Saturday, June 27, 2009

Maguroya Restaurant

Recently, I ate at Maguroya Restaurant, a Japanese restaurant on Waialae Avenue near the University of Hawaii. The restaurant serves a number of Japanese dishes and for those who love sushi, you definitely will want to try this place!

The service is great and the food, fresh and delicious. If you like Misoyaki Butterfish, Maguroya knows how to make it just right. There are a ton of options to choose from their menu.

The restaurant itself is a small, cozy place tucked within other shops located in the Kaimuki Area. There's parking at the meter in front of the restaurant or behind it for a minimal price.



For $12 dollars, the Misoyaki Butterfish lunch special includes Miso soup, salad, rice, tsukemono (pickled vegetables), and a fried ebi (shrimp) ball. Desert is 2 pieces of fruit. For $3.00 more, you can add sashimi. It's a great lunch option!


For those interested in eating at Maguroya:

3565 Waialae Avenue Suite 108Telephone: 808.732.3775

Kapiolani Park Photos at Night

A photo through the trees at Kapiolani Park in Hawaii.


The stars at night.

Kapiolani Park at night




Photos of Waikiki, Hawaii

Yesterday, a friend and I went to Waikiki to take photos.

Here's a photo of Diamond head at night. I thought I captured a shooting star, but I realize now it might've been a place instead.



The ocean can be so calming! I captured this picture yesterday as the sun set on Waikiki beach.
Waikiki beach at night! It's a lively place on the streets of Waikiki at night and an incredibly beautiful place to be at during sunset.


Diamond head glows as the sun slowly sets.

Pan Pacific Festival Honolulu

In Honolulu during early June, the Pan-Pacific kicks off! On Sunday, there was a parade, showcasing the various pan-pacific cultures.
















Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Bellows Beach

I had planned to go snorekeling this weekend, but instead we opted to go to Bellows beach. Normally, I try to avoid bellows because I've always ended tumbling in the waves, almost hitting the sand, far too many times. However, this weekend, the water was quite calm. It was definitely the perfect beach day for me!

On the way to Bellows, I noticed how lucky the people who live in the area must be! There are beautiful mountains in their backyards.


The drive along the road to Bellows is amazing. The sky is SO unbelievably blue especially in the summertime.

For the firs time ever, I did not get knocked down by the waves and tumble in the water like I normally do. I had a great time at Bellows. It was a hot, beautiful summer day and the water was tame, just like how I like it. I can't wait till next weekend!

Ninnikuya - Garlic Restaurant

If you love garlic, Ninnikuya is the perfect place for dinner! Just be sure to bring the breath mints ...

Ninnikuya restaurant is located in Kaimuki at 3196 Wai'alae Ave, Honolulu, HI 96805. It's easy to spot Ninnikuya since its entrance is decorated with blue lights. Inside, the ambiance is casual and relaxed. Ninnikuya opens at 0530 p.m. and closes at 0900 p.m.. I would highly recommend reservations.

The menu items can be quite pricey, but the food is definitely worth it. The crab cakes are too good! With an order of crab cakes, you'll get two round crab cakes stuffed with crab and other bits of seafood, each topped with a different type of sauce. You definitely won't be disappointed.


The seafood pasta with the red garlic sauce also topped my list. There were mussels, shrimp, squid, and scallops in my pasta and it couldn't have tasted any better. I was satisfied. In fact, the portions are incredible! I was able to take home left overs and eat the pasta three times.




Another, "wow" item is the Misoyaki butter fish. I love Misoyaki butterfish and I can definitely say that eating it at Ninnikuya was one of the best experiences ever. The misoyaki butterfish also comes with roasted, mixed vegetables and the rice tasted like it was infused with garlic. I absolutely loved it.



I noticed many people ordered the sizzling steaks, which looked quite appetizing too! There are roasted garlic cloves that come with it. The roasted garlic cloves definitely have a unique taste. My husband thinks they taste like mashed potatoes. However, as delicious as they may be, I would avoid eating too many because you'll definitely feel "strange" the next day. Take my advice. If not, you'll definitely know what it means to have eaten too much garlic.

I really enjoyed Ninnikuya restaurant. However, it is the type of place that you should go to only if you have a good amount of time. The service is great, but you definitely have to be patient! It could be that each dish is individually made or that a lot of time and care is put into making each dish. Whatever the reason, if and when you visit Ninnikuya restaurant, take your time and appreciate the moment with your friends, family, or date. It's a place to relax and enjoy!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Big Island - Rainbow Falls


Rainbow Falls ... I thought there would be a lot more water, but it makes a beautiful photo.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The Nene Bird (Hawaiian Goose)

While on the Big Island, we were able to capture a photo of the Nene bird! I was lucky to have seen the endangered species.


Monday, June 8, 2009

The Big Island of Hawaii

If you want to see volcanoes, star gaze on one of the highest mountains in the world, or snorkel in beautiful waters under sunny skies, the Big Island is a place you must visit at least once in your lifetime.

I visited the Big Island once when I had first graduated from high school. My family and I went on a bus tour around Hilo for a day. Bus tours are great for those who have limited amounts of time and would like to see as many places as possible. It is also great for those who would rather relax and enjoy the scenery instead of driving through unfamiliar areas. However, for those with more time, there's nothing like exploring the Big Island by car!

During Memorial Day weekend, my husband and I decided to go on an adventure. We flew to the Big Island for three days and stayed at the Kona Seaside, a great budget hotel. It was close to many shops and restaurants and a five minute walk to the ocean.



My husband and I are the type of people who love to explore. As soon as we arrived on the Big Island, we found our hotel and dropped off our bags. We immediately headed out the door as soon as we could. One of the first places we visited was "South Point," considered the southernmost tip of the United States.

Upon approaching South Point, there were towering windmills with cattle and horses roaming the area. The road to South Point can be a bit rocky because it's on a narrow, dirt road. However, the view is worth the drive.



The view at South Point is incredible. It is amazingly beautiful here and quite relaxing too.



It took us forever to leave South Point, but my husband and I were on a mission. We were determined to see the volcanoes! It took us nearly 2 hours to get to Volcano National Park, but it was totally worth it! We were a bit worried the park would close, but fortunately we learned that it stays open all night; only the information center and museum closes in the evening.

Upon entering the park, there was a sign about volcanic gases, which made my heart race. I couldn't wait to enter the park! At the same time, I was a little nervous about getting ill from the vog. Luckily, however, I was not affected by it. For individuals who may be sensitive however, it is best to leave the area for cleaner air. In some areas, it may make you want to cough and it can affect pregnant women or those with cardiac or respitory conditions.



Before reaching Jaggar Museum, you may notice steam coming from the ground. It is pretty cool to see.


At Jaggar Museum, one can look into Kilauea Crater, one of Hawaii's active volcanoes. It is a truly amazing place to visit!




At the information center and at Jaggar Museum, you may notice the maps, art, and other items of interest. There is also a gift shop.


I found "Pele's Hair" to be the most interesting. Does it not look like real hair? You would be amazed by seeing "Pele's Hair" in person. It's incredible!



After the information center and the museum closed, we decided to continue exploring the park.
One of our main interests was the Thurston Lava Tube. It was amazing to walk inside of the tube, especially when we went to the second half of it. You definitely need to bring a flashlight! At the end of the second tube, we turned our flashlights off and it was so dark, you couldn't even see your own arm in front of you. Absolutely nothing. In fact, there's nothing for your eyes to adjust to! It can be a bit calaustraphobic in the lava tube, but it's definitely worth entering! It's also completely safe. There are no bats or other hidden creatures lurking in the lava tube. The first tube is also lighted and it's an easy walk.





After visiting the Thurston Lava Tube, we decided to continue on our journey. Eventually, the sun began to set and we were able to capture some wonderful photos.





My favorite photo of all, my pride and joy, is of the lava! I could not believe that my camera could capture the red glow of the lava, which we would've only been able to see during the evening. It was incredible! If I could have only gotten closer, it would've been nice. We tried desperately to get closer, but as it became darker, my camera did not want to cooperate. I was still more than happy to have captured even a glimpse of the lava. Next time I visit the Big Island, I definitely want to go on a lava tour, where you can get up close via a boat.

After seeing as much as we possibly could at Volcano National Park, we decided to hit the road and head back home. The following day, we were once again refreshed and ready for our next journey to Mauna Kea, the world's tallest mountain when measured from its base.

It took nearly two hours from Kona to get to Mauna Kea. At 9,000 feet, there is an information center, where one must acclimate before heading to the summit. It is recommended that those who plan to go to the summit rest for at least 30 minutes, although one is encouraged to take even more time to acclimate in order to have a much more pleasant experience. We waited nearly two hours before heading to the summit.

Please remember to bring cold weather gear, a pair of sunglasses with UV protection, water, and sunscreen! It's important if you want to protect yourself from the sun or cold weather. Although we visited during the summer, it was freezing at the summit! In fact, I was able to see some snow!
When driving up to the 9,000 feet level, watch out for the fog and the "invisbile cows." At the 9,000 level, make sure you stop at the information center to acclimate! If you get bored, you can always tour the mini garden there and see the silver sword - a rare plant species.



After acclimating for at least 30 minutes, head up to the summit at your own risk. It helps to have four wheel drive and take your time heading up and down the mountain! If you are lucky, you'll still be able to see snow during the summer. I rarely get to see snow, so it was so awesome to actually see snow again!



After reaching the summit, there's nothing more beautiful than being above the clouds! The summit on Mauna Kea is approximately 13, 700 feet.



There are multi-million research institutes (space observatories) a top Mauna Kea and it's incredible to see.

Many people visit Mauna Kea to see the sunset and to also star gaze. The sun set at 7:02 p.m. At around 8:30 p.m., billions of stars appeared throughout the pitch black sky.
My husband was in awe. I also gazed in amazement at the stars, as I had never seen so many in my life! We both had the chance to see quite a few shooting stars too! It was such a once in a lifetime experience to be at Mauna Kea. After leaving the summit 3 hours later, we headed to the information center where there was star gazing and telescopes!

Although my husband and I only spent three days in the Big Island, it was one of our most memorable trips ever. There's so much to see and do on the Big Island! In fact, three days definitely isn't enough time, but what we did experience will definitely last a lifetime.

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