The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

This will be my final post regarding our Hawaiian escapades. We have discovered alot and acquired even more knowledge about Oahu. I have compiled a list, which I hope will be able to help others decide where to go or to use their better judgment when making a decision. This list is our personal opinions and based on our own experiences. Travelling to another place for vacation can be both exciting and nerve wracking as one has to hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Sites such as TripAdvisor are instrumental in giving a first hand look at what hotels, restaurants, and activities have to offer. I am a reviewer on this site and frequently check out places before I go to them. In a time where technology connects us instantly, businesses must not just meet customer's expectations, but propel themselves in providing the best service possible. If not...there is always the next place, which will be more than happy to accommodate an unsatisfied patron. I will start by listing the good of this list: Seaside Hawaiian Hostel @ 419 Seaside Avenue.
Originally, we had booked a four star Resort, but after rethinking how much time we would actually be in our room, I cancelled and rebooked 17 nights at the hostel. In doing so, we gave up air conditioning, the luxury of a swimming pool and some privacy. In return, we gained intermingling with other guests from all over the world, wonderful conversations with Richard and snorkeling in the ocean near us. We also had the ability to use the money saved to book up over a week of tours; including one to Big Island and see the active volcano. Additionally, the nights we were able to partake in the planned meal activities proved a good decision. The food was both hearty and delicious, and for only $5.00 a plate, a very affordable way to eat! Next…Ailana Shave Ice is a must! Try the explosion of fresh, natural ingredients infused with shaved ice, I was treated to the Azuki Lovers mixture of sweet azuki beans and homemade mochi. I asked Aaron to show me the process of how it works; the varying degrees of shaved ice particles and I asked to taste a few samples. He met all of my requests and more as he gave me many free small samples to assist me in my decision. His friendly approach, great product, and nice smile made it a worthwhile trip (-: Rainbow Drive- In had wonderful plate lunches. Duke's Waikiki was the best place for all you eat Breakfast Buffet @ $14.95 it was a great meal to see you thru a day at the beach right out front. We also returned for Duke's famous Hula Pie; imagine an eruption of flowing chocolate overtop mounds of macadamia ice cream on a layer of chocolate crust. Simply heaven! Our one-day trip to Big Island was made brilliant by Discover Hawaii, our fantastic tour guide, Johnny and our stop to Candies Big Island, which would be on our amazing list if I had one! Two tantalizing places for steak and other savory meals is Blazing Steaks DT in Honolulu, where I ate some of the best Ahi Tuna. HI Steaks gave us terrific customer service and delicious food that we kept on coming back for more. Another must is to travel to Honolulu Farmer's Market at Blaisdell Center on Wednesdays 4-7pm. We ate a combination of crab corn chowder, tempura Ahi Tuna, and Soul Food; a feast of cornbread, chili, deep-fried chicken and coleslaw. A fantastic find was PACIFIKOOL, which served me a cool ginger drink and has a vast customer base who loves their beverages (including me). I wanted to move into Champion Malasadas after tasting their light, flavorful treats. They are filled with custard or just plain, despite a long bus ride, this place was worth the travels! I took my boyfriend to Bubba Gump’s. This was my second time visiting the franchise, as my daughter and I went to a Bubba Gump's in Florida (one of the places I have given a good review on TripAdvisor). Our server, Brandon was terrific and his honest suggestions helped us save money and avoid disappointment. My all time favorite (besides the wonderful collection of Forrest Gump memorabilia) remains the Coconut Shrimp with Cajun Marmalade (make you ask for seconds right away). Me's BBQ was another cheap, fulfilling place to get a big meal for a small price. Chart House overlooking the ocean and a marina is a great place to have a romantic dinner. The food and portions are worth every penny. Ted's Bakery on the North Shore served up the best crab and bacon sandwich I have eaten. They have enormous pies for sale that I wished I had a fridge attached to me, so that I could fill up. Speaking of which, I think my body has slightly morphed into what looks like a box shape as all my time at the gym has been in vain. When I went to the spa, I stepped on the scale and it showed that I had actually lost 10 pounds! I think it must be set wrong to make a person feel good while vacationing (-: There are endless gift shops offering everything from Obama head bobbles (President Barack grew up in Oahu) to plumeria hair accessories. On every corner are ABC Stores, which we shopped daily and carry everything from Pineapple wine to chocolate dipped pineapple~ a real treat and must have! One of the upscale shops we liked to shop in was Hawaiian Accessories at 2335 Kalakaua. The manager, Patty was always helpful, friendly, and offered suggestions; never pushy, she did not made you feel rushed, but always welcome in the store. At Hidden Treasure Christian Bookstore, the friendly staff  chatted with me about our travels and my book. They have inspirational gifts of every kind and I only wish I had more time to shop. Cameron, the driver from Valley of the Rainbows Adventure Tour was a brilliant guide and I would highly recommend this tour. Since we were vacationing for 17 days, there were alot of places to add; I wanted to share a more descriptive list on the good and only mention the bad and the ugly briefly, as our trip was a magnificent time. Therefore, in no particular order are the following, which made it onto the other side of this review. A few places tied for the worst customer service received: Polynesian Adventure Tours (Hawaii Discounts) for their rudeness to me and still have not reimbursed us back our $140.00 for the Oahu Land Tours~ Grand Circle Island Tour. We ended up doing this 'tour' on our own and it never even came close to the exorbitant cost this company is charging. I have had to contact my credit card company to inform them of the service that we never have received and that we asked for a full refund. The other terrible non-service I received was at Jamba Juice at Waikiki Trade Center. I stood in front of several girls (I was the only customer), waiting to be served and their gossip amongst themselves was much more important than me wanting to order. A minute later when a local young man came in, they fawned over him and served him, even though he had cut in front of me. I walked out and took my business next door to Starbucks, where Vince gladly served me. While the food was good at Seaside Bar & Grill, the waiter serving was obnoxious, argumentative, and downright offensive when he messed up my order; he blamed me and degraded me in front of other patrons. Even though the restaurant was right around the corner from the hostel, I never went back. Another business that I would never send another person to is Hanauma Bay Snorkel Tours, which turned out to be an expensive taxi with one of the rudest drivers, we ever encountered. Save yourself the hassle and money by jumping on public transit for only $5 return trip to Hanauma Bay. While the hike to Makkapu’u Point was incredible, some people's lack of respect for the environment was shameful and ugly! As we walked past beautiful cactus along the trodden path, I was saddened to see how some visitors had taken it upon themselves to carve their names or initials into the leaves. I was upset to see this and only wished that the cacti sought their revenge by showing up at night to ring the doorbells of their tormentors and reaching for their arms, inflict their spines for some overdue payback. While staying at the hostel, a few guests (knowing that I was a writer and blogger) came to me with their own complaints. Sam from Australia had a nightmarish encounter with other accommodations at Beachside Hostel, where cleanliness did not exist; the place is rough and set in a bad area. Sam had to take a girl from there and get her to a safe place. I cannot stress enough the need to research thoroughly your accommodations. On TripAdvisor, you can sometimes connect with people who have recently travelled and stayed at these places. A firsthand account can save you money and spare you from a having a vacation from hell. Another guest complained about Hawaiian Airlines when booking for a friend, transportation to a skydiving trip. Camila was upset over the treatment both of them received regarding the international credit card they were using. They were spoken to rudely and at one point, were hung up on by the airline. I mention their personal experiences with these businesses as both Sam and Camila were justified in their complaints. When reflecting on our vacation in Hawaii, the amazing time we had was marred by only a few unpleasant experiences and we would return tomorrow, if we could. This list was compiled only to inform other travelers and share with others, our journey to Oahu. To those people, businesses and places that offered us the aloha spirit of the islands, we are deeply grateful. I end this last post on my pineapple escapades with a quote by Paul Theroux ~ Hawaii is not a state of mind, but a state of grace.

The Great Seaside Escapade

I am known for my spontaneity…one time upon waking up at 5 am, I was craving a donut. I could have easily rolled out of bed, hopped in my car and drove to the nearest Tim Hortens (this gives me away as a True Canadian). However, I decided a road trip to Krispy Kreme Donuts was a justified reason to drive 275 kilometers to Delta to satisfy my sweet tooth. Another time, when a friend who had been battling Cancer, sounded like she could use a hug, I hopped into my vehicle and drove thru some of the worst conditions only to arrive 12 hours later on her doorstep. Then there is a best friend of thirty years, who came to celebrate my birthday. I fondly call her Pookie and I set her up to attend a large event, convincing her it was costume-themed. What made the situation a brilliant one was that I was also able to convince the other three women who also had come to celebrate, to dress up as well. This lovely bunch gave themselves a name: The Mustang Gang! I was delighted when they were walking around the hosted event and no one else was dressed quite like they were. My quirky sense of humor and impulsiveness has seen me on many Grande adventures. With only three more days until departure, I was searching the internet and discovered accommodations called Seaside Hawaiian Hostel. After researching on TripAdvisor and reading many fantastic reviews, I looked at the time; it was after midnight and I counted three hours back to Hawaii time. I was elated when I phoned the hostel and put through to speak with Richard. We spoke at great lengths and in detail about what Seaside Hawaiian Hostel has to offer. Being a historical writer, I find other people’s life roots irresistible. When Richard shared with me about the history of generations owning and operating the hostel, I knew then that we had to book our stay for our holidays with this place. Having my certification in Teaching English as a Second Language, I am passionate about immersing myself in other cultures. Richard did not have to per sway me any further, but additional details about the Hostel’s activities, intrigued me more. From Firework walks along the beach every Friday, to BBQ’s on Sundays, Tiki Tuesdays and homemade pizza, chased with beer, it is a place where the tapestry of community is felt throughout the residence. My spouse, who has travelled all over the world for two years, stayed in hostels everywhere he went. I was excited to share with him the great news…so much that I woke him up a 1:30 am and told him all about our plans. He mumbled something about, I told you that is the best way to travel, then drifted back to his slumber. With only days away before departing, I still have a thousand things left on my to do list. However, now, one major item is crossed off as I dream of two things I adore; the sea and history within a place and its people.