THURSDAY | The arrival of the first day of summer coincided with our arrival on Oahu. After a brief but stunning flight from Kauai we touched down at the buzzing Honolulu airport. Despite the lays being handed out and the humid breeze the island vibe of Kauai was gone. The energy was electric as people scurried and whizzed to make their flights, cabs and transfer buses. We joined the kerfuffle and made our way to the offsite thrifty site to pick up our fifth and final car for the Keely & Ash leg of the adventure. It was then on to the manic highways of the city center till finally we broke free of the tourist traps and found ourselves cruising north to Haleiwa. We knew our Airbnb was nestled on the corner cliff overlooking Waimea Bay but without an actual address from our host it took us 5 attempts to locate the driveway down to the house. By the time we did our patience was tinkering and our energy levels had crashed but it was all forgotten as we stood on the grass at the base of our apartment and looked out over the glistening waves that lapped against the rocks in front of us. Nestled metres from the house was an array of food trucks so for dinner we found ourselves kicking back on a picnic table digging in to fresh fish tacos with the local surfers and beach bums as the sun set on the day. FRIDAY | When we arose of Friday the sun had barely settled in the sky and already its presence was known in the stifling warm air that invaded every space and cranny. We decided to escape the heat by jumping into the car and heading inland to Mililani, a suburban area that hosted a shopping centre and movie theater. Our entertainment of choice: Wonder Women. A couple of hours later with our feminist flags flying we emerged to find a menacing and angry sky. With the storming having passed and the afternoon air swarming with heat we got back to our abode we disrobed and swim-suited up and headed down to Waimea Bay beach for a dip. We alternated between the water and sun bathing on the sand until our vitamin D stocks were reloaded before we headed home for some down time. For dinner, we wandered up the road to hit up the Thai food truck we’d spotted the previous night: The Elephant Truck. We devoured our delicious food in the company of some loud roosters and the company of the local surfer cohort. Even after a quick visit to the local Foodland on our walk home, the sun still hadn’t set to the remainder of the evening was spent down at the water in front of our house. Ash took up residence in the hammock with her book whilst I clambered down onto the rocks to watch the tide come in and another day to draw to a close. SATURDAY | For our last day staying north of island we decided to remain local and cruise north along the bay. Eventually our tummy’s lead us to Turtle Bay resort. We scored a spot in the jammed packed parking lot and made it to Roy’s Beach house restaurant just as the chubby warm rain started to fall. Over a fresh Japanese cuisine, we sat back and watched as the tourists swarmed to the beach as soon as the summer rain ceased. Post meal we wandered around the grounds and into the lobby for a sticky beak. Saturday may not have been the best day for a cruise but we preserved back down the coast, moving at a snail’s pace along the shoreline. Eventually we wound up in Haleiwa Town, an old historic community that has its roots in the sugar plantation industry. Converted plantation bungalows lined the strip housing surf shops and gift shops. We moseyed in and out, cruising the merchandise and making a couple of small purchases along the way before heading down to the water to watch the outrigger canoe competition that was taking place at the beach. As we passed the marshal stand one of the comp organisers decided to give Ash a detailed lesson on the history of outrigging canoeing whilst I chilled out watching the competition whilst trying to eat my shave iced treat before it melted on me. We tired of spectating within minutes so after a quick dash past the marshal we wandered back into town, stopping briefing to watch the local kids jump from the Anahuli Bridge into the cool inviting water below. Once home we decided it was our turn to cool off so we wandered up to the not all scary sounding Shark Cove for an afternoon dip. The looming storm didn’t appear to be keeping anyone indoors so we decided that post swim we would head back on foot to the food trucks for dinner. We arrived just as the sky opened and the rain came pounding down. We found sanctuary under the umbrellas of the Elephant Truck with our rooster friends. After another delicious Thai meal shared huddled underneath the covering the storm eased off a little to allow us to get home barely wet and enjoy an evening in watching a movie before falling asleep to the raindrops falling on the roof.
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