We stayed at the Continental Surf, one of Aqua Hotels & Resorts "lite hotels." The amenities certainly warranted its two-star rating, but I have no complaints. Well, maybe one: the shower could have benefitted from some more water pressure. The beach was only three blocks away, though.
After we dropped off our luggage at the room and walked around Waikiki a bit, it was about time for dinner. The bus driver had commented that in his 20 years in Hawaii, he had yet to come across a restaurant that he liked, but there was a place up Kapahulu Avenue called Ono that lots of other tourists had said they liked, so we figured we'd try it out. A twenty minute walk brought us to a hole-in-the-wall joint we nearly missed for its nondescriptness. We were told there might be a wait to get in, but there was not, and we were served shortly after ordering.
The wife and I split a combination plate of kalua pig, laulau, pipikaula, lomi salmon and haupia for $17. The plate also came with a serving of either rice or poi. Plenty of folks back home had warned me about the poi, a bland paste made of taro root, so when the waitress asked if we'd like rice or poi, I confidently chose the rice. When the food came, though, she brought us an additional, small bowl of poi, "Just so you can try it." Though we initially dipped our forks in with significant trepidation, we were soon downing it with no trouble at all. Don't get me wrong; it wasn't ambrosia or anything like that, but it was enjoyable enough.
The combination plate stuffed the both of us to bursting. Tomorrow we would have a 7:15 a.m. breakfast orientation with Pleasant Holidays, so we rolled back to the hotel and went straight to sleep.
Again, to be continued!
