Travelworm

Part 1: Hotel and Waikiki Beach

And guess who scored an awesome deal last weekend?

It all started when I got a call from the people over at TravelWorm to tell me that they were giving me an incredible break – a 4 day trip to Honolulu in the island of Oahu, Hawaii. However, they would need me to leave the very next day. Would I be able to do it? That's like asking me if I'm a soft-bodied invertebrate! Oh hell yeah!

And so, 28 hours, a short stopover at LAX, and a small piece of rolling luggage later, I found myself at the Honolulu International airport, where I proceeded to board a specially equipped, worm-modified, personal vehicle (read: bribed a surfer friend to drive me around as the DMV is still harboring a bias against us worms – down with the DMV!)

By the way, I absolutely RECOMMEND that you rent a car when you head to Hawaii. It is the single best way to really see the whole island – and it also means you won't be stranded in tourist-packed Waikiki Beach for your whole vacation or * shudder* be utterly dependent on tourist buses to see the sights. (Be a Traveler, not a tourist!) I was a bit too cheap to get a car with a GPS (hey TravelWorm, when do I get an expense account?), so my friend and I did the navigating old school style – with an honest to goodness map. It was okay though, because Honolulu isn't all that difficult to move around in. It's part of a tiny island after all.

It was already dark by the time we landed in Honolulu. We drove through a bit of the city and took in the sights and sounds along the way. The nightlife near Waikiki seemed pretty hot. We saw a few fire and hula dancers doing their thing by the beach, and we noticed a few cool kitschy dive bars (with lots of surfboards propped by the door), a good number of hotel clubs full of skimpily dressed tourists, and lots of beachside bacchanalia going on. There were also a few holes in the wall that really looked intriguing.

Finally, we dropped our car with the valet at the gorgeous and very regal Moana Surfrider Hotel, which is right by the beach. Someone was already waiting for us with leis and glasses of guava juice – just the thing after a relatively long flight. We breezed through check-in in a matter of minutes, and then we went up to our room, which was on the 17th floor, in the Tower Wing. And I have to tell you, the room was spectacular! We even got a nice lanai (balcony) with an absolutely stunning view of the beach.

The room also came with an empty fridge, which was ideal because then my friend and I could stock up on stuff that we wanted from the ubiquitous ABC stores that littered the island without having to worry about exorbitant mini-bar fees. And the building also has a very nice, very distinctive white porch, which is absolutely perfect for people watching. With a nice drink in hand, that would be a stress-free way to spend a lazy afternoon. And I have to say, the service was impeccable. Moana Surfrider's a bit pricey, I admit, but so worth it if you've got the cash. Oh Travelworm, how do I adore thee…

My stay at the Moana Surfrider included a free luau for two – Travelworm promotion, yippee – at the hotel next door, The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, so that's what we did for dinner. It was a feast under the stars and it was a blast. We tried some poke (lightly marinated raw ahi tuna, kinda like a Hawaiian sashimi or an exotic and underdone ceviche), lomi-lomi salmon, some poi (made from taro, if I understood the server correctly), and yes, the traditional kalua pig. (I'm not a big fan of the poi, but everything else was great.)

We woke up to a beautiful day the next morning, and a quick peek at the ocean through our lanai revealed that it was already full of surfers. I woke my friend and he decided not to eat breakfast at the hotel, so we went out to explore the Waikiki streets.

We discovered the International Marketplace just across the street from us, which sold all sorts of knickknacks and edible goods. "Tourist trap", my wise companion said dismissively, so we walked a little bit more. And then we spotted an unassuming, slightly grubby, but ultimately packed place called L&L Barbecue. We scanned the menu as well as the interiors, and I think it's safe to say that the place was full of surfing locals – the boards propped outside and on the walls were a definite giveaway.

The typical meal at L&L is like this: 2 scoops of rice, a side of macaroni salad, and an entrée. All for under 8 bucks. Nice. So I hunkered down to my pork barbecue while the companion wolfed down his seafood platter. This may not be gourmet food, but it sure hit the spot!

Now well-nourished, we headed back to beach to observe. The cursory glance we gave the place the previous night definitely had not done this place justice. It was absolutely amazing! Golden sand, turquoise sea, toned young hotties (yes, worms and humans alike!), and gentle swells. Paradise, my friends. Travelworm has finally sent me to paradise.

Up Next: Part 2 – The North Shore and Timmy Goes Surfing