My Favorite Go-to Recipe

 My niece, Carrie, has been posting her favorite recipes. I tried a couple of them, and they are easy and delicious!

Whenever I can’t think of anything else to fix, I always turn to a frittata.

The first time I ate this dish was in the late 1970s at Longhi’s restaurant in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.

This was a favorite place where we always ate breakfast when we were in Lahaina. Bob Longhi started the restaurant on Front Street a couple of years before our first visit in 1978. He took verbal orders himself, and there was no written menu.

Bob came to the table and told us what he was making that day. He generally offered a couple of choices for breakfast, including eggs benedict and his huge, yummy cinnamon rolls. (We usually ordered one to split.)

One morning, he offered a spinach/cheese frittata. Since I had never had one, I asked him what it was.

Bob was never one to answer a question directly. (Actually, he was often a bit surly—but funny.) “Just order it. You’ll like it.” (He always sounded short and impatient.)

I decided to try it. I figured Larry would eat it if I didn’t like it, and I’d at least have half a cinnamon roll…

Then I ordered tea.

“You want what?”

“Hot tea.”

Bob shook his head. “You mean you want me to go across the street to the gas station and run the water in the restroom until it’s hot, then carry it all the way back here, just so you can have hot tea?”

By this time, of course, I was laughing. “Uh…yes.”

He harrumphed and left the table.

Of course, the frittata was delicious, and the tea bag came with a pot of steaming hot water.

Bob’s dog was always present inside the restaurant. He usually wore a red cotton bandana. He lay in a corner and never bothered anyone.

Bob never wore shoes.

For years, we always went to Longhi’s in Lahaina for breakfast whenever we stayed there. I don’t remember if we ever ordered frittata again, but after tasting it there the first time, I started making it often.

One year we entered the restaurant, with its distinctive black-and-white checked floor to find the dog missing.

When I asked where he was, Bob answered, “He retired upcountry.” However, a painting of the dog graced one wall. It was still there the last time we ate there.

When we attended the Maui Writers Conference in Kihei in 2005 and 2006, we ate at their location in the Kihei Mall. And yes, we ordered a cinnamon roll. They were as good as we remembered.

We were sad when we learned that Bob had died in 2012.

For a couple of years, we stayed at a condo owned by a friend of our friend, Bob Schwenck, in Kaanapali. We never got to Longhi’s for breakfast, but on one of our last evenings, we ate dinner upstairs at Longhi’s in Lahaina and watched the sunset. Bob painted a picture of the gorgeous view.

I just read that the Lahaina location is now closed, but there are two others still on Maui. We’ll have to try them out when we get back there

Easy Frittata

I made one of these whenever I have leftover meat and veggies.

1.    Chop leftover meat and veggies

2.    Chop sweet peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and other fresh veggies (These are my basics)

3.    Cook all the ingredients until tender in oil in a medium skillet.

4.    Mix 4-8 eggs with a little milk or cream. (I use my immersion blender.)

5.    Pour egg mixture over the other cooked ingredients

6.    Top with shredded cheese. (There is never too much for my taste!)

Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. OR place in a 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Cook until cheese is melted and eggs are set.

Cut into wedges and serve.

Good for breakfast or brunch. Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated for another meal if there is any left.

Every time I make this dish I remember the first time I tried it, and remembering always makes me smile.

Another Farewell

On Tuesday afternoon, while checking Facebook, a strange post showed up saying our dear friend Suzi O had passed away. I couldn’t believe it. So, I messaged the person who made the post. It was true. I was blindsided.

 

We knew her in high school as Elaine Benioff. She was in Larry’s class, two years ahead of me. My best friend was in the same class, and I knew many of her friends. (At his reunions, I often have had to tell him who the people were because I knew more of them than he did.)

 

I remembered her because of her gorgeous long, blonde hair.

We attended Larry’s 20^th class reunion in the fall of 1982. On the Sunday morning, following the big celebration on Saturday night, many of us ate brunch in the hotel. We sat with Elaine, now called Suzi. (In high school, she used her middle name. After she graduated, she switched to her first name: Susan. It morphed into Suzi. Her married name was Osborne.) During the meal, we found out she lived on Maui. We had planned a trip there not long after the reunion, so we made arrangements to visit her while we were there.

At the time, she ran a small newspaper, and we met her in the office. She also had become a minister and conducted weddings. Her logo read: Get Married on Maui. She did this for many years. We spent the afternoon with her and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. From then on, we visited with her each time we went.

 

We attended their subsequent high school reunions and always spent time with Suzi. She was pure joy and a bright light. We looked forward to being with her. We laughed a lot.

 

When she came to Orange County, she often stayed with us and made our house her headquarters.

 

Suzi experienced a house fire and lost her home. She put whatever remained in storage and moved back to Fresno, California. Her mother had started having health issues, so Suzi felt she was needed here.

 

She began to make one or two trips to Bali each year, getting to know people and buying handcrafted items from the local artists: bags, clothing, scarves, tablecloths, jewelry, wooden carvings, gift items etc. (If you read the book Eat, Pray, Love, you may remember the guru mentioned in the book. Suzi knew him. She showed us pictures and told stories about him.)

 

She arranged for “Bali Boutiques,” hosted in private homes (sort of like Tupperware parties), where she sold her wares. I hosted several of these for her and invited my friends. The best part of hosting was having her stay here. She usually arrived the day before, and we played. She often stayed for a few days afterward, and we had more opportunities for fun.

 

In August of 2010, we held an Arts Festival at our church. When I mentioned it to Suzi, she immediately said she wanted to take part. She secured a space and sold her items there. She did very well.

 

The day of the festival was my birthday. I stopped by her booth and pointed out a couple of items I really liked. Unbeknownst to me, she talked Larry into getting me a gorgeous blue stone pendant. I love it and have worn it often.

 

By the next time she came, she had found new venues: senior living centers. Some worked well for her. Others, not so much. But her joie de vis was contagious. She genuinely loved people, and they were attracted to her. On one trip down to Orange County, one of her senior homes cancelled. She asked if I knew of any. I told her about the one my mother had lived in, and she made arrangements for a show there. I went along with her since I still knew many of the residents and staff. We spent a fun day. I don’t think she made too much money, but she charmed everyone, and we laughed a lot.

 

In 2012, they celebrated their 50^th class reunion. The party was held in Balboa. We invited Suzi to stay with us, but she wasn’t even sure she could make it because her mom wasn’t doing well. She said she’d meet us at the party, which she did.

She left early to drive straight back to Fresno. Her mother died shortly thereafter, and she moved back to Maui, the place she loved best.

 

In 2015, Larry and I celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary. A week later, we left for a two-week vacation in Hawaii. Our first stop was Maui, where we stayed a week with Suzi. She had planned activities for every day we were with her. She got tickets for Noises Off at the local theater. Suzi was very active in the theater, appearing on stage several times,

 

We joined some of the other theater folks for dinner before the show. We really enjoyed this delightful farce.

 

On Friday night, Kahului held a street fair with food and music and booths. Mostly, we walked the main street with her as Suzi met and greeted friends. We became convinced she knew everyone on the island.

Another day, we arranged to have brunch with the gentleman who inspired the protagonist of our mysteries, Agapé Jones. We invited Suzi to join us. Not too surprisingly, she and he already knew each other as well as many mutual friends.

 

We were plotting a new mystery at the time and were looking for a senior living facility on Maui to include in the book. I had mentioned this to her before we arrived. Being Suzi, she’d arranged for a tour of the best facility on the island, where her friend was the director.

 

On Saturday morning, we went to the marketplace at the college. I found a beautiful caftan and several gift items. Larry bought a T-shirt.

 

Later that evening, she hosted a potluck party. Included were some of the same people with whom we had eaten dinner the night of the play. We took part in one of her traditional games: a version of charades where we acted out the names of famous people. We broke into two teams. Although some of the players were quite competitive, it was more about the camaraderie and laughs. Oh, and the great food. We stayed up late because no one wanted to go home.

 

In 2017, Larry’s class held their 55^th reunion. Suzi came and stayed with us. She arrived early, and we spent some time with her. We attended the event together, and had a great time, as always.

2017 – Photo by Gary Bosley

The following morning, she left to see Fr. Ed Benioff (a cousin, I think) installled as pastor of Church of the Good Shepherd in L.A.  She took a dedicated copy of our book "The Memory Keeper" to him as a gift.

She later went to a spa near San Diego. While there, she ran into our friend, the inspiration for our retired detective. We didn’t know he was in town and didn’t see him, but she did.

 

Last October, they held a 75^th birthday party for the class. Suzi had planned to come, and we had expected her to stay with us. Unfortunately, she had to cancel. Her landlord wanted her to move so he could rent the house to a family member.

 

While in the moving process, she fell and broke her back. Thank goodness, she had great friends who helped her with the move and took care of her until she healed.

 

Through the years, we remained in touch through email and Facebook.

 

Her birthday parties became legendary on Maui. We always received an invitation, but somehow, the timing never worked out. She had entertainment—some of the best musicians in Hawaii. A large crowd turned out for the food and music and dancing, and she had a ball.

 

Because of the virus, her usual extravaganza didn’t happen last month. But we expected to see her again once the current situation allowed travel.

 

This is why the news of her death was such a shock. She had cancer. Later, I learned that when she died, she was surrounded by friends and lots of love.

 

I am grateful for the wonderful memories we shared with her, and we will miss her terribly.

Suzi’s birthday 2018 – photo by Bruce Forrester

Somewhere in heaven she is organizing a big party with some of her friends like the recently departed Willie K. And she is laughing. Aloha, Suzi!

Meeting Kimi

I recently re-edited and republished the six Aspen Grove romance anthologies. I loved re-reading all of them since I have always loved the series. I especially enjoyed Directions of Love, the winner of the 2011 EPIC eBook Award. My novella in this one contains a great deal of our personal characteristics and family stories.

I was reminded of a very special event related to this book.

In November of 2010, we were on vacation with friends in Hawaii. We decided to do some sightseeing, and one day, we went to Queen Emma’s Summer Palace. It was close to Honolulu, and our friends had never seen it. (BTW, it is a lovely way to spend a day on Oahu.)

It was a slow day, and we were the only tourists there. Each couple was assigned a different docent for the home tour. Our friends went first since we wanted to make sure they saw everything.

Then our docent appeared. She took my breath away.

At the time, I was working with the editor on the final changes to the manuscript for Directions of Love just prior to publication. I took my computer on vacation with me specifically so I could complete the book.

This young lady was the personification of the protagonist in my novella, “Finding Love in Paradise.” Kimi McGuire was half Irish and half Hawaiian. She was raised in our fictional town of Aspen Grove, Colorado, but went to Hawaii to attend college at the University of Hawaii.

After staring at her for a while, I finally apologized and told her about Kimi. I had described her as tiny with long straight, dark hair, dark eyes, and fair skin. There she stood in front of me.

After I described my character and we began to talk, the similarities became even more striking.

Our docent shared Kimi’s ethnicity: Irish and Hawaiian. They both attended UH at Manoa, and both studied anthropology. Kimi worked at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, and our docent volunteered at the Queen Emma Summer Palace while attending college. Both were interested in their own Hawaiian heritage.

I don’t remember much about the tour, but our conversation with our docent remains vivid.

I wrote down her name somewhere. (I lost it shortly thereafter.) I gave her one of our author cards and wrote the name of the book on the back. I asked her to email us so I could let her know when the book was published. I never heard back from her.

I often base my characters’ appearance on other people: friends, movie and TV stars, etc. This was the only time I wrote a fictional character and then met the personification of the character in person.

I really wish she had contacted me or that I remembered her name. (It was unusual.) But I’ll never forget this lovely young lady.

Sick on Vcation

We just returned from a visit with our daughter in Plano, Texas. The day after we arrived, Larry started sneezing and coughing and blowing his nose. He kept feeling worse as it started to move into his chest. The congestion grew worse, so we went to a walk-in clinic. (I am always a bit wary of colds because when I get them, they often turn into bronchitis.) Turns out it was just a bad cold. The doctor gave him medication for the cough and inflammation, but Larry spent a couple of days out-of-commission.

I started taking Zicam right away. I eventually came down with the bug, but I was only affected for a couple of days—and no infection.

This isn’t the first time we’ve been ill on vacation.

I remember one memorable trip to Hawaii when I was miserably ill. Kim was with us. I spent a couple of days in bed while Larry and Kim enjoyed the beach. I pushed through for the rest of the trip, but I was dragging.

In 2015, we celebrated our 50^th anniversary. Kim came from Texas for the party. A couple of days afterward, she became quite ill.

I’d had knee surgery the month before and was still recovering. I suspect my immune system was somewhat compromised, because I became ill with bronchitis—in spades. I went to the doctor, and she prescribed a round of antibiotics. When the first prescription didn’t help, she prescribed a second.

A couple of weeks later, we flew to Hawaii. I thought I was getting better, but by the end of the first week on Maui with our friend Suzi, I felt even worse. We flew to Honolulu, and the next morning, we went to the walk-in clinic. The doctor said I still had a bad infection. He prescribed a double dose of medication. I was out of it for a day or two. I kept going, but between my knee (still very painful) and the infection, I was pretty miserable.

Of course, I recovered—finally. This may have been the last time I was ill until this past week

Larry almost never gets sick, but when he does, he gets very ill. I also rarely catch anything, but I have noticed a change in location can introduce new germs. (The doctor in Plano said Larry probably caught something on the plane—despite our taking Airbourne before we boarded.)

We’re now home and pretty well recovered. Sleeping in our own bed helps with getting enough rest.

Have you ever been ill on vacation? It’s pretty miserable.

Another Book Suggestion

Here’s another suggestion for Christmas gift books. Do you live in cold country? Want to take a virtual trip to Hawaii? Do you (or your friends) like mysteries? Do we have a great gift suggestion for you.

Our mysteries are set in Hawaii!

We wrote the first one after attending the old Maui Writers’ Conference in 2005 after the publication of our first book. 31 Months in Japan: The Building of a Theme Park. We met a fellow who was working security for the conference. We only talked with him for about ten minutes, but when we walked away, I said to Larry, “We have to write that guy.”

The result was out first mystery, Murder…They Wrote, set at a writers’ conference in Hawaii. Whiskey Creek Press (now Start Publishing) published the book in 2010. (Our ebooks are now distributed through Simon & Schuster.)

“What if a retired NYPD officer is asked to investigate a mysterious death at the National Authors Conference where various attendees offer their theories and suspicions? Murder…They Wrote answers this question as Agapé Jones, retired NYPD detective, tries to determine the truth surrounding the death of Robert Dyer, noted poet and critic. Confusing and confounding him are Robert’s award-winning romance novelist ex-girlfriend, current young girlfriend, ex-wife, recently discovered illegitimate daughter, agent, an action/adventure author, famous psychic, long-time friend, and the mysterious countess. While Agapé enjoys getting a chance to exercise his old skills, his wife, Geraldine, isn’t pleased, even though she talked him into volunteering as head of security for the conference. Peopled by a cast of quirky and deliciously amusing characters, Murder…They Wrote will quickly engage the reader. It is filled with accusations, theories, twists, turns and surprises. The authors each have unique personalities and bring them to the creation of the fictional authors.”

Two years later, we published the second in the series, Murder in Paradise. This time, the action takes place both on Maui and on Oahu as Agapé becomes a special investigator.

“On an early morning paddle, Agapé Jones' outrigger team finds a body in the water off Maui, thrusting him into unexpected danger. Agapé Jones, retired NYPD detective, is asked to act as special investigator in the murder of famous surfer Philip Fowler, the son of Hawaii State Senator Thomas Fowler. The assignment takes Agapé to the North Shore of Oahu where he discovers that he’s investigating more than just a murder. The young man had no enemies, and Agapé is frustrated by little evidence and few possible suspects. Agapé enjoys exercising his old skills, but he misses his wife, Gerry. He encounters several people who become more than acquaintances, and in the end, discovers the truth. Murder in Paradise allows readers to discover the answers along with the detective while experiencing a virtual trip to the real Paradise that is Hawaii.”

This book was a 2012 EPIC eBook Award Finalist.

If you are stuck in the cold and want to escape to Paradise, try reading one of our mysteries. Or give them as gifts to friends who are tired of the cold weather.

Why Travel?

This blog should come with a disclaimer: Travel is addictive.

We began making trips early in our marriage, first to places in the US and later farther afield.

Our first major trip, in 1979, was a three-week vacation to Hawaii. I worked for a year to pay for it. We planned with a travel agent and created our own itinerary. Five islands, eight flights, thirteen hotels later, we still hadn’t seen everything. It’s why we keep going back.

We have returned to Hawaii often, several times with good friends. Our last trip was in March of this year for a writing conference.

In 1980, we took a Caribbean cruise at the recommendation of friends. This was not our favorite vacation. I spent the whole week feeling queasy. However, we were one of the last cruise ships to dock in Haiti. This was the most severe poverty I had ever observed. One of the benefits of visiting foreign lands is the reminder of just how blessed we are.

In December of 1984, we had the joy of accompanying Kimberly’s high school choir when they sang in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Afterward, we toured Israel for a week with the group. I recently posted the link to the short video we made of the trip. It is fuzzy, and the sound isn’t perfect, but it still brings back special memories:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlBcCUQXREw&feature=share

In 1993, our friend, Bob Schwenck, did a pulpit exchange in Scotland. Larry was reluctant to take time off work for a trip to visit there, but I finally negotiated for ten days. We visited with the Schwencks for a couple of days, and then split the remainder with my family and traveling a bit. As we boarded the plane for the return flight, Larry said, “We should have stayed longer.” Can you say annoyed?

We learned our lesson. We now take whatever time is required.

Between 1998 and 2001, we lived in Japan and received an in-depth education in the Japanese people and the country. While we were there, we tried to visit a different location each weekend. One of my Japanese coworkers said she thought we’d seen more of the country than she had.

During one holiday weekend in 2001, we had decided to travel to the northern island of Hokkaido. My friend contacted travel agencies and made inquiries. Even though we would only be gone three days, the cost was outrageous. (Earlier, we had made a trip to Okinawa to visit a friend, and it was also expensive.)

As we were investigating the options, the head of HR asked if we would like to take a trip to Beijing. It would be for a week, and it cost less than the trip we had been considering. Of course, we decided to go.

In 2003, right after I learned I was losing my job, an opportunity for a trip to Italy came to us. Rather than my normal caution, this time I decided we were going, no matter what. This country had been on my bucket list for many years. So, we went, and I never regretted a minute!

The following year, we went to Ireland with the same group. What a terrific experience. The highlight was a visit with my mother’s distant cousin, Jean, who invited the entire group to her home for tea.

We have traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and many other places, with several more on the bucket list. In 2014, I checked off another when we traveled to France. The country was everything I had imagined and so much more!

When we retired in 2011, we went to San Mateo to visit my aunt and uncle. When we told them we were retiring, each of them said the same thing: “Travel.”

Where have you visited? What was your favorite place?

Adventures In Paradise - Part 6 Finale

Note: At last, here’s the finale to our Hawaiian vacation in October.

On Wednesday, October 14, Larry woke up feeling ill. It might have been a stomach flu or food poisoning from dinner the night before, but he wasn’t well enough to go out or do anything for the day.

On the other hand, I finally felt well enough to get outside. Even though I was still coughing, I decided a walk in Waikiki was in order. So, armed with cough drops, Luanna and I set out to explore. This has always been one of my favorite activities when we’ve stayed in Waikiki in the past. I adore discovering neat little shops and funky places where I’ve found special items in the past.

Our first stop was at the Outrigger Hotel. On my last trip, I discovered some nifty nail polish that changed color in the sunshine. I wanted to get some more for our great nieces for Christmas. Unfortunately, the store was gone.

We checked the prices at the Shore Bird, one of our favorite eating places in town. Since our first trip to Hawaii, we’ve always been able to find discount coupons in the little magazines found on every street corner in town. Not so this time. I couldn’t find any, even online. And the breakfast buffet was now $15.95 per person. I’m sure the food is still good, and the view is spectacular, but the buffet at the Hale Koa was delicious and several dollars cheaper. We decided not to go to the Shore Bird on this trip.

After that disappointing trip, we went on to the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. For years, we visited the Little Hawaiian Craft Shop on the top floor of the center to find unique gift items made by local craftsmen. On our return from Japan, we stopped in. By that time we had gotten to know the sweet ladies who ran the place. They told us they had sold the business and were moving to Oregon. Although the shop is still listed online, we couldn’t locate it.

It was hot out with high humidity and no breeze, so we stopped for a coke.

Then we walked across the street to where the International Marketplace used to be. This was where we found more funky little stores with unique items. It was always one of our favorite haunts in town. Now it’s going to be rebuilt into a new, upscale shopping venue. Just what Waikiki needed, more outrageously priced stores.

We did find a few little kiosks along a driveway between Kalakaua and Kuhio, but neither of us bought anything.

When we finally emerged onto Kuhio, we looked for the last Perry’s Smorgy. We couldn’t find it. We finally asked a gal who obviously worked in the area. She said it had closed. Perry’s had originally occupied the space where Duke’s is now located. There used to be a second one on the corner where Trump Tower stands. The one on Kuhio was the last—and it was gone. Yet another favorite place to fall in the upscaling and modernization of Waikiki.

We trudged back to the hotel in the heat. Along the way, we stopped for a shave ice—except that it wasn’t really shave ice. It was a snow cone. Real shave ice has actual shaved ice! The ones at the hotel were also snow cones. At least they had some of the tropical fruit flavors. Those at the hotel offered more generic fruit flavors. And neither place added the ice cream or adzuki beans. At least they were cool, and we found a bench where we could rest.

I got some yogurt for Larry for dinner and went to the hotel restaurant with Len and Lu for dinner.

By Thursday, the 15^th, Larry had recovered enough to go surfing. He had some good waves, and came back refreshed.

We decided to walk over to Cheeseburger for lunch. It should have been a walk in the park—literally. The restaurant is located a short walk across Ft. DeRussy from the hotel. What could be easier?

Well, it could have been lots easier! We got to the corner where we should have been able to cross directly to the restaurant. Unfortunately, the street was under construction. We talked to a man on the crew, and he told us to go back a block and another fellow would let us cross there. Unfortunately, this route was over uneven ground and grass. Len and Larry decided to backtrack a block, cross the street, and take the sidewalk back to the corner. Lu and I decided to take the ‘shortcut’ the construction worker had suggested. So we tramped down to the corner. Another worker met us there. When we asked to cross the street, he refused to let us. Instead, he pointed to the light more than a block back in the direction from which we’d come—half a block from the hotel where we’d started. “Cross at the signal and then take the sidewalk back to the corner.” He would not be budged.

So we followed his directions. We finally got to the restaurant—after covering more than double the original distance. The guys hadn’t reached the corner yet because they had to wait for signals. By the time they arrived, we heard the words “forced march” from both of them. We were all relieved when our tall, cold drinks arrived, and we all needed sustenance after the difficult journey. We returned by the shorter route.

The next morning, Larry decided he wasn’t going to do any more surfing, so we all walked the three blocks to the surfboard shop. Next door was an International House of Pancakes, so the three of us got a table and waited from Larry to join us.

When we got back to the hotel, we did laundry so we’d have clean clothes for the trip home the next day. We also got our boarding passes for the flight home. However, later in the afternoon, we received notice that our early morning flight had been cancelled because of equipment.

The airline had booked us on an afternoon flight—in separate center seats far apart. Since we flew into San Francisco, we would not arrive until late in the evening—too late for a connecting flight to Santa Ana.

I immediately contacted the airline and complained. We had booked these flights over six months ahead and had requested at least one aisle seat and to be together. I also booked a room at the Best Western in San Francisco for the night. Another unwelcome and unexpected expense.

At least we had the chance to eat another brunch at the hotel with Len and Lu. Since they also left in the afternoon, we were able to take them to the airport in the van, which saved them the cost of a shuttle or taxi.

When we arrived at the airport, we found that our seats had been changed so we sat together on the aisle in the very back of the plane. At least this was better than the seats we’d originally been assigned.

The boarding process in Honolulu was the absolutely worst we’d ever seen. Completely disorganized with long lines and strange order for boarding. A gal behind us said she’d had a friend who was supposed to fly out the day before, but the plane had mechanical problems and had to return to Honolulu. We wondered if they had used the aircraft we were originally assigned in order to get that flight out.

With the boarding delay, we left late, meaning we arrived in San Francisco later than scheduled.

We stayed the night (what was left of it) at the Best Western. They offered a continental breakfast at the hotel, as we decided to take advantage of it since our flight left at 6:30 a.m.

The plane we flew from SF was one of the smallest commercial jets we’d ever seen. Two seats flanked a very narrow center aisle (only one-seat wide). At the back of the aisle was the door to the restroom. (Yep, it was tiny, too)

I kept wondering where the flight attendant was going to sit. She finally pulled her seat out from behind the last row of seats like a pocket door. It barely fit in the aisle.

This flight arrived in Santa Ana late and baggage claim took forever. Bob and Bernie were waiting to pick us up. Unfortunately, they had also had to wait.

We’ve always said there was no such thing as a bad trip to Hawaii, but now we’ve had to modify our opinion. Although we did some wonderful things and spent time with great friends, this trip was fraught with more than its share of problems. We may never return to Waikiki. (How many Tiffanty and Kate Spade and Rolex and other unaffordable stores do we need?) However, we look forward to returning to Maui and Kauai and the Big Island in the future. Maybe Molokai again, too.

Adventures in Paradise - Part 5

Note: After the devastating world events recently, it seemed frivolous to continue telling you about our Hawaii vacation, but I promised I would, so the tale continues here:

Friday, October 9, after the breakfast buffet at the hotel, we took the shuttle to Hilo Hattie. Our friends from the tour joined us both for breakfast but also on the bus. We were shocked to see “STORE CLOSING” signs outside. We asked and discovered the flagship store and warehouse in Waikiki would close in a couple of weeks.

We have many fond memories of our visits there. When we first went, we took a factory tour to see the clothing being made. Then in the first showroom, we could purchase all the various styles in the latest print. At that time, only clothes made on the premises were sold. Later, other manufacturers’ items joined the iconic Hilo Hattie styles.

At the entrance, we received our traditional shell leis, and then entered the store. Stocks seemed depleted and some areas looked empty compared to earlier times. We found a few items, including a Duke Kahanamoku shirt for Larry. Then we ate lunch at the café in the store.

The antibiotic had upset my stomach, and—How do you say diarrhea politely? I spent Saturday, October 10, in bed. Larry ate with the Rughs and rented a surfboard. Not very exciting for me, but he was ready to try the waves at Waikiki.

On Sunday, October 11, Larry got up early and finally made it into the water. He enjoyed one of the longest rides he ever surfed. He started at Number Threes, out from the hotel, and ended up about twenty yards from the Pink Palace (The Royal Hawaiian Hotel). The long walk back, after the long wave ride, wore him out!

We had tickets for the Sunday Brunch at the hotel, so we went with the Rughs. Again, the couple, who we accused of following us, joined us for brunch.

We spent another quiet day resting. Dinner was the weekend Mongolian Barbeque at the hotel. A pretty tasty meal.

By Monday, October 12, we were ready to spend some time sightseeing, so we took the van to Hilo Hattie again. We purchased another shirt to match Larry’s for his best friend and surfing buddy, Bob.

Then we went on to the Aulani, the new Disney resort near Makaha. We walked around and explored. It seems like a perfect oasis for families since it is self-contained. However, it is a long distance from Waikiki and other areas on the island. For adults, it seems a bit lacking.

However, lunch at the ‘Ama’Ama café was delicious. The hostess showed us to a table with very low chairs. Since Len is paralyzed, we feared he wouldn’t be able to get up once he was seated. However, our waiter recognized the potential problem. He not only took us to another table with higher chairs, he added an extra cushion for Len. This young man took lots of time to explain all the menu items and didn’t rush our selection. We noticed he gave the same attention to other diners he served. We left a large tip and thanked him for his outstanding service.

Before we left, Larry bought a beach towel with the seagulls from Finding Nemo on it. It says, “Mine, Mine, Mine.” I hope he’ll keep it at home to use with the spa, but I fear it will eventually end up at the beach. I just hope it makes its way home.

Road trip day! On Tuesday, October 13, after breakfast at the hotel, we piled into the van for a trip to the North Shore. We passed Hale’iwa Town, where we pointed out some of the places we’d mentioned in our book Murder in Paradise. We drove by all the major surfing spots, Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, and then through the Turtle Bay Resort. We continued around the island. By the time we reached the east side, it had begun to drizzle, so we went back to Waikiki across the pali.

For dinner, we decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory since we had a gift card. We asked at the desk, and were told which bus to take. We were also told it stopped in front of Trump Tower, a few blocks away. However, the bus stop was actually halfway up Beachwalk—more than half a block farther than we’d been told. I still wasn’t feeling well, and Len’s brace had rubbed a raw spot on his leg. Neither of us were into a long walk. (Which is why we decided to take the bus in the first place!)

We asked the driver what the nearest stop to the Cheesecake Factory was. He said he’d tell us when to get off. He took a circuitous route up to Kuhio and then down Royal Hawaiian, stopping at the DFS Galleria at the corner of Kalakawa.

We knew where the restaurant was, and Larry thought we should get off there. But the driver indicated the next stop would be closer. WRONG! He stopped in the middle of the main beach, about half a block beyond the Duke statue. From there, it would have been at least four blocks back to the restaurant. If we’d taken Larry’s suggestion, we’d have had a bout a two-block walk.

The only good thing about the trip was the driver didn’t charge Len for the ride.

Since we passed the Outrigger, we decided to eat at Duke’s. This has been a favorite spot for a nice meal ever since 2005, when it took over the spot Perry’s Smorgy once occupied. Unfortunately, the restaurant has gone the way of so many (including the Chart House, here in Dana Point.) We had enjoyed the restaurant overlooking Dana Point Harbor for years until they raised the prices and stopped offering the salad bar with entrees.

Same with Duke’s. The prices were much higher, and the salad bar (including bread) was an additional fee. Our waiter clearly didn’t understand the menu items. I ordered the opah lightly grilled with the mango chutney. This is how I’ve had it many times before, but apparently they have also eliminated that preparation. The fish was overcooked and served with a glob of mashed potatoes. Larry added the salad bar to his entrée, but he said the selection was greatly diminished.

We decided to pay for a taxi ride back to the hotel rather than take the bus.

The adventure will continue next week with our final days in Waikiki.