Hawaii (n):
Definition: Palm trees, coconuts, ocean, sun, markets, health food.
Synonym-Paradise
As soon as I stepped foot off the plane, a blast of hot, sticky, and humid, yet comforting air hit me. I was greeted by my grandparents and two cousins in their dusty Toyota Highlander with the rainbow license plate by the gate.
Our first stop was the gas station. Even the gas station is perky in Hawaii! Next stop: Kukuliula Market and a salad. My salad had perfectly cooked purple sweet potatoes, fresh and crispy kale, quinoa, toasted almonds and a nice balsamic vinaigrette.
From the market we drove straight to Waimea plantation cottages and stayed in a cozy, authentic, Hawaiian home. By then, We were tired and went right to bed. We woke up to screaming roosters. Following breakfast, (sausage, eggs, and a pineapple smoothie) we went down to the Black sand beach and my cousin Leyla and I played in the waves. As soon as we got tired we started digging holes. We started with a little hole, then a bigger hole, then a bigger one, and finally when we thought it was huge, the ocean had huge in mind too, and sent a huge wave coming our way. We tried to block the hole with our bodies, but it was too late. Our crater had turned into a puddle. After our defeat, we went to the pool and swam for a couple of hours. By then, it was dinner time and we ate leftover soup from the night before. We were exhausted and went right to sleep.
Only one hour after we woke up we had to pack up all of our stuff and leave the Waimea Plantation Cottages. From the cottages, we went back to kukuliula market. This time I got the same salad I had gotten before, and a poke bowl.
From kukuliula market, we drove to the Hyatt Kauai. We were immediately greeted at the door with orchid lei’s. The next two days we spent completely in the pools, lagoons, and on the wonderful waterslide.
The last night, we went to my favorite restaurant in the whole world. The Eating House. For starters we had some edamame with toasted dark sesame seed oil. Yum. Then for appetizers we had some pork dumplings with a crispy exterior and soft, moist center. We also had light, delicate calamari with a creamy and fresh aioli. Mmmm. Then, for dinner came the butterfish. Its flaky, delicate, moist, and flavorful body complimented the bed of crispy rice, stuck to the hot and sizzling cast iron skillet, with fresh roasted veggies. Delish. Then, came the best part. The dessert. It was served to us on a sparkling clean, white plate with a raspberry drizzle. It was small, but had big bursting flavor in every bite you took. Gooey peanut butter chocolate lava cake. It had a crispy exterior and a soft, moist, gooey interior.
Then we drove to the hotel and went right to bed. As soon as we woke up, we went down to the pool just for a few hours. A little while later, we ordered lunch. I got fish tacos. They were crispy and fried, with avocado and lettuce. Then we drove to my grandparents house on the north side. On the drive there is a special tunnel made entirely out of naturally grown trees. When we go through that tunnel, we hold our breath all the way through and make a wish.
As soon as we got to their house, Leyla and I read in the hammock and set up the tent where we would sleep the following nights. Then we drove into town and went to the bakery for dinner. I had a salad and a small piece of meat pizza.
That night, we slept in the tent outside. When we woke up we walked down 280 steps to get to secret beach which is a beach connected to my grandparents house. We swam in the clear water and found many shells. The waves were very calm and it was a really nice swim. Then we walked back up the 280 steps to the house. Then Leyla and I made some for a few hours. We set up a slime table in the backyard with glue, tide, baking soda, contact lens solution, shaving cream and water. After we finished, we spent the rest of the day back down at secret beach for some birthdays. That trip was the shell jackpot. I found so many pretty ones. My uncle took many really amazing shots with his drone. We walked back up the 280 steps and made more slime.
Then came the feast. We had a delicious freshly grown salad, Thai coconut soup, basmati rice and freshly grilled eggplant. For dessert we had delicious macadamia nut pie and fresh homemade mango sorbet.
Then we went to bed. We slept in the tent and that night it poured. The water leaked into our tent a little bit, but overall, we were dry. The next morning we got up and went to this pool. We had French fries, shave ice and a lot more junk food. We played in the hotel pool and on that hotel water slide. Then we went to Hanalei beach again and body surfed some more waves. We also boogie board.
After we got home we ate leftover soup, made some slime, and went to bed. The next morning we had a delicious breakfast feast that contained sausage, eggs, eggplant, and a selection of freshly picked papaya, pineapple, and bananas.
We drove down to kalihiwai and figured out that the waves were huge. We swam for a little bit, but then it became too much and we got out of the ocean. When we got home and relaxed, made some slime, played in the hot tub and read. Then we went to sleep.
It was the first night that I was sleeping alone in the tent. It rained a little bit but the tent didn’t get wet on the inside. Then it was back to Hanalei and mini golf. Nobody got a hole in one but we got very close many times. Right before mini golfing, we went to a nice beach called Hanalei. I surfed and body surfed and caught a lot of waves. Adventure in Kauai and now it is off to Cayucos.