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. 

Waikiki Wandering

Over the long holiday weekend, we found some extra time to play tourist in the 96815. The best days can be spent Waikiki wandering with no plans and no agenda; simply consuming, basking and indulging in the best of Waikiki. After some sun baking, swimming, and shopping, we popped into one of our favorite spots, the beach bar at Bill's, for a quick bite and a coffee. Regardless of whether it is breakfast time or not, we can't fight the urge to order the banana ricotta pancakes. Those fluffy pieces of heaven are just too hard to resist! To our disappointment, we found they are only offered upstairs in the dining room, so we opted for the fruit and yogurt version, which turned out to be equally delicious. Final sips of Stumptown Coffee down the hatch and we're ready to get back to the beach for the last bits of summertime. That's a day spent Waikiki Wandering.

XOX,

The 96815

Bill's Waikiki, 280 Beachwalk Ave, The 96815.

Blue Marlin

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As the Hawaiian sky changes from crystal blue to vibrant orange, it's time for one last dip in the cool Pacific before heading to dinner. Sunbaked and famished, we are excited to dine at Blue Marlin, a new culinary experience located in the heart of the 96815.  Mostly drawn from our ocean waters, Blue Marlin’s dishes are influenced by the multicultural flavors of the islands.  Few can nail the whole fusion thing on its head, but Blue Marlin proves to have done its research, effortlessly blending and accenting thoughtful pairings on the plate. We decide to go casual with sushi and tropical libations at the bar. The decor is delightfully nautical and reminiscent of summers spent in the fishing village of Montauk, NY. One drink leads to another and we find ourselves hungry again; ready for one of the visually impressive entrees that have been making their way into the al fresco dining area. We try the Kakiage Tempura and the Garlic Shrimp Paella. The tempura arrives at the table in the shape of the leaning tower of Pisa. We quickly devour the tower, before moving on to the crispy deliciousness of the paella. Dear Blue Marlin, we are in love and will be back for more!

The 96815 Tip: fresh sushi, island inspired cocktails and $5 tapas at the bar make for the perfect ending to a Waikiki beach day.  Pull up a stool; we'll be there unwinding with a Kalakaua Blues and a Shrimp Dragon Roll after a day of sun, sand and waves.

364 Seaside Ave 96815, 5pm - 11pm. Lunch is served next door at HI Tide Poke, a Blue Marlin production serving fresh fish daily.