"We paid for blood!"
Date: October 24, 2019
This month marked my third anniversary living in Hawaii. What better way to celebrate than posting an update? It has been a very busy several months since May. Work has been crazy, there's protests everywhere, and we are (hopefully) nearing the end of a very long summer heat spell that many locals have described as the hottest and most humid they can remember. In fact, this year several heat records were broken. Being outside has not been very fun for a long time now, yet my shave ice intake has not increased at all. What's with that?
The years I've spent here have gone by so fast I can barely timestamp the things I've done. Whether it's the onset of senility or a case of information overload, much of my memories here blend into a flashback soup with no certain chronological order. According to my phone, here are a few neat things I've done this year:
Somewhat off the beaten path is a great little adventure I recommend to anyone visiting (or living in) Hawaii. Just off the shores of Lanikai Beach is the tiny island of Mokulua, an uninhabited bird sanctuary. Many people kayak or paddleboard to its miniature beach almost a mile out. I find it so interesting you can do this.
Looking out at the islands from Lanikai, courtesy of Google Maps. The right island is off limits.
After a tiring trek you reach the beach on Mokulua, or Mokes as they say. Honestly there's not much here except some jagged rocks, fearless birds, and the Queen's Bath, a tidepool whose historical significance I'm not qualified to elaborate on.
To make the most of our kayak rental we visited another neat island further north next to Kualoa Ranch. The island of Mokoli'i, or Chinaman's Hat, doesn't have much of a beach but makes up for it by having a trail to the top.
A view of the island (on the left) and the "beach" after landing with the mountain ridges of Kualoa Ranch in the background. The first picture was taken on a clearer day, hence the discrepancy in the weather.
The view from the top, pretty spectacular even in gloomy weather. I like to think I'm a decent hiker, but coming back down to our boats had some nerve wracking experiences that may not be for everyone. The trail is narrow, steep, and in our case, wet and slippery. I would emphasize caution when doing this trail. The rewards, however, are well worth it.
On the topic of islands, at a later point in time I visited Goat Island, another small rock with it's own secluded beach. The cool part about this one is it's close enough to swim to, even walk to during low tide. I wouldn't recommend attempting the journey except for experienced swimmers or those with kayaks/boards as there is a current and the distance is deceivingly far at over 1/8 of a mile. Unfortunately I have no pictures myself, and the above shot is from Google Maps. Dragging a camera while trying to swim to an island was not a priority. You'll just have to believe me when I say the beach is pretty awesome.
Up to this point I've covered swimming or kayaking to an island, but how about flying to one? A benefit of living in the middle of the ocean is being much closer to Asia, Micronesia, Australia, and New Zealand. Many budget airlines have routes to Honolulu, which makes flying surprisingly cheap to places that are otherwise expensive from the mainland. As of 10/19 I've seen flights to Japan and Australia for under $300. I'm hoping to take more trips out this way just for the heck of it. If timed correctly, it may be frugal to use HNL as a hub for cheaper flights elsewhere across the Pacific.
Three years is a good amount of time to really get a sense of your surroundings. It is around this time when people start deciding whether to make Hawaii their home or go back home. To be honest, I have no idea what I want to do. I have no regrets about living here, it has been a great experience. At the same time I have never been able to shake a vague sense that my long term aspirations or my social sensibilities are made for island life. California and Hawaii have their own advantages but neither has definitively swayed me over the other and I remain in a state of limbo. I think about it all the time. It would be hard to leave this place, its beauty, its water, and idiosyncrasies. I wonder if it really can be better elsewhere or if I have just forgotten how good I have it now. We'll see.
Date: May 20, 2019
They don't put them on their license plates for nothing. Today is just a quick recap of some of the rainbows I've seen around the islands. I remember when I first moved here a big one was arching across the street on my way to work like a giant tunnel. I told my coworker how awesome it was but she didn't bat an eye. Never would I have thought such a beautiful phenomenon could be so blasé. Someone's got to appreciate it, though.
At the airport on the way to Kauai. Our plane was blessed. While rainbows occur often, it's less commmon for one to be so well formed.
Kalalau Lookout and Waimea Canyon respectively. Gorgeous landmarks in Kauai that everyone should visit, however pictures rarely convey the massive scale of these formations. I actually find Waimea more impressive than the Grand Canyon due to its comparative grandeur, brilliant color, and of course higher propensity towards rainbows. A hidden gem of US tourism I gander.
Driving along the roads of Maui. This rainbow was gigantic, but difficult to capture from a car and with fast moving clouds. Since it is often raining somewhere on the islands I'd say there is always a decent chance of seeing one of these while on vacation.
The infamous double rainbow, as seen from my old apartment balcony. I mean, lanai. Gotta watch those mainland words.
Another double rainbow, from the lanai of a different apartment. Surprisingly I don't recall a local term for them. Perhaps, like my coworker, nobody really cares.
Yet another double over the residential towers. Is it so much to ask for a single day that isn't completely beautiful? I'm tired of looking at all this paradise smh.
A short and sweet post. Maybe I'll do more like these. Oftentimes as we go about the daily grind our surroundings become invisible. On an average day where we work and live is completely arbitrary, an exercise in environmental banality. And then there are the days that remind you what it means to live in a particular place. Maybe it's that blizzard, or that 100 degree weather, or that annual festival. Sometimes a place is a place, but not when there's a rainbow.
Date: April 29, 2019
Hawaii is a well documented place. From travel books to Instagram vacation pictures to reality TV shows, what's left to be said about the prominent Aloha State? Well folks, it took me since October but I think I found the answer. No one I know has ever hinted at even an awareness of this phenomenon so mind your jaws and have a change of underwear ready for this cutting-edge information.
It's the store names. When I first saw this grocery chain I thought the name was hilarious. It was straight to the point, so simple a 1st grader probably came up with it. And yet I have a feeling the founders did not mean it to be funny at all. They simply wanted to convey exactly what they were selling. It was only after I moved to Hawaii I discovered this was not a fluke, that many stores are named in such a blunt, silly way. I can't say I've noticed this trend in California, but now that I said this it will be everywhere when I fly back.
I don't know who came first, but someone definitely started a trend. You could say Sit n' Sleep has a pretty straight forward name, but at least it has some style and a ring to it. I wouldn't be surprised if next door was Chairworld.
Some places seem to be more of a description than a name at all...
...then there's other places that also barely have a name, but with the added ambiguity of not describing anything. It is hard to believe the owners would be this unimaginative. Is it a joke? Do they not care? Did they think they were being clever? The mind is boggled by such questions.
And then there's this place which is also not giving a crap, but in a different way. While I appreciate the sense of humor, it's not exactly synonymous with fried chicken.
I have a few theories why I've seen so many of these places:
1) I'm making this up, and stuff like this occurs everywhere but I just didn't notice.
2) Hawaiian TV, radio, and just about any local production is laden with a healthy dose of silly, innocent cheese. This is just an extension of that.
3) It stems from the timeless adage, "Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick?" Local lingo is all about saying as few words as possible to get the point across. I suppose this doesn't apply to Itchy Butt.
4) They were named as a joke, or an attempt at being clever.
Kind of makes you wonder what people thought Walmart sold when they first opened on the island.
Hawaii by nature is an insular place. Without the influence of a broader audience it is allowed to develop some very unique snippets of culture. Sometimes it manifests into great ideas like poke, spam musubi, or POG. But then other times there's... stuff like this. Every place has its quirks but this one is downright strange. Just one of the many joys of living here.
Date: October 9, 2018
Last week October 5th was my two year anniversary living in Hawaii. I thought it might be a good time to reflect on all that's happened since I've been here, what I think of it, and how that has changed over the course of my experience. I've met a lot of different people, both local and transplants. I've visited, hiked, and surfed all around the island, eaten at many of the restaurants, and braved hurricanes and nuclear missiles. Truth be told, I feel like I've experienced the bulk of what Oahu has to offer, but perhaps time will prove me wrong.
When I first got here I was very excited. Hawaii is considered a paradise, after all. I felt like the state offered a lot of the things I was interested in - surfing, nature, food, weather, adventure - and also I had a feeling I would fit in well with the lifestyle and temperament of the people. Both in California and Hawaii I have been mistaken for a born-and-raised local. After some consideration, moving here seemed like a no brainer. So I packed my bags, shipped some boxes and my car, and flew here with all the luggage I could carry. It was not difficult to acclimate to the new environment, especially the three hour delay behind the West Coast. I loved the warm mornings and the frequent yet short bursts of heavy rain. I liked the lush vegetation and giant canopy trees that line the streets. Everything was new and worth exploring and observing.
The first several months were a whirlwind of logistics. Finding an apartment, registering my car, getting used to my new office, figuring out furniture and supplies, and mapping out the closest McDonald's. One early frustration was that most of the major streets seem to start with a 'K' making navigating confusing. Kuhio, Kalakaua, Kapiolani, King, and Kapahulu come to mind. Let's not confuse these with the King Kamehameha and Duke Kahanamoku statues. Adding to that many smaller streets lack any signs at all. Google Maps is definitely a must for newcomers. In reality though, how lost could you get? Your only options in Honolulu are generally east or west.
I quickly learned how beautiful the island is everywhere all the time and this is one aspect that never fails to impress. Whether surfing, hiking, or driving down the freeway the mountains and the ocean combine to make the kind of majestic scenery that vacations are made of. The sky and the water are so very blue, the sunsets are spectacular, and the bright greens that cover the land make everything feel alive and thriving. Perhaps the best part, however, is that all this beauty is completely interactive. The surfing is obviously world class, if only for the simple fact that you never need a wetsuit. The hikes are gorgeous and numerous with a wide range of difficulties, lengths, and destinations. And since it is always warm these things can be done all year round.
Food is delicious here, although heavily skewed towards the Asian. Don't come expecting decent Mexican, Southern Barbecue, or Cuban food that's for sure. The Chinese and Korean food can't compete with Los Angeles, however I would argue the Japanese food is second only to Japan. Some of the best curry, tsukemen, and tonkatsu are right here in Hawaii. Fresh fish is very easy to find, and this is most apparent in sushi and poke, the latter of which I have come to love. They do not douse the fish in sauces and toppings, but instead use simple marinades for flavor. This is by far the best and only way to prepare poke.
A curious nugget about Hawaii is that they often advertise for restaurants that aren't even on the island. This is why Hawaiians love visiting Olive Garden. Other chain restaurants and retail that are sorely missed (some not necessarily by me) are Chick-Fil-A, Ikea, Chipotle, and Trader Joe's. Sometimes I miss the variety the mainland has to offer. But then I remember they are planning on building a Chick-Fil-A here and that thought goes away.
One of the more curious aspects of Hawaii is the people, and the topic is so multi-faceted that I'm not sure how to approach it. The first thing I noticed right away is that not all locals are friendly. Many people are downright blunt, and the most hostile people are almost always the "super local" or native Hawaiians. They tend to be poorly educated and extremely sensitive to any urbanization or commercialization. For the natives, the tension derives from history and the forcible takeover by the US government. For the other locals it's an attack on their perceived ideal of island living. Both parties feel intruded upon, and sometimes this shows through aggression and obnoxiousness. Needless to say, it was a little jarring to learn that not everybody embodied the aloha spirit.
Of course these people constitute the minority of the populace. The majority of the people are nice, friendly, and hospitable. And this is where the subtleties come in, for it is difficult to describe the people I've met without saying that they have often been both friendly and unfriendly, gracious yet distant, warm but only temporarily. Think Japanese politeness, but less extreme. Hawaii is a small place, the communities are small and intertwined, and people have grown up with each other their entire lives. As an island, Oahu has a finite amount of opportunities and the educational and career ambitions of most people are low, or at least lower than mainland standards. Why be rich when everyone surfs the same waves anyway? Personally, and to my great surprise, I've found it difficult to relate to people in general. The cliques that develop here over years and decades are strong, not easy for a newcomer to develop that same rapport. The general mentality and even sense of humor are just different from what I'm used to, and it's something I don't think I can fully adapt to. It does not help that I sense an inherent bias towards transplants, as they tend to be transient. Why waste energy on developing temporary friendships? Fair enough, but it doesn't help my case.
This isn't to say I haven't met people I've enjoyed being around. There's lots of great people here, as well as a highly amusing atmosphere of quirkiness that amounts to a light cheese. Watch any Hawaii-made commercial for a local company and you'll know what I mean. From my own experience and others who have moved away from home, it's the people you meet that often make or break a place, not the weather or activities, the geography or food. I'm still sorting my way through the social aspects of the island which has been an interesting and unexpected journey.
The absolute worst aspect of Hawaii is the cost of living. Food, groceries, and basically everything needs to be shipped in which naturally commands a price premium. Electricity is almost three times more expensive than California (average 2017 rates for Hawaii residential use was 34 cents versus 13 cents in California). Median home prices are consistently ranked among the highest in the country, and often it leads to a choice of either an old, poorly constructed house with outdated mechanical systems, or a new condo in a residential tower with a small footprint and extremely high HOA fees. So high that condos do not appear to make any investment sense, but that's a topic for another time. Because the public school system is ranked among the lowest in the country only private schools offer a decent K-12 education, and you know they cost a pretty penny. The icing on the cake is that wages tend to be depressed, and career opportunities are limited. It is not a good idea to come to Hawaii with the intent of getting wealthy as far as I can tell.
In my two years I have come to learn the various colors of Hawaii. It is not simply a permanent vacation in a tropical paradise. In fact, some people even find they hate it. Many leave and come back, and many more stay their whole lives. The abundance of unique opportunities the islands provide is equally matched by the things they lack. One of the most surprising experiences I've had is the consistency in people's reactions to learning I came here from California. They ask why I moved, but in a confused, almost pitying tone of voice. To many, the metaphorical grass is greener on the mainland, certainly not the real grass. And to be honest I see what they mean. I can't say it has been perfect here, but I can say that Hawaii offers a lifestyle and experiences that are unique and special, and locals tend to forget that. I don't know if I'll stay forever, but for now it's good and I'm grateful for the experience.
Date: August 25, 2018
This past weekend I experienced a fairly rare event: an oncoming hurricane expected to make landfall on Oahu and the subsequent reaction by the state and its people. You may come to Hawaii and eat the local flavors, drive around the island and find the hidden spots, but how many people can say they experienced a local disaster? Hurricane Lane was only a footnote at the beginning of the week, but when it suddenly changed direction and was briefly upgraded to Category 5 status on Tuesday the panic started to set in. Despite the possible danger I'll admit it was exciting to witness, and also slightly disappointing when absolutely nothing happened. If anything the weather improved during the hurricane event.
Early in the week the forecast trajectory included the passing over the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu, with the brunt of the hurricane hitting Oahu on Friday. After the news broke events were being cancelled, our office was planning on shutting down, and the local news started to impose 24 hour coverage.
The last hurricane to have a major effect on the islands was Iniki in 1992, and even then it headed straight to Kauai and ignored Oahu altogether. It was very surprising to hear my mid-30's coworkers say this was their first time experiencing a hurricane with such a direct approach to Honolulu.
The last hurricane to have a major effect on the islands was Iniki in 1992, and even then it headed straight to Kauai and ignored Oahu altogether. It was very surprising to hear my mid-30's coworkers say this was their first time experiencing a hurricane with such a direct approach to Honolulu.
Being sadistic, I decided to head to Walmart for entertainment purposes. In the back of my head I wasn't convinced the hurricane was going to be destructive, at least to Oahu. Nothing ever seems to happen to the island despite all the "close calls."
On Wednesday 8/22 I went to the Downtown Walmart to see exactly what people grab in the event of an emergency. Some things surprised me at first but made sense as I thought about it more. The water, unsurprisingly, was completely gone.
The second most-looted rack were the chips. The cereal, canned goods, and bread were also raided. People were grabbing dry goods, items in preparation for a power outage. Medicines were mildly emptied, crates and coolers were almost all gone.
My first thought for emergency rations would not be avocados or pineapples, but it makes sense when these are produce that do not need any kind of processing to eat, and they're quite flavorful on their own. I suppose you can eat raw vegetables but who wants to do that?
I honestly thought more spam would be taken. Though I should mention this pile was twice as large earlier in the day.
Some people grabbed some Infinity War discs. Whether this is because of the hurricane or the fact that it's an awesome movie is unclear.
Wednesday afternoon provided a gorgeous and calm sunset. The sky didn't have anymore clouds than usual. The calm before the storm perhaps?
On Thursday the hurricane hit the Big Island and Maui. Reports were coming in of 130 mph winds and 2 feet of rainfall. Fires erupted on Maui as well, somehow. In contrast, on Friday when the hurricane was supposed to hit Oahu the above is as bad as it got. A little fog, a little rain and wind, and then nothing. Thursday night there were some strong gusts and I felt the building sway a bit but it did not get any more intense than that.
As the hurricane approached Oahu it was rapidly downgraded all the way to Category 1, then just kind of dissipated. Other atmospheric winds had broken up and deflected the storm before it could make landfall. As a result the weather was perfectly calm yet businesses and restaurants were closed, and I didn't have to go to work. Windows were boarded up with plywood and nobody was on the street. It was an odd day with nothing to do and nothing to witness. Kudos to Burger King for being the one place to stay operational and provide me lunch.
While I would never wish destruction upon anyone, I'll admit I was hoping for something a little more exciting. It barely even rained and if nobody ever said there was a hurricane coming I wouldn't have known the difference. Overall, 5/10.
As the hurricane approached Oahu it was rapidly downgraded all the way to Category 1, then just kind of dissipated. Other atmospheric winds had broken up and deflected the storm before it could make landfall. As a result the weather was perfectly calm yet businesses and restaurants were closed, and I didn't have to go to work. Windows were boarded up with plywood and nobody was on the street. It was an odd day with nothing to do and nothing to witness. Kudos to Burger King for being the one place to stay operational and provide me lunch.
While I would never wish destruction upon anyone, I'll admit I was hoping for something a little more exciting. It barely even rained and if nobody ever said there was a hurricane coming I wouldn't have known the difference. Overall, 5/10.
This was not the first crisis I've experienced in Hawaii. That honor goes to the false missile alert...
...which I completely slept through. Many people called bullcrap, others ran and hid. Like the hurricane, if someone did not tell me what happened I may have never known about it. By the time I woke up everything was back to normal. If there's a missile heading to Oahu in the morning please wake me up.
Then there was the eruption on the Big Island. As described in the previous post, news feeds tended to over-exaggerate the extent of the damage, and really it caused no disruption to Oahu whatsoever. Not to say it was unfortunate for some, but again, I had to be told to be aware of it.
Every time there is some news-breaking event here it always turns out to be nothing but in the end obviously it's for the best. Have we been truly fortunate, or have all the threats been wildly overblown to begin with? As a newcomer to Hawaii, and to non-California weather in general, this has been somewhat exciting. But don't listen to me. Come for the Mai Tais, the surf, but don't come for the hurricanes.
Date: Friday, May 25, 2018
Today we will be exploring Downtown Honolulu, the metropolitan center and really not the first place one thinks of for their vacation in Hawaii. Often overshadowed by the glitzier beaches and hikes that abound the island, downtown remains... well... "hidden gem" might be a little generous. I thought it would be interesting to go over a part of town that is ignored or simply unknown to most. Depending on your interests it may prove to be worth a few hours of exploration.
Downtown is located northwest of Waikiki, sandwiched between Chinatown and Kaka'ako. It is easily accessible from both H1 and Pali Highway, but street is usually just as fast. Now that the city has implemented public Biki Bike racks people without cars can also travel here quickly.
The most famous stop has got to be Iolani Palace. Built in 1879, it is one of only two royal palaces in the United States, the other also located in Hawaii. Guided and self-led tours are available, so stop by and tell me what it's like because I've never been inside. There's a huge banyan tree in the back that makes for some nice shade and pictures.
Right next door is Iolani Barracks, reconstructed and neutered into a shop, ticket office, and small theater. Both the barracks and the palace are well known Pokemon Go gyms, and are frequented by hoards of people looking to battle in raids (pictured). These are known to give out Ex-Raid passes to fight Mewtwo. I have a gold badge at both.
Across the street is the King Kamehameha I statue, commemorating the ruler who conquered and united the Hawaiian islands. The statue is highly photographed and is frequented by a nonstop stream of Asian tourists. It is located in front of the Hawaii State Supreme Court, which has a small museum on the first level.
Also frequenting the statue are Pokemon Go players. There is a gym here that hosts many raids and is highly accessible to people who work in downtown. I almost have a gold badge here.
From the statue if you walk down Queen St. and turn left on Bishop you will eventually reach the ocean. The port is located here, as well as a portion of HPU, Hawaii Pacific University. In the corner is the historic Aloha Tower, once the tallest structure in Hawaii. Although the skyscrapers have since surpassed the tower in height, the top still provides some nice ocean views.
I always see this ship at the port. The Star of Honolulu provides dinner/whale watching cruises and is probably expensive. In front of the dock is a nice little reef where a variety of fish are easily observed, like a giant free aquarium. It's quite relaxing and my favorite part of the port, and yes there are tour buses that stop here just for this. Dratini are known to spawn around these parts so I visit every now and then.
The Aloha Tower overlooks another popular Pokemon Go gym across the street at the Topa Tower. I have a gold badge here as well. The tower houses the hidden but critically acclaimed Bar Leather Apron. While the presentation was very nice, I thought it was alright. Cocktails are cocktails.
In the heart of Downtown is the First Hawaiian Savings Bank, the tallest building in Hawaii. It is a title that it will hold forever, since it hits the building height limits set by the state. I think it looks nice. GPS signals are poor so expect some drift when walking around here. It makes fighting gyms tough.
A lot of small events are always happening throughout the year. During Chinese New Year they have a lion dance down Fort Street.
A farmers market which pops up a few times a week. It's too expensive.
During Christmas the trees are wrapped in lights and the whole area is illuminated. One of the cooler attractions, when this happens the tourist trolleys deck themselves in lights as well and take driving tours through the city at night. The event is known as Honolulu City Lights, most likely a reference to Keola and Kapono's locally famous song.
Occasionally there will be movie or TV crews closing off streets and filming scenes. Here they are shooting a driving scene for Hawaii Five-0 as seen from my office window.
There you have it, Downtown Honolulu. I think the takeaway here is that Downtown is a fantastic place for Pokemon Go. It has a strong community, a high concentration of stops, and gyms which are mostly Ex-Raid eligible. This place rules.
For anybody wondering about the recent volcano eruptions, please see graphic and reddit comments. I've noticed that many news worthy events that take place in this state tend to be shrugged off by the local populace. I didn't even find out about the eruption until I was told by someone on the mainland. Luckily the trade winds have kept the toxic fumes from reaching the island, and really no impact has been felt whatsoever. The news can be quite sensationalized.
Downtown may not be the most exciting place in Hawaii, but it is more Hawaii than Waikiki in my opinion. People live and work here, they fight traffic in their aloha shirts and buy bento lunch from the convenience store. Aside from the few recreations I listed, to explore Downtown is to explore the local side of life, the side that can be just as dull and normal as anywhere else even when located in a tropical paradise. If anything, come for Pokemon Go. It's pretty good out here.
Date: Saturday, March 31, 2018
Second post, and man was this hard to write. You'd think with an entire state's worth of content it should be easy to come up with topics but alas, writer's block struck hard. Thankfully, a few fun weekends has recently provided me some interesting content. I was hoping to update more often than I have been, fingers crossed this provides the momentum to post more frequently.
A few weeks ago a group of us hiked the Olomana trail, a ridge hike that overlooks the Kailua/Lanikai area. It's one of my favorite hikes so far with an appropriate length and right amount of challenge. The payoff at the top can be very good or very bad depending on the clouds that come and go with surprising swiftness.
Access to the trailhead requires a mini hike of its own, as it is located along a gated road that does not provide parking. Street parking is available a little ways down, but some people were ticketed because their cars were on the "sidewalk," an asphalt path barely distinguishable from the street. Anyway, be careful if you ever go.
From the street parking there is a road that leads to the security gate and eventually the golf course in the back. The sign for the trail is along the way. According to the sign, "no likers, oggers or pets" are allowed. It's very confusing.
The hike starts out easy enough - A well defined trail with a gradual upward slope. Like most trails, the path is littered with rocks and roots that can easily become tripping hazards.
As it continues the trail becomes steeper and steeper until you start having to climb rocks. While this can be done by hand, ropes are also provided. It was unnerving at first but there are plenty of footholds and the climbs are short, after a while I got used to it.
When we first reached the top the view was completely fogged out, demoralizing to say the least. Luckily we waited a bit and the clouds passed to give us an overview of the city and ocean.
To add to the scene, a friggin plane flew right over our heads.
Olomana is also known as Three Peaks because if the first wasn't hard enough, the next two are even worse. In the sake of time and self-preservation we decided to turn back after the first peak, which is the tallest anyway. There's a guestbook at the end that we concluded was not worth the effort.
The only way down the trail is the way up. And so, we began the long trek from whence we came. Thankfully, scaling back down the rocks was not as difficult as I imagined. Overall a great trail for the more bold hiker. It offers a well rounded variety of obstacles and amazing vistas that keeps the whole path interesting. Being in shape helps a lot as well as some bug spray. My legs felt like they had chickenpox the next day.
This past weekend was the beer festival called Honolulu On Tap held at the Blaisdell Center. They host all sorts of events here, from pet shows to engineering licensing tests, to this. Everyone receives a small glass at the entrance which is used to sample all the beers you desire from a very large selection of breweries.
I found that the beers with the longest lines were usually the worst. Overall, despite the selection I wouldn't say I drank anything profoundly amazing. There was a serious lack of Belgian Wheats, unless you count Blue Moon. I almost felt like this was a testing ground for newer or lesser known flavors. Oh well, beer.
After the vendors ran out of beer everybody headed to the noodle festival down the street. Most of the famous ramen and saimin shops were present, selling smaller versions of their menu at mostly likely inflated prices. Sorry, didn't take pictures of the food. You'll just have to imagine what noodles look like.
I say this with every blog but I'll try to post more frequently and consistently in the coming months. It is difficult to come up with topics without starting to sound like a glorified tour book but with a place like Hawaii perhaps that is all but inevitable. It begs the question, what do I want to say that has not been said already? I have no idea. Gonna think about it over a spam musubi.
Second post, and man was this hard to write. You'd think with an entire state's worth of content it should be easy to come up with topics but alas, writer's block struck hard. Thankfully, a few fun weekends has recently provided me some interesting content. I was hoping to update more often than I have been, fingers crossed this provides the momentum to post more frequently.
A few weeks ago a group of us hiked the Olomana trail, a ridge hike that overlooks the Kailua/Lanikai area. It's one of my favorite hikes so far with an appropriate length and right amount of challenge. The payoff at the top can be very good or very bad depending on the clouds that come and go with surprising swiftness.
Access to the trailhead requires a mini hike of its own, as it is located along a gated road that does not provide parking. Street parking is available a little ways down, but some people were ticketed because their cars were on the "sidewalk," an asphalt path barely distinguishable from the street. Anyway, be careful if you ever go.
From the street parking there is a road that leads to the security gate and eventually the golf course in the back. The sign for the trail is along the way. According to the sign, "no likers, oggers or pets" are allowed. It's very confusing.
The hike starts out easy enough - A well defined trail with a gradual upward slope. Like most trails, the path is littered with rocks and roots that can easily become tripping hazards.
As it continues the trail becomes steeper and steeper until you start having to climb rocks. While this can be done by hand, ropes are also provided. It was unnerving at first but there are plenty of footholds and the climbs are short, after a while I got used to it.
When we first reached the top the view was completely fogged out, demoralizing to say the least. Luckily we waited a bit and the clouds passed to give us an overview of the city and ocean.
To add to the scene, a friggin plane flew right over our heads.
Olomana is also known as Three Peaks because if the first wasn't hard enough, the next two are even worse. In the sake of time and self-preservation we decided to turn back after the first peak, which is the tallest anyway. There's a guestbook at the end that we concluded was not worth the effort.
The only way down the trail is the way up. And so, we began the long trek from whence we came. Thankfully, scaling back down the rocks was not as difficult as I imagined. Overall a great trail for the more bold hiker. It offers a well rounded variety of obstacles and amazing vistas that keeps the whole path interesting. Being in shape helps a lot as well as some bug spray. My legs felt like they had chickenpox the next day.
This past weekend was the beer festival called Honolulu On Tap held at the Blaisdell Center. They host all sorts of events here, from pet shows to engineering licensing tests, to this. Everyone receives a small glass at the entrance which is used to sample all the beers you desire from a very large selection of breweries.
I found that the beers with the longest lines were usually the worst. Overall, despite the selection I wouldn't say I drank anything profoundly amazing. There was a serious lack of Belgian Wheats, unless you count Blue Moon. I almost felt like this was a testing ground for newer or lesser known flavors. Oh well, beer.
After the vendors ran out of beer everybody headed to the noodle festival down the street. Most of the famous ramen and saimin shops were present, selling smaller versions of their menu at mostly likely inflated prices. Sorry, didn't take pictures of the food. You'll just have to imagine what noodles look like.
I say this with every blog but I'll try to post more frequently and consistently in the coming months. It is difficult to come up with topics without starting to sound like a glorified tour book but with a place like Hawaii perhaps that is all but inevitable. It begs the question, what do I want to say that has not been said already? I have no idea. Gonna think about it over a spam musubi.
Date: Sunday, January 14, 2018
It's 2018, this blog is 8 years old, and I'm typing at a desk in my downtown Honolulu apartment. My balcony has a gorgeous view of the Waikiki strip where every Friday the fireworks show is impeccably blocked by residential buildings. I often see rainbows arched over Punchbowl Crater, formed after rains that rarely last more than ten minutes. This island has been my home since October 5, 2016. I officially moved here for work but the idea of island life was a thought I had long entertained, and I barely hesitated when the opportunity presented itself. I left my family, friends, my garden, everything behind for a tiny rock 2,000 miles from the nearest continent. Was it worth it? shootz brah.
Honolulu is located on Oahu, the most developed and populous island in the Hawaiian chain and home to Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, North Shore, Pearl Harbor, and the Aulani - a Disney resort & spa that immerses you in local culture through Disney magic. The amount and variety of things to do and see makes it a great introduction for any first-timers to the state. In fact, there's so little to do on the other islands that had my office been located elsewhere I don't think I would have lasted this long... or moved for that matter.
I arrived with all the luggage I could carry on the plane and rendezvoused with my car and the few boxes I had shipped over. I lived with a friend for a month until I found my current apartment off of Craigslist. One of the very first things I noticed was how blue the sky is. It is quite brilliant actually, in a way that is difficult to capture with a camera. Similar to how impossible it is to capture the irradiated greenness of melon soda. The photo above is taken from Magic Island facing towards the Waikiki Strip.
In the time since I first arrived I have been exploring, hiking, surfing, trying new restaurants, and getting a feel for what it means to live in paradise. This blog is for recording the experiences I have found to be meaningful, or at least mildly interesting. Hopefully you, the reader, will find it interesting as well. It is difficult to write anything further without spoiling future posts so I will end it here. Stay tuned for sweeping vistas, good food, and choice waves. See you soon, or as locals say, see you soon! It's still America, you guys.
It's 2018, this blog is 8 years old, and I'm typing at a desk in my downtown Honolulu apartment. My balcony has a gorgeous view of the Waikiki strip where every Friday the fireworks show is impeccably blocked by residential buildings. I often see rainbows arched over Punchbowl Crater, formed after rains that rarely last more than ten minutes. This island has been my home since October 5, 2016. I officially moved here for work but the idea of island life was a thought I had long entertained, and I barely hesitated when the opportunity presented itself. I left my family, friends, my garden, everything behind for a tiny rock 2,000 miles from the nearest continent. Was it worth it? shootz brah.
Honolulu is located on Oahu, the most developed and populous island in the Hawaiian chain and home to Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, North Shore, Pearl Harbor, and the Aulani - a Disney resort & spa that immerses you in local culture through Disney magic. The amount and variety of things to do and see makes it a great introduction for any first-timers to the state. In fact, there's so little to do on the other islands that had my office been located elsewhere I don't think I would have lasted this long... or moved for that matter.
I arrived with all the luggage I could carry on the plane and rendezvoused with my car and the few boxes I had shipped over. I lived with a friend for a month until I found my current apartment off of Craigslist. One of the very first things I noticed was how blue the sky is. It is quite brilliant actually, in a way that is difficult to capture with a camera. Similar to how impossible it is to capture the irradiated greenness of melon soda. The photo above is taken from Magic Island facing towards the Waikiki Strip.
In the time since I first arrived I have been exploring, hiking, surfing, trying new restaurants, and getting a feel for what it means to live in paradise. This blog is for recording the experiences I have found to be meaningful, or at least mildly interesting. Hopefully you, the reader, will find it interesting as well. It is difficult to write anything further without spoiling future posts so I will end it here. Stay tuned for sweeping vistas, good food, and choice waves. See you soon, or as locals say, see you soon! It's still America, you guys.