ISO Hawaii Info

Back from Maui - ten great days there. Total population is like 100,000 including tourists, on an island the same size as Oahu (where Honolulu is - population > 1,000,000).

IOW, easy access and parking to beaches even on weekends. Great snorkeling and diving right from the shore. For surfers, the Northern part of the island is great, especially near Paia.

Sept - Oct - Nov is the "slow" season, so cheaper, but you won't see whales.

Sunshine and daily rainbows, water temp always above 80F and air temp above 85F.

Lots & lots & lots of sea turtles !!!

 

Bubba Gump? That is one of my wife's favorite places to go. Working on my list for you, but I left it on my desk at work.

See my PM.

The bad thing about living here is, having to live here and work and not to be able to enjoy or to do all of the touristy stuff if that makes any sense. I have both a full and part time job and it is still a struggle at times. The only time we get to have fun is whenever family comes over to visit.

 

Okay this my third time to try and write this post the previous two I clicked off the page by accident and when I clicked back it was gone. Here goes lucky try number three.

I know that you had asked about nightlife and drinks I can’t help you there I have been on the wagon for going on eight years now. I never much liked clubs even back when I was drinking, I am more of a bar or lounge kind of a guy. What I can do is recommend places that the Wife and I have eaten and like to eat when we do eat out. I will try anything at least once but she is a little more conservative with regards to trying new types of food. She does enjoy Balut though I will not touch it myself http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balut_(egg) she eats chicken eggs instead of duck. If you all want to have an Andrew Zimmern moment I can let you know where to get some Balut? Here is my list in no particular order.

Kua Aina, A local and international burger joint, good sandwiches also. Multiple locations in Honolulu and Haleiwa. http://www.kua-aina.com/main.html

Morimoto Waikiki, Iron Chef Morimoto’s restaurant here in Honolulu, I have only went once for my last birthday. It was kind of expensive but well worth it, I had the Morimoto Omakase (Chef’s Choice). The Omakase was a ten course tasting menu, it was an exciting experience. http://morimotowaikiki.com/

Spices Southeast Asian Cuisine, Located in Honolulu it is an excellent place to sample may dishes from the region of SE Asia. http://spiceshawaii.com/default.aspx

Pho Bistro, In Waipahu serves up a tasty and hardy Vietnamese beef soup with rice noodles. Go for the number #12 without the tripe and tendon, It’s a winner. http://phobistrohawaii.com/

Luibueno’s Mexican Seafood and Fish market, Out on the north shore in Old Haleiwa Town. I have only dinned there once but it was with a party of 12 or so and the food was phenomenal everybody liked it. The wife is nagging me to take her back there again. They have seafood free menu options. http://luibueno.com/

Maui Mike’s Fire-Roasted Chicken, High quality rotisserie chicken located in beautiful Downtown Wahiawa. It is a small place avoid the hours of 1100 thru 1300 that is the lunch time for the nearby military bases. http://mauimikes.com/

Thai Kitchen, Onolicius Thai and Lao dishes, made by family friends at their Waipahu restaurant. Tell them Ed and Soum sent you. http://www.thaikitchenhawaii.com/

Nico’s, Located in the heart of Honolulu Harbor at Pier 38. Serving fresh fish tasty daily specials and they have a bulletproof regular menu. Take a gander in POP next door while you’re in the neighborhood. http:///http://www.nicospier38.com/

Giovanni’s, The original white shrimp truck out on the north shore in Kahuku. There are imitators and then there is Giovanni’s. You can get a shrimp plate three ways Lemon Butter, Scampi, and Hot and Spicy. Go for the Hot and Spicy you only live once right? It’s not that hot I eat it. http://www.giovannisshrimptruck.com/

Yakiniku Million or Million Restaurant, A Korean BBQ place in Honolulu where you can order from the kitchen or get a “set” and cook it at your table. A set is a set order of uncooked meat from the kitchen. http://www.yelp.com/biz/million-restaurant-honolulu

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), If you don’t have one near home. http://www.cpk.com/

All of the many Food Courts located at the various shopping centers will have something for everybody I know how traveling with a group can be. Ala Moana Center has the largest food court, the food court at Maunakea Marketplace in Chinatown is interesting. http://www.chinatownhi.com/?q=node/14

There are others but this should get you all salivating! As I think of more I will post them up, also when you get closer to your trip you can run places by me and I will let you know if I know anything about them.

This last time I cheated I type this in MS Word first.

 

In Maui

"Da Kitchen" $-$$
One real close to the Kahului airport, little strip mall opposite of KMart & Costco.
You have to eat there a few times for lunch.

Mama's Fish House - $$$-$$$$$ (just past Paia village)
For dinner, great food, great ambiance. Bring your camera.

For dinner, the two great Luau's are Feast At Lele, and the Old Lahaina Luau.
Lele - table service, four different styles of food, four different styles of dance/music
Old Lahaina Luau - buffet style, Hawaiian, music & dancers

Both offer 'free' drinks, but the selection is rather limited. Table service drinks will get you less drinks than self-serve.

Many boat tours offer snorkeling, and snorkeling + dinner sunset cruise. Go do at least one, and take anti-sickness pils 2 hours before.

Bring your camera everywhere! Use your flash with the mode Fill-In.

 

Here are some breakfast places.

Koa Pancake House, Good food multiple locations. Koa Pancake House

Anna Miller's, 24 hour dinner kinda of a place known for thier pies. Anna Miller's Restaurant

Zippy's, another 24 hour resturant serving local favorites multiple locations, they are everywhere. My favorite meal there is breakfast. A Spam and cheese omelet with fried rice and wheat toast, broke da mouth. Zippy's Restaurant | Hawaii's Restaurant of Choice

Required reading Pidgin to da Max http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/093584841X?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1
Hawaiian Pidgin - Learn Hawaii Slang Language (Pidgin to Da Max) | Aloha Hawaii