren. "Kind of like corn cheesecake."
      Corn cheesecake. Okay. Though I was afraid to ask what the avocado tasted like.