TravelswithCharie

  Waikiki and Diamond Head Aloha! Sometimes there are hidden treasures in adverse situations. We just have to move past the inconveniences and sacrifices we have taken. This is how I unexpectedly found myself in Honolulu. After missed flights in Tokyo (I was flying on standby), I finally got a seat to return to the US and my flight home was through Honolulu. I was relieved when I finally got a seat on a flight home through Honolulu.  It wasn’t ideal in terms of finding a flight to the mainland as a standby as this is quite a popular destination. Secondly, the hotels are expensive, at least to me. But I found I could use my IHG points to lower the cost of a hotel room on Kuhio, near Waikiki. So I decided to stay overnight and get a good rest after the stress of the last couple of days.  Food Truck Station on Kalakaua After a long and refreshing nap, I walked to the food truck park that a hotel employee had recommended to me earlier. It wasn’t easy to decide what to eat ...

Waikiki  Beach . While many visitors to Hawaii complain that Waikiki is way too crowded, there are many others who love to be in the thick of things. Waikiki is the place to walk on the beach, people watch, have a sunset drink, try surfboarding for the first time and shop, shop, shop. ABC Stores . Speaking of shopping, you'll find most of the things you need and more at the ubiquitous ABC Stores.  Aloha shirts . The most trendy aloha shirts are sold by Tori Richards and Reyn's. Reyn's made the faded look chic with its reverse printed shirts. You can also buy aloha shirts for a good deal less at the Flea Market at the Stadium. It's open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Hula . The hula tells a story so the dancer must be a good storyteller. This song tells it all, "Lovely hula hands, graceful as the bird in motion".  Ukelele . The hula is only complete when the dancers are accompanied by a trio of singers, one of whom plays the ukelele.  ...

Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu has been serving their famous Portuguese malasada from this site since 1957. It’s practically an institution. Malasadas are ball shaped doughnuts served warm from the fryer. There are plain and filled malasadas. Pick from a variety of fillings like haupia (coconut), pineapple, chocolate and custard. Try one of each. If you can’t go to the bakery at 933 Kapahulu Avenue, there are Malasadamobiles™ around Oahu. If you would like to make your own malasada, check out Emeril Lagasse’s malasada recipe at www.emerils.com/recipes/by_name/malasadas.html * * * Image by TravelswithCharie