FIRST DAY JITTERS

Our first full day in Hawaii "brimmed" with activity. Still on east coast time we arose early and showered, sighing at the view out our bathroom window. It is of the tallest mountain on Oahu, Mount Ka'ala. There is rich farmland stretching before the mount and this fertile area provides with produce and meat; a macrobiotic heaven.

Speaking of meat, we headed to Kono's in nearby Haleiwa for Kalua pig breakfast bombers and some strong coffee. Janet got a refill. These bombers, or breakfast burritos, were apparently popular with the military as soldiers filled the joint. Good food. I happen to have a fondness for Kalua pig, which is slathered on everything in Hawaii. See Kono's website for a recipe. KONO'S HALEIWA

BREAKFAST BOMBERS KONO'S

Before we had even finished our Kono’s coffee we were driving along route 99 east and passing coffee fields of the Waialua Estate. I had purchased green beans from Waialua for Janet to roast years ago and the rich soil of Oahu provides a strong black cup. Then we stopped at the Green World Farms coffee house where we were introduced to cold drip coffee, which takes hours and hours to brew, but leaves behind a mighty kick with no bitterness.

WAILAUA ESTATE COFFEE

Green World Farms is a nice little place to stop on the drive to or from the North Shore. Here’s a great article about Green World Farms:

GREEN WORLD FARMS 

Now appropriately caffeinated we headed to our first destination of the day; the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor. We were cautioned by our hosts that we needed to arrive early. This somber, sacred American historical site has grown in popularity and tickets to board the launch that takes visitors out to the tomb of nearly 1,000 sailors and marines are quickly given out. It is free. Years ago when I first visited Pearl Harbor visits were less attended and there was rarely a wait. It is good to see this swelling of patriotism.

USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL

The Arizona was sunk during the sneak attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941 when a bomb hit her forward magazines, trapping over 1,000 men. To this day a few drops of oil leaks out of the wreck; they are called the tears of the Arizona. This solemn stop in Oahu includes a stirring film relating the events of that infamous morning.

The next stop for us was … more coffee. A stop at the Lion Coffee facility at 1555 Kalani Street was a must. I often buy Christmas gifts of small bags of their coffee for friends and colleagues. We stopped at the airy warehouse, roasting facility, shop and coffee house for YET another cup of Joe. This time Janet had a cold drip hazelnut over ice and I had a “volcano” blend with an extra shot of espresso. By the time we finished our coffee Janet just wanted to run alongside the car for a while.
LION COFFEE

Because we were in the Honolulu area we had to visit Waikiki. Often tourists only see this part of Oahu, their airport shuttle deposits them on Kuhio Avenue and eventually picks them up for the return. It’s so different from the slow pace of the North Shore, but the colors of the Pacific, the soft sand, the high rise hotels, the surf boards on display for rent, the glitzy high priced shops and the cheap ABC stores alongside them, and Diamond Head looming majestically all made it worth braving the snarling traffic. It is beautiful, but I’m glad we’re not staying here.

We found a free parking spot near Kapiolani Park and walked in the surf line along Waikiki, dodging the hordes all the way to the pink Royal Hawaiian hotel. We walked through this beautiful hotel back to the street and weaved around tourists on Kalakaua Avenue. We stopped for a smoothie and a shaved ice at the Waikiki Beachside Bistro, near the Duke Kahanamoku statue to cool off. Duke is considered the father of modern surfing. By the time we were finished with our treats we were ready to leave Waikiki.ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL WAIKIKI

Perhaps the coffee still sloshing through our veins inspired us to climb to the summit of the Diamond Head crater. It is $5 per car load to enter. Of all the trips to Oahu I had never visited Diamond Head and so Janet and I sprinted up the steeply inclined trail to marvel at Honolulu and Hawaii Kai and Koko Head and the blue blue blue Pacific ocean. Glistening with well-earned sweat and broad smiles we leaned into the wind and smiled at our successful day.

FROM THE SUMMIT OF
DIAMOND HEAD CRATER