As nice as was the sofa, nicer still is to be off the plane. Customs confiscated our carrots, leaving a bit of cheese, trail mix and some energy/protein balls. And the coveted and perhaps conveniently forgotten honey that I’m not writing about. We secured a rental car and headed to the North Shore, desperate for something to drink.

Tamura’s Market in Wahiawa came through, and, maybe 6 minutes later we’d emptied the best half gallon of corn syrup free green tea ever made, greatly improving our mood, if you know what I mean.

View of Haleʻiwa Aliʻi Beach Park from the yard of the tiny house we are renting.

Our luck continued as the rental was available for a very early check in. After a brief walk on the windy and chillier than expected Haleʻiwa Aliʻi Beach Park, which is right outside our door, and we headed to town to be tourists and get something to eat.

As we walked, we weaved in and out of galleries and shops. At one place, a vendor from the Middle East who sold shells primarily from the Philippines, Mme Awesome found shells one of the mamos had asked about.

Of course we also looked at menus and the like because we were looking for some food, guys! Make that good food, as Mme Awesome found a Hawaiian take on the deli place that bakes its own bread, produces its own produce and makes some most excellent treatie yums. Post meal we picked up more supplies and headed back.

We are maybe 7 miles from where we stayed last time. Not far is what I mean. And yet major differences: much smaller waves and no booms at all; the local town is clearly more catered to tourists than Pupukea was; food and coffee were across the street whereas here we’ll be drinking tea since here they’re not; and that reasonably priced and uber delicious sandwich place means you know we’ll be eating out more. Same free range chickens though.