Another day, another adventure. Another meal, another Mai Tai.

Can life get much better than this?! I don't see how...

This morning started off with a hike along the south eastern coast line of the island. We followed the Makapuu trail all the way to the end where we found the lighthouse waiting for us, perched on the end of a small peninsula right on the edge of a steep cliff which plunges down to the ocean.

It was uphill all the way but with views like this and perfect weather there was no complaining! It was really nice to say 'good morning' to other hikers on their way back down as we ascended and vice-versa on the way back down.

http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/hiking_and_camping/makapuu_lighthouse.htm

After our hike we decided the hit the beach and while there were several to choose from we didn't have much luck...

The first beach at Koko Beach Park was spectacular with huge waves crashing on the white sandy beach. The beaches lined with greenery, the kind you lusted after while watching the Lost. Unfortunately the red flags were out and the life guard came walking right up to us and basically told us we would die a terrible drowning death if we attempted to go even 5 feet into the water. With that, we took a few pics are went on our merry way up the eastern shore...

Koko Beach Park

The second beach at Waimanalo, equally beautiful, also had the red flags out. Not for life-snatching killer waves and currents but for just as deadly jelly fish!! Adios amigos - we dropped it like it was hot, as Snoop said once. Later!!

At this point it was late in the morning and we were getting hungry. Just 10 mins up the road was a great place we found the last time we came to Hawaii - Buzz's Steak and Chop house by Kailua. Ruthie and I both had the Thai Peanut Chicken Burger (awesome), with fries (Ruthie) and a cup of celery and coconut soup (me!). Soooo good, amazing. Buzz's looks out onto the beach and the ocean, we managed to bag a seat outside on the veranda and chomped away at lunch while looking out at the view (and hey, we're on vacation, while also sipping on a Mai Tai... what??).

A good few hours of playing in the ocean and baking on the beach later, we decided to head up to Tropical Farms, the Macadamia Nut farm we went to last year. We didn't do the tour, this time we just took a look around the farm house which is basically one big gift shop with free coffee that is infused with the flavor of macadamia nuts and complimentary tasting samples of the nuts themselves... salted, plain, cinnamon infused... all sorts, and all completely LUSH!

Full of freebies, we decided to head back to Waikiki and check out the open-air mall at the Ala Mona center. I followed Ruthie around while she looked in a few different places - the Amex card thankfully managed to sidestep a few land mines in Kate Spade. :o)

Before dinner Ruthie went to chill in Starbucks and upload a few photos from the day while I went to work out for an hour. I had to work through last night's slap up soul food meal at Side Street Inn and also prepare myself for tonight's island feast...

For dinner we went to a Japanese restaurant in the Hilton Hawaiian village where the chefs cook the food in front of you using some CRAZY knife skills.

Dinner was was like watching the love child of Bruce Lee and Beatrice the Bride from Kill Bill cook for you with several miniature samurai swords... the food was awesome, the cocktails flowed and watching our chef Barry do his thing was phenomenal - here's a taster of his knife skills...