This week, the 96815 spent a few evenings at dusk on Diamond Head beach. If you were in the 96815 over the past few days, you may have had a chance to check out the full moon casting its light on the sandy sea cliffs that meet the deep blue sea below. Down the winding path from Diamond Head Road, the sky faded from white to blue with streaks of pink illuminated by the setting sun. We wish we could live on the sparkling sand of Diamond Head all week long; basking in the moonlight and listening to the waves crashing against the shore. Forget a week, maybe we will stay here for eternity. It was heavenly.
KCC Farmers' Market
Every Saturday morning, on the backside of Diamond Head crater, you will find the KCC Farmers' Market. Local Oahu farmers, chefs, bakers, and artisans gather here to showcase the fruits of their labor. At the market, your senses will get quite the treat. Vibrant, colorful, locally grown produce and plants, fresh baked breads, Hawaiian honey, pressed tropical juices, and more will send you into sensory overload. While shopping and browsing, you may work up an appetite, which can easily be satisfied here. Eat and drink your way through the many flavors of Oahu, offered by the variety of food vendors that line the upper path. From spicy Thai and authentic Vietnamese, to island style Poke, you may nearly forget the delicious meal you had planned to prepare with your farmer's market finds. The 96815 favorite is the fresh roasted corn from Na 'Ono, slathered with lilikoi herb butter. Capped off with a crisp pineapple guava juice from Hawaiian Crown Coolers: pure bliss.
The 96815 tip: check out the Tuesday night KCC Farmers' Market from 4pm to 7pm, where you will find a smaller, but equally delightful, version of the Saturday market.
KCC Farmers' Market, Kapiolani Community College Campus in parking lot C, open every Saturday from 7:30am-11:00am. A weekly tip sheet and list of vendors is available at http://hfbf.org/markets/markets/kcc/.
Agostino's
It's a Thursday night in the 96815 and all we feel like doing is kicking back and enjoying a delicious pizza. There is just something special about coming together over a pizza with friends and dishing the weekly news.
Our favorite place in Waikiki, and beyond, is Agostino's. It's thin, it's crispy, it's AMAZING! There is not much for ambiance at Agostino's; it is literally a brick oven on the side of Kuhio Avenue with a few tables and chairs. What you will find is the man behind the pizza: Agostino. He is first, and foremost, proudly Sicilian, not Italian. If you are lucky, he'll show you his Medusa tattoo, inspired by the his love and adoration for Sicily, his home away from Hawaii. Agostino hails from a family of restaurateurs; in fact, his recipe dates back 90 years to his great grandfather. What makes Agostino's pie distinctly Sicilian? He says the crust; it's part all-purpose flour and part semolina. While Agostino does have a menu to choose from, we enjoy having him make us whatever he feels like. Within a few minutes of meeting him, you get the idea that he knows best. And, that, he does. Here on Kuhio, in the 96815, in Oahu, the gathering place, there is a Sicilian man making authentic mouth watering pizza in a wood fired brick oven. Everyone has gathered here to catch up and to partake in his delicious creation. It's just that kind of charming place.
Agostino's Pizza, 2463 Kuhio Avenue, the 96815, BYOB Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm until the fire goes out.
Coconut & Hibiscus
On the southern edge of Waikiki, just beyond the lush landscape of Kapiolani Park, lies the quaint neighborhood of Coconut and Hibiscus. Charmed are the lives of residents who claim home to a street named "Coconut." Here, the living is easy; far removed from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. Everyone knows your name and the neighborhood news can be shared over a surf at Tonggs. Weekend mornings are typically spent indulging in the golden sand on Makalei Beach and swimming in the glassy turquoise sea. Don't forget the blueberry cream cheese scones from Diamond Head Market; they are what Saturday morning dreams are made of. Coconut & Hibiscus, a delightful piece of paradise we are fortunate to call home.
