Bonzai Sushi Bar

The Hubs and I had a random date night this weekend. We hopped in our car, put on some Mumford & Sons and enjoyed the ride to the North Shore town of Haleiwa. I've been having some major sushi withdrawals since being here. Odd right? I've tried multiple places on this island and hated every single place. 

This little joint changed everything.

Super busy, and very small but worth every penny.

{Hawaiian Roll, Hawaiian Poke-the best I've ever had, Crispy Ahi Roll}

We were pleased with them all.

SAKE!

I have a feeling we will become regulars.... 

We decided to take a stroll afterward. I believe this artist's work can be seen all over Oahu, but you mainly see it in Haleiwa/North Shore. 

The sky was incredible this particular evening. Unfortunately, my camera didn't capture the full beauty of it, so you have these blurry photos to enjoy.

*ps- we live by Yelp ratings., but sometimes Yelp is wrong. This place deserved way more than 3.5 stars.

Getting back into it...

Now that we live closer to post, we are able to use the military gym that is provided for us for free. {or better yet, we have no excuse now}. I am happier than a bird with a french fry, y'all! It was hard to not be in the gym. Before the Husband and I got married and before I moved out here, my life was work and gym. The gym came to be my relief, my 'me' time. I had loved seeing the progress that my body was making. It was VERY hard to workout with what I had at home, but we couldn't afford a Hawaii gym membership and it was too far of a drive to the base gym.

That being said, it's been very hard on me to pretty much have to start all over. Knowing the weight I use to be able to lift, to then having to go back to the 'baby' weights has flat out sucked. It's also been humbling and motivating. 

Everyone starts somewhere, it's not a race.

By the way, working out with your Husband is 10x more fun! Even if he tries to tell you what to do.

Is it 'rest day' yet?!

Matsumoto's

Matsumoto's Shave Ice is a North Shore hot spot. I am not a huge shave ice, snow cone gal. I love me some fro-yo. Every time we drive through the town of Haleiwa there is always a very long line. It's been on my Hawaii Bucket List to at least try this place. Since I am on a roll with crossing off things on my list, the Husband scooped me up and off to the North Shore we went!

I got the 'Hawaiian'. Really good, and the line actually wasn't that bad, but we went on a weekday. Would I go again? Probably not, unless we had visitors in town. Like I said, I prefer fro-yo.

Have you ever been? Do you like shave ice?

Stairway to Heaven

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

{aka- Haiku Stairs}

"The trail began as a wooden ladder spiked to the cliff on the south side of the Haʻikū Valley. It was installed in 1942 to enable antenna cables to be strung from one side of the cliffs above Haʻikū Valley to the other. A building to provide a continuous communication link between Wahiawā and Haʻikū Valley Naval Radio Station was constructed at the peak of Puʻukeahiakahoe, elevation about 2,800 feet (850 m). The antennae transmitted very low frequency radio signals from a 200,000-watt Alexanderson alternator in the center of Haʻikū valley. The signals could reach US Navy submarines as far away as Tokyo Bay while the submarines were submerged.^[2][3] Testers for RCA picked up signals on Long Island, and the signal also reached India, 6,600 miles (10,600 km) away.^[3]

When the Naval base was decommissioned in the 1950s, the United States Coast Guard used the site for an Omega Navigation System station. In the mid-1950s, the wooden stairs were replaced by sections of metal steps and ramps — by one count, 3,922 steps. The station and trail were closed to the public in 1987. Some hikers ignore the No Trespassing signs and continue to climb, contributing to the local community's misgivings about reopening the structure. The City and County of Honolulu has stated that there is currently no plan to open the stairs for public use, citing liability concerns." -Wikipedia

THIS is how we celebrated our birthdays this past weekend. Ya know, just two badass rebels. Okay, fine. I won't lie... I can't believe I was actually doing this/did this and was pretty darn nervous the entire way up. You have to get to the trail before 3/330AM to make it before the guard gets there. Otherwise he will tell you to turn around. So we headed out at 1AM, got to the trail about 2AM, snuck past residential area and crossed over the gates that block this trail. It was so sketch walking through this trail in pitch black. You have to go a certain way and it's understandable now, why many end up getting lost. Luckily we had someone with us who had done it a few times already and so thankful for that! And that it didn't rain.

 View from the first platform.

 

 We made it up the 3,922 steps and at 2,800 feet elevation!!! It was FREEZING.

Waiting to see if we would get to see the sunrise. It was so cloudy and the mist was so creepy! Waiting was not fun. We were one of the first ten people up there. It was crazy to see how many people behind up made the trek up. There had to be like 50 people up there at one point!

The old satellite. I can't believe people did this in shorts. Oh and we saw some people in flip flops.

We decided to beat the crowd and make our way down to get better views of the sunrise.

 Looking back at the very top and what we had just accomplished!

 

 Walking through the bamboo forest back to our car.

 

 So happy we got to share this moment together. Hawaii has changed me, in the best ways possible!

 *I do not condone doing this, as it is illegal. It's up to you if you'd like to take the risk. Should you decide to, please be respectful of the residents, don't litter, be careful and do your research so that you are prepared for all that this hike entails.

 

Twenty Eight

28

That's how old I am today. Am I really that much closer to thirty?! 

I am glad to be back on an even number. Anyone else weird about that? Maybe just me. What can I say...I like even numbers.

Though I miss my family and friends on this occasion, I am so blessed for the friends I have here on the island, that I get to celebrate a birthday in Hawaii and with my sweet Husband and pup.  There is no where else I'd rather be!

 

 

 {North Shore}

 {can you spy the planet Venus?!}

VOTE FOR US!!!!

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We like Ruffwear Gear and would LOVE to win the goodies they are offering! 

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

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Aloha Friday

Happy Aloha Friday! 

{Waimea Bay}

The Hubs and I have a weekend full of adventure and birthdays! His is the 13th and mine is the 15th. This is the first time we will actually get to celebrate our birthdays together, so you better believe it will be a memorable one!

Temporary Home

Got to enjoy seeing part of the sunset from our new home!

Such a whirlwind week full of blessings. Thankful we get to call our new place home for the rest of our time here on the island. We couldn't be happier!

We also had our first visitor today, Kait. She received lots of much needed puppy kisses from Jax. She lost her sweet furbaby Maddie yesterday. Leave her some love and follow her blog! I'm lucky to call her my friend. Great great woman.

some beach, somewhere...

A Dog's Life...

Love my baby so much!


ps- we move into our new home today! so thankful. what a crazy two weeks it's been!

To Love...

To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
David Viscott

Kealia Trail {Attempt}

Last Wednesday Jax and I set off to meet our new friend and hiking buddy, Katie, at Kealia Trail. This was a trail that both of us had never been on before so it was an adventure to see what it would be like. It's a very different hike than the others in Hawaii, full of switchbacks, dry but plenty of beautiful views. 

Our first hike together!

Unfortunately, we only made it halfway up the hike. Poor Jax baby was getting very overheated. It was SO hot. 

We definitely plan to attempt this hike another day, but much earlier in the morning!

It's so fun meeting great people whom you can share your interests and beauty of the island with! 

Looking forward to the next time, Katie!

*If you and your dog are into running/hiking, a RUFFWEAR Roamer Leash is a must! This was our first time using it and I love it. I have heard/read many great things about this leash as well, so far so good!