Saturday, May 4, 2013

Day of Eating and Hiking! - Day 3

I honestly don't know what we did more of today, hiking or eating. Right now it feels like all we did was eat...but I think it could be a toss-up! Our day started with a text from my father at 5:48 AM...he forgot that Montana is four hours ahead of Hawaii. Honest mistake. :)

After rolling out of bed we decided to "hike" to the top of Diamond Head this morning. And the word hike is in quotes because I wouldn't consider it a traditional hike as much as it's a walk and a ton of stairs. But nevertheless, it's a work out...especially when it's already over 80 degrees at 7 AM! But Diamond Head is seriously a "must do" if you visit Honolulu. It's so beautiful to see Koko Head Crater on one side, and then all of Waikiki on the other. Feeling the breeze, and feeling the burn in your legs while climbing up what seems like 3,000 stairs! :) FYI...this is another picture heavy blog! :)

The tunnel to get into Diamond Head
After walking quite a ways up a paved path...then onto the dirt path riddled with rocks...you come to the first set of stairs...not bad...eh? I agree...not too bad...but then you haven't gotten to the worst part!


You walk through another tunnel...
 And after walking through this tunnel you and you think you've made it...you turn the corner and see this...


And you get about 3/4 of the way up and I don't care how good of shape you are in...your quads and calves start burning! But you HAVE to keep going. So you finally make it to the top and are greeted with these...

MORE STAIRS!
 But honestly...this is all worth it. The views from atop Diamond Head are so great! :) Do you agree?


I know I'm squinting...but it was BRIGHT out!

I love the colors of the water!!! :)
After our morning "hike" we made our way back to the Hilton and showered, relaxed and then got ready to meet some of my former coworkers for lunch. I can't even begin to tell you how much fun it is to get together with my friends from here. We all love to talk story and of course they love filling Michael in on all things Brian in Hawaii! :) Those can prove to be somewhat embarrassing! :) But after a great meal at Kaka'ako Kitchen we made our way back to the Hilton to do what I thought would be relax!

But of course...we don't go on vacation to relax! So we decided to get the car again and head out and hike to the Makapu'u Tide Pools! I'd done this hike several times with my friends when I lived here...and while it may be a bit taxing at times because you are clambering over rocks and jumping across pools...it's such a great hike! And at the end you get to swim in this gorgeously calm bay! Here are some pictures...

I'm not sure what plants these are...agave? But aren't they cool!

This is the back of Koko Head Crater

We are almost to the water...but before we get there we cut up to the left to get to the trail to the tide pools


This is the hill we climbed down to get to the tide pools





Can you see the crab? :)

I look like the guy from the Captain Morgan bottle! Oy!

An urchin

Before wave...

After wave

The waves were breaking right on the rocks, and they were so gorgeous!

I loved the "infinity pools" :)

I thought this rock was cool! :)
I'd say that the hike was about an hour and a half total. Not too long, but long enough to get really warm climbing over all those black rocks! :) But the swim in the calm bay was such a great treat! As we were climbing down the rocks to get in the water, I slipped and fell the rest of the way in the water! Only my pride was hurt...thank goodness! :)

After this hike we had enough time to drive back to town. There was a brief afternoon rain shower which we welcomed because it kind of cooled things off a bit! We sat on the lanai and I had another glass of Jinro and Michael had some wine! :) We had such a great time doing the two hikes today and it was great being able to do them on our time!

Well...now lets get to dinner. I don't know if you know this...but I have a Korean family. I'm what they call in Hawaii...their hanai grandson...their adopted grandson. Grandma Lee is the mother of my former supervisor here. And when I first started working for the Hilton my boss took me under her wing. I was invited to her parents place in Hawaii Kai for Thanksgiving. And after that I was known as "da boy." And Grandma Lee would make me fried rice and chicken katsu and many other wonderful dishes!

Well no trip to Hawaii would be complete without a family meal at Grandma's! And tonight was the night! I was excited to introduce Michael to this family of mine that he's not met before...and let me tell you, Grandma had us in stitches all night! Grandma loves to make people laugh, and she's good at it! Tonight she prepared fried rice, chicken katsu, meat jun and potato salad for us. And of course she also had kimchee and other pickled veggies that Michael ate like they were going out of style! We had such a great time!!! I can't even explain to you the culture of the people of Hawaii. Grandma Lee said it best..."You come once, you a guest...You come twice...now you family!" After that she told me I could get my own plate! LOL But that's how it works here. It doesn't matter how long I've been gone, they will always welcome me with open arms and are always happy when "da boy" comes home!

It's only been three days of this vacation, yet it seems like we've been here for weeks. I love it here...it's home. I couldn't have asked for a better day, hiking and good food and even better company!

Tomorrow we have what could be a busy day ahead of us. I asked a friend to take us on a hike...and we could either do a partial hike...or what could turn out to be an 8 hour hike. But either way I know it's going to be great!! :) So I'd better get to bed!

Hope you all had a great day! And until next time...A Hui Hou!

1 comment:

  1. Wonderful photos and story! I look forward to your posts every morning. Tell Mike not to touch the sea urchin spins. He'll remember why!
    Val

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