Sunday morning, passing clouds, 80-something. We've been living full time in a hotel room in Waikiki for a couple of weeks now, after traveling here for short trips over the last 6 months or so. We've been expecting the luster to wear off a bit, especially since we're halfway between being tourists and residents. Our current spot: the end of the main stretch down Kalakaua from the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the place to find restaurants, shops, hotels, and street vendors, all beginning to look the same. Waiters, baristas, sales clerks recognize us and many even know our names, that we came from Nashville, that we like hiking.
The first major decision of the day is where to go for breakfast...Diamond Head Grill (went there yesterday), Honolulu Coffee Company, Lu Lu's (once this week), Cream Pot, Hula Grill, Safeway (donuts), Starbucks (3 times this week), or Eggs 'n Things (attemtped twice, line's been too long). Hula Grill was the winner since we love the few, coffee, and POG juice, plus we had a super thick Star Advertiser at our doorstep to peruse through. What wouldn't I give to just stay in my PJ's, make my own coffee and enjoy it in one of my two favorite mugs (brought from home), and make some scrambled eggs or Pillsbury cinnamon rolls. Maybe in a few weeks...
Sitting in the open air restaurant, checking out the beautiful beach, we chatted about the options for the day:
hang out by the pool
cross the street to the beach
go for a hike
shop for running shoes
check out a movie (Transformers)
other??
Who considers going to a movie while living in a tropical paradise? We do, since the paradise part has slightly worn off revealing daily life.
We found out the Transformers hasn't been released yet, so that's off the list. Surfing had been considered but since the jellies are in town, we decided against it. The box jellies are very prevalent about 10 days after a full moon. I'm too freaked out to chance it, especially when lifeguards have staked signs on the beach warning of the cnidarian invertebrates, therefore I'll avoid the water for another day. Jeff did humor me on the walk to breakfast by walking down the pie with me to search for jellies in the water below. Nothing but some cool fish. I'd seen a couple of box jellies at Ala Moana Beach last month, highlighting my day.
Back to the decision of the day...since the list of option for the day is short while we're still midway between being tourists and residents, it gets to be that we aren't jumping up and down for any of the choices. I liken it to only having two dessert options every day for a month: chocolate kisses or cookies 'n cream ice cream. Eventually, both options lose their appeal. Don't be silly; having dessert is never a consideration for me but a given. But, instead of a chocolate kiss or scoop of ice cream, a person may crave strawberries or a cookies or a slice of key lime pie (had an amazing piece from the Diamond Head Market!).
All I'm saying is that having to do some laundry, wash the car, take the recycling, really any weekend chore would be so nice. Then, the uniquely Hawaiian attractions would be more enticing. Always appreciated: sitting at the computer in front of open windows, overlooking Waikiki's crystal blue water, curtains floating in a soft, tropical breeze.
