Our Honeymooners Trek from Waikiki to The North Shore
Now married twice, Galen and I set out to find the most romantic parts of Oahu. Mission accomplished.
Our third day in and we're starting to get our feet a little more wet. I've managed to throw together an outfit to last a few more days. New bikini from Macy's, dress from Bebe (Good news: It's not Gilligan's Isle out here you can find anything from Tiffany's to Apple Store) and flip flops from the local ABC Store from which Galen's purchased a brand new boogie board. This spontaneous purchase set us on a new path finding fun waves for my 35 year old aspiring Olympic boogie boarder.
I'm no social diva so I may be late on the ball here in figuring it out, but I've come to quickly learn that Waikiki has surpassed many go-to places as the place to be. How do I know this? Well, by taking a look around. By talking to all those who've bought a one-way ticket to paradise to enjoy life, as described by our bellhop at the boutique upscale Hotel Renew. And by realizing that Steakhouses like the famed Wolfgang's don't open up in a place unless there are tourists flocking who have the coin and the palette to appreciate their divine cuts of meat.
The night life is there too- albeit more laid back than your over done Miami Beach - for those who want the excitement. And being that it's on a stretch of sandy beach full of tanned bodies and surfers, it's also quiet and easily calm for those who are seeking a more relaxing stay. Problem for big city folk like us, is that we were here to escape the nightlife and the couture shops. We were seeking natural beauty, a true escape and exotic experience and of course, find some waves. We found it all, but we had to leave Waikiki in a fast car.
No one told us to go to the East Shore. I surveyed a nice sample size of locals and all but one person told us about the East Shore. Why, I'm not sure. Perhaps it's because they don't want tourists to spoil this treasure. If I lived there, I'd probably keep the secret close to my heart. We started our day by venturing to Honululu's nature preserve, Hanauma Bay but by the time we got there, the parking lot was full (you must get there bright and early) so we kept on driving east around Diamond Head - the best decision we ever made.
After about a 30-minute jaw dropping ride we pulled over in Kailua Beach. Recently named, along with neighbouring Lanikai Beach, the top beaches in the US (maybe the world, but I don't have a good fact checker on hand to verify, just the nice lady in the water next me). We literally floated for hours in this crystal clear water until the sun started to blind us. At which point we nestled our bodies in the shade of a Palm tree in the rich deep white sand. The Kailua beachfront traces an equally stunning lush mountain range that almost kiss the water's edge. Paradise.
With growing appetites for more local cuisine, we continued on to the North Shore, stopping at Fred D'Angelo's famed Ola Restaurant at Turtle Bay Resort (Not to be confused with Ola in Miami). The film site for recent movies like, Forgetting Sara Marshall, Ola had more than just great food on the menu (hosting an abundance of locally grown foods from Oahu farmers) the venue itself couldn't be better, right on the beach (which is not easy to find in Hawaii). The service is great, and so is Fred himself. A local boy, he and his wife built the restaurant to what it is today - a bustling restaurant with a growing reputation across North America. After munching on some sea asparagus (hydroponically grown just around the corner from the restaurant) and devouring the best lunch I've had to-date, Fred directed us to a local fruit stand to buy Kauai watermelon. Apparently it's the best, but we missed the stand so I'll have to wait til next time.
We continued our quest to the North Shore to find the big waves for my boogie boarding boy. We found some, but I couldn't tell you where as the name of this hybrid beach (sandy enough for me and wavy enough for G) wasn't on the map. To find it, you must drive about five beaches east of Waimea Bay Beach Park and two beaches west of Turtle Bay. I bobbed around in what felt like a wave pool for a couple of hours until we fled to beat the famed Oahu traffic back to Waikiki.
Now back in Waikiki and starving again, we ventured out to Chai's Island Bistro. The evidence for Hawaii's growing culinary sophistications was evidenced once more by Chef Chai Chaowasaree (Chai's Island Bistro and Singha Thai). Chai, a laid back and kind man (Galen and I had to double-check to make sure he was in fact the owner) has uncovered trade secrets from around the world to give some new breath to Waikiki's dining experience for locals and descenders alike. Chai has parlayed his talents into a local cooking show, and culinary educational program teaching Hawaiins about exotic and local foods. Two thumbs up for this guy. (Fun fact: because of Hawaii's unique topography, almost any food can be grown on the Islands, making it a mecca for vegetables, fruits and plants).
On the way back to our Hotel that night, driving with the top down on Ala Moana, I looked up at the skyline and said to Galen, I really don't think God intended for us to live higher than the the trees. Little did I know how prophetic my words would be at our next destination Kauai.
 Sousie Tsotskos, A Greek Divas Bridal Brigade | |
| About the author: | |
Toronto public relations expert Sousie Tsotskos will walk down the aisle on June 6th, 2009. After years of showcasing Toronto's finest to media from around the world for Tourism Toronto, she uses industry secrets to plan her own wedding, taking us on an intoxicating and zany tour. From unusual dress-fittings, unwelcomed run-ins, hen parties and a minor identity crisis - find out how this Toronto mover-and-shaker learned to plan her BIG, LEAN, STYLISH GREEK WEDDING on a dime. This is one of the most highly addictive columns on WOMAN.ca. | |
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