What a difference a day makes, no more 20 degree weather to complain about, no threat of snow and ice. The sun is out and the Hawaiian shirt is in. We spend the morning driving along the eastern shore, admiring the majestic coastline. Although this is not our first time driving this route, the enjoyment of this wonderful sweeping panorama has not abated a bit.
Unfortunately, Hanauma Bay, a favorite diving spot, is closed to tourists on Tuesdays. The fish must need their break from the tourists as well. Hanauma Bay is formed by a sunken volcano, one can easily recognize the outline of the crater from the parking area above.
Hanauma Bay From Prior Visit
Moving on, there is the spitting cave of Portlock. No spitting activity, the water is too calm. Then to Halona Blowhole, no activity also. This is probably the wrong season to see any significant activity on the east side. Here’s a link to a Youtube video that shows the spitting cave in action.
At Makapu’u Beach overlook, right across from the Rabbit Island, a few daring souls are launching off from the overlook and paraglide down to the beach. There is a slight breeze and is enough for the paragliders to hang out and hang loose. Some of them are able to maneuver the paraglide so they are almost stationary in mid air, floating and riding the air current.
Rabbit Island
We reach Waimanalo Town Center near Kailua Bay around noon. This is the same area where president Obama visited just a few weeks ago. One of the ice cream shops here has Obama’s picture mounted on the entrance, showing him working off a single scoop cone. Not that we try, but we have this coincidental thing about vacationing at the same president vacationing spots (e.g. Grand Teton, Martha’s Vineyard, and now O’ahu).
We’ve been to Hawaii several times, but we never had a chance to try out genuine local prepared Hawaiian food. We tried out Lau Lau pork a couple of years ago but it was from Costco, so that doesn’t count. At the Waimanalo Town Center, there is a local fast food restaurant called Ken’s. Locals drop by for their take outs. Ken’s is a very basic, no thrill establishment. Their Kalua pig platter is very good and homey; it is like pulled pork without the BBQ sauce, but marinated with local Hawaiian salt. It’s very tasty and tender and cost only $7; the serving portion is enough for both of us.
Next stop is the Pauli lookout. It’s about 3PM and the sun is starting to cast a shadow on the eastern slope. This typically windy spot is dead calm today, not even a breeze. Pauli lookout has an un-obstructive view of the eastern shore. Today’s partly cloudy and clear weather just makes the view that much more memorable.
Pauli Lookout
It’s time to break out the sandals and wet our feet. Lanikai Beach is recognized as one of the best beaches on this island. It has a long stretch of white sand, with views of Moku-lua islands, meaning two islands. Lanikai Beach is not too crowded at all, may be because today is Tuesday, most folks still have to work in paradise. The sea is quite calm on this side of the island; all the huge waves are over at the north shore. Comparatively speaking, Maui and Kauai beaches are still better than the O’ahu beaches, but then such comparison is like asking which sides of Park Ave do you like better?
There are a lot of kayakers here; some kayaks can hold up to 6 or 7 people. As the afternoon wears on, there are more people launching their kayaks. They must be the office workers getting off work. Watch this video and you’ll know what we’re talking about.
