A week from tomorrow, I’ll be on my way to Paradise again. My Australian friend, B. (we met on my last trip there), booked her flight for the exact same days as mine. Obviously, we’re gonna’ be hanging out. My cousin and her husband said that we’ll most likely hit up the Mai Tai Bar at Ala Moana for Happy Hour one afternoon. Another woman that I’d met on a trip a few years ago has agreed to go in search of Otto Bakery with me. Otto Bakery (or maybe that is Otto Cakes) used to be located in Chinatown, back when I’d never heard of them. They’re somewhere in Kaimuki now. Their specialty is cheesecake. We’re not talking about the regular kind topped with cherries or strawberries. They’re reputed to have poi, cookie butter, orange chocolate chip, pineapple, Chinese almond cookie, lilikoi, chocolate haupia, pumpkin, lehua honey and acai cheesecakes, among others. Put me down for a slice of lehua honey and another of orange chocolate chip! This same friend has also promised to bring me some of the famed cocoa puffs from Liliha Bakery. I’d kind of like to go there in person and eat, though. We’ll work it out, I’m sure. My other friend has discovered a new place for lunch called Highway Inn. I know it’s possible to get my loco moco and my chicken long rice on there. They also have a most interesting selection of poke. I’m still attempting to acquire a taste for poke. So far, I only know that I’m not fond of ahi or tako poke. Highway Inn has sesame marlin, Hawaiian style crab, kim chee Alaskan king crab tail meat, kim chee crab, kim chee shrimp, Taegu cuttlefish, fish cake, lomi, kim chee mussel and sesame mussel pokes, in addition to those with ahi and tako. Their poke “sauces” are alae salt, spicy tobiko, ginger miso, roasted red pepper, creamy wasabi, Hawaiian chili pepper, Thai basil and wasabi oil. Quite a selection!
Beings my vacation will encompass Memorial Day weekend, there are a few special events going on as well. There’s an ukulele picnic on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. I was disappointed to learn that Singto Numchok, a Thai musician, performed there before, but won’t be there this year. I’m currently hooked on his “Shy” song! On Memorial Day itself, there’s a lantern lighting ceremony in Ala Moana Beach Park, very close to my hotel. My intentions are to participate in that. I’d like to light a lantern for my Tutu. As of last night, I found out that Spawnbreezie will be putting on a concert at The Crown Bar & Grill. I’ve never had the opportunity to see him perform yet, so am fairly excited about this.
Am I excited enough about Hawaii to begin packing a little early? Of course not! I’ll throw my 3 bathing suits, 5 pairs of shorts, 10 tops, 2 skirts, 4 dresses, 1 pair of jeans, 2 pairs of slippers, 1 pair of canvas shoes and 1 pair of heels into a suitcase around 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday night.
In truth, my mood has been down for the past month. I’m sure that sunshine, the ocean, loco moco, champagne and my friends will have me back to normal in no time.