Around Oahu in 28,800 Seconds – The Best Weekend Trip from Honolulu

All I can say is “yum!”

Extreme “City Girl” that I am, a friend of mine and I had the most amazing idea to play “tourist” for the day. The plan was to head out in one of two directions that would eventually get us to Haleiwa and back.

All that mattered to me was that it was via Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, as I had never experienced the tasty, greasy mess upon my lips before. I’m not a big fan of roughing it, but I packed the necessary goods, towel, sunscreen, swimsuit, and camera, and we made our way to where all great adventures begin, Bogart’s.

9:00 a.m.—Arrived at my favorite brunch eatery, ate an omelet, Belgian waffle, coffee, and we were off! Of course, it did set us back some; it takes about a half hour to wait in the line, ten minutes to get your food, five minutes to scarf it down, and ten minutes of me talking.

10:00 a.m.—We are off! After much deliberation, the spare 5 minutes we had with our tummies full, my friend and I decided to drive towards the windward side. We decided to stop to view the Crouching Lion. My friend had no clue, and thought it was somewhere else on the mountain. I advised where it was. Very city-folkish we are. I also told him my favorite story of the Naupaka flower as there were beautiful bushes nearby along the sand. We pulled off and took pictures, then set off towards Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck.

Along the way, we continually saw stands to the side of the road. As our parents often taught us, don’t talk to strangers and don’t take any food from them either! But alas, this is Hawaii, and coconut chunks, coconut water from the coconut shell, banana lumpia, and various fruits were all worth the risk. Stop along the road and check out the scene, like China Man’s Hat!

As we drove to our next stop, we continually ate coconut chunks…

11:30 a.m.—FINALLY!!! We make it to Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, only it’s not a truck, but now an entire terrace with the truck cooking the shrimp plate! They even had a smoothie stand nearby. I guess the folks at Giovanni’s just knew, city folk need a clean place to eat.

I have to say, after experiencing “Shrimp Heaven on Earth,” I craved it for an entire month. You have been warned.

I could eat this for days…Heaven on Earth in a few garlic and butter infused bites!

1:00 p.m.—Headed to Waimea Bay and dove into the waves as we imagined our pro-body surfing skills could take on the massive power of the Pacific Ocean waves. Waves won, I almost drowned. Make sure to account for the lack of parking and be friendly to all the passerby’s, one may magically appear. As my friend, Karen, always says, try your best to “manifest” your parking spot. Don’t take any valuables with you on this road trip, just in case, and if you do, hide them well.

Note to self and future day-trippers: Build your stamina, and then body surf in Waimea. Either way, danger lives there, so only take on only the gentle waves. I am also a small, tiny Asian person, so most waves are going to take me down town, Julie Brown!

3:00 p.m.—On the way back, we stopped by to see Pipeline and Sunset and saw a stranded seal. The amazing things you encounter on your road trip to Haleiwa and back. So many people took pictures, but please, for the endangered species, remember that you have to stay a certain amount of feet away, and those critters are dangerous, bigger, and much more powerful. As they say at the zoo, don’t tease the animals. It was cool to check it out from a safe distance.

A poor seal lay on the beach and passerby’s were WAY too close!

3:30 p.m.—What’s a North Shore visit without Matsumoto’s? Shaved ice that is. I swear that there was a movie star in front of me, but as much television as I watch, I couldn’t name her. She was absolutely stunning.

4:00 p.m.—After sun, fun, and great food, it was time to turn in for the weekend, relax, and go to sleep. It takes an hour to get back to metro Oahu. I went again this past weekend as well. That’s how amazing it was, and the shrimp was still heavenly. Make sure that you offer to drive the driver, they get tired, and they can nap while you drive back. Best day ever.

It was a storybook ending to a perfect day, breakfast, Giovanni’s shrimp, shaved ice, and many memories shared with a great friend