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Mouthwatering Chicken from Maui Mikes
Maui Mikes makes chicken sandwiches that are to die for! I have never been a huge fan of chicken, despite the many times my husband has tried to sell me on the joys of eating good rotisserie chicken, but Maui Mikes is doing something special. And although I didn’t discover them until my last few months on the island, they instantly became one of my go to comfort foods. My go to is the Ranch Bacon Melt Sandwich. It is made of hot fresh juicy shredded chicken, lots of cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch. It is big. It is messy. And it is so satisfying. My husband normally orders Mike’s…
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Breakfast on Oahu’s Windward Side
I have been lucky enough to live in Kailua, on Oahu’s Windward Coast for the last two and a half years. In those two and a half years my husband and I have been able to seek out and test many of the breakfast options this side of the island has to offer and there are three locations my husband and I keep returning to over and over again. My Favorite – Boots & Kimo’s Boots & Kimo’s is hands down one of my favorite breakfast places, not just on Oahu, but anywhere! They are known for their delicious Mac Nut Pancakes, fluffy buttermilk pancakes topped with a creamy rich…
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It’s all in the bread…
I am not a sandwich person. I really have to be in the mood for a sandwich and when I am it is usually for a hot sandwich, a good Ruben or maybe a French dip. Very rarely do I ever want cold cuts and if I do, normally I’ll save the money and just make it myself. That was the case up until I discovered Timmy T’s. Timmy T’s is a local sandwich shop in Kailua that absolutely changed my perspective on sandwiches and will probably be one of the main places I will miss when I leave Oahu. Timmy T’s serves 8 inch cold cut sandwiches. They have…
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Byodo-In Temple
Although I didn’t make nearly enough time to visit this spot during my time on Oahu, the Byodo-In Temple on the Windward side of the island is one of my absolute favorite places. Located in a valley at the foot of the Koolau Mountain Range is Oahu’s Valley of the Temples, a resting place for many of Hawaii’s departed. Besides serving as a memorial park, the Valley of the Temples consists of lush hills covered with tropical flowers and plants. Towards the back of the Valley of the Temples visitors will find the Byodo-In Temple, a scale replica of a 950 year old temple in Uji Japan and made entirely…
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North Shore Garlic Shrimp
Oahu’s North Shore is known for many things. Gorgeous beaches. Huge waves. Laid back vibes. And garlic shrimp. Garlic shrimp can be found all over Oahu’s North Shore and it is one of the must do things when you visit the island. But who has the best shrimp? With all the different choices where should you go? Everyone that lives here has their go-to location. Some locations are local secrets while others have grown to be quite well known. Since I’ve lived on Oahu there are three different shrimp locations I always hear come up in conversation. Whether in person or online and they seem to always be compared to…
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Looking back at 2018
This year has been a crazy roller coaster ride, filled with unexpected ups and downs and, just like a roller coaster, it’s leaving me at pretty much the exact same spot I got on, just a little shaken, beaten and bruised. I don’t regret this roller coaster of a year, it taught me a lot, allowed me to experience so many new things, and, for the most part, changed me for the better. I don’t regret this roller coaster year, but it’s not one I would like to ride ever again. This time last year I had just been laid off from my job of nearly two years. The lay…
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It’s Almost Time to say Goodbye to Hawaii
I officially have less then a month left in Hawaii. After nearly 4 years here on Oahu my husband and I will be saying aloha to island life and heading back to SoCal sometime in January. Although our time is quickly winding down and we have so much we need to do as we prepare for this move there is still so much we still want to do and see here on Oahu. There are also so many places we need to say goodbye to and indulge in once more before we leave. Since we are only here thanks to the military, this move isn’t really shock or a surprise,…
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Fall in Oahu and AGU Ramen
One of the things I miss the most living in Hawaii is fall and winter weather. Having spent my entire life in California, it’s not like I know what a real winter is, but I do miss chilly days, boots, tights, and sweaters. Here in Oahu, it rarely ever drops below 75. This past weekend was filled with those rare Oahu Fall like days. It was chilly, windy, rainy and put me in the perfect mood for some nice hot ramen. I only began eating ramen after I moved to Oahu, and my road to ramen was paved with many protests towards my husband’s request. Ramen did not appeal to…
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Seven Brothers – The Best Burger on Oahu
I LOVE burgers! When I lived in California, I was always on the hunt for the perfect burger. One of my favorite things to do on the weekends was to seek out new hole in the wall, greasy spoon, burger joints. After moving to Hawaii, accepting my new burger situation was one of the biggest and most difficult adjustments for me. (That sounds sad, but it is totally true.) It’s not that there are bad burgers here in Hawaii. I have found several places around the island with good burgers, just not the type of burgers I was used to or I was craving. All that changed when I found…
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My Love Hate Relationship with Koko Head
I am and have been in a serious love-hate relationship with Koko Head since I moved to Hawaii. Every time I do this hike I ask myself “why?” before I have even hit the halfway point. By the time I reach the halfway point I contemplate giving up and turning around. And then, I reach the top and I forget all of the pain and sweat I just put into this hike. Koko Head. Koko Head Stairs. Koko Crater. No matter what you call it, this trail is over 1,000 steps up an old railway to a WWII pillbox. It is a killer workout with killer views. It will kick…
