My Out of Office Message is On…

Day 2

Woke up today at 5am wide awake! Incredulous? Well I suppose I would be too if it weren’t for the fact that Hawai’i is 5 hours behind Chicago. So I’m really waking up at 10am. I can get used to this! After a quick shower and getting ready, we both shuffled downstairs to find a place to eat. We had seen a breakfast place called Wailani’s Coffee House at the corner kitty corner from our hotel so we planned on going there. As we walked I struck up a conversation with the valet person at the front of our hotel and asked him where to go. As he moved luggage to and from a van he had been loading, an elderly lady approached us both and mentioned going to Egg’s and Things, a small breakfast place down the street that had reasonable prices. She was a cute old lady that lamented the fact that they had been in Oahu for 2 weeks and had only found the place yesterday, and they were flying home today. We thanked her and decided that this old lady looked like she knew what she was doing and we headed over.

As we rounded the bend we almost passed by it, since it is located in a building sort of. If it wasn’t for the large amount of people waiting outside we probably wouldn’t have found it. Needless to say we walked in, and we were told it would be a 15 minute wait. They have a few benches outside so the wait is comfortable. Couple that with the nice weather and even this type of wait time is cake. I would learn later on that you either come here early (before 7am) or later (after 9am) to avoid the crowds.

Once inside, we were seated and handed menus that were taped onto pieces of wood. Pretty cool, and our waitress was originally from Chicago! She recommended some items on the menu and was off as the place was full and definitely busy. Overall the service was great. My coffee (which was delicious) was kept full, although if you’re like me, that likes my coffee a certain way with the right amount of sugar and milk, that’s not necessarily a good thing. Although I acknowlege that I’m being nitpicky because really I have no problems at all with this place. The dishes range from 10-14 dollars and you get huuuge helpings along with 3 buttermilk pancakes. Now here’s the thing. I’m sure you’re saying, well Mr. Traveler person, I can have pancakes back here on the mainland. Well, I agree. But the awesome awesome thing about this place is that they have several syrups to accompany your pancakes: Guava, Boysenberry, Fruit Marmalade, Maple, and the perennial favorite, Cocunut. I guarantee that you’ll love one of these syrups. Excellent! I ended up ordering Spam and eggs (yep Spam, its a delicacy here) and it came with the pancakes. Rose ordered the portugese sausage and eggs, and that too came with pancakes. As we walked home, we decided that this was the official breakfast place for the trip. Awesome.

We stopped by our hotel grabbed some towels and walked over to the beach by our hotel. I had been to Waikiki before and I must say that the sand around our hotel had bigger grains of sand than those found closer to Diamond Head. Take it as you will but that was our experience. After an hour of laying out, and jumping into the water (which was a little cold but very clear), we headed back and got ready for what we had come on this trip mainly for: the Kokua Festival concert!

This is a festival held by Jack Johnson and all proceeds go to the Kokua Hawai’i Foundation. Their mission:

The Kokua Hawai’i Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawai’i.

If you would like to learn more about the Kokua Hawai’i Foundation mission and programs please peruse our site. You can also view a slideshow featuring our recent projects and the many faces that have made them possible.

Our mission is to provide students with exciting and interactive encounters that will enhance their appreciation for and understanding of their environment so that they will be lifelong stewards of the earth.

We support hands-on learning activities that engage their senses and make lasting impressions on children’s minds. We believe our keiki are the seeds of change to preserving and protecting our beautiful islands.

Our goals this year are to support and expand our recycling program in the schools, to sponsor environmental education field trips and curriculum development, as well as to develop the ‘AINA In Schools program to 5 pilot schools.

This was actually one of the main reasons we came to Hawai’i this year. Not only is this a great concert with many amazing bands (this year, history in the making, Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews together first time playing in this state), but its a great cause as well.

We got to the concert at about 2pm even though the festival began at 4pm. Already there was a line forming. Its a good idea to come early, especially if you have lawn seats so that you can lay your blanket out at a prime spot. Also, it allows you a chance to check out the many booths set up around the Waikiki Shell Ampitheatre as well as to get some food. I don’t know if this food vendor will be here next year, but I highly highly recommend BC Burrito. The burrito’s from this place are AMAZING. If you love Chipotle, or better yet love yourself good Mexican food, this is the place for you. Also, definitely try the Hawai’an shave ice to quench your thirst under the tropical sun.

The festival lasted a good 6 hours and it was definitely worth the show. Go Jimmy Go (a ska reggae band from Honolulu) opened up the festival, followed up by Mason Jennings (folksy blues singer with a definite Dylanesque sound, I’m now a fan), and Paula Fuga a native of Hawai’i. Then it was Tim Reynolds and Dave Matthews who are incredible live and funny as well. This was topped off with a great set from Jack Johnson. Dave, Tim and Jack even came back out and sang Jimmy Buffet’s A Pirate Looks at Forty which was INCREDIBLE.

All in all, incredible, and highly recommended. We took a cab back to the hotel and grabbed some spam musubi’s (Japanese style sushi snack made with rice, seaweed, and a sliver of Spam) as snacks and turned it for the night with Juno playing on TV.

Traveler Tips:

• For excellent hearty breakfasts definitely check out Egg’s and Things found at 1911 Kalakaua Ave # B. Make sure you look out for it or you might just walk by it! Definitely check out their specials written on the black boards. Also, make sure to get pancakes at least once and try that guava or coconut syrup! As a word of warning however, if you are looking to bring some of this goodness home so that you can pour it on some pancakes away from the islands, make sure you check prices. They usually sell the syrup here at $5 per bottle, while you can find the same brand syrup at any ABC store for $3-$4. Get in early or later to avoid the crowds.
  
• This goes without saying, but going out whether walking or going to the beach, remember to put on sunblock or after sun lotion when you have returned back to your hotel. Your skin will thank you later.
• If you like good music and a great time for the entire family, be sure to try and get tickets to the Kokua Festival. As I’ve said, great music, kid friendly, and also a great cause. Make sure to get your tickets early, as in the day they come out on Ticketmaster. As the year progresses the tickets rise in price. If you are out of luck try craigslist, ebay or if you want to risk it, there are people willing to sell tickets at the door. To give you an idea, while we were waiting, I know that there were lawn tickets face value $40 selling for $150. Either way, whatever price you pay, its well worth it.
• If you have kids, they have a kid section as well for music, games, and seats!
• Come to the venue early, especially if you have lawn seats. Seating on the lawn is first come first serve so you can get excellent seats on the lawn if you come early enough. We got there about 2 hours early and we were able to score excellent seats although as the night wears on, more and more people come. Be prepared to share your space!
• If you are going early, make sure to bring water, a blanket and shade if you can bring it such as an umbrella. Also bring snacks. Two hours doesn’t seem like much but it is tough under the sunlight. Also bring something to do, like a deck of playing cards. Thank me later.
• BC Burrito is an excellent Mexican food joint found here in Hawai’i, located on 3607 Waialae Ave should the craving ever strike for food made south of the border. They are open early and serve breakfast burritos as well. These burritos are huge so make sure to bring your apetite!
• For a quick snack, definitely try some Spam Musubi found at any ABC store. These are sushi style snacks that are made up of spam, sauce, seaweed and rice. Excellent and hits the spot, enjoy!

Day 1

After a 9 hour flight, we finally arrived today at about 3 ish in the afternoon at Honolulu International airport, greeted with balmy 80 degree weather, the faint smell of salty ocean and a nice breeze. After picking up our luggage we maneuvered our way to Hertz and rented a car to get around. At first we were given a nice red Ford Mustang, however, as we placed our bags in the trunk and looking around and seeing several other cars that were available, we opted for upgrading to a convertible. What better way to get around on an island than a car without a roof right?

Soon we were off and travellling on H1 heading towards Waikiki. The weather was warm and it was the first time I think that either of us had put on sunglasses in a long time. We definitely did not miss Chicago’s weather. After about 10 minutes of driving we pulled into our hotel for the next 2 days, the Hilton Hawaiian Village. We checked in and found that we would be staying in the Lagoon tower. Our room was studio style, but contained everything we needed, a refrigerator, microwave oven, and even a dvd player.

By the time we had settled in, it was around 4 o’clock (9 pm chicago time) and we were famished, so we headed to Irifune. We got there before it had even opened, but already there was a line forming at the door. That’s always a good sign right? From the outside, this restaurant didn’t look like much (although that’s not really a bad thing), more like a neighborhood restaurant that smacked of mom and pop shop goodness. Soon the doors opened and we, along with the group of people that had amassed outside, shuffled in.

My first impression was that this place was similar to a lot of restaurants I remember going to in the Philippines on street corners. Almost a cafe like feel, with numerous knick knacks decorating the walls on makeshift shelves with posters of random images, and a giant fish net covering the ceiling. In this net were dollar bills strewn across, supposedly to bring good luck to the restaurant. On the walls were 2 giant blackboards that gave the specials of the day. The place once filled bustles with activity with light chatter and the wait staff continuously walking back and forth to the kitchen. A quick look around and you’ll see that most of the people here are locals and a few out of towners, although, while this restaurant isn’t that far off the beaten path, doesn’t seem to be too filled with tourists.

After a quick look at the menu, I decided to go with the choose any 2 special on the blackboard, choosing garlic ahi and garlic crab. Rosey, my travel partner for this trip, chose garlic ahi and spicy teriyaki chicken. This particular dish was $14 but it also came with miso soup, rice, salad, and some tofu. For a drink, I ordered the island juice for $2 (be sure to ask what they have as the flavor changes day to day. Today it was guava!) and was pleasantly surprised that it was free refills! The food came soon enough and it was delicious! If you like seafood, and garlic, this is the place for you. The spicy chicken teriyaki was great as well and had some kick to it. The service was great, even though the place is super busy. We quickly decided that for the amount of food you get, along with the taste, that this was already going to be one of our favorite stops.

Not wanting to stop there, we decided to top off dinner with some dessert. So we made our way to Bubbies. Bubbies is a Hawai’ian ice cream parlor known for its island made ice cream and its mochi. Basically its a half globe of ice cream wrapped in sweet rice dough. It was featured on Oprah’s O magazine. We each got three (runs about a dollar each), and I picked guava, lychee, and raspberry for my flavors. Absolutely amazing.

By the time we had finished, it was about 7pm at night (midnight in Chicago) and we were exhausted. We went back to the hotel, popped in Beowulf on the dvd player, and dozed off mid movie…

Traveler Tips:

• Anything longer than 4 hours is a long flight. Make sure to pack not only snacks but things to do as well. I packed a PSP, loaded my Iphone up with podcasts and brought a computer to watch DVD’s on. Also when packing food, be cognizant of the fact that you wil have to declare any fruits/vegetables that you bring in to Hawai’i as they don’t want to introduce mainland organisms into their ecosystem. As an example, pack dried trail mix with dried fruits, instead of bringing fresh apples/oranges.
• Rent a car! Oahu is a small island and having a car is not only convenient but also cuts down on some costs. For example, taking tours often tags a transportation fee. You can bypass this fee by simply going to the site yourself and joining your tour group there (be sure to clear this up with whichever tour company you are setting up with however). Also, if this isn’t an option don’t fret! The public transportation in Hawai’i seems to be fairly reliant, as we saw numerous buses and cabs heading to different parts of the island during our trip as far as North Shore.
• For Japanese fare, try Irifune located at 563 Kapahulu Avenue! Arrive early and bring your appetite. Also, unlike many restaurants on the mainland where you tell a hostess how many are in your party and they call your name, you must instead go to the front desk and write down both your name and the number in your party. The wait staff will then call your name when your table is ready.
• If ice cream is your desire, definitely go to Bubbies at 1010 University Avenue. The address is a bit tricky however as we found that the actual storefront is located on Coyne street which runs perpendicular to University. With quirky names for its ice cream pies and cakes along with its massive selection of mochi, its a great way to top off a dinner or go for a snack to cool off from the sun.