Return to Waikiki

I've been to Honolulu twice before, once for fun and once for work. I returned again this summer for work, for a two day meeting in Waikiki. I kept busy during the day, but had a few mornings and evenings to enjoy Honolulu's amazing food scene with colleagues. I'm a huge fan of Waikiki - it's touristy and over-priced, but also amazingly unique and vibrant with walkable streets and beautiful trees and flowers. Not the "real" Hawaii by any means, but a destination in its own right.

Views of Diamondhead while flying in.

The "Weekend at Burmese" salad at Piggy Smalls. Highly recommend this restaurant. 

Early morning on the sidewalks of Waikiki.

Iced coffee and a ham and cheese croissant from my favorite quick breakfast spot, Kona Coffee Purveyors.

We had a tour of the tsunami warning center.

NOAA's building at Pearl Harbor.

NOAA has a nice museum about their work in the Pacific.

Udon for lunch at Marukame. It always has a line, because it's delicious and cheap.

The view from the restaurant of the Outrigger Reef, where our meeting was held.

Shrimp and avocado salad at Mahina and Sun's.

Nighttime view from my hotel.

Gotta have ramen when in Honolulu! This is from a fantastic new Japanese food court called Yokocho.

Inside Yokocho, with multiple stalls/restaurants serving a variety of Japanese foods.

Daytime view from the Outrigger.

Asahi and a chuhai at an izakaya.

Beer Lab HI had a nice variety of brews.

The shopping areas in Waikiki are all open-air, with beautiful trees.

Tree in the courtyard of the historic Moana Surfrider hotel.

The famous Duke statue!

Pier along Waikiki beach.

View toward Diamondhead early on a cloudy morning.

Did I mention I love the trees?

Lots of tropical flowers around Waikiki as well.

Another weird tree/flower.

A Nene!

More flowers.

These huge canopy trees are impressive.

A tropical iris?

Palm trees and hotels.

The courtyard of the airport.

Even the airport has amazing trees!

Hard to believe this is in an airport.

Until next time, goodbye Waikiki!