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Waikiki Weekend
Aloha!
10/26/10 - Yeah, I know - we just got back from Scandinavia, but when your birthday and anniversary are at the same time, you can't help but do something special! Kumi and I took advantage of a pretty darn good deal at the Pacific Beach Hotel - $149 per night with a 2 for 1 breakfast buffet and also free parking, which usually ranges from $15-$20 per night at most Waikiki hotels. I was thinking of the $129 deal, which would have been the same except for a mountain view instead, but when you're this close to Waikiki Beach, the up-grade is very much worth it! Current fall specials at the Pacific Beach Hotel run through December 27th, so check out their Kamaaina Specials if you're interested!
Though both Neptune Steak & Seafood and Shogun Japanese buffet are now closed, their biggest and most popular restaurant, Oceanarium, is still very much alive and well. Its 3-story-high, 280,000-gallon saltwater aquarium carries over 70 different species of native Hawaiian fish, including moi, awa, palani, sting ray, butterflyfish, and plenty more:
The place was surprisingly busy, with at least 10 percent of the house Kamaaina. You can always tell us locals because while tourists were busy perusing the entire line-up of great foods like prime rib, mahimahi, sushi, and herbed chicken, there were only two hot trays us-islanders were interested in - snow and dungeness crab legs! And lemme tell you, these guys were huuuge! At a $28 Kamaaina rate, I easily consumed at least triple that amount in just crab legs alone! Just like the way Shogun was our go-to spot for crab, the Oceanarium has now taken its place, combining reasonable prices with larger, juicier, better legs than you'll normally find anywhere else on a buffet line. But more on the subject on a later Closer Look...
We retired reasonably early that night, as we chose an early-to-bed so we could have an early-to-rise the next morning. One quick look from our balcony on a gorgeous full-moon night, and we were out!
Before the sun shone over the horizon the next day, Kumi and I were already walking down Kalakaua Avenue, soaking-in the fresh morning air at the always-magical time just before and after dawn. The Kapahulu groin wall is always a great vantage point for awesome views in and around Waikiki:
And a shot from the wall:
Later in the day, we returned yet again for a quick dip and a few more shots of an un-named, un-faced guy who I thought was in for a rude awakening:
Turns out, he weathered the storm just fine!
When you've got waters like this, however, getting thrown in ain't such a bad idea!
Waikiki Beach is always a cool place to be. First thing in the morning, there was a big group of Japanese visitors picking-up trash as volunteers all along the beach. There were older folks playing chess under the pavilion. Surfers paddling by on their way to the waves. A youngster catching some fat tilapia. A seasoned fisherman wading through the waters, searching for oama. A homeless woman biding her time. Tourists. Locals. Families. Lovers. Any kine. I love it! No matter where Kumi and I travel, when we return, we always give thanks and both agree that it's tough to beat Hawaii, any way you look at it! She always tells me I am so spoiled because I grew up here. I'd have to agree!
Before long, it was time for lunch, and there was a place I had my eyes on for quite a long time. Located right next to the International Marketplace, this inexpensive hole-in-the-wall gets some stellar reviews on Yelp:
Yep, that's just about the entire eatery right there, but size doesn't matter with this efficient-little place. Considering prices, authenticity, and taste, it was actually so good that over two days and nights, Kumi and I ate here three separate times! You'll have to wait till next time, however, to see all the great dishes being thrown-together in this particular kitchen! Gimme a few days to post!
And speaking of the International Marketplace, there's a lot happening there these days. Not only is the Food Court filled with cheap eats spots of all different ethnicities, it also features all kinds of entertainment in the open stage area, with lots of folks in attendance. Featured performers are Greg and Junko MacDonald on steel drums, various University of Hawaii performance students, a Polynesian Review, the Royal Hawaiian Band, and, on this particular day, none other than Hawaiian Diva Melveen Leed!
Oh, yeah. And then there's the shopping. Luckily, unless she's out for something in particular, Kumi is mostly my kind of shopper, meaning, pass once quickly, decide on the fly, and never look back, especially when it comes to the International Marketplace and its plethora of nunchucks, butterfly knives, muu muu's, t-shirts, and iffy jewelry. Across the street, at the more upscale Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, it was Cartier, Fendi, and Ferrari, but luckily, window shopping is just the same either way! While there, I was very much surprised to see the UH-Utah game on several large flat-screens in the Food Court. We watched for a short while until half-time, after which we returned to the hotel for the last half to see UH put the WHOOOP on their opponent, big-time! Though they lost twice to non-conference teams earlier in the year, I think this team is at least as good if not better than a few years ago when Colt Brennan and June Jones went undefeated during the regular season but got smoked in the Sugar Bowl. That year, they barely survived so many games against mid-tier WAC teams, and Boise, Nevada, and Fresno State, the last two of which we already beat, weren't nearly as good as they are this year. Plus, Kealoha Pilares and Greg Salas have to be one of the best one-two punches in College football, and their defense is starting to remind me of the swarming UH defenses of the Tomey/Wagner years past!
Here's the scene at the Pacific Beach Hotel's Aloha Conference Center, where a very UH-friendly crowd was thoroughly enjoying the 45-7 beat-down!
After the game and another dip in the water, Kumi and I freshened-up in the room and headed-out for a night of restaurant-hopping. One word about a night on the town in Waikiki, though - unlike Happy Hours anywhere else, which mostly run from about 4 or 5pm till 7 or 7:30pm, Waikiki Happy Hours predominantly begin at around 2pm and end promptly at 5pm, which is just about the time we left our room! With the sun still high in the sky, I figured we'd catch some early-evening specials somewhere, but every place we looked, we were already too late!
The first stop we finally settled upon was just a couple of short blocks away, at the Aston Waikiki's Tiki's bar/grill. With live entertainment from the likes of Vaihi, Ellsworth Simeona, and Manoa DNA and a vantage point nestled a few stories up over-looking Waikiki Beach, it's a wonderful place to get into the Waikiki vibe, especially at sunset.
There are some pretty decent pupu's here as well, such as a great Portuguese sausage steamed clam dish, guava-glazed baby-back ribs, prime rib poke, a firecracker sushi roll, kalua pig nachos, and really fresh fish:
Soon after, we walked to King's Village, just behind the Hyatt, and enjoyed another round of drinks at long-time Japanese restaurant Odoriko, listed in the Izakaya section of the main pages. Check out this giant pitcher of cold Kirin:
Actually, there was a hollow section of air to help keep the beer cold, that's all. It wasn't any bigger than a normal pitcher. Imagine if they replaced that compartment of air with ice?
Odoriko is probably one of the most diverse Japanese restaurants around, with lots of sushi, lots of izakaya items, nabe, donburi, whole lobster and King crab, and everything else in-between. Instead of going to town on the menu, however, Kumi and I controlled ourselves with a mixed sushi platter, and nothing more:
Down by the water, we were surprised to find a sunset-on-the-beach event, but instead of showing a Hollywood blockbuster on the giant outdoor screen, there was some type of show on Hawaiian culture. There was no food and drink booths save for a hotdog/hamburger stand, however, so we headed a few steps away, to the corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu, where sits Lulu's Bar/Grill. There's a pretty cool set-up here, with a long counter extending around the perimeter of the dining room, all facing out towards the beach. Check out our view:
I luuuv Waikiki!!! The whole place is totally happening, by day or by night! For a stretch of Real Estate all within walking distance, there's no better place carrying nearly as many great options, whether it comes to cuisine, drinks, shopping, catching the latest game, walking the beach, or just hangin' out with a Starbucks or Jamba Juice drink while people-watching!
Kumi and I were sad to leave, but all good things must come to an end. Only to make way for another good thing, that is! Here's one last shot from our balcony, right before leaving the hotel. Looks like a small bump (slight swell) out there! Good fun stuff!
Have a great and wonderful week! Be back soon with a better look at the mystery eatery from above!
Take care, and Aloha till next time!
Aku
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