Looking for Five-0!

It all started yesterday, as I boarded Hawaiian Flight #15 bound for Honolulu...

4 years have passed since I last boarded this flight, but not much has changed over time.  A few bumps over the Pacific, but otherwise an uneventful flight had me reaching my hotel in Waikiki a mere 9 hours after pulling out of my driveway.  A little chilly (I know... 72 isn't really chilly!), but it is December after all, so no worries!  Dinner was with Felice, from All That's Left are the Crumbs, and it was fantastic.  Even though we had never met in person before I felt as though we had been friends for years.  More on our amazing dinner at Roy's in the next post!

My dear husband flew himself over in his UPS 767 twelve hours after I arrived and we had a date in the lobby at 8 AM, Hawaiian time.  Picking up our car we began the search for Danno... or Five-0.  (Can I just admit that I might have a slight crush on the Hawaii Five-0 Danno charachter??!!)

Off and running we drove our "luxury" rental to Boots & Kimo's in Kailua for an amazing breakfast of omelettes and Banana Pancakes with their signature Macadamia Nut topping.  A little on the sweet side, but delicious none the less, the creamy Mac Nut topping was a special treat and one that we both truly enjoyed.  I love that most breakfasts in Hawaii are served with a side of perfectly cooked sticky rice - something that I just haven't been able to master at home.  Unfortunately, Danno was not at Boots & Kimo's...

Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes with Macadamia Nut Sauce!  MMMMM!

On our way to the surf spots on the North Shore we drove feet away from the beach, viewing picturesque scenery for much of the way.  In all my visits to Oahu and the North Shore I've never seen it "pounding", and I didn't see it again today.  The waves at Kammies and Sunset recorded at 2-3 feet with Pipelines checking in at about 4'.  Chatting with a few extraordinarily friendly locals at Sunset we learned that yesterday had the surf higher, at about 5 feet, providing "An awesome day, brah!".  But, even with the smaller surf plenty of surfers were out there riding the waves and fully enjoying this windy but beautiful Hawaiian day.  Danno wasn't one of them...

Waimea Bay, Oahu

Moving on to Hali'iwa for some souvenir shopping required a stop at the world famous Matsumoto's Shave Ice for a frosty treat.  The line was out the door and my husband fully enjoyed his Tangerine Watermelon Hawaiian Ice. (Danno was not taking a shave ice break today.)  My husband and I wandered through the sleepy little town picking up a few surf souvenirs for my surf minded 14 year old at home and then returned to the rental for our trip back to the hotel.  Passing fields of sugar cane and pineapple our trip to the H1 went quickly.

Currently I'm letting my husband catch a few "zzzzz's" (He did fly nearly all night and then toured me around the island all day) while I sit by the pool enjoying my Kona Brewing Company Pale Ale.  Tonight he and I are off to Roy's for a much needed romantic dinner for two.  Felice and Deb (Kahakai Kitchen) have filled me in on the top pics on the menu and I'm truly looking forward to spending the evening with my guy.... no kids, no dogs, no stresses of home, and no Danno.  Tonight is just me and my guy in Hawaii!

Aloha!