O'ahu Beaches

Continuing on my "O'ahu Favorites" journey, 

I've come to beaches.

Oh, O'ahu beaches!

O'ahu and Kaua'i have the BEST beaches because

 the "younger" islands (those closer to the hot spot, like the Big Island)

have more fresh volcanic activity and are covered in more hardened lava that has yet to break down in to sand.

O'ahu and Kaua'i are old. ;)

That means...LOVELY BEACHES!

Here are my O'ahu favorites (I'll have another string of posts for Kaua'i):

1. Waimanalo Bay

This is where we were married 

(actually our ceremony was at Waimanalo Beach Park, which is different than Waimanalo Bay....I happen to like the BAY better for beachin' it)

The water is GORGEOUS!

The most SCENIC O'ahu beach, in my humble opinion.

Lots of parking, bathrooms, a few picnic tables...plenty space to spread out.

Disclaimer: Not a good beach on a windy day, though, or on a high jellyfish warning day.

2. Kalama Beach Park

Everyone FLOCKS to Kailua Beach Park and to Lanikai Beach...

when..

just down the street...

is Kalamas.

So be it!

Go to Kailua and Lanikai (which doesn't have bathrooms, btw)!

Kalamas is a little known (I know...I probably shouldn't be posting it, then)

GORGEOUS stretch of beach in Kailua. 

Disclaimer: Not a lot of parking in the main lot, but there is plenty parking in the surrounding neighborhoods

(just don't park too close to a stop sign, like I did, or expect a parking ticket!).

3. China Man's Hat (Mokoli'i)/Kualoa Park:

China Man's Hat is the island off in the distance...and the park/beach area is called Kualoa Park.

Rarely EVER have I seen it crowded, and it is BEAUTIFUL!

Lots of parking, BBQ grills, picnic tables, grass AND sand, bathrooms...great for a family beach day!

Disclaimer: Not the best beach for swimming.

4. Mokuleia

O'ahu is FAMOUS for the North Shore.

Pipeline...amazing in December/January for surf watching.

Sunset Beach...classic.

If you want to experience the N. Shore beaches (and you should), here is a great website:

http://www.northshoreoahu.org/html/beaches.html

However, if you keep driving west past Haleiwa...you hit Mokuleia...beautiful, untouched paradise!

(Also the location where "Lost" was filmed...)

 Disclaimer: There are no restaurants/shops nearby.  Also can be a "localized" area...just be respectful.

5. Ka Iwi Shoreline

This is my absolute FAVORITE place ON THE ISLAND.

In fact, Ka Iwi has its own post on my blog:

My Ka Iwi Post

 It is a place to EXPLORE! There are tide pools and little dirt trails next to the ocean.

Disclaimer: This is not a beach for swimming or getting in the ocean...period. Parking is tricky: Driving on Kalanianaole heading towards Makapu'u, there is a dirt parking lot just after Kealahou St.

Those are my FAVORITES! 

There are more "touristy" beaches on O'ahu...

...ALOT of them...

but I don't recommend them if you want a real Hawai'i experience.

aloha.

O'ahu coffee

My last post outlined my favorite restaurants on O'ahu.

This post is all about COFFEE!

I happen to love a good, dark cup of joe...

and I've become a bit of a coffee snob.

Now, not all Hawai'ian coffee is created equal.

In fact, most of the coffee sold in tourist shops is called a "Blend", 

meaning it is part Hawai'ian coffee and part junk coffee.

My favorite?

100% Kaua'i coffee.

Keep in mind that I order straight coffee, not the sugary frou-frou, so my rating of coffee is in the taste of the bean.

Here are my favorite coffee joints on O'ahu:

1- Covenant Coffee:

www.covenantbooksandcoffee.com

 Simply THE BEST place on island to buy roasted beans...period.

2- Morning Brew:

www.morningbrewhawaii.com

GREAT americanos...in Kailua town.

They also have some rockin' nachos!

Take a book and stay awhile!

3- Honolulu Coffee Company:

www.honolulucoffee.com

Many locations around the island.

Again, great tasting americanos.

Hub-sauce likes the frou-frou "Nutty Hawai'ian Latte"...if you are a frou-frou coffee drinker, apparently this is the way to go!

4- Coffee Gallery:

www.roastmaster.com

In the Northshore Marketplace in Haleiwa town.

Great roasted beans and great prepared coffee.

aloha.

My Favorite Restaurants on O'ahu

It wasn't until I moved away from O'ahu that I realized how many restaurants I enjoy on island!

I thought I'd comprise my list here on my little 'ole blog

for all those who may be interested!
Disclaimer: I am a vegetarian...so local plate lunches are not interesting to me, but if you are looking for those, I'm sure you'll find them without a problem!

Here goes:

1. The Cream Pot: 

 http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/37/451863/restaurant/Hawaii/Waikiki/Cream-Pot-Hawaiian-Monarch-Hotel-Waikiki-Honolulu

A precious little breakfast restaurant on the outskirts of Waikiki (McCully side).

The decorations are reminiscent of a hobbit's house.

If you go, you must get the hashbrowns...to die for!  I always got the blueberry crepes with the red wine reduction sauce...ahhh!

2. Shorebird:

http://shorebirdwaikiki.com/

At the Outrigger Reef Hotel...right on the beach!  
Open air restaurant with live music some nights.

I always went to the bar side, as the main restaurant was a "grill your own meal" deal...not my thing.

Fish and Chips at the bar, however?  Totally my deal.

3. Brasserie du Vin:

http://brasserieduvin.com/

French restaurant in the middle of downtown (not Waikiki).

GREAT happy hour, excellent baked brie!

4. Himalayan Kitchen:

http://himalayankitchen.net/

Excellent food in the heart of Kaimuki.

Don't let the location fool you...Kaimuki is not the most beautiful area of O'ahu, but Himalayan Kitchen makes it all worth it!

5. The Olive Tree Cafe:

 http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/37/411680/restaurant/Hawaii/Kahala/Olive-Tree-Cafe-Honolulu

Incredible Greek food...the best I've ever had.

Cash only, dinner only, next to Kahala Mall, parking limited...all worth it!

Get the baba ganoush...you won't regret it!

6. Covenant Books and Coffee:

http://covenantbooksandcoffee.com/
another Kaimuki gem

Great soups, soup du jour different daily...I LOVE the 
green chili corn chowder

Also THE BEST place to buy Hawai'ian coffee...HANDS DOWN!  Great roasted coffee beans.

7. Town:

http://www.townkaimuki.com/

Yet another lovely restaurant in Kaimuki

Local ingredients, gourmet menu, great breakfast 
(I like the granola and fruit...seriously delicious)!

8. Blu Water Grill:

 http://bluwatergrill.com/

On the marina in Hawai'i Kai.

Well-rounded, decently priced menu.

If the weather is nice, sit outside on the patio!

 Great for a Sunday brunch or a fancy-ish dinner.

9. Plumeria Beach House:

http://www.kahalaresort.com/dining/plumeria-beach-house.cfm

At the Kahala resort...open air restaurant, can sit outside or inside.

Great food, amazing atmostphere, spectacular resort!

10. The Contemporary Museum Spalding House Cafe:

http://honoluluacademy.org/12001-contemporary_cafe

Fun location partially up Tantalus.  Good food, neat museum!

11. Cafe Kaila:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/37/1423189/restaurant/Hawaii/Kaimuki/Cafe-Kaila-Honolulu
Favorite place for a brunch/lunch date with friends!
Great food, using local ingredients.

I'm sure I'll think of more, but for now...that's it!  Eat up!

aloha.

Can you smell it?

...

Summer's coming!

I can smell it in the air, 

can you?

Do you know what that MEANS?

Think

think

think...

SALAD!

Lots of it!

Here are my two favorite salad dressing recipes for summertime:

1- Mix equal parts fat free greek yogurt (I like Fage) with your favorite salsa.  Then, pour it over a big bed of greens!  I also like to add corn, black beans, and (if I'm feeling rebellious) some crushed tortilla chips.  YUM!

2- The beautiful momma of one of my besties makes a lemon garlic dressing that is TO LIVE FOR!  I like to pour it over greens topped with various veggies, such as red peppers and carrots.  For a super-summer version, add some sliced strawberries...you won't regret it!

1/4 c. lemon juice, 1/2 c. EVOO, 1 tsp. salt, 3-4 crushed garlic cloves 

(mix it all together...makes enough for MANY salads)

aloha.

Balance

 Recently, the Hubs went on a week-long trip with his school,

and left me here, 

alone.

I don't fear being alone.

Actually, I am a loner at-heart.

Spending time alone always seems to balance my heart, soul, and mind,

and therein nourishes my relationships with others.

In having this thought,

"balance"

was at the heart of my meditations during my "alone week."

Balance was the frequent subject in ballet class...

a subject with which I constantly fought. 

"Find your balance, Lindsay!"

"You must balance before you can pirouette!"

"Engage your core and BALANCE!"

Perhaps my core was weak, I was top-heavy, or my anxieties over not balancing caused an imbalance.

Whichever was the case, 

I was horrible in regards to balance...

in dance class.

As an adult, balance has a refreshed meaning,

yet not entirely disconnected from dance.

"Find your balance, Lindsay!"

My balance now includes frequent trips to the ocean to calm my mind,

daily exercise to keep my body healthy and my feet on the ground,

and healthy eating for EVERY meal...I love vegetables!

 "You must balance before you can pirouette!"

If I haven't taken the steps above to balance my mind and body, the cyclical pirouette of daily life seems more challenging than it should be.  In dance terms, "I'll fall-out of my turn" if I haven't first practiced to balance.

"Engage your core and BALANCE!"

Engagement from the inside out...

...thinking before I speak

...planning before I leap

...knowing my intentions before completing an action...

  Strengthen the inside and the outer results will be pleasing.

One morning during my "alone week," I was sitting beside the ocean prior to going to work.

To start the day, especially at the shore, I like to do a "5-Senses Meditation."

(I wrote about it here: http://hermann8er.blogspot.com/2010/07/abandon.html)

On this particular day, I had stopped at a beach that is near to a train track.

As I was concentrating on my sense of smell, 

suddenly...

a train came whizzing behind me,

blowing it's HORN,

overstimulating my sense of sound,

and trumping my sense of smell.

I didn't feel particularly put-out by this occurrence, as I am thankful for the train and for it's horn.

I did begin thinking, however, about how easy it is in our culture and generation to trump our other senses with our sense of sight.

We happen to have become a screen-addicted society on the majority.  

How many "devices" do we own?

How many "devices" do our children own?

How many children take meds for ADHD, but have 5,000 devices to distract their attention from the direction of their life?

Just like that train, we are over-stimulating ourselves, and it is only when we take the time to be aware of "the now"

that we recognize the imbalance that has taken place.

Speaking of "the now", summer is here..in full-effect...and the plants are LOVING IT!

 A slightly voyeuristic view of our orchid...

 Jasmine...about to bloom!

The gardenia is OPENING!!

Welcome, summer!

aloha.

100th post

This is my 100th post!

I saved the sharing of a momentous occasion JUST for this posting.

Actually,

I lied.

I simply have not been blog-loving in the last few months, and

it is by pure coincidence that I am sharing a momentous occasion for this,

my 100th post.

A little ditty about this being my 100th post:

I began this blog in 2007 as a way to share pictures and stories with my family and friends.

At that time, I was living in Hawai'i and this blog,

originally titled

"Living la Vida Hawai'i"

was my format with which to distribute pictures and stories with whomever wanted to listen.

This was my first post:

http://hermann8er.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-job.html

Of course, 

I no longer live in Hawai'i...

insert sad face,

BUT (there's always a but),

I have kept my blog

BECAUSE

it has transformed into my way to recount the stories of my life

in a permanent and multi-media format. 

I used to scrapbook...kinda...

you know, 

tirelessly cut and glue realia from my life into another book, 

only to pull it out from time to time and reminisce.

To heck with it! 

I live in the digital age!

So here I am.

and here I stay.

Bloggin' away.

Okay...onward to my momentous occasion.

I turned THIRTY!

and it feels GREAT!

I feel like I now possess the "street cred" to be a successful professional...

problem is:

I'm not a professional anything right now...hahaha!

But, I AM thirty,

and I DO believe that to be an unspoken requirement to be taken seriously in interviews 

for the profession which I desire.

Here, then, are the photos of my MOMENTOUS OCCASION!

 The beautiful bowl given to me by my husband.  

Care of Heather Knight ceramics: http://elementclaystudio.blogspot.com/

 Super moon!

 Breakfast at The Mission.  I am ADDICTED to this place...

http://www.themissionsd.com/

 Official Californians

 Mom and me

 Hubs and me...we're now the same age!

 My Bra, me, and Hubs

 California's version of Pipeline...well...

 At Islands restaurant for birthday dinner!

 The annual clown cone

The results of the annual clown cone...

Here's to thirty more!

aloha.

Short reflection

Reflecting today on the spirit of ALOHA

I miss it...terribly...

Of course, aloha is always with me,

and I can shine aloha outwardly,

but what I miss

is feeling ALOHA 

from others.

Coffee shops, street corners, beaches,

Here in CA, I have encountered more scowls than smiles...

more awkward stares than kind eyes...

more shoulder bumps from people rushing than mentions of aloha...

...and although Hawai'i is not the exact opposite,

there existed an air of ALOHA

within the majority.

I'm working on resilience.

Resilience when the lady in the coffee shop has a "tizzy" when my computer cord stretches across the floor.

Resilience when the man with the dog rushes in front of me in the grocery line, only to leave his dog in his place while he goes back to the aisle to get something he forgot.

Resilience when I pass another on a trail and my smile is not met.

Resilience.

and ALOHA.

Breathe in...

Breathe out...

ALOHA

I'm Still Here...

I'm still here...just without easily accessible Internet...I'll be back when I can figure out how to connect. Unplugged for now.