Living in Honolulu can be a little hectic, and those of us who do live here almost forget that we're on this island in the middle of the ocean (KrAshT on a Rock)! Going day to day through the city for school, shopping, whatever, we forget that this island is filled with an immense amount of treasures. One of my favorites treasures, and frequently visited ones, is a view from the top of Round Top Drive (aka Tantalus Look-out). Recently, Tantalus Look-out has been a bit "touristy" due to the loads of tourist cars and buses that take the drive up, but late at night is when the city really looks its best! My family and I drove up there the other night, and the view never gets old.
There are two ways of getting up there; choice: Roosevelt High Shool, the "long way." Going up the "long way" can be treacherous, though, especially at night, and a little spooky, so if you decide to go up this way, TAKE. YOUR. TIME. Keep your headlights on low because there are a few cars that drive down the drive as well as up, and we want this trip to be safe as well as fun. Following Round Top Drive can be fun, a favorite of street racers back in the day due to all the turns, limited vision...perfect for thrill-seekers (my hands sweat the whole ride up, just so you know)! LoL! The "short way" is not as exciting, but it's definitely a nice change after a long, almost never-ending, trip up around the mountain. FYI: Before you head up, make sure you bring a jacket, it tends to get a little chilly and windy up there. If you're going with friends, try to keep the noise to a minimum; it's hard to believe that people would live up there, but most of those houses are AMAZING real estate, so it is a residential area, and don't forget your camera! Enjoy!!
Image: courtesy of Honolulu Advertiser
Okay, so, apparently this next place I wanna introduce everyone to is world-famous, but not locally known. A lot of people I've introduced this place to didn't even know it existed, though I don't exactly know how. The colorful flags, hand-written sign, and red trimming around the shop practically screams, "I'M RIGHT HERE!!" Haha...love it!
So...OTTO CAKE is right in Chinatown, located on 1160 Smith St. They have over 80 flavors of effing cheesecake...80 FLAVORS!! Holy Jesus is so awesome :D! You can order individual slices, one whole cake, and I'm not just talking about cheesecake, here, people, but cupcakes and all kinds of goodies as well. My personal favorite is the Lilikoi cupcakes, so "broke-da-mouth" ono-licious! Man, if you're gonna spend some time in or even anywhere NEAR Chinatown, you gotta stop by this place. For more info, check out their website listed at the bottom of this post. Here, you can check out a few items on the menu, some of the catering menu, and all the info you need to order. This place is flippin' amazing, and a truly orgasmic experience. Get ready to pop your taste-bud cherries, people!
For more Info: Official Otto Cake WebsiteFollow the Tasty-ness on Twitter: OttocakeImage from: Yelp.com
Wow, first official blog post. Well, here's the intro: The name's Krystle, or Ashley...depends on who you're talking to. Let's see...I'm 22, live in Kalihi, hoping to save up enough moneys to move out with the hubs. Speaking of moving out, saving money, etc., I think it's time I find a job. It's been almost a year since I've worked (Nordstrom let me go b/c of...well, I'm saying b/c of politics). Kalihi is right in the middle of everything, and Oahu's not that big; you're only 20 miles from the furthest reaches of this island. Economy is supposed to be on the mend, so maybe finding a job won't be too hard. So I guess this is my current mission: finding a job, which would lead me to the ultimate goal of saving up money to buy a place w/ my hubs. Nice wrap-up, huh? Wish me luck!
So...in keeping with the purpose of this blog, which is to expose the world to the Hawaii beyond the hula skirts, pupu shell necklaces, and coconut bras, I want to tell you lovely people about a place I'm thinking of applying for. There's this tiny little printing press shop right at the edge of North King Street by Love's Bakery. The shop is so small, and so, let's say, "antique-y," that if you drove by too fast, you wouldn't even see the tiny little wooden sign sitting right outside the front door reading "Kalihi Printing Press." I walked by there the other day and saw the workers at their stations...so cool!! We'll see, though...the shop is so cute!!
