I spent the day at the North Shore of O’ahu with Kathy today.   We stopped and had lunch at the Grass Skirt.  Yummy pulled pork sandwich served on Taro buns.  Taro is a plant that has been cultivated for centuries by the Hawaiian People. The taro root is cooked and mashed to make poi, a traditional Hawaiian staple.

Then we headed to Hale’iwa Ali’I Beach Park.  There we had some good down time sitting on the beach, enjoying each other’s conversations, watching the ocean wave’s crash in, listening to the palm trees sway in the breeze, and reading.  We got to see two hump back whales out in the water playing.  Before heading for home we stopped at Matsumoto’s for shaved ice.  I must say I believe they have the best shaved ice on the island.

Once arriving back home I got dinner started.  Tonight’s dinner: Caribbean Flounder.  The recipe calls for rice.  However, I had some red skin potatoes that needed to be used up.  I steamed up the potatoes with some garlic water.  From there I followed the recipe as directed.  (Added the potatoes instead of rice)

Haunama Bay and The Punchbowl Cemetery

I spent today hiking Haunama Bay with some great friends.   This was a breath taking hike that gave us a 360 degree water views the entire hike.   The trail takes you down near the water with gorgeous views of Koko crater, Hanauma Bay and most of Koko Head.  The best way I can describe this part of the journey is that it feels like your venturing on a private island that somehow floated over and got connected to the side of the mountain you were just walking on. From this perspective, you will see a marvelous, amphitheater shot of Haunauma Bay. A view you can only probably see from one of the tour helicopters flying above.

After our hike we stopped by The Punchbowl Cemetery.  The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.    The most common translation for Puowaina is “Hill of Sacrifice” Historians say the first known use of Puowaina was an altar where early Hawaiians offered human sacrifices to their gods. In the early 1800s, the crater served as a key stronghold for Oahu natives who tried in vain to defend their island from Kamehameha‘s invading army.Formed some 75,000-100,000 years ago during a period of secondary volcanic activity, Puowaina Crater in Honolulu is today the setting for the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as “Punchbowl.” Among America’s national cemeteries, this is often considered to be the most beautiful and poignant.

The 112-acre cemetery serves as the final resting place for more than 44,200 U.S. war veterans and family members. These include men and women who perished in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Thank you Dawn our great "tour guide"! 

Tomato, Leek, and Onion Soup

Yesterday, my neighbor stopped by with some extra leeks that she had. I have never cooked with these. I went online to find some dishes to make using the leeks. I found a recipe for a Tomato, Leek and Onion soup. Tonight I made this with a salad for the family for dinner. It turned out pretty good. Certainly something for us to make again.