Hawaii: Double Rainbows, Great Food, Awesome Weather

I now understand why Hawaii’s license plates display a rainbow. Driving towards the Honolulu airport to catch my flight back to Seoul, I saw many rainbows, even doubles, in the blue, gray sky as Israel sang ‘Over the Rainbow,’ through the airwaves. It was a picture perfect day. Too bad I was leaving Oahu without having seen the North Shore, without having surfed the waves, without having eaten any snow cones. Fortunately, I ate very well during my short stay in Waikiki.

Avocado, red grapefruit, mesclun

For my last supper, I dined at a cute little Italian restaurant called Arancino next to Embassy Suites Waikiki. If I ever return to Honolulu, I will definitely visit again. The atmosphere was cozy, a nice change from the large chains that fill the neighborhood; the food was tasty; the menu was just the right size; and I felt well taken care of, especially as a solo diner.

Proscuitto with Papaya

Linguine ai Gamberetti

Home-made Tiramisu

Aaron-Manager of Arancino

I enjoyed a nice glass of pinot grigio, the house special wine for the day, as I waited for my Linguine ai Gamberetti. The flavorful tomato sauce complimented the al dente linguine and the juicy Tiger prawns. Next, I tried the salad sampler: Caprese Salad, Papaya with Prosciutto, and Shrimp,Avocado, Red Grapefruit Salad. I first experienced Avocado with Red Grapefruit Salad five years at Cashion’s in DC, one of my favorite local eateries when I was living in Adams Morgan. I can still remember when Billy served it to me for the first time and how much I loved the contrast between the rich avocado and the crisp, slightly tart grapefruits. It’s still one of my favorite salads and Arancino’s did not disappoint. I finished on a sweet note of house-made Tiramisu and a shot of espresso. Yum, yum, yum.

One of the things that I didn’t expect in Hawaii was the heavy Asian population. Someone said that Chinese people make up the largest Asian population, but another said that the Filipinos represent the largest. I don’t know which is true, but one thing was certain, there were lots of Japanese, both locals and tourists.

Palm Trees and Boutiques in Waikiki

At times I felt like I was in Tokyo because Japanese was spoken everywhere: by shop attendants, by hotel clerks, and even by the wait staff. In Waikiki, almost all the attendants addressed me in Japanese when I entered their shops or restaurants. I guess they’re used to and expect Japanese tourists, especially in Waikiki.

Hawaii’s beautiful, breezy climate reminded me of Singapore, but some of the seedy parts of the city reminded me of Baltimore, Beijing, and low-income areas in many big cities. The locals that I encountered were all very friendly and helpful, a nice change from other cities that I have lived in or visited.

Another thing I did not realize before my trip to Honolulu was how blue the sky can be. Living in Seoul for so long, I have gotten used to dark gray and light gray. But the sky in Hawaii was amazing. If I had had an opportunity to visit the beaches during the day I am sure I would have been impressed with the beautiful ocean as well.

Double Rainbow Over Honolulu

Although I did not do as much as I had planned, I enjoyed the trip and hope that I can return again to surf, see more double rainbows, and eat great food.

Mahalo!

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~ by djangoqueen on March 6, 2010.