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My Unpopular Opinion – The Pig & The Lady
Years before I even had any inclination that I would ever visit Hawaii let alone live there, I had decided that before I died I needed to try The Pig & The Lady. Known for their amazing Pho, that wasn’t what drew me there. I knew I had to go to The Pig & The Lady because they had a full dessert bar! Now I don’t mean they had a large dessert menu or a dessert buffet bar, they have a full dessert bar set up just like a traditional bar. You have your bar area, with your “bartender”, and stools that you can sit at all along the bar…
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Mermaid Caves
If you google Oahu Mermaid Caves you will be treated to hundreds if not thousands of photos and tourists (and even some locals) talking about these gorgeous and mysterious caves located on the west side of Oahu. Post after post will tell you how difficult these caves are to find and to get down into, but the pictures convince you that it is well worth the effort and the risk. You will find photo after photo of crystal clear waters and gorgeous caves, exactly like what you would imagine mermaids would hang out in. You will be convinced that if you ever got to Oahu, you will need to find…
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Small but Mighty – Kahekili Ridge Trail
Located in Kaawa the Kahekili Ridge Trail is a short ass kicking trail that should only be attempted by fit, experienced, confident hikers. Kahekili Ridge Trail completley kicked my ass and I was not prepared for it! The husband and I tackled the Kahekili Ridge Trail a few months ago. (This post is a little delayed as we were trying to make a video to go with it and then life, aka Military, got in the way and well here we are now.) It was either a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon and we were looking for a quick short hike to do, just so we wouldn’t feel like we wasted…
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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 a…
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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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My Husband’s Favorite Pizza on Oahu – Boston’s Pizza
I have a confession to make – I am not a pizza person. Now that is not to say I don’t enjoy myself a piece of pepperoni every now and then, but it’s not something I always want. My husband on the other hand loves pizza. Ninety percent of the time when I let him choose something for dinner, if he’s not choosing a burger, he’s picking pizza. And while we have lived on Oahu that means Boston’s Pizza. Boston’s Pizza is a local pizza joint in Kailua and they serve giant, fresh, thin crust pizza. I may not be a pizza person but I know a good slice when…
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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…
