OAHU CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR AND LUAU

 OAHU CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR AND LUAU

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Had some visitors from China in Hawaii and on their last day, I took them on a Circle Island Tour and to the Paradise Cove Luau.  This is a great way to spend a day on Oahu.  Visited some of my favorite spots and of course had to have lunch at the Giovanni's Shrimp Truck on the North Shore.  Finished the day at Paradise Cove Luau which was nice.  We did the Deluxe Package where you have VIP seating and table service.  Food and service was really good. 

START YOUR TOUR WITH A MALASADA FROM LEONARD'S BAKERY ON KAPAHULU AVENUE

FIRST STOP IS HANAUMA BAY

FROM HERE TO ETERNITY BEACH

BLOW HOLE

SANDY BEACH

MAKAPU

MAKAPU POINT

WAIMANALO BEACH

KUALOA BEACH PARK

CHINAMANS HAT

GIOVANNI'S SHRIMP TRUCK

THE WORLD FAMOUS WHITE SHRIMP TRUCK ON THE NORTH SHORE

ORDER AT THE WINDOW AND REMEMBER IT IS ALL CASH HERE.  NO CREDIT CARDS

SHRIMP PLATES ARE $14

HOT AND SPICEY

SCAMPI WITH HOT SAUCE ON THE SIDE 

FRUIT BEVERAGES AVAILABLE NEXT TO GIOVANNI'S

SMOOTHIES, SHAVE ICE AND FRUIT DRINKS

FRESH COCONUT JUICE

STRAWBERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE

SUNSET BEACH

SUNSET IN THE SUMMER WITH NO WAVES

MALIA'S HAWAIIAN SHAVE ICE BECAUSE LINE FOR MATSUMOTO'S WAS TOO LONG

CHOOSE YOUR SIZE AND FLAVORS

STRAWBERRY BANANA SHAVE ICE

PARADISE COVE LUAU

CEREMONY TO BLESS FOOD AND PULL PIG FROM IMU

HULA DANCERS

LET THE SHOW BEGIN AT PARADISE COVE LUAU

DINNER IS SERVED

SALADS, LOMI SALMON AND POI

FRIED CHICKEN, KALUA PORK, SHOYU CHICKEN, MAHI MAHI, VEGETABLES AND RICE

CHOCOLATE CAKE, PINEAPPLE SLICE AND HAUPIA

MORE HULA

FIRE KNIFE DANCER

THIS GUY WAS GOOD

ALOHA FROM PARADISE COVE

 o

FARMERS MARKET - KAPIOLANI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FARMERS MARKET

KAPIOLANI COMMUNITY

COLLEGE

The Farmers Market held on Saturdays at Kapiolani Community College is a great gig.  Lots of good food, great looking girls in short-shorts and tank tops plus a few celebrities.  On this day we ran into Danno from the new Hawaii Five O television series and a few local television personalities. The setting here is perfect.  The market is on the slopes of Diamond Head which is a beautiful green right now because of the recent rain.  There is lots of parking but the main lot closest to the market fills fast.  Have patience and wait for someone to leave or park in the back of the college and walk a bit.  The market itself looks large but after a few laps around you realize that it kind of small.  There is little or no seating within the market so be prepared to walk or stand while you eat.  There are some curbs to sit on but they face the sun and it is brutal at times.  My daughter saw people eating corn on the cob and dragged me to the corn stand within two minutes of arriving.  She ordered one piece of Roasted Corn ($4) with Butter and Garlic.  She loved it.  Did not hear her talk for the next five minutes.  She devoured the entire cob without even offering me a bite.  When she came up for air, I was looking at some beautiful pieces of fresh Big Island Abalone coming of the grill across from the corn stand.  I ordered one plate of Abalone ($7) and was amazed by the size and flavor.  This Abalone is really good.  The pieces were thick and juicy.  Could not believe that my daughter asked to try one.  She took one small bite and then chewed up an entire piece.  "Yummy" she said.  My daughter loves Abalone, Escargot, Rack of Lamb, Sushi, Fish, Crab, Clams and Steak.  Not your normal Chicken Nuggets and Burger eating 10 year old.  We also tried the Fried Green Tomatoes ($7) because they just looked darn good coming out of the fryer.  They sell bags of the batter separately and people were buying it.  I cannot understand why as I found the batter and tomatoes to be pretty tasteless.  The mayo sauce served with them did not add anything to the flavor.  The batter color and appearance is good.  Maybe Ranch Dressing would be a better dipping sauce for these.  There are a lot of different stalls here where you can buy Plate Lunches and enjoy an entire meal.  Everything from Vietnamese food to Sushi, Fried Chicken and Waffles and Sausage on a stick.  Highly recommend spending an hour or two walking around this Farmers Market.

THE BOSS LOVED HER CORN
WITH BUTTER AND GARLIC

GET HERE EARLY.  PARKING LOT IS ALWAYS PACKED

DOZENS OF VENDORS AND LARGE CROWDS

FRESH LOCAL FRUITS AND PRODUCE

PESTO PIZZA STALL ALWAYS HAS A CROWD

FRESH ROASTED CORN BOOTH WAS ALWAYS BUSY

FRESH BIG ISLAND ABALONE

3 LARGE PIECES OF ABALONE FOR $7

ME AND THE BOSS LOVED THE ABALONE

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES BOOTH

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES WERE A BIT BLAND

WAITING IN LINE FOR A SHAVE ICE

$3 FOR A REGULAR SIZE SHAVE ICE

RETURNED ON ANOTHER SATURDAY TO
TRY THE KUKUI SAUSAGE.  THEY SOLD
OUT OF THE SPICY SO I GOT THE REGULAR
SAUSAGE ON A STICK.  MOST TASTELESS
SAUSAGE I HAVE EVER HAD.  TOOK TWO
SMALL BITES AND GAVE IT AWAY.

KUKUI SAUSAGE BOOTH HAD A VERY LONG LINE.