We board the Boeing 737-800 but there is a delay due to a little software gremlin in the planes engine systems. The ghost busters are soon on the job, the gremlin banished and we are on our way, but not before some reassurance by the captain that all is well and that this bird will fly us safely to our destination.After a late snack we are tucked in and lights out. One of the best investments we ever made are noise reducing headphones, put these baby’s on and the engines roar is reduced to almost zero. This flight they became invaluable as a very young child in the seat behind us just did not want to settle down for the night. The sweet little angel bawled the whole night long and into the morning. Despite this the headphones performed well and we both enjoyed about six hours of sleep.
The midday Hawaiian sunlight seeps in through the planes window shades as breakfast is prepare for service. Fellow passengers awake, hostesses fuss around taking breakfast orders, the aroma of fresh coffee fills the cabin area. We have made good time across the pacific arriving very close to our original estimated landing time. After breakfast service the window shades are raised, the cabin crew ready us for landing as the sun streams through the cabin we make our descent into Honolulu airport.
We disembark into the warmth of a tropical July day, 28c perfect. Hawaii is a great gateway to the US the relaxed layback atmosphere is palpable, everyone is in holiday mode. We breeze through security control, pickup our bags and head out into the airports slipways to pick up a taxi to take us to Amanda’s sister and brother in law’s (Kate and Jim) apartment. When we arrive they are there to greet us and show us to the guest suite they have reserved for us. We feel very special the suite overlooks Ala Moana beach park, a sail boat drifts across our view with two para-sailors flying high across the blue sky. Palm trees sway in the tropical breeze outside our window alongside other tropical varieties showing enormous yellow to orange blossoms that hang like oversized bunches of grapes from their laden branches.
After refreshing ourselves, Kate takes us off to sort out Tele communications and buy some essentials for our stay. The afternoon disappears quickly and is replaced with a warm tropical night. Perfect for an outside dining experience at Moku Kitchen, a Peter Merriman restaurant newly established in the Ala Moana district.
Peter Merriman is a successful Hawaiian chef with restaurants scattered around the islands, his cuisine is very much based on locavore principles, locally grown seasonal produce farm to table. Small sharing plates a speciality.
Tonight we enjoyed fish taco’s, butternut pumpkin ravioli and green beans with crushed macadamia nuts in a soy ginger and chilli sauce. A glass of Californian Chardonnay helped the meal along nicely.
Tomorrow is a shopping day as Amanda focuses in on an outfit for Troy & Heathers wedding.