kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Pietro’s Pizza in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Pietro’s Pizza in Lihue, Kauai!  What does a pastor do when he needs a hobby? He opens a Neapolitan-style pizza parlor with an Italian flare, in honor of his ancestors. The traditional imported flour from Italy adds passion to the freshly handmade dough. One bite reveals a world of difference. The authentic brick oven, from Naples, requires turning the pizza pie the entire time it’s baked in temperatures around 900°. The results? Unbelievable! One could almost describe its success as “heaven sent”, which wouldn’t surprise anyone who knows the time, effort, faith, and perseverance that has been poured into making Pietro’s Pizza the best Kauai has to offer. The legacy continues. Carry on!

Irresistible Draw of Boating

Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor is Oasis for Ocean Recreation! Whether you are a boat owner, or simply admire the energy of being a free-spirit, visit any marina for an enthusiastic encounter. Blue sky, aqua-green water are a winning combination in my book. “hark, now hear the sailors cry,

smell the sea, and feel the sky 

let your soul and spirit fly, 

into the mystic…” 

~ Van Morrison

I stumbled upon this vision of adventure one balmy afternoon. If you have a boat and you need a place to rest, look no further than Kalapaki Bay. The berths are spacious, with 5 multi-hull moorings, a landing pier, loading dock, fish hoist, pump-out station, and adequate vessel wash down area make it appealing. Sightseeing and fishing are purely optional. A sailing instructor is available, if you feel the need for affirmation and helpful tips upon the open waters. Safety is Number One, after all. Do I sail or own a boat, you wonder? Not at all. But I do appreciate the irresistible draw of boating. Who wouldn’t?

Grains of Sand

“Under Construction” read the message on the crumbling sand sculpture just beyond the grassy knoll. Only a few days ago, the mountain of sand was as solid as a rock, resembling a holiday billboard wishing all a “Mele Kalikimaka”, or “Merry Christmas”, in Hawaiian. The sandman artist returns every year, about this time, spending hours of daylight creating unique sand sculptures for all to admire. Tirelessly he hauls water in gallon buckets from the seashore and packs sand in a special technique that cements his efforts for a day or two. Many observers stop by to take family photos. Others chit-chat in friendly conversation. Still, eventually, the sculpture becomes irresistible to toddlers and young children who see it as a climbing apparatus found on the neighborhood playground. Being “King of the Mountain” is much more interesting to their immature minds than the artistic expression of an old soul. 

Dining Outside the Home: Kukui’s Poolside Restaurant and Bar at the Marriott Beach Resort in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Kukui’s Poolside Restaurant and Bar at the Marriott Beach Resort in Lihue, Kauai!  Relax poolside with first-class service of American or Polynesian food and unsurpassed tiki cocktails. There’s no need to leave the comfort of a covered cabana under rustling palms or the shade of an umbrella chaise lounge. The soothing fountains of the magnificent pool offer tranquility that soothes the soul. Nibble on ethnic finger foods and garden salads made from island organic ingredients. Need to cool off? No worries. Take a dip into the pool, towel off, and order another round of Mai Tai Chi cocktails. No parasol needed. 

Dining Outside the Home: Merriman’s Gourmet Pizza and Burgers in Poipu, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Merriman’s Gourmet Pizza & Burgers in Poipu, Kauai!  When you know the fish is caught fresh that day, it’s easy to choose the chef’s choice, especially when it comes highly recommended. There was a time I could not imagine ordering a fish taco, let alone eating one, but those days are gone. I now seem addicted to them. Perhaps it was the flaky striped marlin, or the fire roasted tomato salsa, the incredibly fresh avocado, and sliced jalapeño peppers. No matter how you serve it up, which happened to be in a crispy corn tortilla shell, the results were astounding! That’s perfection, in my opinion. I appreciate the farm-to-table concept Merriman’s Gourmet Pizza and Burgers holds true. It rules. 

Dining Outside the Home: Duke’s Kauai 

Dining Outside the Home: Duke’s Kauai!  You won’t want to miss the Aloha Hour at this beachfront bar located a few footsteps from Kalapaki Bay. Live music is sure to entertain with classic tunes and old favorites. These guys know what they’re doing. The beach drinks, like Duke’s featured Mai Tai, is the perfect blend of local rum and Hawaiian fruit juices. The dark rum floater balances out the orange curaçao nicely. Pair it with a pupu order of Breaded Coconut Shrimp. The spicy lilikoi sauce will have you practically licking your fingers. Don’t forget to look around and enjoy the view. This is Kauai, after all. 

Shortest Day of the Year

Sunlight is so important to a person’s well-being. It can make the difference in a bad mood, one that’s barely tolerable, and an optimistic attitude, in my opinion. Take a moment to think about it. For instance, when you’re away at the beach and the sun is shining in a clear sky, it feels as though there isn’t a care in the world. Even if it’s mid-December and noted as the winter solstice, for those (like me) who live in the Northern Hemisphere. Grown-ups laugh into the ocean breeze. Children frolic in the waves. Co-eds pick up a friendly game of beach volleyball. Others just relax under striped umbrellas and wiggle their toes in the sand. And no one seems to mind wearing a bathing suit, even if you wouldn’t be caught dead doing the same thing back home. No worries. Take a deep breath. Bask in the fleeting sunlight. Sit back and sip on a tropical cocktail or a glass of freshly squeezed lemon-lime iced water. The day will be over before you know it. 

No Pig-Latin Required 

A Kalua pig roast is as common in the Hawaiian Islands as an American hot dog is at a baseball game. A big difference on the islands is the time-consuming preparation required using an underground oven, or imu, for the pig roast. Patience is key. Slow cooking is the secret to rich, moist, tender pork with just the right amount of smoky taste that cannot be duplicated. To be fortunate enough to watch the ceremonial process is a privilege few tourists afford. After two hours the lava rocks are hot enough for the entire pig, which is wrapped in chicken wire, to be placed in the imu by two sturdy men. Taro, sweet potatoes, and ulu breadfruit are tucked around the pig before banana leaves and wet burlap completely encase it. A canvas tarp becomes the next covering. Last, but not least, dirt is used like the lid on a pot. Set the timer. The pig will roast underground for eight hours, saturating all the flavors. Once the multiple layers are removed, the tender pork is shredded and the luau begins. Aloha!