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.