OAHU Day 1.. 17 May 2010

My dream of finally going to the NORTH SHORE in OAHU was finally going down!! My gf and I have been planning this trip for almost the past yr and today it finally arrived.

NORTH SHORE - 1987

This movie is what started it all! my passion for the ocean, for the waves, for wave riding, and my dream of 1 day visiting the NORTH SHORE.  The very first time I saw this film might have in '88 or '89 when my brother brought home the VHS, and since then I might have watched it a thousand times.  It's even cooler that my gf enjoys this movie because this has to rank up there as one of my all time favs.  

So leading up to our trip, we had to watch this movie a couple times to build the excitement and to do some note taking on what spots to check out in OAHU.

So we flew out of LAX on United Airlines on 17 May @ 8am.. Man o man.. my gf and I were so excited! I had Bodyboarding videos in mp4s and the North Shore mp4 on my iPOD just to pump me up because I was "Going to Hawaii to surf the BIG WAVES of the NORTH SHORE" (unfortunately it was already spring, so the waves on the North Shore were basically all flat because it wasn't winter anymore, but I wanted to stay that quote because the star of the movie said that).

3.5hrs into the flight and my gf and I were getting hungry!! The spam & eggs back home for bfast @ 5:45am PST felt so long ago and we didn't pack any snacks on the plane.  All these Japanese tourist on the plane were heating up some mad HEAT in the microwave and it was torture! We had to buy something..

(taken w/ an SD900)

Ham & Cheese Croissant

Thumbs down to Air plane food but we were hungry!  It was cold and the cheese was stiff, but fuck it.. we were hungry! but I knew... I KNEW that once we landed and for the rest of the trip, we were going to eat REAL NICE!  I had my mind set on a LOCO MOCO as soon as we get the opportunity after we land, but for the mean time this Croissant will do.  But word of advice, try to pack your own goodies(if you can).

Here's a shot from my point of view next to the wing. I think that's the Big Island right there.. I was getting excited because we were close!

We have arrived!! A warm welcome on our way to baggage claim..

I'm not going to blog about each and every detail about our trip because this blog is about Foooooood! but don't worry, if I see you, i'll be glad to tell you about my trip =)

LUNCH

Nicos Pier 38

Our first place to eat on the island right off the plane would be here @ Nicos Pier 38 in Honolulu.  A small and humble place that appeared to be a very popular place based on all the people that were eating there.

In line to order!

Look at that Breakfast menu!

Lunch menu #2, I wasn't able to get a shot ofLunch menu #1 by itself but if you look at the picture above, just zoom in.  What caught my eye on the menu that got me close to ordering one was the "Grilled Ahi Sandwhich".  Interesting huh? I came close to ordering it but NAWWWW this is Hawaii, I had my mind set on a LOCO MOCO all along! a LOCO MOCO from Hawaii!

1/2 n 1/2 Plate

Teriyaki chicken w/ sauce, cho mein & rice

Loco Moco w/ rice & salad

My gf and I shared this heavy ass plate and it was delicious! What a way to start off our trip w/ grub like this.  I almost started eating right away because it looked so bomb but I had to control myself because I had to take a minute or 2 to take pictures w/ my DSLR & iPhone.. oh yeah and my gf took some pictures as well w/ her camera.  If I started eating right away, these pictures wouldn't be possible but I did!! so thank me =)  

Damn it was so good! Not good because I was hungry but good because it freak'n was!  The teriyaki chicken complimented the Loco Moco very well and the salad was aiiiiight.  I'm glad we shared because I think it would've been too much food and that was something we didn't want to bring a long w/ us because we still had all our luggage!

Nicos Pier 38

• Monday - Friday •
6:30am - 5:00pm
• Saturday •
6:30am - 2:30pm
1133 N. Nimitz HWY
Honolulu, HI 96817
(Across the Nimitz Business Center, 1st floor of POP Fishing & Marine)

http://www.nicospier38.com/

We finally got to our resort and GM 1 of the NBA Western Conference Finals was on! The Los Angeles LAKERS vs the Phoenix Suns.  We stayed at the resort for awhile to watch the game, unpack, and get some rest from the traveling. 

It was about 5pm when we decided to shake the resort, but first I wanted to stop at a place I've been wanting to go ever since I saw it on a Bodyboarding video back in the early 1990s.

(taken w/ an SD900)

SANDY BEACH aka SANDYS

Known for it's hard waves that break right on the shore known as "Shore breaks", this beach is the #1 break in Hawaii for causing neck injuries or death.  A sandbar break w/ large rocks and small lava rocks in a few spots.  I was a hauli at this spot right off the bat but thanks to a local pro Bodyboarder that I met named Aka Lyman, thanks to him for giving me advice on where to paddle out at.  I was stoked to meet him because this was somebody I grew up watching and for him to be the first person to meet on Oahu was sweeet!

So my bodyboarding session was finally over around 8:15pm I think and I was hungry! my gf was hungry and you know what that means, it's time to grub!!

DINNER

From SANDYS to Honolulu.. it was time to get get some dinner here:

 KOBE Japanse Steak House

Yeah I know.. why visit a KOBE Japanese Steak House in Oahu when you can eat at the one in Seal Beach?? You know this place is good and if you have a Buy 1 get 1 free coupon.. what the heck right?!!!

We watched as our entire dinner is skillfully being prepared by their highly trained master chefs!

Shrimp, onions & stuff..

to this!

some good dipping sauce that I can't recall what..

coooook it uuuuuuup!

hooooo ohhhh hoooo!!!

Kobe Beef & Chicken w/ been sprouts

guess what??!! the finale to the plate!

furrrrr-iiiiide  riiiiiiice!

Anyone that's ever been to a KOBE Japanese steak house knows that their fried rice is off the heezy fo sheezy! so of course we had to get this!  To be honest, it was a little bit salty but mixing it up with some of our steamed rice balanced it out.  Even the saucy soup from the KOBE steak and chicken applied on top of the rice was EXTRA YUMMY!! The KOBE beef was tender and juicy like always and the chicken was very flavorful! What made this dinner even better was our Buy 1 Get 1 coupon! haha..

KOBE Japanese Steak House
1841 Ala Moana Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96815-1693
(808) 941-4444

I must say that despite our Air plane croissant, starting off the day w/ a home cook breakfast of eggs, spam & rice and ending it with tasty dinner from KOBE Japanese Steak house... Day #1 was a food success!! what a way to start off our vacation in OAHU!