We packed in as much as possible it seems. Two micro breweries, the Dole Pineapple Plantation, the North Shore/Haleiwa Art Festival, the Ukulele Festival, and a hike in Hawaii Kai. I've been getting up at sunrise each day, and am thoroughly exhausted by the evening!
Sunday was one of those days where you slip from one great activity to the next, blessed with beautiful weather and fabulous company. We started the day by stopping at Libby Manapua Shop in Honolulu on our way to Hawaii Kai to meet up for our hike. My aunt has been raving about manapua since I landed, so we grabbed a dozen for breakfast. They are softball sized steamed dough stuffed with the most delicious pork filling. The dough is chewy and airy; the filling, sweet and savory. I'm a believer. And officially hooked.
The hike we took was nothing short of amazing. We winded up this small private road, headed for the peak. To the right of the path was acres of charred vegetation, the tragic result of a stray firework on the fourth of July. The fire came within feet of the beautiful million dollar homes on the ledge, the smell of smoke still lingering in the air as a vivid reminder. New growth has already begun, and the path was decorated with beautifully unique plants, punching
color up the trail (as if to say "C'mon, this way!"). The higher we climbed, the more amazing the view. Toward the very top, the inclined increased drastically, but the reward, oh the reward...worth every huff and puff for sure. As far as the eye can see, varying shades of turquoise, from cobalts to emeralds, seemingly pulled 
from God's fantastic crayon box. The creamy shoreline, navy mountains, and hazy grey islands stretched out along the horizon, the reef freckling the shore below our feet. The wind was strong but appreciated, as the strength of the sun seemed even stronger from where we stood. Mesmerized at the endless beauty, our silence was interrupted only by the occasional punctuation of "wow!" or "amazing!"After a morning of such beauty (and calorie burning!), it was decided that a beer was in order, so we headed to the Kona Brewery for a Wailua Wheat beer. It is brewed with passion fruit, generous amounts of wheat and Hallertau hops, and was the perfect reward.
The 40th Anniversary Ukulele Festival was next on our agenda, so we headed to Waikiki (and for the record, it's pronounced "ook-a-lay-lee," not "yoo-ka-lay-lee"). What a treat it was to listen to the performers from our blanket in the park. There was a winding little stream that decorated the pavilion like a necklace, with coral hibiscus flowers gently floating by from the light breeze. Redheaded cardinals danced on the shore, iridescent dragonflies chased one another, white doves zigzagged from tree to tree. The Famosa trees' vibrant green umbrella punched against the bright blue sky, contrasting like black and white. The smell of malasadas (sugar dusted fried dough) wrapped around the park, music swirled around and children danced with such inhibition, as only children can. The sheer delight and pride of the crowd was palatable. I left feeling pleasantly sleepy and completely satisfied, lulled by the beautiful sounds of the ukulele and the warmth of the sun.
Aloha!
Courtney
[Things that made me smile this weekend: Eggs Benedict and Amaretto orange juice on the lanai, meeting new friends, booking our trip to see the lava flow on the big island.
What a fabulous place, and that plant is unique.
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