If there was ever a place made for us, it was the North Shore of Oahu. Ruggedly beautiful and at the time, not very touristy, with quaint turn-of-the century towns, empty beaches, and the best ever snorkeling. Just a little over an hour’s drive away from Waikiki the North Shore felt more remote than it actually was, with a laid back, slower paced beach town vibe and stunning natural scenery. There wasn’t much “to do” on the North Shore, but we managed to keep busy…
We ate…
breakfast at Ted’s Bakery
glorious hot dog from Ted’s
so many choices, so little time
Ted’s famous coconut chocolate cream pie.
giovanni’s garlic shrimp truck
mixed plates at l&l drive-in
matsumoto’s shaved ice (with sweet red bean filling and topped with condensed milk)
We swam with turtles…
another one of my all-time fave photos
We saw even more sea turtles…
I love sea turtles.
On a sad note, several months prior to our visit, one of the largest female turtles that frequented this beach — Honey Girl —was brutally and senselessly slaughtered by some sick f*@!(s). Obviously thinking about it seven years later still pisses me off. Sea turtles are some of the most gentle and beautiful sea creatures. It was such a privilege, not to mention total life list box check, to be able to swim with them and see them up close in the wild. Rest in peace, Honey Girl. Let’s hope karma is a bitch.
For more information on the (threatened) Hawaiian green sea turtle (honu), to become a Honu Guardian, or to “adopt a sea turtle” please click here.
