Sunday, January 30, 2011

Hawaii Visit and then some....

It was a busy past few months including a short trip back home to Hawaii to celebrate Christmas and New Years and now preparing to move back home this upcoming February.  I have neglected this blog I know but that does not mean I have not been eating and enjoying life!  Going back home always means a lot of potlucks, visiting family and friends, and enjoying the weather.  I was lucky to have missed the majority of the flash flood rain in December and blessed with beautiful sun and lots of vitamin D. 

One of the things I love about Hawaii is the feeling of ohana (family), particularly family get togethers which = lots of good food! We had a Christmas, New Years eve, and New Years Day potluck and in addition to a lot of talking, it was a lot of eating.  Example, one of my dinner plate (below in picture) consists of from top left to right, homemade maki sushi, konbu maki (seaweed wrapped pork), broccoli salad, grilled portuguese sausage, mochi rice with azuki beans, kalbi, steamed fish with rice noodle, and tempura. This was just the first plate, yes I did go back for seconds and  no that was not the end of the food. Although I didn't get to take a picture of the dessert table, it was just as full as the dinner table. Back at home for potlucks, the table is not for sitting around, no, its purpose is to hold the food.  You grab your plate and fork, go around the table collecting various goodies and then bring your plate back to the living room where you sit on the floor around a low table or lounge on the couch.  It's comfortable and relaxing, very nice close family feeling.  I enjoy that a lot! The night before we had stayed up till midnight playing fireworks as it was the last year to play without buying a permit, so New Years day was a rest and relax day.

New Year's plate

Happy New Years!

I was able to do some cooking, but since my time at home was so short not as much as I would've liked.  Besides, there are so many good places to eat at, might as well make it out.  I wasn't able to bring my camera for a lot of these outings so sadly they aren't documented, but know that it was all good! 

 Curry Fried Noodles

One other thing I love about home are the sunrises and sunsets.  I was able to wake up early enough to cath this sunrise off of Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park.  Every morning is a new day full of new adventures and surprises. Aloha until next time!

Early fisherman with Diamond head in the distance

Paddlers out for a morning paddle