We decided to have a slightly easier day today, no need to be anywhere at any particular time, just a get up and drive north when we were ready.
It was a very pretty drive along the coast route from Kailua to the surfing capital of the world Hale’iwa. First stop along the way was at one of the state parks to take some pictures of the aptly named “Chinaman’s Hat” rock.
As we wended our way around the coast I provided an informative audio from my Lonely planet guide so Quentin would know what we were passing.
Our next photo opportunity was at La’ie Point where one can see the waves crashing against the lava arch. Folk legend tells the story of the rocks being a giant lizard that a demi-god broke into pieces to save Ohau from being attacked!
Then on to the famous North Shore food trucks for Quentin to have garlic shrimps/prawns. There are several of these scattered around the island with the highest concentration being on the North Shore. We stopped at one called Giovannis which is supposed to be the original Shrimp Truck, that is until you get a little further down the road and see Fumi’s also saying they are the original Shrimp Truck. Either way I had done my home work and it was either Giovannis or Fumis that we voted the best.
The truck itself is covered in comments written by people that have been there, there was a large shaded structure with seating leading up to the truck and it was covered. There was also several other food trucks around, Thai, one selling New Zealand sausages, shave ice and smoothies.
The smell of garlic and fish was enough to make me throw up but I quietly sat there while Quentin scoffed his dozen or so prawns down, garlic butter dripping down his mouth, hands, everywhere! It is quite a good set up because out the back there is also a tap where everyone can clean themselves off.
On the road again next stop was Ted’s Bakery, apparently they do the best Hula Pie which is a chocolate pie with coconut cream, this was the place I wanted to get my lunch from. I had a bbq chicken sandwich, which was very yummy, the marinade is pineapple and passionfruit and very flavoursome.
We didn’t have Hula Pie as that morning we had discovered Agnes’s Bakery and stopped of to have some masalades, these are sugared donuts that are cooked fresh to order. I don’t even really like donuts but these were very yummy.
Ted’s was very busy so I got mine as takeout and we headed down to the first spot that we could find shade and a few and ended up at ‘Ehukai Beach Park, a very lovely spot that also happens to be where the banzai pipeline is that provides the huge swells for surfing in the winter months. While the swells weren’t as huge as they were for the surf events we did sit at our shaded table and watch a girl that was sitting on the edge of the sand looking down on the water (the sand was like a little dune so quite a drop down to the actual beach part) get drenched as a wave of several feet came up and drenched her!
After eating we headed down to the beach just to say we had been there and have a look around. Then a little further down the coast, where we turned around and headed back home, once again via the coast. While a longer drive, it is a much quieter drive than the freeways, and of course much prettier.
A quiet evening in and an early night so we can rise early for a trip to Hanauma Bay.