This is not the first time we have been to Honolulu, but it our previous visits have been a quick stop in Waikiki on the way to someplace else.
Don’t get us wrong, we like Waikiki but does feel a bit like a cross between Disney World and Las Vegas, especially at
night. I am pretty sure that the lights of Kalakkaua Ave can be seen from space. The beach is amazing, the surf is fantastic, the water and weather are warm. There is a LOT to be said for sitting on the deck at Duke’s on a Sunday afternoon listening to Henry Kapono and his band weave their magical spell of the islands.
Prior to our arrival we arranged a house sit in Kailua. If you are not familiar with our house-sitting operation you can read more here. If you decide you want to sign up for Trusted House Sitters, this link will give you 25% off of your first year.
Kailua is on the eastern side of the island on the other side of the Ko’olau mountain range. It’s a very leisurely 30-minute ride on the Pali highway (route 61) with some truly amazing scenery.
We house sat for a lovely couple and two of the sweetest dogs we have even come
across (not mention a couple of chickens that graced us with fresh eggs daily). The pups, Monty and Mak, were pitbulls mixes, which may sound a bit scary to some, but these two thought they were lap dogs. We have heard the term “Velcro dog” in the past but now we really know what it means, these two followed us around everywhere we went and if we sat, Monty needed to be touching one of us.
Over the three weeks we were there we settled into a easy schedule. Up in the morning, yoga, breakfast (fresh eggs) and then a walk with the dogs. It was indeed warm, so after the walk, we would all jump in the pool in the back yard and cool off. The back yard was the kind of oasis that one could only create in Hawaii.
The amazing beaches, Kailua Beach and Lanikai were just a short walk from the house. They were everything you could hope for in a beach and had the bonus of being far away from the tourist crowds of Waikiki.
On the way home from the beach was an excellent shave’ ice stand. (note: shave’ –
not shaved). This delicacy, like so many others, that just seems to taste better where it originated (kind of like drinking Guiness in Ireland). Delicately shaved ice; piled high and drenched with locally made sugar syrups of all flavors. Don’t confuse shave’ ice with a sno-cone, there really is no comparison…
The days flew past and soon it was time for us to board a ship to Australia, more about that trip later….