HULA: Hawaii Ultimate League Association

Realizing that updating a blog requires effort. Hm.

Thursday: Downtown Honolulu-- Chinatown, courthouse, Iolani palace, cathedrals, etc. Went out for a pre-dinner walk that ended up lasting almost 3 hours. We went around Diamond head, really nice area with a great view/access to the ocean, lots of local surfers and stoners, and gorgeous luxury homes. By the time we got back it was happy hour at Kincaid's and we couldn't resist going back to celebrate Alex's new job.

Food should be real. I commend. Ate a Snickerdoodle cupcake.

Mock trial skillz put to use: Apathetic defendant.

King Kamehameha I and I, governing Hawai'i.

Iolani Palace, where the last queen watched her monarchy fail.

There's a bird on baby Jesus.
Not baby cheeses, for Modfam watchers.

Beautiful, uniquely engineered stained glass
window. Too bad the art content is terrifying.

My future home, NBD. Actually, BFD.

Friday: Hung out by Waikiki (super touristey area where all the hotels/shops/obscenely expensive restaurants are) for the morning, then headed north to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It's Hawaii's version of Disneyland, with a historical/cultural basis. Very cool setup. Six Polynesian states are represented, and the people at each 'village' are actually from those countries, and a lot of them are full-time students at the neighboring BYU-Hawaii, working to pay for school while preserving and educating people about their culture. Stopped at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck featuring the famous Kahuku white shrimp. Commentary below, with picture. Then went out with Alex and one of his friends, visiting from the big island. And I made new friends of my own!

New place of employment-- CONGRATS! It's majestic.

This sketchy ass truck is actually famous.

Hot and spicey shrimp. It burned. Most of you know about my
high spice tolerance... These shrimp made my mouth numb.
Apparently they're boiled in hot sauce... My mouth wanted to
kill me. Unbelievable pain. But it was soo tasty!

I should have known-- 'no refunds' means REALLY REALLY SPICY.
It's refreshing for 'hot and spicey' to live up to its title though.
Also, I LOVE the 3-item menu. Simplicity, In-n-Out style.

They were selling ice cream from this canoe.
I might have interrupted. Background shows
people sitting, waiting for the 'canoe pageant'
where each island has a canoe with native dancers.
Similar to the parades down Main Street, USA.

He thought it would be fun to make me push the canoe.
I did. People clapped. I asked for ice cream. Got it.

Trying to blend in.

Post-nightlife Zippy's run. Chili cheese fries are the best.

Saturday: Kapi'olani Farmer's Market again! No pics though, I was too busy looking/eating. Then went horseback riding, just on a little trail ride around the Koko crater area. Pretty nice place, calm horses, great people. One girl who was working there was wearing a Spin Ultimate hat so I commented and naturally we talked about ultimate the whole time. This post is titled HULA because on the unexpectedly long walk Thursday night we passed an open field. And I saw discs in the air, only to then discover that it was a regular weeknight pickup game. Better yet, the guy I talked to mentioned his school and I mentioned someone that I met in Atlanta summer league 2 years ago who went there too, and sure enough they knew each other. Ultimate community win. Also, the girl at the stable was talking about knowing contacts to find games in Australia, and passing my info to another friend who was moving to LA. Have I mentioned that I love ultimate? Definitely seeking out souvenir discs now. And offering Hellions ones for exchange!
So then we came back, Alex had other arrangements, and I ended up back at Waikiki on yet another extensive stroll, this time with a new friend, and going for a night swim. So liberating.

Koko head hike, which I will destroy.

Horse ears are adorable.

On my high horse! Hiapatha. Not sure what her name means.

With my horse! Sans unnecessary helmet.

With Alex's horse, Apache.

She couldn't resist stopping and eating the grass/plants.
We understood each other very well.

Merp I'm tired! And there's still so much I want to do. Starting to prep logistics for the next destination-- Sydney. So excited to be staying in a hostel there. But until then, I will savor the last 2 full days I have here on Oahu. Summer has been amazing, and this is just the beginning.

Wireless-less

Beware, this will be an extremely long post. Long days, lots of activities and scenery and food, and internet problems limiting my posting ability = AN AVALANCHE of pictures today! Enjoy!

Tuesday was a great day starting with Starbucks, dim sum, UHawaii, and leading to beautiul Manoa including a hike to Manoa Falls (a waterfall), an amazing tiny deli, and ending with a self-sponsored double-header of Bridesmaids and Thor, followed by an obscene amount of appys and drinks at the wonderfully comfortable and classy Kincaid's. You will see all of this in picturesque detail.

Manoa falls has been my favorite hike in terms of scenery. It's all lush, tropical, green, and filled with so many bright colors and hidden animals.

Totoro!

So lush and beautiful, like in King Kong.

Clear, cool stream through the hike.

I am fierce. Fear me.
Also, apparently sponsored by Adidas.

Trapped in the tangleywoods.

I am tree, leave me be.

Steps + Bamboo forest.

At the waterfall. It's sortof mini, like me!

Went way out of character and broke the rules,
climbing right up to the water.

Un-aerial view. There must be a word for this.

Again, I never break the rules. Or do anything fun.

Ok, I was terrified at first. Then I realized how amazing it is to
see one of these bright crawly inspirations for gummy worms. Minus
legs. Really though, it didn't walk very fast and it actually looked
like it was a struggle to coordinate all of its fatty, pointy legs.
Clearly it was not more afraid of me than I was of it. Looking at
this makes me itchy. But I appreciate the natural-ness of the hike.

Wild cock.

 Now, to the food section of Tuesday's adventures.
After the hike we came across this sketchy looking little shop. Which turned out to have the most amazing food and the sweetest Hawaiian grandma who called everyone "my dear."

Smoked ahi/avo/tomato/cheese sandwich with shredded carrots and
sprouts on grain bread. Alex's acai granola bowl is in the background.

Handwritten menu on posterboard, stapled to the wall. Perfection.
HGma in the corner.

During the movie intermission I decided it would be fun
to sit on a child booster seat in the middle of the floor.

 Kincaid's. Happy hour. 2 people, 4 appys, 4 drinks --> 2 very full, satisfied, happy, comatose people. The atmosphere in this place was amazing, like a classy yet comfy, casual place to just relax and enjoy. Wood decor and furniture paired with a shiny glass bar, opposite huge wide windows facing the harbor. Mmm.

3 Potatoes: regular fries, parmesan truffle chips, sweet potato fries.

Wings. They were so fatty and meaty.
Creamy Maytag blue cheese dressing.

Oysters rockefeller. Minimal hollandaise, maximal oyster,
flaky breadding/spinach.

Rich, creamy dungeness crab and artichoke dip.

Amazing bar area. Can I have it?

 That, my friends, concludes Tuesday.

Next comes Wednesday. We hit up Queen Emma's summer Palace where I learned about the small but interesting Hawaiian monarchy. Then we stopped by Pali lookout and looked out, then had crepes, hiked Makapu'u up a mini-mountain along the ocean, and chilled at Hanauma Bay.

At the Queen's piano. The sandalwood furniture was all so gorgeous.

View from Pali lookout, where the fight to unite the islands
started. They pulled a 300 by backing soldiers up until they fell
over the cliff.

Wind power.

Yeah.

 Lunch:

Cutest loose leaf tea steepers.

Crepe. Vegeterian, believe it or not.

Scandalous-- unwrapped crepe, for your viewing pleasure.

Makapu'u Lighthoues Mini-hike:

Cacti on a mountain next to the ocean. The crater in the back is cool.

Got a little captain in you?
Behind the peak, water on all sides. Glorious.

Woman in string bikini top, pushing her baby in a stoller,
running downhill. Natural selection, anyone?

Makapu'u Lighthouse.

I love watching bright blue waves crash and foam against the rocky shore.

From the top of the hike, looking left.

From the top of the hike, looking straight.

From the top of the hike, looking back.

Lighthouse. Striking blue water.

Lighthouse, after possibly blazing our own trail past a barbed wire
fence. The ember inside glows at certain time increments, just like
a real lighthouse! Oh wait. It is.

Aerial view of Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve. Those are reefs!
With colorful fishes and just as many fat tourists splashing around.