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February 25, 2013 · 9:43 pm

A Hike, Art, and the Trip to Kailua

Saturday morning we grabbed breakfast at an outdoor café and returned to the hotel to pack our bags. We were leaving Honolulu already. But not before we tackled a one-mile urban hike to Manoa Falls, a beautiful, 100′ tall waterfall about ten minutes north of the city.

I wore Timberland sandals with grippy soles and a sturdy construction, but the 2″ heel brought me a lot of attention. I think I heard the words “look at those shoes” in a few languages. I swear they weren’t impractical for a short hike! If anything, they kept the mud off my feet.

After the hike, Hubby had a terrific surprise in store: Lunch at the Honolulu Museum of Art courtyard café. From our table, I took in the sculptures as I drank Riesling and munched on an apple-walnut salad.

I recognized a small Henry Moore sculpture (middle right, above). They had a Seattle import there too: A ceiling installation by glass artist Dale Chihuly.

We took a quick walk through the open, airy space, which seemed like a blend of Spanish and Asian styles.

Our drive to Kailua was shorter than I expected. The mountain pass led us straight to the beachside town and we settled into our bungalow. We booked through Airbnb and chose this place based on a lot of positive reviews. Beth, our host, introduced us to her dogs, walked us across the street to the beach, and left us to do our thing. I highly recommend her place. It’s decorated so nicely, is completely private, and sleeps 5.

Compared to Friday, today seemed relaxed. We explored the town, relaxed in the bungalow, and found a neat dinner spot at a Korean-Thai restaurant.

We had to get to bed early though. Sunday was a big day: Our trip to Waianae Harbor for a boat tour and snorkeling!

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Tagged as Airbnb, art, fashion, Hawaii, hike, Honolulu, Kailua, Manoa Falls, Museum of Art, style

February 23, 2013 · 7:57 pm

Hawaiian Getaway

Mr. Jean of all Trades and I took a quick Hawaiian vacation recently. We left Seattle on a Thursday morning and came back on Monday. It was a long-long weekend. Probably too short in retrospect, but any time away is better than none.

It’s a five-hour flight to Honolulu, and that gave us the afternoon to wander through Waikiki, the busy, touristy part of the city. I was thrilled when The Pacific Beach Hotel upgraded us to an ocean-view room. Those little dots in the water are surfers waiting to catch a wave. The water seemed calm but every now and then, they’d ride a wave to the shore.

Hotels in Waikiki are pricy so I picked a less expensive, no-frills place to stay. It was clean and close to everything. That’s all we needed. This picture is of the hotel next door.

The beach was beautiful and it was a treat to see palm trees again.

The last time I saw any was in Florida last year, when I met up with my parents who were staying in Pompano Beach.

We savored the sunset and watched the ships along the horizon. It was hard to believe we’d been in Seattle that morning.

When the sun lowered, the glow was gone.

But it stayed light later than it does in Seattle this time of year.

Best of all, it stayed warm! We wandered the beach before heading off for a Valentine’s Day dinner.

I picked up this maxi dress at a clothing exchange this past fall. I jokingly said that I didn’t have anywhere to wear it but I’d take it for my next trip to Hawaii (not knowing I’d be heading there so soon)! We ate in an Italian restaurant where I found a delicious vegan pasta dish and a drink made with sparkling wine and hibiscus juice. Welcome to paradise!

Next up is our first full day on Oahu: Exploring Honolulu.