Day 337: Surfing, Local Eats, and a Rotating View

(NOTE: So... yesterday's post was published at exactly midnight according to my laptop time, which was 10pm Hawai'i time, i.e. the date on the entry should have been 2/28. This is what I get for not resetting Big Purple's internal clock when we travel! Just need to explain the discrepancy and demonstrate that I didn't actually post 2 entries on the same day...)

Day 3 of our vacation began with surfing lessons with Hans Hedemann Surf School. Mr. E and I were total beginners, but both of us managed to stand several times to actually "catch a wave" during the 2-hour lesson, and we have the aches and bruises and scrapes to prove it! Mr. E abraded his right shin and cut his left thumb on the reef just under the water; he also is feeling the ache in his knees from the constant bending and flexing. I have small bruises on each knee, crescent pairs on each hipbone, and very sore top right ribs from a poorly-executed end-of-wave fall that caught the edge of my board. Totally worth it all for the experience!

After we showered and changed, we headed off on foot along the Ala Wai Canal and Kapahulu Street to Leonard's Bakery, as Mr. E had read about this spot and its famous malasadas (Portugese donuts):

We got 3 malasadas to share -- original sugar, cinnamon, and guava (the special of the month), which was a filled version. These puffed pastries were very light and airy, and they tasted more yeasty than sweet, which wasn't what I had expected. They were relatively tasty, but nothing I'd feel an urge to consume on a regular basis. I think Mr. E enjoyed them more than I did, partly thanks to their unique flavor.

Before having the dessert malasadas, we retraced our steps a few blocks to Kaimana Farm Cafe for lunch. Mr. E ordered the Ono Ahi Ahi sandwich with a side of kale salad, and I had the grilled veggie sandwich with a side of ginger carrots. We both enjoyed our food, although I was more impressed than Mr. E, and we liked that we could support a business that works with local farms to source its ingredients.

After a return stroll to our hotel (approximately 1.5 miles each way for this jaunt), we decided to jump on the Waikiki Trolley Pink Line ($2 per person per ride) and stay on for the majority of the circuit to get a bit of a tour of Waikiki:

We dismounted near the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, checked out the merchandise at Duke's Restaurant (not much of interest), and returned to the hotel to wash up and change before heading out for the evening.

Our primary destination was the Top of Waikiki, as we figured we'd take advantage of Happy Hour (4:30-7pm) to at least order a drink and enjoy the view over Honolulu and Waikiki from the revolving restaurant.

We found some good dinner options from the lower-priced menu as well, so Mr. E enjoyed the ahi tuna fish and chips, and I had the chicken pasta with tomatoes, mushrooms, and asparagus. Yum! The drink specials were also very tasty, including $6 cocktails and $5 wine.

And despite the forecast for the weekend that promised rain for several days, the first precipitation that we experienced was some light sprinkles tonight on the way back to the hotel (via the ABC Store for a bottle of wine and our free gift -- a reusable bag -- for spending a minimum of $100 during our stay). Overall, this has been a perfect 3 days, with the right combination of planning and spontaneity and ideal weather for each days' activities.

But yes, kitties, we will be home tomorrow... Meow!