Day 4

Helena’s Hawaiian Foods

This is one of the oldest restaurants in Hawaii. It was also super packed when we got to the restaurant and we couldn’t even find parking (even around the residential parking). We lined up for maybe ~30 min before getting a seat. Most of the people in the line up were tourists, but there was a couple from the local area too.

IMG_20150722_182256We wanted to order everything here, because every dish was foreign! They had all the famous Hawaiian dishes that you usually eat at a luau.

Boiled Butterfish Collar with Watercress

Boiled Butterfish Collar with Watercress

Lomi salmon -- fresh tomato and salmon salad

Lomi salmon — fresh tomato and salmon salad

Fried Ahi

Fried Ahi

Pipikaula style short ribs

Pipikaula style short ribs

Kalua pig

Kalua pig

Poi -- Hawaiian word for the primary Polynesian staple food made from the underground plant stem or corm of the taro plant

Poi — Hawaiian word for the primary Polynesian staple food made from the underground plant stem or corm of the taro plant

2 scoops of rice

2 scoops of rice

Haupia --  traditional coconut milk-based Hawaiian dessert

Haupia — traditional coconut milk-based Hawaiian dessert

Hawaiian sea salt

Hawaiian sea salt

IMG_20150722_185553

The boyfriend

IMG_20150722_185509

The girlfriend

Day 2

Tiki’s Grill & Bar

The first of many

The first of many “Babe… I can’t believe we’re in HAWAII!!!!”

Ala Moana Canal (morning)

Ala Moana Canal (morning)

What to do when we arrive half an hour early for brunch. We must have been really hungry!

What to do when we arrive half an hour early for brunch. We must have been really hungry!

HAH! This one looks just like me: angry tiff.

HAH! This one looks just like me: angry tiff.

One can certainly get used to this view :)

One can certainly get used to this view 🙂

Tiki’s Mixed Grill (Panko-crusted island fish, tender kalbi rib-eye slices, crunchy furikake chicken katsu. Served with one scoop of rice, macaroni salad and housemade kimchee.)

Pan-seared fresh island catch, Kula onion, guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced Hau'ula tomatoes  and onions in a taro tortilla with salsa & fries.

Fresh Island Fish Tacos (Pan-seared fresh island catch, Kula onion, guacamole, sour cream, shredded lettuce, diced Hau’ula tomatoes and onions in a taro tortilla with salsa & fries)