Hey, hi, howzit.
It’s not uncommon to encounter squirrels, deer or the occasional bear in our neck of the woods, but watching lifeguards on the North Shore call everyone in from the water because there’s a shark lurking is totally new to me.
As are the wild pigs you’ll see frolicking happily on the side of the freeway.
The free-roaming cats AND chickens that not only fill the streets, but also keep you company at your favorite outdoor eateries.
And the goats that hold up traffic because they’re taking their sweet time during a road crossing.
Okay, fine.
The last one is also kind of a Montana thing.
But as we wind down our time on the island and try our best stay in the now rather than focusing too much on what the future brings, I feel like we’ve been doing a bit more noticing.
Of the tastes, textures, feelings AND animals that are part of our life in Hawaii.
Trying to tuck it neatly away into a little love letter we can jam in our pocket to be opened, and reflected upon, on a rainy day.
For two months prior to our trip, we tried (unsuccessfully) to get a reservation at Tankatsu Tamafuji. And while we’re not katsu obsessives, we knew we had to at least get takeout from this place that’s booked through the end of the year. But while putting in our order over the phone, I innocently asked the right question to the right person, who let me know if we showed up at suchandsuch a time, we could put our name on a waitlist and see if we were lucky enough to get a table - which is exactly what we did. And let me tell you, the smiles were SMILING when we secured a seat. Not only were we greeted with the most crisp and juicy katsu I’ve ever seen, but there’s just something about sitting in their wonderfully close quarters, crushing toasted sesame by hand while excitedly waiting for your particular platter to come dancing** through the room. I got mine smothered in sizzling miso, while Hahn’s was blanketed in melty cheese - a dish I’ll definitely be ordering next time, too.
** For the record, there’s no actual dancing. Unless, of course, you count what I was doing.
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We don’t always have fried chicken for breakfast, but when we do, it’s at the Sunday Morning Wat Thai Food Stalls at a Buddhist Temple in Hawaii. Somewhat of a local secret, when this market pops up, it’s met with enthusiasm and long lines - especially for the fried chicken. Also a favorite? The papaya salad that’s mixed by hand right in front of you. But don’t let the one chili only? question deceive you. We were (happily) sweating out our eyeballs, even though my husband has Sriracha running through his veins.
Good To Know: The foods stalls are cash only, with every entree ringing in at ten dollars or under, which is amazing in itself these days.
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My career started long ago in the beauty industry. Ponytails were forbidden, makeup was a must, and fashion was everything. Habits that have sometimes died hard, which is why you would find me wearing heels most days during our half decade in a mountain town, and why you’ll rarely see me without one of my signature lip colors on. But that all goes out the window in Hawaii. My makeup routine consists simply of sun kiss and blush stick. And I have to say, at twelve dollars, this creamy, buildable, blendable stick by Morphe 2 does the absolute most for your lips and cheeks - whether you’ve got a touch of sun or not. I like to wear Hibiscus Hottie, but they have four other gorgeous colors to choose from.
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We tend to wear as few clothes as possible when playing in Hawaii, so this little red dress from H&M was the perfect number for a date night. Available in red, black, leopard and floral, it runs a bit large, so I went with an XS - which fits me perfectly.
For reference, I’m 5’1”(and a half) and weigh in somewhere between 110 and 115 on any given day.
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I don’t say this lightly, but our meal at The Pig & Lady might just be the best thing we’ve eaten all month. Maybe ever, actually. As long-time fans of their Farmer’s Market fare, our timing has always been off when it comes to securing a reservation at the actual restaurant - until Wednesday. A date night for the books, we indulged in three courses from their flavorful (and fun) Vietnamese menu while soaking up the vibes of their eclectically decorated space. Starting with Le (twice) Fried Chicken Wings, they were paired wonderfully with fresh herbs, pickled red onions, and something called MONEY SAUCE, which was both bright and tangy. For my entree, I enjoyed the Bo Kho Papardelle, a spiced lemongrass Hawaiian beef, veal AND pork bolognese with roasted carrots, thai basil, and parmesan, while Hahn dug into the wildly popular (and aromatic) Pho 75 Dac Biet, complete with a giant beef rib. Oh, and let’s not forget the warm cardamom dark chocolate brownie topped with Maldon salt, orange slices and coffee bean ice cream we shared to finish it all off.
Absolutely dreamy.
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One of our favorite hikes on Oahu, Wiliwilinui was our introduction to hiking through the jungle when we started visiting the island a couple years ago, and it never disappoints. Nearly five miles round trip, this hike takes you straight up the mountain via muddy trails, eroded steps and haphazardly placed ropes, leaving you with 360 views of almost the entire island on a clear day.
Now for this week’s recipeeeees.
Just click through to view in their entirety.
Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispies Treats
Ham & Egg Breakfast Flying Saucer Sandwich
Have questions, comments or looking for more details on any of the above?
Leave a comment, we’ll chat!
Big love and aloha,
Lisa
I love seeing Hawaii through your eyes, painted beautifully with words and snapshots of memories. Until next time…