Ten Fabulous Days in Honolulu!

There’s not much more to be said about Hawaii that I haven’t already said, but I’m going to talk about it anyway. This trip was the first time the entire summer that all four of us were in the same geographical location. We stayed at the Halekulani and a wondrous time was had by all!

In addition to 10 days in paradise, we also were fortunate enough to have Yinan and her mother join us for a few days. It was great to see Yinan again and meet her mother. We really have missed her!

view from the Halekulani

view from the Halekulani

Other highlights of the trip include:

  • Surfing lessons for the kids
  • Segway tour up to Diamondhead (the boy, in particular, thought the Segway was amazing)
Amelia Earhart lookout

Amelia Earhart lookout

  • Helicopter tour of Oahu
view of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor (oil is still leaking from the ship)

view of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor (you can see the oil still leaking from the ship)

Oahu

Oahu

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  • Dinners at Chef Mavro, Nobu, Town, and Alan Wong’s
  • Shave ice at Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha
the best (!) shave ice

the best (!) shave ice

We jammed a lot of other things in as well, but these were the high points. The only sad thing about our trip is that we had to come back!

Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha

Only in Hawaii can you get away with a name like that.  But Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha (located at 820 West Hind Drive #116 in the Aina Haina Shopping Center in Honolulu) not only has some of the best shave ice we’ve ever had, but it contains something even better—Uncle Clay himself.

First things first.  The shave ice.  Very fluffy and powdery, the way the ice should be.  But, more importantly, all of the flavorings are natural.  So rather than the oh-so-authentic looking blue raspberry, you have flavors such as lilikoi (passion fruit), mango, pineapple, and strawberry.  We highly recommend the lilikoi and the pineapple.  As with traditional Hawaiian shave ice, you can add ice cream to your shave ice (which the locals assure us is quite delicious, but which we have never tried).  There are fruit toppings available as well.  And the portions come in keiki (child-sized), medium, and large.

strawberry & lilikoi shave ice

strawberry & lilikoi shave ice

strawberry & lilikoi shave ice

Uncle Clay himself defies description.  He is a gentle, zen-like soul who is genuinely flattered that you have come to eat his shave ice.  But the best way to describe him is to give you The Pure Aloha oath, which he wrote himself.

The Pure Aloha Oath

I solemnly promise

To live every heartbeat of my life

From this day forward

With Pure Aloha.

 

Every single word that comes out of my mouth

And every single action, be it large or small

Must first come from my compassionate heart

And be supported by my thoughtful mind.

 

With an open heart and an open mind

I will unconditionally love

Every person who crosses my path in life

As a fellow member of our one world ohana.

 

If I truly try my best to do all these things

I will become the person I was born to be

Filled with inner peace and complete happiness.

 

Living every heartbeat with Pure Aloha

I can

Bring love into the hearts of others

And make our world a better place.

 

(www.houseofpurealoha.com)