Just checking

Every so often we like to take Penny on a drive to check up on the scenery

Through Waikiki.  The old Moana Hotel decked out in Christmas finery.

Palm trees, Kuhio Beach, lots of tourists....still there.

Up Diamond Head Road.  Surfers and Windsurfers below.

Past Hanauma Bay and down towards Sandy Beach.  This little inlet is pretty but dangerous.

Lots of beach goers despite the windy weather and red flags.

                                                                                 + ++++ +

A stop in Waikiki  and the Waikiki Shopping Plaza's brand new Waikiki Yokocho.
Many of the little stores are still under construction.

Like wandering through a little restaurant district in Japan

People like to eat!
And there are so many places opening all over Oahu.

One old favorite of M's is Serge's in Manoa, that has a good Salsa Verde Burrito plate.
Yup...just a routine checking of our favorite spots around Honolulu.  

Maui no Kaoi-goodbye

Lovely beaches (although Oahu has more swimmable ones).

Beautiful green hills and mountains.
Here seen from Waialea

While driving through Kihei, we noticed that the ocean was noticeably red, probably from the run offs after a storm.

Maui, the second largest island, has wide green vistas that Oahu now lacks.

The free Maui Tropical Plantation in Wailuku is a beautiful place to just wander about in.  There is a gift shop, restaurant and many individual stores.

The mill pond.

Entrance to the restaurant

Looking towards Kahului and the Iao Valley

Makawao, the Paniolo (cowboy) town.

Makawao school

In a Kahului neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant.

Make your own Summer Rolls.  Dip the hard and dry cover in water .

And wrap the yummy stuff in it as best as you can.

Goodbye to Haleakala for  awhile, but it's only about a half hour's plane ride away from Honolulu.

Merry Christmas

We attended the Candlelight Communion Service at Central Union Church on Christmas Eve.

A peaceful, restful respite as the year rushes to an end.
And a lovely chance to hear Christmas music by the Honolulu Brass and our soloists Catherine Goto,  the Kelsey family and Kalani Brady.

We sat on the same pew as a cutie named Penny!
Such a well behaved sweetie.

Singing Silent Night.

Returning to a serene lobby with thankfulness in our hearts.

Maui no Kaoi- M's Maui bests

Mama's Fish House near Paia.
Their snowman-um-sandman on the beach of their beautiful little bay.

Water lillies on the front desk.

Many photos of their famous guests over the years.

Frank Sinatra too

Pau Hana(Lime, guava, Bombay Gin scented with ginger)
Mama's Manhattan ( Templeton Rye, Carpano Vermouth, orange bitters)

Wild fish menu.
I had the Mahimahi and M had the Big Eyed Ahi special, encrusted with panko

My Opakapaka with coconut rice

There are always many unusual floral arrangements throughout.

Maui no Ka Oi- Mighty Haleakala

Haleakala sunset from the summit at 10,000 ft.

A few minutes before the  colors swept the sky.
Very, very, very cold!
(Photos were taken by M who would visit Haleakala at least once a month to see the sunrise, or sunset.)

On the way down from the summit on one of the by roads in Kula on the slopes of Haleakala,
you can meet the chicken who wanted to cross to the other side of the road.

Maui (the second largest island in the chain) still has large areas of open fields, which makes driving at night a bit scary.

Sunday morning, there was snow on the summit and the roads were icy at the top and impassable.
We were on the road in Kula, all set to visit La Provence, a wonderful bakery and  bistro, to pick up some pastry M had ordered, but all stores were closed because of the power outtage brought on by a storm that had passed through at around 6 a.m.

Later Sunday, the sun began to set and cast a translucent glow of red, orange and gold on the mountain.

The ocean's horizon by Haleakala put on a beautiful show for an instant.