Hawaii Day 6, 2 January 2020

Beach morning

Donning our togs we grabbed towels and beach chairs and headed to the Beach.  Waikiki Beach is only a short stroll from our hotel. We were reasonably early so we planted the chairs bedside the Royal Hawaiian’s loungers where the outgoing tide was trying to tickle our toes. So close in fact that I popped my jandals behind me in case they floated away. 

We had a lovely morning in the sun and the people watching was almost a sport.  Young women in full evening make up and one even in platforms, through to large men in budgie smugglers who really should stay wrapped in a towel. 

It wasn’t long before I needed to take a dip and the water was refreshing at first and then very comfortable. It was a bit tricky getting in as the sand drops away suddenly and is soft and unstable. For a surf beach the waves were pretty tame, like an east coast Auckland beach on a good day. But that suited me and I frolicked in the waves happily. Getting out was trickier than getting in as it was like walking up a sand hill with the tide tugging at you calves. It was almost like walking up stairs it was that steep. Later we heard raucous laughter along the beach as a nana was trying to get either in or out of the water. She took several tumbles and it wasn’t helping that she was laughing. Luckily grandad came to her aide and helped her out. 

It was a bit like sitting at the boat ramp because the outrigger canoes full of people landed just beside us and also the catamarans that were loaded with tourists. As the cats came in they had someone on the bow blowing a conch and directing swimmers out of the way. It was pretty impressive how the 45 foot cats came right onto the beach and people just walked off and on.

Lunch was had at Tiki’s Grill and Bar where the food was good but the service a bit slow at first which worked out well for us as we didn’t want to rush. The bar is located further east along the beach and we had a little walk to get there. We had seen a few homeless people in Waikiki central but there were quite a few at this end of the beach. It had started to rain so they were all gathered in a covered area with all of their worldly goods. The yucky bit was that every now and then when were were eating we could smell them. But it was not very often. It can’t be very easy living that way, but at least it doesn’t get that cold here. We haven’t seen many people begging but today we did see... you wait for it... Indiana guy the noisy phone talker on the Pearl Harbour bus ride! And he was begging with a sign that said ‘every little bit helps’. At first I felt a bit guilty for having mean thoughts about him, but then remembered that he had a decent phone and obviously had a good phone plan. And a mother in Indiana!

We had an easy afternoon and packed a couple of suitcases with things that we won’t be needing.  We plan to drop them at the hotel that we will be staying at when we return form Kauai on the 11th.

Lance had booked us a table for the evening at the Sky Bar on the balcony. But as we made our way there for dinner the rain continued to sprinkle. It wasn’t pelting down but just enough to be annoying. When we got there they said that they could put us undercover on the balcony but around the side, not up the front. We took this option and were very happy, the couches were comfy, we still had a great view and were out of the rain and the sea breeze.  There was a band playing and they were great, and the food was outstanding, some of the best that we have had since we have been here. And of course they had Heineken and NZ wine. We started with a plate of yellowfin tuna ceviche and it was so good we had another! We also had a slider selection and I had a pick from the middles because I don’t usually eat bread. The tri sampler came with a lobster salad slider, a teriyaki pork with mayo onion and lettuce, and a garlic chicken with a furikake macaroni salad,  These were all served on potato rolls. Not only were the fillings good but the potato rolls were to die for, so we ordered another serve of the garlic chicken sliders.

We had thought that the food may be a bit ordinary and would be more ‘bar’ food so that is why we had a big lunch, but alas we had to stuff ourselves silly at dinner as well!