Asian SUPERmarkets around the US

The biggest Asian Supermarkets in the US!

Check out http://goldsea.com/Parenting/Malls/malls.html

Shangri-La Day Foot Spa (San Gabriel)

This weekend the ladies wanted to repeat their very successful foot massage experience of last year. But this time we thought we would try something new. There are many foot massage places in San Gabriel but we spied one in the Black Ball mall that had some nice upholstered cushions and look like it might offer more than just foot massage so we opted for this one. We didn't read the Yelp reviews until after we left which went a long way to explain the experience that we had.

When we first got there, we all gravitated towards the whole body massage, 30 minutes for $20, except for Marsha who wanted the foot massage. All of the masseuses were busy (skinny older Chinese men with good arm muscles) so they had to call for backups. Pretty soon four more people magically appeared in the shop. And started to work on us. So we lay down on the nice comfortable cushions and the workers went to work.

This being a casual massage place, you did not need to take off any of your clothes. You just lay down on the cushion, slipped off your shoes, and they put a light beach towel over you while they worked on you. So as long as you wore a T-shirt and yoga pants, you would be fine.  Chinese massage is quite vigorous and there were several times where we thought maybe we should ask them to back off a little. But the environment was very peaceful, the lights were low, the music was soothing, and when we turned over on our backs we could watch the funny Chinese cooking show. Then when 30 minutes was up, they whispered do you want us to keep going? and Mandy said yes because it was pretty awesome. The body massage turned into a Foot & Leg massage. So about 50 minutes later we were all total mush from the excellent massage. We went to pay the girls and tipped them about $5 on the $20 bill but Marcia's masseuse seem to be confused about giving her change on the $40 that she gave him. We figured out later that he was really trying to get her to tip $10 on the $20 service but due to his poor English we thought he didn't understand how she was asking him to make change, so after insisting multiple times on getting $15 back, he reluctantly gave that to her. Come to find out on Yelp that this place is known for basically extorting customers for $10 tips. Now in this case, it was almost justified for the extra long massage we got.  But in America, you don't insist on a tip!  Luckily we were able to escape this - just barely.

And strangely enough, we liked it well enough that we went back the next day, this time with Kiyomi. This time when they called for reinforcements, the same lady as before showed up and was surprised to see us. But today they didn't pull any anything fast on us. They gave us the 30-minute massage, we paid our $20 plus $5 tip, just like yesterday, and we were very satisfied. I guess they figured they couldn't try to extort us today for what they could not get out of us yesterday!

Tipping nonsense aside, we did like this place and would go back next time. I mean, come on, when was the last time you got a 60 minute massage for twenty bucks! Just be prepared to be very firm about what you are willing to tip. I have found that most Chinese are very insistent about trying to get the best deal for themselves. You simply have to respond in kind in order to get your way, and not be insulted.

Pro Tips:
Wear comfortable clothing - tshirt, exercise pants, slippers
Shave your legs, ladies
Might not get your choice of male or female masseuse
Be prepared with exact change for tip
Be prepared for typical brusque service ("Sit here. Wait 10 minutes")
Don't be afraid to tell them to ease up on the pressure, if it hurts
Don't be surprised when they carry on a conversation in Chinese the entire time, and answer their phones. It's still an outstanding massage!

Shangri-La Day Spa
324 W Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
http://www.yelp.com/biz/shangri-la-day-spa-san-gabriel

Spicy Cucumbers

Here's a great recipe for Spicy Chinese Cucumbers that I found online. Thanks, kirbiecravings.com!

SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD

A Chinese-style cold marinated cucumber salad that is flavorful, simple and very addictive.
YIELD: 2-4
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

5 Persian cucumbers (it's best to use Persian because they are crisper; if Persian isn't available then I use Kirby ones)
1/2-1 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Slice ends off cucumbers and then smash them until they break like video above. Cut the cucumbers into thirds. Then slice into bite sized pieces approximately 1/2 inch wide and 1 inch long.
2. Add in all the remaining ingredients and mix until cucumbers are evenly coated in seasonings. Taste and adjust as needed. You can eat right away or let the cucumbers sit in the fridge to further develop the flavors.

Five Star Dim Sum aka New Capital Seafood (San Gabriel, CA)

Our breakfast at Five Star on Sunday was only mildly successful.  When we arrived at 10, the place was packed.  The hostess couldn't believe we had a party of 18.  But oddly enough, when they showed us to our table, it was a table for 12, and the seating hostess told us the other 6 would have to wait.  OK, for how long?  Oh, maybe 20 minutes. Wait, what?? We insisted on having the table that was 2 tables down from us as well.  They reluctantly agreed.  Awesome service.

The girls found Five Star a bit challenging just like last year. They didn't really like the (too authentic) fried rice with lup chong, or the dumplings.  They mostly ate steamed rice, and then some Xiao Long Bao when they showed up at the end.  Megan ordered the "hamburgers" but of course they didn't really taste like hamburgers.  Our table enjoyed a few different items but we weren't interested in 80% of what they had. We were frustrating the cart ladies who kept telling us "this one very good!!"  To be totally honest, I think Five Star is a little too authentic for our crowd.  We do eat more than Char Siu Bao, but the seafood dumplings with octopus or calimari, for example, were out of our range. Even mine.  We just need a bunch of solid pork or shrimp plates which unfortunately seemed to be in short supply.  At the very end, the Char Siu Bao, Xiao Long Bao, and sweet baked pork buns finally showed up but the meal had already started off on a sour note.  Luckily we were all stuffed from two days of heavy eating so our appetites were not very big.  DH says "plain and simple, Ocean Seafood is better!!"

The one thing that Five Star has going for it is acreage.  This picture only shows about 20% of the restaurant.  I am totally not joking.

And on the way out at 11ish, the restaurant lobby was even MORE crowded then when we had come in. We elbowed our way down to the ground floor (literally) and escaped thru the exit next to Daiso.

Pro Tips:
Go early.
Take the elevator next to Daiso.  When you exit the elevator, move right to the podium - the hostess has already seen you.
She will give you a ticket with your table number on it.
Take the escalator/stairs when you leave.
Check out Daiso (Japanese dollar store) if you have never been there - everything is $1.50!

Five Star Dim Sum (formerly known as New Capital Seafood)

140 W Valley, San Gabriel

https://goo.gl/maps/Vn2uxGVANqP2

So very full from our weekend of gluttony

As our weekend winds down, we think back over the glorious meals we enjoyed in San Gabriel. Every visit uncovers more hidden delights and there is much more to explore (Boiling Point hot pot may be next). The best things we ate this weekend in San Gabriel:

Kung Pao Chicken at Wang Xing Ji. Rich, spicy, textbook perfect. With extra Szechuan pepper. Don't understand why we can't find this quality in San Diego.  Maybe we have to get it at a Szechuan restaurant.

House Spicy Noodles with Pork at 101 Noodle Express. There was something really flavorful about these noodles, just can't put my finger on it. And no, it wasn't MSG. Raves up and down the table.

Spicy Beef Noodles at Shanghai Dumpling House. Meaty, rich, and spicy, with neat paper thin slices of beef (Pho like) that were easy to eat. Adults and kids alike loved this, even those that didn't like spicy. In comparison, the spicy noodles at Wang Xing Ji were too spicy, too brash, and the beef was old and dried up.

Cucumbers - cold, spicy, crunchy. Great combination of texture and flavor!

Milk Tea (cold and hot) from Tea Station. We drank a lot of Milk Tea in a lot of places this weekend  and I decided the quality of the tea is what makes it great. It's just black tea, milk, and sugar but a fragrant black tea lends delicate and complex overtones. I didn't think I liked milk in my tea until I tried a first rate tea. We asked Ten Ren next door about the Tea Station tea - and were steered towards a tea that was only $10/lb and indeed smelled just right. $10/lb sounds like a lot, because you have no idea how much tea is in a quarter pound. Try about 2-3 cups of loose tea. For $2.50. Wow! We will be visiting one of the 3 Tea Stations in San Diego very, very soon.

San Gabriel Square
140 W Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA
https://goo.gl/maps/W7nCeYxsLKQ2 

101 Noodle Express (San Gabriel)

This location of 101 Noodle Express has expanded significantly and upgraded the finishings. They were easily capable of absorbing our party of 22 last night. We took up 2 huge tables. The food was great, as we have come to expect from this place. Vast menu - over 120 items. The service was efficient and quick. And don't forget, it's CASH ONLY!

Beef Rolls. Our favorite. We ordered 4 orders. I thought it was 4 pieces per order. It was actually 8 pieces per order!! Times 4 plates! 32 pieces of Beef Rolls! Somehow we ate all but 3 pieces.

Scallion pancakes - big squares of Pancake, seems the same as what they use for the Beef Rolls.

House spicy noodles with pork - the favorite by far. Just really great flavor.

Steamed dumplings with Bok Choy - like

Pork potstickers - like

Cold spicy Cucumbers - crunchy, spicy. Excellent. I think we forgot to get a picture, so here's one from the interwebs:

http://kirbiecravings.com/2014/09/smashed-cucumber-salad.html

Fried Rice - standard flavorless fried rice

Steamed Bok Choy - good as always

Hot and Sour soup - decent

Dan Dan Noodles with hand torn noodles - outstanding noodles but the sauce was very heavy, almost Hamburger Helper like. I don't think we would order this again.

101 Noodle Express
1408 E Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801
https://goo.gl/maps/ftgoTvQp7WK2

Wang Xing Ji (San Gabriel)

Wow! This was a Szechuan restaurant, as we found out when every item on the menu had either 2 or 3 chili peppers next to it. Our party of 18 arrived early at 530, good thing, because the place was packed packed packed by the time we left. Service was a little slow and haphazard.

Kung Pao Chicken - actually each family ended up ordering their own plate! Outstanding flavor, spicy but not too. I would drive back to LA for this one!

Hot and spicy beef noodle soup - covered in oil and packed with fiery Szechuan pepper.

Big Pork and Crab soup dumpling - this was totally unlike the ones we had in Shanghai. Yes, filled with broth, but packed with a lot of pork-crab mixture. Don't order unless you like crab!

Fried Rice - meh

Peanut noodles - heavy peanut flavor. Needed salt and more chili.

Wang Xing Ji
140 W Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
https://goo.gl/maps/6PNvyFFnsuF2

Shanghai Dumpling House (San Gabriel)

A recommendation from laist.com, this place is steps from the San Gabriel Hilton. It also opens at 7am unlike many of the local eateries around here. So, it was perfect for breakfast! We came for the dumplings but thoroughly enjoyed the Beef Rolls, jiaozi, steamed dumplings, and the amazing spicy beef noodle soup.

Shanghai Dumpling House
91776, 227 W Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
https://goo.gl/maps/PqwmfjWiWfG2

Las Brisas (San Marcos, CA)

Well, thinking leads to talking leads to doing. After reposting our last visit to Las Brisas, it was really on my mind. And when an opportunity presented itself to try it again this weekend, we jumped.

There seem to be so few Mexican eateries like this in San Diego. The taco shop format is simpler and so very popular here. But we love the heart and soul in these family-run places.

Today our choices were much more successful.

Chile Verde - spot on like last time, family recipe, complex flavor

Adobada tacos - heaped high with meat

Cilantro Chicken - tender threads of chicken with Cilantro and lots of onion. Similar preparation to a Thai Basil chicken. Delicious

Chicken enchiladas Pipin - with a peanut sauce, again a little bit like a satay peanut sauce. Great flavor with the chicken.

Carne Asada and Pollo Asada tacos - a hit with the kids.

Huge portions, great service, above average food.

Las Brisas

577 Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos, CA 92078

https://goo.gl/maps/ymPTcHaaHsp

Tasty Noodle House (Kearney Mesa)

Tasty Noodle House is a new Shanghainese restaurant in Kearney Mesa, in a strip mall already packed with outstanding choices. They have an incredibly vast menu that will take many visits to properly experience. This time we tried the following:

Sheng Jian Bao - fried Shanghai soup dumplings. A cross between a dumpling and a fluffy Bao, filled with pork and soup, fried to a crisp on the bottom, with sesame seeds on top. Crunchy, soft, savory, and sesame. And very filling. Almost every table had an order.

House spicy noodles - the table's favorite.

Black pepper noodles -  very good, but definitely not as good as the spicy noodles.

Hot and Sour soup - very spicy on top of the vinegar flavor. The spicy lovers really liked this one.

Steamed Pork dumplings - very succulent pork filling with some greens.

Xiao Long Bao - also very good. Might be tastier than Dumpling Inn.

We can't wait to come back and delve further into the menu. As long as we can get some house spicy noodles too!

Tasty Noodle House
Ste 110, 4646 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
https://goo.gl/maps/d71GX7G7R8C2

Obama in Vietnam

President Barack Obama dined in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Monday with CNN personality Anthony Bourdain, whose “Parts Unknown” food travelogue is one of the network’s most popular nonfiction series.

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/obama-dining-with-cnns-anthony-bourdain-for-series/

Las Brisas (San Marcos, CA)

A new family-owned restaurant in San Marcos. Incredible rich and complex Chile Verde. Dad did not like his Chile Colorado very much (not the traditional flavor). And Alan was not in love with the Shrimp Diablo (again, obviously a family recipe that he didn't care for). Megan thought her thin cut steak was too tough, but she hasn't quite learned how to trim her steak. But the guac was good and chorizo dip was excellently spicy. I for one would love to go back!  We love these family owned Mexican places.  You can just tell that the family has poured their heart and soul into these places.  I think it's just a matter of finding our favorite dishes.

Las Brisas

577 Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos, CA 92078

https://goo.gl/maps/ymPTcHaaHsp

Grown-up dinner at The Barrel Room (Rancho Bernardo)

We are starting to narrow in on our favorite meal at the Barrel Room - the Bruschetta followed by the Meat and Cheese Board. With a few glasses of the Daou Cabernet and Opolo Zin.  The girl was volunteering at the Elementary School carnival with friends...so when the cat's away...

The Barrel Room

16765 Bernardo Center Dr #1, San Diego, CA 92128

https://goo.gl/maps/c4NWsnUW3v72

Happy Kitchen (San Gabriel, CA)

Just down the road from the San Gabriel Hilton is Happy Kitchen. This restaurant is right next door to J&J (Jin Jiang) which we thoroughly enjoyed back in May. We are "happy" to report that Happy Kitchen is just as good. In fact, their scallion pancakes, Beef soup, and Xiao Long Bao are even better than (gasp) 101 Noodle Express. We also had their fried noodles with pork, cold smoked chicken (wow), and potstickers. Oh yeah and the Beef Rolls! And we ate it all!

Mama's Hummus (Thousand Oaks)

Recommended by Uncle Alan, this Lebanese restaurant is amazing!! Authentic and full of flavor. I don't think we can keep going to Daphnes's when we have this place, and Kabob shop, around. Even the spiced onion is good (and I hate raw onion).

Tried the beef Kabob, sliced beef, and chicken Kabob. All delicious. The hummus in particular was very tasty. We also tried the feta empanada-like pastries. Also very good with parsley and garlic.

Mama's Hummus

5021 Verdugo Way, Camarillo, CA 93012

https://goo.gl/maps/pNwpFURXGM52

Kauai, Hawaii - the Mega List

Kauai is one of our favorite destinations. Not only is Kauai a rural paradise chock full of outdoor adventure, it's my Mom's hometown (she is 3rd generation Japanese).  The house she grew up in is still standing, and her grandparents are in the Buddhist temple across from Kapaia Stitchery.  Except for Grandpa Shigeru whose ashes were scattered at Ahukini Landing.  Highlights of Kauai are hiking, snorkeling, sightseeing, and local eats in a very laid back atmosphere.  Car touring is also very rewarding, there are many extremely picturesque beaches that you don't have to snorkel to enjoy, lots of small towns, and Waimea Canyon with its overlooks. And those deep dark pitch black Hawaiian nights with the tradewinds blowing in the palm trees makes you realize you are on a eensy weensy teeny tiny island 2700 miles from LA...and 4700 miles from Polynesia, the ancient origins of the Hawaiian Islanders.  

Hiking:

• Alakai Swamp, in Waimea Canyon. My goal on our next trip is to hike out as far as the boardwalk area. However you have to cross a muddy, clay-ey section to get there, and if it is wet and/or muddy it will be extremely slippery.

https://everythingishomemade.com/2010/07/27/alakai-swamp-trail-hike/

• Kalalau trail. Kauai is kind of the Austrailian outback of Hawaii. Everything here is just a little more challenging than other islands.  This trail is rated a difficulty of 10 by the Sierra Club. We have actually never hiked it.  Even a 1 or 2 mile out-and-back is supposed to be terrific. Note: the hike should not be done in flip flops. 

• Mahaulepo - easy but spectacular shoreline hike. The trail runs along the edge of the cliffs and leads to a deserted beach with huge rock outcroppings to scramble on.  This is a good one for kids.

• This guy leads hikes (http://great-hikes.com/), but also discusses many great hikes on his blog:: http://great-hikes.com/blog/

Snorkeling/Ocean:

• Ke'e beach.  Once you get out in the water, turn around and look up at the towering pali cliffs and palm trees above you.  Feel small and insignificant. 

• Wow, am I really indenting my bullets like a damn Powerpoint?
• Visiting Ke'e is an investment. You have to get there before 9am, otherwise no parking. You think I am kidding but I am not.  And it is over an hour's drive from Lihue/Kapa'a. 
• Bring snacks to tide you over until your late lunch at Bubba's in Hanalei.  Maybe invest in a squeaky cooler (styrofoam cooler) for the drinks.
• Plan to take everything to the sand - no one will swipe it but you won't want to walk back to the car to get the cooler.
• You will snorkel on either side of the channel (see picture below).  The open channel is actually quite large so there is little chance of accidentally floating out down the channel.  Therefore this is a pretty safe place for kids to snorkel. There is also a lifeguard at Ke'e these days.

An extremely calm, low-tide summer day.

• Kauai sand can feel rough to Californians, and there's plenty of coral pieces, so bare feet is not advised.  Wear your water socks , water shoes, or Tevas.  You don't need fins.
• On the way back, have lunch in Hanalei. Do some shopping.  Stop at the Hanalei overlook to take some pictures. Grownups may like to stop at the Princeville hotel for drinks on the patio.
• Typical snorkeling sights video at Ke'e.

http://www.serenitymoments.com/screensavers.html

http://www.to-hawaii.com/kauai/beaches/kee-beach-park.php

• Tunnels beach.  Tunnels is the big snorkeling playground of the North Shore.  If you snorkel, don't miss Tunnels. Bring your underwater camera.  You could do Tunnels and Ke'e both in the same day but only if you move your car from one to the other after 3pm when the parking situation eases up.

http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/snorkeling-tunnels.html

The Beginner's Area is also shown below and is a little tricky to find.  I marked what we call "Tunnels Express", and the exit, in red. This is at the Eastern end of the Beginner's area.  The current will take you from left to right.  In fact you do not even have to swim, just float on the water, and you will be zoomed down the reef.  The reef wall will be on your left. Observe the wildlife!  Then, when the reef opens up on your left, make your left turn, and kick back to the beach following the 2nd red arrow. This is where fins will help you a lot.  I don't recommend floating westward any further than this - the current will only get stronger as it pulls you out into the bay and beyond the reef - never recommended.

Here's another closeup of Tunnels Express with the escape hatch.  The reef portion is 40-50 foot long so it's a nice long ride before you turn left.

Here is another picture of Beginner's Area, circled.  This area is really quite large, and the reef that you will be exploring from the shore is quite vast.  There is really no danger of you accidentally reaching the dark blue bay beyond.

It's in this area that you will find this famous "honeycomb" portion of the reef.

The summer months are the best time for snorkeling, the surf is much calmer.  In the fall/winter/spring, please test the currents first before committing your whole family.

http://www.hawaiigaga.com/kauai/beaches/tunnels-beach.aspx

Parking at Tunnels is a challenge. There are 2 places to park and neither holds more than 20 cars.  The dog leg alley below puts you at Tunnels Express.

This side street is good for the Beginner's Area.  You can also park at Ha'ena Beach Park, just down the road, but it is a bit of a hoof back to the Beginner's Area - on the sand.

• Queens Bath.  Near Princeville.  A natural pool at the surf's edge, spectacular when the surf is calm. However, don't go at or near high tide, or if the waves wash over the side of this natural pool, people have gotten badly hurt by the surf.  Don't stand on the rocks between the pool and the ocean where a rogue wave could knock you down. http://www.hawaiiweb.com/kauai/sites_to_see/QueensBath.htm

http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com/queens-bath-kauai-hawaii/

• NOTE ABOUT THE BEACH - ALWAYS STAY WITHIN THE REEF, DON'T SWIM OUTSIDE THE REEF.  ONLY SWIM WHERE THERE IS A REEF AND A LIFEGUARD, no matter how many people are in the water.  Kauai's beaches are not very good swimming beaches - not at all like Maui or California - steep beaches, treacherous currents, riptides, strong waves.

Kayaking:

• Rely on blue book for vendor recommendations. Go to Hanalei, not Wailua. We liked Kayak Kauai, www.kayakkauai.com 808-826-9844 800-437-3507

Dining - do not miss

• Fish Express. A recently added gem, we have yet to make it here before they run out of the entrees. Don't let the styrofoam fool you.  Appearances can be deceiving.  Another island lesson. Slow down and take a look at what is in front of you.

http://www.lazykauai.com/restaurants/fish-express/

• Hamura Saimin. You should try Saimin once while you are there and the place to try it is Hamura's.  In a humble (rundown?) shack on a side street in western Lihue, this place has been there forever (80 years) and looks like it. Sit down at the extra low counters (remember, japanese people short) and order away.  I recommend the special saimin or the wonton saimin.  Add some chili pepper water or whatever is in those large bottles on the counter and spice it up.

http://onokinegrindz.typepad.com/ono_kine_grindz/saimin/

• Brick Oven pizza. brick oven pizza is famous with the locals for having the best pizza.  the original location is in kalaheo and there is another one in wailua now.

• Island Palm. We liked Island Palm enough to go twice, they have very good fried rice and portuguese sausage and other hawaiian-style dishes like kalua pig omelet and smoked mahi mahi omelet.

• Duke's, Kauai Marriott.  We always go here on our first night in Kauai. Duke's is our favorite restaurant on the island, we went twice this trip.  Attention Rum lovers: this may sound like blasphemy, but i actually like a drink called tropical itch better than the mai tais at duke's.  if you like fish and spicy food, i like their "firecracker ono" but this preparation seems to have been removed from the menu.  they have good steaks and if you like mud pie you should try the hula pie. Don't forget to stroll back on the boardwalk fronting Kalapaki Bay.

• Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt.   We love this one for the atmosphere and the food.  It's at the grand hyatt so you can tell it will be expensive.  It is like a small village of open air huts in the middle of a pond.  Make reservations and ask for a table by the water.  No ocean view but the Hyatt is right on the ocean for a nice stroll before or after dinner.  And the Hyatt itself is a beautiful hotel.  Also, check out the bar overlooking the ocean in the main building.  At sunset (6 or 630) they have a brief but moving Hawaiian ceremony.

http://kauai.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/Tidepools.html

• Beach House restaurant in Poipu, considered one of the most romantic restaurants on Kauai
• Keokis Paradise 
• Puka Dogs. if you like hot dogs there is a place to get "island style" hot dogs in the poipu shopping village called puka dogs http://pukadog.com/ .  this place has been featured on several food channel programs.  i can vouch for this combination: mild “garlic lemon secret sauce”, mango relish, and lilikoi mustard.  i forgot to mention it in my oahu writeup but there is a puka dogs in waikiki too, behind the international marketplace.
• Bubba burgers or Duanes Ono char burgers
• Prepared foods at Times supermarket
• Go for cocktails at sunset at The Livingroom, Princeville Hotel (unbeatable view)
• Cafe Hanalei at Princeville hotel (unbeatable view)

Other Stuff: 

• Kauai products fair (mini swap meet). Look for other farmer's markets & sunshine markets for tshirts, trinkets
• Kilauea Lighthouse 
• Banana Joe's Fruit Stand 
• Drinks at sunset at the bar at St Regis Princeville (spectacular!) 
• Waimea canyon and Kalalau Lookout, go all the way to end of road
• Walk along Hanalei bay beach. Late afternoons are magical.

• Shop at Costco, Walmart, Kmart for food/souvenirs/flipflops/snorkels/sandals . Costco has $20 flats of Ahi Sashimi - 'nuff said. 

• Shop at Macys for aloha shirts - in 2015 I thought the selection was pretty damn good.
• Boat ride. Try Captain Andy's. Even 2 hr trip was memorable.  Be prepared for wind; rain; sun; splashes!

• Art night in Hanapepe
• Watch the sunrise every morning from the beach.  Helps if you are staying at a property on the beach.  Stumble out onto the sand with your bed-head and watch the sun come up over the water.  Listen to the doves and the surf.  The color and clarity of the air is magical!

• And as always, stop and watch the sunset every evening.  It's what everyone else is doing.

Hotels

recommended hotels: radisson, couryard by marriott, kauai beach villas.  good location, not the cheapest, not the most expensive, moderate 3star.  plantation hale (like motel6 but good location and cheap but definitely NO FRILLS, 2 star).

you can sometimes get timeshare "preview" deals.  marriott waiohai timeshare is in a good location and has fabulous new rooms and a great pool.  you can usually get $150/nt rate on a timeshare preview, just have to go to a timeshare presentation.  usually only 5 nights tho.

unfortunately, you will not be overly impressed by the hotels on kauai.  most are very old, some are still musty smelling from the hurricane.in 92.  old or new, prices are outrageous.

we've never stayed at the marriott but we would like to do so one day (we almost did on the last trip).  it is a very beautiful hotel.  you won't believe the pool.  the beach is very nice there, it is on a protected bay rather than being directly on the ocean.  if you look at the right time you'll be able to see cruise ships coming and going on certain days.

there are just three fancy hotels on kauai, the marriott being one of them.  the others are the grand hyatt in the south and the st. regis princeville in the north.  the one we like the most is the hyatt although it is ridiculously expensive and the south is pretty far from most island destinations (we stayed there once).  the hyatt is also the least snooty, with the marriott in the middle and the st. regis the snootiest, although it has actually been toned down since st. regis took it over if you can believe that.

Airfare:

flying weds-weds will be the cheapest.  sat-sat or sun-sun will be the most expensive.  play around with the dates and see.  cheapest to fly out of lax.  some hotels will let you stay the night and leave the car there for a week, called "park and fly."  see doubletree and crowne plaza links in our website. should be ~$150.  doubletree is the better hotel.  shuttles run to lax all the time.  otherwise good luck driving up to LA for a 9am flight!!!!  ha ha!!

Rental Cars:

I always book Alamo rental cars with the Costco discounts. http://www.costcotravel.com/#11_rentalCars

That always gets me the best prices.  Book your car right away and then check back and reprice your trip to see if the price goes down.  We usually get a full-size car because it is usually only a couple of dollars more than a compact.

You'll need a rental car for the entire Kauai portion of your trip.  If you're only going to rent a car for a duration shorter than your stay it would probably be a better idea to rent at a location near your hotel rather than at the airport. Conceivably you could do multiple one-day rentals and avoid the overnight parking fee, but cost of a single-day rental (or even a 2-3 day rental) is usually so high it becomes non-competitive.

Discussion:

the main road on kauai is shaped like a giant backwards C.  it dead-ends at both ends and you can't drive all the way around the island because of the steep cliffs on the west shore called "na pali coast" (na pali means the cliffs in hawaiian).  speaking of na pali coast we recommend a boat tour to go out and see the cliffs.  we did this on our first trip in an inflatable boat which i think is the most exciting but they have larger boats now too.  some of these trips include snorkeling time.

it is typically warmer and sunnier in the south and colder and rainier in the north.  Often, rainshowers pass quickly. This is where beach wear and tevas come in handy - don't let the rain stop you, keep going, you will just drip dry and the sun will come out later.  If it's the rainy season it can become a deluge at times - we experienced 6" in a morning once.  That was a lot of rain.

there aren't as many beaches on kauai but there are some noteworthy ones.  the two most interesting ones are poipu (in the south) and ke'e in the north at the end of the road.  of the two, i would rate ke'e as the "don't miss" spot although you will need to get up early to go there because there is limited parking.  we got there at 9:20am and we got almost the last parking spot in the close lot (there is another larger lot).  we really enjoyed the snorkeling at ke'e.  it was best toward the left side near the rock wall.  ask the lifeguards where it is safe to snorkel.

the other thing about ke'e is the beauty of the north shore itself.  getting there really is half the fun.  right across from princeville just past the hotel entrance is the hanalei valley overlook on the left (mauka side), a must stop. then continue on down the hill where you cross a one-lane bridge and enter the town of hanalei which is very cute with many shops and restaurants.  continuing past hanalei gets you to a sleepy area with more beaches and many one-lane bridges before you get to ke'e.  the whole north shore is very cool.

if you're in the north shore at sunset an awesome spot to watch it would either be from hanalei beach park near the pier or from the outdoor patio at the bar at the st. regis hotel (valet parking only, no charge except tip).

a nice place to stop if you're going toward the north and maybe not in a big hurry to get to ke'e early is the kilauea lighthouse.

another day you might enjoy waimea canyon for spectacular views and hiking. mark twain called it "the grand canyon of the pacific".  there is an overlook on the right (mauka side) a little past kalaheo and before hanapepe which will give you a glimpse of the end of the canyon.  the road to the canyon is in waimea just past a restaurant called island tacos http://www.islandfishtaco.com/ with unique hawaiian-style tacos which would be a great place to stop for lunch (they close at 5 which makes it iffy to count on on the way back down).  the tacos are on the large side but i really enjoyed the cajun ahi taco and the kalua pig taco that i had.

there are two excellent vista stops on the way up waimea canyon.  you'll see them as you go, you can hit them on the way up or down.  drive all the way to the top where you'll find the kalalau lookout with just amazing views of kalalau valley, part of the na pali coast.  there is even another overlook farther along at the end of the road but the views from there are not quite as good.  but this is a good place todo some hiking.  there are probably quite a number of other good hikes in waimea canyon including one to alakai swamp but we didn't have the time or the stamina to try them.  i'm sure the blue book will help out in this regard.

other places to hike are mahaulepo, which is way down south at the end of the road but a nice hike and there is even a dry blowhole there (listen for the rushing air sounds).  an adventure just getting there because you're driving on unpaved cane truck roads full of potholes.  another hike i've heard about is up the side of sleeping giant (a mountain range near kapa'a said to look like a sleeping giant).

poipu in the south has a nice beach with decent snorkeling, and a blowhole called spouting horn.  i think there's a botanical garden there too.  on the way to poipu is a quaint little shopping town called koloa that you drive through (don't take the bypass road unless you're going to the hyatt or mahaulepo).

if you like art galleries and you're looking for something to do friday night, the town of hanapepe has art night every friday.  all of the art galleries are open and many have local artists doing art, there is live music and food booths cooking food.  we did it for the first time on this trip and enjoyed it but we had to leave to get back to waipouli at a decent time.

Oahu, Hawaii - the Mega List

Oahu is truly a tropical metropolis.  If you came to Hawaii to get away from the big city, then Oahu is not for you. But if you want to experience the up-and-coming trends in Hawaii, and have the high-end Hawaiian food experience, and see the big surf on the North Shore, (or if you are a Brand Name B*tch and want to shop the exclusive Hawaiian lines of all your favorite luxury brands) then Oahu is the only place to do this.  

That said, the windward side of Oahu has the same rural charm that the rest of the islands have.

Snorkeling/Ocean:

• Try north shore Pupukea (Sharks Cove) if the tide is high.  If the tide is low, go tidepooling instead.  In any case watch out for sea urchins.

• Hanauma Bay does have lots of fish but it's not so fun to have to go early to get parking (yes -- get there before 9am) -- that water is cold at that time of the morning.
• If you are really buff, kayak to the Mokolua islands off Lanikai beach. On a calm day, it's awesome. On a rough day, it's not.  We used this vendor: http://www.govisithawaii.com/2009/01/09/kayaking-the-mokulua-islands-with-kailua-sailboards-kayaks/

Outside: 

• Byodo In Buddhist temple. You will feel transported to Japan.  Take off your shoes and visit the Buddha. Feed the koi. And don't forget to ring the bell!

• Pali lookout. Windy, scenic, uncrowded, and did we say windy?  A quick 15 minute stop but worth it for the pictures. Also for when you need a reminder about the strength of trade winds.

• Aloha swap meet (Weds, Sat, Sun. Enormous. Souvenirs so cheap!!  Sterling silver earrings with opal inlay $25. Big floral print bags - $15-25.  8 TShirts for $20 - my husband ONLY wears Tshirts from the Aloha Swap Meet) 
• Costco has all kinds Hawaiian products.  Mac nut candies; mac nut cookies; Hawaiian music books and CDs; Aloha shirts; Poke; Ahi sashimi; and they used to carry Hawaiian jewelry but that has fallen out of favor as of late. 
• North Shore surf watching. Even if there's no surf competition, watch the kids jump off the big rock; wade into Pupukea; have some pie at Ted's.
• Hike Diamond Head crater. Short, steep but not too steep, great views. If you do only one hike on Oahu, do this one!  Very little shade - go early. Then hit up Ninja Sushi on the way back, and Leonard's.

Eating:

• Alan Wongs (very expensive). Roy’s is very very good. But AW’s is better. The Ahi stack was a revelation – although a bit too much raw onion. The ginger Onaga is just amazing – sweet and gingery, not just a bunch of dry fish flavor. But really the best dish is the short ribs. A huge piece of short rib meat, no bones, meltingly tender, in a sweet teriaki glaze. Yes, better than Roy’s. And Elissa downed her penne with tomato sauce, and Sam ate most of her penne with butter – what a deal for $5!! We can also highly recommend the Lilikoi Margarita and the Polynesian Paralysis – yummy.

• Alan Wong’s Pineapple Room at Ala Moana marketplace. It looked a bit like the Nordstrom in-store restaurant (i.e. blah) but the food was amazing. The burger grilled over Kiawe wood was quite possibly the best hamburger I have ever eaten. Smoky and charred and big beefy flavor. Wow. And no need to dress up.
• Dukes Waikiki.  This is a bit of a different experience than Duke's Kauai.  Duke's Waikiki is Ground Zero in Waikiki, amidst the high end shopping and high rise hotels.  Make a reservation if at all possible on a night when they have live music.  Watch the sun set on the beach, watch the drunken tourists stumble by in the sand, listen to the outstanding music, get blitzed on Tropical Itches (complete with backscratchers).  Do not miss

• Ninja Sushi - Spicy Ahi Bowl. Thank me later.  There's one on Kalakaua Ave, also there is a new one near the airport

• Leonards Malasada’s (if you like donuts) 
• Chun wah kam noodle factory, for Manapua (go straight for the spicy pork) 

Eating (Windward side):

• Pah Ke's
• Koa Pancake House
• Ted's (go for lunch and PIE!! after checking out north shore surfers) 
• Matsumoto shave ice in Halaiwa 
• Ola (?) at the Turtle Bay Hilton, on the beach

Airfare:

Flying weds-weds will be the cheapest.  sat-sat or sun-sun will be the most expensive.  play around with the dates and see.  cheapest to fly out of lax.  some hotels will let you stay the night and leave the car there for a week, called "park and fly."  see doubletree and crowne plaza links in our website. should be ~$150.  doubletree is the better hotel.  shuttles run to lax all the time.  otherwise good luck driving up to LA for a 9am flight!!!!  ha ha!!

Rental Cars:

I always book Alamo rental cars with the Costco discounts. http://www.costcotravel.com/#11_rentalCars

That always gets me the best prices.  Book your car right away and then check back and reprice your trip to see if the price goes down.  We usually get a full-size car because it is usually only a couple of dollars more than a compact.

You'll want a car on Oahu for at least two days (or the whole time).  If you're only going to rent a car for a duration shorter than your stay it would probably be a better idea to rent at a location near your hotel rather than at the airport. Conceivably you could do multiple one-day rentals and avoid the overnight parking fee, but cost of a single-day rental (or even a 2-3 day rental) is usually so high it becomes non-competitive.

Discussion

There are just a ridiculous number of beautiful beaches on oahu.  more than kauai.  of course, there's waikiki, which you should spend some time at just to say you've been there and for the people watching.  make sure to get a photo with the statue of duke (at the east end toward diamond head).

other notable beaches: lanikai beach, kailua beach park.  both beautiful but a little remote.  ala moana beach near our hotel has no waves and is very relaxing.  great view.  the north shore is just littered with beautiful beaches so plan to spend a day making a driving loop up there.  and just pull off the road when the mood strikes.  waimea is on the western shore.

i highly recommend hiking to the top of diamond head.  it isn't too bad even for people like us that aren't in very good shape so it should be a piece of cake for you guys.  bring a flashlight.  it isn't at all what you expect but the view is unbelievable from the top.

if you want to snorkel on oahu, the place to go is hanauma bay on the eastern tip.  you'll need to get there EARLY like before 9am or the parking lot fills up and you get turned away.  but the snorkeling is pretty amazing.  snorkel rental places are all over but i don't think they rent at hanauma so you'll have to rent the day before.

the view from the nuuanu pali lookout is spectacular.  this is a historic site: the location of the final battle as king kamehameha conquered oahu and united the hawaiian islands under a single ruler (kauaijust surrendered).

as far as driving goes, there is basically a road that circles the island and three routes that cross the middle: H3, likelike highway, and pali highway. driving all the way around the island in one day is pretty far so you'll probably want to take the east half and west halves on different days.

sometimes you will see directions to a place ending with "on the mauka side of the road".  "mauka" means "toward the mountains" and "makai" means "toward the ocean".  i remember which is which because the "mau" in mauka sounds like the "mou" in mountains.

there is a resort called turtle bay that is at the very northwest tip of the island.  you could cross the mountains on pali or likelike driving counter-clockwise and spend a morning stopping at beautiful beaches and arrive at turtle bay for a late lunch (there is also a beautiful beach there, btw).  i think the parking there is free if you're going to the beach.  there is a cool open air/on the beach restaurant called "ola" at turtle bay. http://www.olaislife.com/ OR if you love shrimp you could stop at the shrimp trucks in the same area (we haven't done this yet so I don't have a recommendation).  continue on the road toward sunset beach and stop at a place on the mauka side of the road called ted's bakery http://tedsbakery.com/ (they also have plate lunch) and order a slice of chocolate haupia pie.  fantastic. they are famous for this (they also have other flavors).  haupia is coconut custard.  you could always get your pie to go and take it to the beach. continue on down the road to an adorable surf town called haleiwa and do a little shopping and stop for the best shave ice on the island at matsumoto. http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/

if you have time there is one special place we always stop at on the way toward turtle bay in a town called laie.  we turn off the main road on anemoku street (across from a shopping center) and head toward the ocean.  there is a cool giant flat rock with a hole in it sitting out in the water.  the photo on our holiday card was taken there.  remind me some day to tell you the funny story about how we found it.

another thing you could do on either day is the byodo-in temple in kaneohe.   it is a replica of a temple in japan.  we love it there as it is very peaceful and good for a brief stop.  be sure to ring the bell.  

for cheap souvenirs try wal-mart or k-mart or costco.  there are several on both islands.  costco has aloha shirts, hawaiian music, some hawaiian food items (macadamia shortbread cookies in a huge jar), etc.

we like to go to the swap meet at aloha stadium.  they have cheap t-shirts, cheap aloha shirts.  good place to get cheap gifts for nieces and nephews, etc.

lastly, since you're on vacation, try to stop and watch the sunset every day. have a mai tai (or tropical itch at duke's) and relax.  :-)