I’m surprised that I like Waikiki Beach so much – I figured it would be too commercialized and crowded. And it is both of those things but you just kind of have to go with it and once you do, it’s fun. And bottom line, it’s a stunning location with the gorgeous turquoise and cobalt blue waves of the bay and the mountains rising in the distance.
And staying at a resort hotel – even if this is one of the larger less charming ones – is nice. I haven’t used the facilities much – although did lounge around briefly on the little chunk of beach and floated around on the infinity pool. If I come here again and am paying my way and have lots of money, I’ll stay at the Moana Surfrider – it’s a lovely old plantation style building with a big columned entry way and rocking chairs on the porch. We had a drink in the bar by the beach where a very good guitarist played Hawaiian versions of the songs of my youth (Crosby Stills nash and Young etc.) I’d also like the look of the pink Moorish pile know as the Royal Hawaiian and certainly wouldn’t balk at staying at the sleekly elegant Halekulani.
As always, I found cheaper food a block or so off the main drag (Kalakua Ave) on Kuhio Sreet and Uluniu Street (Found a french patisserie, nothing fancy, on Kuhio – St. Germain Patisserie I think) and very good ahi poke with avocado at Ruffage Natural foods) which I ate while sitting on a bench near the Duke the surfer statue and chatting with a retiree from Calgary who spends two months here. Earlier I met a flight attendant from Dallas on a layover.
We went to a way cool tiki bar – the real thing not some Midwestern suburban confection – for a private party last night. La Mariana’s Sailing Club on Sand Access Road. Low-ceiling place with lots of carved wood Polynesian statues, seashell-lined lanterns, a cool band playing groovy beach music (the lead singer wore white gogo boots!). Seemed like the right place to have my first matai. so I did.
( Take Nimitz west from Waikikii to the Sand Island Access Road. Turn left and go 3-4 blocks to a street that goes into an industrial area. Watch for the sign “La Mariana Sailing Club” at the corner. Follow that street to the end, turn left, and you will see the restaurant on the left side of the road at the next intersection.)
The scene at night on the strip outside our hotel reminded us of Vegas – lots of people strolling casually down streets lined with luxury shops and souvenir stores, stopping to watch street performers, shopping in stores open until 11 p.m. (on a sunday night no less). Fun.
TakeBetsywithyou 