Thomas J. Story
At 8 a.m., Lisa and I hit the Diamond Head Tennis Center in Kapiolani Park for a set or two in the shadow of the inactive volcano. The public courts (free) are excellent, and the views are stellar.
Famished, we took the Ala Moana Shuttle Bus ($1.50 per person each way) to the Ala Moana Center, a huge mall where Hawaiian chef extraordinaire Alan Wong serves a mean breakfast at the PineappleRoom. I ordered Hawaiian-style eggs Benedict: poached eggs on savory kalua pig and taro hash. Lisa opted for the Belgian waffles with Macadamia nut sabayon. With a black Keemun tea and astrawberry-banana smoothie, the feast came to $30.50.
I couldn’t resist one last swim in the Pacific and an outrigger canoe ride off Kuhio Beach, three waves for $5 per person. After checking out of our room we decided to go antiquing, boarding the #14 bus ($1.50 each, one way) on Kapahulu for the 10-minute ride north. At the Hawaii Antique Center we admired classic rattan. T. Fujii Japanese Antiques is like an interactive museum of Japanese antiquities, with centuries-old scrolls, woodblock prints, and pottery.
We took our time on the long, hot walk back, stopping to grab a late lunch at Ono Hawaiian Foods, where we noshed on traditional laulau (pork, butterfish, and taro wrapped in ti leaves and steamed) and lomi salmon ($14). For dessert, Lisa steered us to Waiola Shave Ice, where we slurped down our frigid coconut and lilikoi (passion fruit) cones ($3.50 for two large cones).With a few dollars left in my pocket, I picked up something to help us remember our long weekend―a banana-shaped harmonica from an ABC Store ($1.55). Ah, sweet paradise.
Morning tennis at Diamond Head: FREE
Waffles at the Pineapple Room by Alan Wong, including bus fare: $37 ($31 remaining)
Outrigger canoe ride off Waikiki: $5 ($26 remaining)
Bus to Hawaii Antique Center on Kapahulu Ave.: $3 ($23 remaining)
Laulau and lomi salmon at Ono Hawaiian Foods: $14 ($9 remaining)
Cooling cones at Waiola Shave Ice: $4 ($5 remaining)
Banana-shaped harmonica from ABC Store: $2 ($3 remaining)