My Dave Tires: Hawaii, Days 8-10

Don't be a lame duck and skip the first two posts just to get to this one, trust me--the week leading up to the events in this post were all worth it.

Ok, I'll get started. I know you guys can't wait any longer!

DAY EIGHT, September 12: After a couple of rainy days in Oahu, T and I aimed to pick a perfect day to hike the Diamond Head crater. We happened to pick one of the most humid/hottest days out of our stay in Oahu...great! Aside from all the sweating and puffing we did hiking a measly 1.5 mile hike, the view was worth it instantly when we saw Honolulu and Waikiki from the top.

If you're on the fence if you should do this touristy hike, I'm saying do it. Just do it. It gives you a perfect vantage point of Honolulu/Waikiki. You might have to push several tourists out of your photos first, but again, worth it.

We went around 11 in the morning, and we wish we went earlier in the morning--it would have been cooler. Next time we're doing this, we want to see BOTH the sunrise and the sunset from Diamond Head.

Photo op before we hit the switchbacks to the top.

We were probably around 1/2 way to the top. So much switchbacks and slow people.

See.

This was the WORST thing I've ever experienced.

A little backstory to the tunnel picture. I usually don't get claustrophobic, but I read some articles on this specific tunnel being the death of some people, not literally. I started having a mild panic attack right when I entered the tunnel. Why? Well, it was HOT and HUMID inside, I was already hiking up 70+ steps of stairs into this tunnel. The people front of us were extremely slow, it could fit only a single file of people, so you have people coming back down rubbing up on you while you make your way up. I think the slowness of people walking up really got to me, because I started breathing differently when I got out of the tunnel and swearing to T that I would never do that again.

Unfortunately, I had to do it on the way back, but this time the tunnel was fairly empty so I basically ran downhill through the tunnel. Much better!

TL;DR: If you have claustrophobia, wait until the tunnel is empty before proceeding...VERY QUICKLY.

After the tunnel and 90+ more steps, this was the view!

Around the boulder is Waikiki and Honolulu!

Waikiki and Honolulu...and the tourists!

After.

When we looked up this hike, we planned around two hours for this so we could take our time and get up/down safely. In the end, it only took us a hour! #Winning.

After the hike T and I were SOAKED through our clothes with sweat, and we were supposed to meet a family friend for lunch at Liliha Bakery. I'm the smart one in the relationship because I brought a total outfit replacement, and all T brought was a pair of boxers (not even a fresh shirt). I was able to freshen up in the bathroom and feel all relaxed in my dry clothes. Not the same could be said for T (again, I told you so).

Lunch was great with an even greater company, but T and I were itching to go to Waikiki and walk around.

First we got dropped off in a super nice hotel/shopping mall full of designer stores (remember my first post about Asians and designer stuff), well this mall was entirely in Japanese. I was probably the only white person there, never did I think I would encounter this in America--what an experience!

To my frustration, all the maps/guides were in Japanese, I couldn't find the bathroom!

After running around the mall for a little bit looking for the bathroom, we got our way outside and towards the beach for a very memorable night!

We walked by early enough to get some front standing room!

Shawn Garnett -- Flippa in Hawaii 5-0!

Taylor Wily -- Kamekona in Hawaii 5-0!

A bunch of people came by here and there, but by 6:45, THE people you wanted to see were blazing by. T and I couldn't contain ourselves when this person came by...

Jorge Garica, Jerry on 5-0 and Hurley from Lost!

Unfortunately we didn't get a selfie with Jorge, he was whisked away by a security guy before he had the chance to reach our corner. I was so upset but I was so starstruck. I love Hurley. So. Much.

Then more stars arrived...

Grace Park, Kono on 5-0!

Alex aka Steve on 5-0!

JIN! JIN! JIN!

Ok, taking a breather here. Daniel Dae Kim as Chin 5-0 and Jin on Lost!

My last view outside of the hotel room. I miss this view so much!

But of course, a flat tire!

We got a flat tire heading to Honolulu to pick up some Mochi candies and Manapuas, and I was convinced that Hawaii didn't want us to leave. Unfortunately nobody else thought the same way. Darn it.

Had to sit in the back seat with the foam topper from the trunk.

By the time we got through security at Honolulu airport, we were exhausted and hungry. T and I munched on some manapuas and Starbucks. We also had some bags of chips in our bag for snacking on the plane, but look what happened to the bag.

On our way back home on Tuesday! Lila does not like cars.

What an incredible vacation. I'm so glad T's family asked me to go along, but next time I hope I get to go with the full family and to other islands Hawaii has!

My Dave Tires: Hawaii, Days 4-7

I'm back with some more Hawaiian shenanigans!

DAY FOUR, September 8: If you don't remember the whirlwind that was my first three days in Hawaii, go refresh here. This day was a day of relaxation for all four of us. We headed out to the lagoon, the water was much calmer today so we broke out the swim goggles and the GoPro to find some awesome fishes.

But first, I had to bury T under the sand...because we were on a beach, duh!


I plan on making my former film major boyfriend compile all of the GoPro videos we took! We got some amazing footage and I can't wait to share it with you!

We were underwater for so long we didn't realize most of the day had passed and we were starving! T's parents wanted to take T and I to Ala Moana Center for lunch, it was a huge partial outdoor mall that still had some premier designer stores. While T's parents went off to Sam's Club, T and I took the chance to walk around and get some steps with our Fitbit!

I didn't do any shopping here, I swear.

After walking around for a hour or so, T and I craved some shave ice--so we met back up with T's parents and walked to a local shave ice place. It was good but not as good as Baldwin's shave ice! Am I becoming a shave ice snob?! Maybe...

Today was SO laid-back that I didn't take any pictures with my T3i other than a sunset picture but the reason why we were chilling so hardcore was because we had something big planned for the next day!



DAY FIVE, September 9: Kualoa Ranch! If you didn't know, this is the ranch/valley that appears in a lot of movies, TV shows such as LOST, 50 First Dates, and Pearl Harbor the movie! It's basically Hollywood of Hawaii if I could find any more simple definition.

Kualoa Ranch was SO beautiful, but it was SO hot that day and taking the tour in a converted school bus wasn't our brightest ideas. Do you remember how plasticky and sticky those seats were?! Imagine being in those seats on a 90+ degree and over 70% humidity day. EW.


T was so excited, if you don't know him already--he's such a TV show/movie snob. He has a list of movies for me to watch...that I keep putting off. Sorry, not sorry.

You can't beat the view!

The bunker that was used LOST and a couple of other movies/shows! Also an historical Pearl Harbor location for when Hawaii was attacked.

When I asked T why he wanted a picture here, he said "you never know if a future movie/show will be filmed in this room, so take the picture and I can say I've been in the same room as X and Y and Z!" Nerd.

My turn to be a nerd? I ran to this sign and hurried T up to take a picture. Shrug.

T also has a weird obsession with Easter Island and tiki people. Don't ask me why.

I know what you're thinking, "usual Japanese tourist".

After the tour, all we wanted to do was go swimming but when we got to the beach, we were all way too exhausted from the heat to go swimming. We decided to sit on the beach and people watch. We picked Lanikai Beach which is a public beach near where famous people like Oprah, President Obama and more celebrities usually like to stay in the houses in the area. We didn't see anyone famous, darn.

We stopped at Starbucks for the first time during our stay in Hawaii to get some Kona Starbucks coffee for friends and family. I have a collection of You Are Here mugs from Starbucks, so I grabbed a Hawaii mug for my collection. (I'm up to 8 mugs right now, but that's another story for another time!)

For dinner we decided to drop by a place called Teddy's Bigger Burgers, they were probably one of the best burger places we've ever had. It reminded me so much of Red Mill burgers in Seattle, if you haven't been--you should! Ironically, while at Teddy's we discovered that there were two locations less than 10 minutes away from me in Bothell! You can bet we're having Teddy's again when we're home in Seattle.

DAY SIX, September 10: Today was a laid back day again due to the long day we all had the day before, we grabbed the chance to head out to the lagoon again.

T and I decided to join T's dad in getting some more Manapuas. Manapuas are snack food that's popular in Hawaii, they're usually called steamed buns or pork buns back on the mainland. It's a pastry that's stuffed with different meats, usually pork or chicken.

After eating some Manapuas, T and I decided to give the lagoon a break and head to one of our hotel's pools. We couldn't resist getting a frozen Mai Tai and Piña Colada. The drinks helped cool us off just in time to watch the sunset from a fireside area outside. We got a couple of bug bites sitting there, but the sunset was so worth it.




Day six was super relaxing and probably boring to read, sorry!

DAY SEVEN, September 11: We started waking up later in the day at this point, we were all pretty exhausted from being in sun most of the days and walking around so much. For day seven, we decided we needed to do some souvenir shopping for our family and friends. I won't say what we bought but we got some cool local stuff this day.

You know who you girls are. <3

It was also thundering and raining so hard today that when we went to lunch at Kua 'Aina Sandwich in the Ward Village the lights started flickering! The sandwiches were so good, the fries helped! The Ward Village is a stone throw from Ala Moana center, so it was also half outdoor/indoor shopping center. We bought some Hawaiian shortbread cookies from Honolulu Cookie Company, T and I decided on triple dipped chocolate cookies. We haven't ate them yet as of the moment I'm writing this post, but we plan on eating some this weekend!

After lunch and running through the pouring rain we decided to get some shave ice from Waiola at the Ward Village. We sat in a dry spot and munched on our goodies.

T and I decided to stay in and watch a movie because we had yet another HUGE day in Honolulu/Waikiki the next day. You'll want to read this, I promise!

Don't worry, day 8 definitely makes up for day 4, 6 and 7! Keep an eye out for the post coming on Wednesday.

My Dave Tires: Hawaii, Days 1-3

My Dave Tires? Don't ask. Autocorrect gets the best of us sometimes.

I came back from Hawaii only five days ago, but I knew I had to share my adventures with you. Be prepared for a trilogy of very long posts, bear with me--there are pictures!

This was my first trip to the islands of Hawaii, and I don't intend for it to be the last time I visit! Hawaii was truly beautiful, I went to the island of Oahu for ten whopping days with my boyfriend and his parents.

I know, you've heard how beautiful Hawaii was so many times, but seriously--take my word for it, go and visit at least a couple of times in your lifetime. The culture, food, and lifestyle is so different than the mainland United States. I will mention those later in the post!

The view from our hotel porch! Thank God for oceanfront rooms.

DAY ONE, September 5: T and I arrived very late on Friday night, I had to wait the entire day waiting for T to get off work and head to the airport. I think I deserved a treat for all that waiting, the treat came next morning when I woke up to an oceanfront view of the lagoon and the Pacific Ocean.

I was ready to hit the beach, so we all headed out to the lagoon at the earliest we could...this was at 9 am. Remember, 9 am is Noon in the West Coast. We all went snorkeling and looked for fishes in the lagoon, it was too murky thanks to the waves that were coming through--but we still saw some awesome fish in the reef around the lagoon. I also got the chance to look around the resort we were staying at and stayed at the Koi pond for a little to watch the Koi fish swim by.

I take this in pride, we aimed to eat local food throughout the vacation, and we did it! My first lunch in Oahu was at Loco Moco. It was a very unique Hawaiian thing to have a Loco Moco (I decided to pass on this) which is "a meal in the contemporary cuisine of Hawaii. There are many variations, but the traditional loco moco consists of white rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and brown gravy." Thanks Wikipedia!

T's parents wanted to head into Honolulu to pick up some Mochi candies usually named Chi Chi Dangos in Hawaii. I'm not a huge fan of Mochi, but if you're in the area--the locals rave about the Nisshodo Candy Store.

We drove through Waikiki munching on Chi Chi Dangos, it was a very rich area as there were literally hundreds of brand name stores, here I learned that Japanese tourists adore designer brands--hence so many designer stores. I've never seen them up close so my eyes were glued to the window! We passed some locations, and T looked up where we could crash a Hawaii 5-0 filming location (we did't find any, but we found something even better--stay tuned for this).

T, being a Hawaii 5-0 buff, wanted to see some locations that was featured in a couple of episodes, the first location we both thought of was visiting the King Kamehameha statue front of the Supreme Court of Hawaii building. Right across it was the Iolani Palace, which served as a palace for the royals residing in Hawaii a long time ago.

The Iolani Palace, it was very beautiful and grand.

King Kamehameha statue front of the Supreme Court of Hawaii.

After this, we had to get another local delicacy at Waiola Shave Ice! At this point the day was already humid and hot, so I welcomed anything cool to eat. T and his family swears shave ice in Hawaii can't be replicated in the mainland, my goal is to prove them wrong. If you have a shave ice location in the Seattle region, let me know and I'll try it!