Mom’s Visit: Part Two

Posted on June 4, 2013 by sandersnm

On Monday after I got off work, we went and hiked Manoa Falls so my mom could see a waterfall. I have done this hike a few times and it is usually muddy..but NOTHING compared to what it was this time. People were going barefoot because it was easier. The mud was pulling my shoes off my feet and it was very easy to fall! However, the hiking through the mud was definitely worth it…the waterfall at the end was amazing. It’s normally just a light trickle of water…but it was flowing beautifully when we got there! After that, we headed home to take a shower and went to have drinks and dinner. We ate pizza at JJ Dolan’s, drank well-earned drinks and had dessert at Du Vin.

Mom and the giant Banyan tree at the beginning of Manoa Falls.

Looking up through the trees.

Standing under the tree arch in the mud.

SO MUDDY!

My mom in the bamboo forest.

Manoa Falls. So beautiful!

Drinks at JJ’s.

Chocolate Soufflé for dessert.

Today after work, we ventured out around downtown and wandered through some of the stores. We also stopped at a crêpe place for lunch. For dinner, we had Cuban food (probably my favorite restaurant here) and tried a few new things that Josh and I hadn’t had yet. Everything was wonderful!

Banana, strawberry, nutella crêpe.

Mojitos.

Cuban appetizer sampler: croquetas de jaiba, papa rellena and platanos.

Josh’s dinner: pargo a la cubana

My mom’s dinner: ropa vieja

My dinner: fricase de pollo

Mom’s Visit: Part One

Posted on June 2, 2013 by sandersnm

My mom arrived on Thursday and since then we have been taking her all over the island doing as many things as possible! I picked her up on Thursday and in complete tourist fashion, got her a beautiful lei from Chinatown! We then stopped by the apartment before heading to the Kailua Farmers’ Market where we met Josh for dinner. After that, we headed home and called it a night!

Lei from Chinatown.

So happy she’s here!

On Friday, we stopped by Spitting Caves, hiked to Makapuʻu Lighthouse and then headed to Serg’s for fish tacos. It started raining so we headed back to Honolulu and wandered through Chinatown for a bit. For dinner, we were touristy and had dinner at Duke’s in Waikiki. They are famous for their Mai Tais and we decided my mom needed to try one! Dinner was delicious and was a perfect way to end a busy first day!

My mom at Spitting Caves. Super happy to be there!

My mom and I at the top of Makapuʻu Lighthouse trail.

Josh and I at Duke’s.

Crab Wontons…our delicious appetizer!

My mom and I split fish. So good!

Josh had ahi..also amazing!

Saturday, we headed to the North Shore for some shrimp, açai bowls and shave ice. Our first stop was Giovanni’s. We had corn and shrimp (so good). After enjoying a fantastic lunch, we headed to Haleiwa for dessert. First, we all split an açai bowl (my mom’s first one) then headed across the street for Matsumoto’s famous shave ice. We all picked one flavor and split (mom: tangerine, Josh: coconut creme, me: cherry). Delicious! After our tour of food, we went off-roading on the trail to Kaena Point. It was an extremely bumpy ride with a beautiful rewards at the end. We wandered around Kaena Point and took pictures of the incredible scenery and the endangered birds (albatrosses and shearwaters). We then made our way back to Honolulu for my mom’s first experience of Shabu Shabu!

Our buddy hanging out with us while we enjoy our açai bowl.

Shave Ice!

Me napping on Josh on our way to Kaena Point. I was tired!

My mom and I and Josh’s car on our way to Kaena Point.

My mom and I at Kaena Point.

Vegetable Shabu Shabu. So good!

On Sunday, we hiked Mariner’s Ridge. It was cloudy and rainy but we still had a decent view at the top! After that, we went to Kailua to have lunch at Kalapawai Cafe and then Josh gave my mom a tour of base. We ended the day with dinner at home and some time enjoying the hot tub! First few days of her trip have been a blast :).

Josh and I hiking to the top of Mariner’s Ridge.

Josh at the top of Mariner’s Ridge enjoying the view.

My mom and I at the top of Mariner’s Ridge.

Full Rainbow from Balcony!

Posted on May 19, 2013 by sandersnm

A full rainbow today from our balcony…a happy moment for the day.

Pinwheels For Prevention

Posted on April 7, 2013 by sandersnm

Today, I went to the Hawaii State Capitol to plant pinwheels to bring attention to preventing child abuse in Hawaii. April is Child Abuse Prevention month and the Hawaii Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America hosted a pinwheel planting at the capitol this afternoon. The garden will be displayed for a week and volunteers planted about 5,000 pinwheels! It was an incredible event and I am so honored to be a part of this organization!

Volunteers planting pinwheels!

Front yard of the Hawaii State Capitol!

Diamond Head Cove Health Bar

Posted on March 30, 2013 by sandersnm

Today, Josh and I headed East for lunch at Diamond Head Cove Health Bar. We wanted to try something new and wanted it to be healthy. We split the Fish Wrap and the Da “Mana” Cove Bowl (Double acai topped with organic granola, blueberries, strawberries, banana, bee polin and honey). They both were amazing and I would highly recommend a trip there if you’re visiting Oahu!

Fresh fish, lettuce, Molokai tomatoes, dressing in a spinach wrap.

Double acai topped with organic granola, blueberries, strawberries, banana, bee polin and honey

Double acai topped with organic granola, blueberries, strawberries, banana, bee pollen and honey

Waikiki Marina

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Being Touristy with Emel – Day 5

Posted on March 14, 2013 by sandersnm

Emel and I started our day with a trip to Pearl Harbor to see the USS Arizona Memorial. We spent a few hours there (it was my second time visiting Pearl Harbor and my first time going since moving here). After that, we headed to eat Shabu Shabu for lunch and have some mochi ice cream for dessert. Then I headed to work and Emel went to get bubble tea and be a tourist on her own for the afternoon! I met up with Josh and Emel for Emel’s last night in Hawaii and we ended our week long tour of food with some delicious sushi! She also brought home a surprise dessert of some amazing cupcakes!

USS Arizona Memorial

Memorial Entrance

The oil was really bad this time. It was everywhere ont he water’s surface and smelled awful.

THe shrine to those that lost their lives.

The flag.

Map of the USS Arizona before it sank and after.

Emel and I at Pearl Harbor.

Shabu Shabu for lunch!

Mochi Ice Cream for dessert!

Sushi for Emel’s last night!

Surprise dessert from Emel!

The list of everything we did this week!

Being Touristy with Emel – Day 1

Posted on March 10, 2013 by sandersnm

For our first day of Emel‘s vacation we planned an incredibly full day of fun! We started with the Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail hike. It was raining for a bit but turned out to be a pretty day, so the view at the top was definitely worth the hike up there. After that, we headed around the east side of the island where we saw TONS of whales. We captured a few pictures of the baby whales jumping out of the water (so incredibly cute as they didn’t make it very far out). There were also two swimming SO close to the shore…I was super happy she got to see them! We stopped and had the best fish tacos on the island and some veggie nachos at Surg’s and then headed to Bellows for some beach time. It was a beautiful day to hang out and relax after our hike! After that, we wandered around Kailua and got some frozen yogurt and toured the beautiful Lanikai houses and stopped at the famous beach, then headed back to Honolulu to get ready for a fun night out. We decided to head into Waikiki (so she could see all of the tourists) and had dinner with a few friends. Then we ventured to Duke’s for some of their famous Mai Tais. It was a jam-packed day and I’m SO excited she came to visit!!