Day 437 - Sea Horse Down

Monday 6/27
Cathy & I started our Monday w/ a pre-dawn walk on the beach. Very pleasant, good way to start the day. On our way back to the hotel we encountered another couple getting their "beach-head" on. They weren't very cautious about being seen either, a Hawaii thing?

When we got back to the room we took a nap & let the kids keep on sleeping. As they slept I humored myself throwing a cracker off the balcony and watched the birds fight over it. The simplest things are sometimes the most entertaining.

Breakfast: Buffet @ the Shore Bird, one of the restaurants adjacent our hotel. For myself just one trip with a conservative plate of Mahi Mahi, Portuguese sausage, rice, yogurt, and pineapple cole slaw.

We piled into the mini van & headed off to Hilo Hatties, the place to go for Hawaiian shirts & clothing of all sorts. On the wall there is a world record shirt, a 400XL. That shirt is as tall as two people and as wide as a truck.

With our new Hawaiian shirts in hand we began our memory lane tour, a drive around Oahu where Cathy & the kids lived for 3'ish years in the mid-90s. Ryan & Cameron were born here 16 & 17 years ago respectively. We couldn't get onto the Army bases to see some of the places they frequented since none of us carries valid military I.D. anymore. Still a good time and a gorgeous drive.

We ended our tour at the Dole Pineapple Plantation which was next door to where they used to live. Your typical tourist hot spot complete with activities to occupy your time & shops to capture your wallets. 

Snack: Pineapple of course and I bought a can of Spam flavored Macadamia Nuts, ate one & no more- yuck!

Our drive to the north shore & then around the east shores back to Waikiki was scenic & surprising. Food trucks, many many of them along the way to serve your cravings for huli-huli chicken, shrimp, whatever. We didn't eat at any but we will at some point.

Back at the hotel we hit the beach & then pool for a couple of hours of play in the water time. Everything is for rent on the beach, beach chairs & umbrellas go fast. We were cool just flopping our towels on the sand as if we were at Oak Street beach back home. Ryan brought a soccer ball, yeah I don't know why either, so we used that to throw around in the ocean. The dead sea horse that happened by definitely caught their attention but didn't freak anyone out. 

Dinner: Kimchi Ramen at the Ala Moana mall food court. Hot enough to melt most metals.

We walked over to the mall in the evening for dinner and to just walk around the city. I think the only thing we bought was chap-stick for Cameron. When done at the mall we took the trolley back to the hotel. We were the only americans on board, everyone else was most definitely Japanese.

Great day, ready for Tuesday when Cathy's parents and our niece arrive to join us for the rest of the week.