Honolulu, HI

On a recent trip to the North Shore with a few friends of mine, we decided that we would trek through Haleiwa town, something any of us done since transitioning into the career world of a twenty-something. We traversed through the little town that has much preserved its uniqueness and I was reminded of its innate beauty that both tourists and locals alike have fallen in love with.

My friends and I decided, shortly after the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall came out on DVD, that we wanted to go to Turtle Bay and goof off for a day. So, we made the trek all the way to Kahuku and we spent the day at the Turtle Bay Resort.

Last weekend my wife and I went to the Ala Moana Mall near Honolulu. This is the largest outdoor mall in the United States, and although we have been here many times, we still probably haven’t seen it all. There are literally hundreds of shops and vendors to choose from, in addition to dozens of eateries, from fast food to gourmet dining. Also, it’s a visually appealing mall, with numerous fountains, koi ponds and landscaping throughout.

This last Tuesday afternoon my wife and I headed over to Ward Warehouse, a mall near Honolulu. Although smaller and less well known than the world famous Ala Moana shopping mall, which is not far from Ward, Ward Warehouse still has much to offer. Also, be careful not to confuse Ward Warehouse with its cousin, Ward Center, which is actually down the street a ways from Ward Center (although it is not that far).

As a parent of youngsters, I love going out to parks with my husband and kids. There’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon running around, playing on swings and sliding down slides. Fortunately, Hawai’i happens to be home to many great parks that are ideal places for families to spend an afternoon together.

Last Sunday my wife and I went to Kelly O’Neil’s pub on Lewers Street (across the street from Moose McGillicuddy’s) in Waikiki to watch a local Irish band. Kelly O’Neil’s features live Irish music every Sunday, from about 4pm to 7pm (no cover charge). We arrived shortly after 4:00 and took seats at a small table off to the side, facing the band.

When my wife and I go to Hamauma Bay, we like to walk all the way down to the far end of it, where there are few—sometimes no—other people, even when the main beach is crowded (which is most days). Hanauma Bay is the well-known marine preserve on Oahu’s east end, popular with snorkelers. If you would like to know more about the main beach and getting into the preserve itself, then please see this post on Hanauma Bay in general, since I won’t duplicate that information here; I will just cover our experience with the far end of the bay.

A quiet evening on a bench at Magic Island - Ala Moana Beach Park with bottle of wine and food to good watching the fading sky and the city lights.

My wife and I live in Waikiki, and one of our favorite beaches is Sans Souci, which translates to “without a care” in French. This beach is next to Diamond Head fronting the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. The beach is protected by a coral reef out front, which makes for gentle waters suitable for family swimming, although there is a lifeguard tower here. There are showers as well as a nice restaurant (The Hau Tree Lanai) right on the beach in the hotel. The beach is also a bit wider here than on the main Waikiki beaches.

Last weekend I hunted for treasure at Waikiki Beach. I wasn’t even the only person doing it. My only tools: a waterproof metal detector and a sand scoop. By now the image of an old guy wearing headphones walking Waikiki Beach sweeping a metal detector over the sand as he goes is a familiar sight. After watching people do this over the years, I decided to try it for myself—with a slight twist—I wanted a fully submersible detector so I could go snorkeling, or even scuba diving with it—and I must say it has been a fun hobby.