Tag Archives: Hawaii

Hawaiian Breakfast

You hear the saying all the time — breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day. And to us, it truly is! We. Do. Not. Mess. With. Breakfast. Or, at least we didn’t while we were in Hawaii. Every day was a buffet-style breakfast and the first morning I was there I was a bit overwhelmed with what to pick. I had been on the longest travel day of my life (seriously, I was traveling for about 23 hours and only was eating snack foods the entire trip) so I naturally wanted something that would fill me up quickly… So, I went for the banana pancakes with coconut syrup. Yes, they are just as amazing as they sound. This coconut syrup is brilliant and I am playing around with recipes at home right now so I can eventually share with you a concoction you can enjoy at home.

coconut syrup

passion fruit

But, as the days went on I had the opportunity to scout everything out at the buffet — french toast, breakfast burritos, every type of fruit you can imagine, Hawaiian made granola. You name it — it was there! So, the best technique for breakfast came down to this: get the food that you absolutely have to have, share it with anyone at the table, and eat off of other people’s plates so you get to taste a little bit of everything. Don’t worry, I’m not that crazy, I wasn’t eating off of a stranger’s plate (I just plate fork war with my boyfriend over the Nutella stuffed french toast).

best crispy hashbrowns

Something we discovered that wasn’t at the buffet was an unbelievable crispy hashbrown that the kitchen was happy to whip together for us. I swear, whenever I eat a great hashbrown the rest of my breakfast is fantastic — whenever I eat a crappy hashbrown (or home fries) the rest of my meal goes down the drain. So there you have it — the way I judge a breakfast. Don’t hate me.

strawberry smoothies

One of the treats that the Four Seasons in Wailea had for us was every morning the breakfast buffet had some sort of smoothie sampling. One day the smoothie was made with kale, another day oranges, and another day strawberries and bananas. Some I preferred more than others, but it has inspired me to whip out my juicer at home to help me blend together some homemade smoothies made with only the freshest ingredients!

Blueberry Mojito Recipe

As promised, folks, I have the most incredible mojito recipe to share!

blueberry mojito recipe
Over my holiday I was surprised with a last minute trip to Hawaii. For the past few years, I have vacationed with my boyfriend to very fun, relaxing beachy locations; and every beach trip we have been on I am typically the one enjoying an ice-cold brewski and he’s sitting next to me slurping on a pina colada (wait, did I mention they are always virgins?). This year, he discovered a new drink that not only had him hooked, but me as well! And, I have to give full credit here to the bartender at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea for this recipe — he managed to create a mojito so unbelievably amazing he must have had so many recipe requests the Four Seasons had special recipe cards printed for him to share with the guests! Created by Danny McCauley, his “Serenity Mojito” (I call it the Blueberry Mojito) seriously hits the spot on a hot day! The icy beverage has the perfect mix of flavor — from the cooling sensation of the muddled mint leaves to the sweetness of the fresh blueberries — this mixed drink is guaranteed to keep people drinking (responsibly, of course)!

Okay, so I’ll cut to the chase… see below for the recipe!

Ingredients/Directions Combined:

  • Fresh Mint Leaves (6-7 each)
  • Fresh Blueberries (8-10 each)

Muddle these ingredients together (then add to the glass).

Fill a glass with crushed ice.

  • Add 1.5 oz. of Blueberry Fris Vodka to the glass
  • Add 1 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
  • Fill the glass with soda water
  • Shake the combination thoroughly

Hawaiian Canoeing

I mentioned that while in Hawaii we learned how to row on a traditional Hawaiian canoe. Our canoeing adventure took us out into the water where we were able to check out some reefs, Hawaiian green turtles, tropical fish, and other wild life.

Below you’ll see a few photos I snapped on our early morning ride as the sun was coming up over Maui:

paddling boarding in maui

maui paddle boards

maui water sports

While rowing, we learned some fascinating history of the islanders and Hawaii itself. The Four Seasons has the perfect summary of our canoeing experience listed on their website, here’s what they say:

Centuries before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock, Polynesian seafarers travelled over 2,300 miles to the shores of Earth’s most remote archipelago: the Hawaiian Islands. Capable and daring, they ventured across the ocean in outrigger canoes, at a time when Western boats rarely went out of sight of land.

At Four Seasons Resort Maui, you can follow in the paddle strokes of Hawaii’s ancient forefathers, even if you are a malihini (newcomer) to the sport of outrigger canoeing. The Resort’s championship paddling team oversees a complimentary outrigger canoe programme, offered two to three times a day, four days a week.

After you help launch the canoe from the beach, and rhythmically propel the canoe forward across the calm surface of the Pacific, you’ll start to feel as if you’re travelling back in time. For in between canoeing commands shouted in Hawaiian, your guide will share Polynesian culture with you through a wala’au (talking story).

With hoe (paddle) in hand, you’ll start to learn how to read the ocean from the feel of blade as it slices through the water, how to steer your course by the patterns of wind, swell and current. Na Oli (the chants) helps connect you with your fellow paddlers.

After a while, you might wonder what would possess the ancient Polynesians to traverse the ocean in an outrigger canoe. And then it all becomes so apparently clear as you journey through a magnificent reef system. Before you, a bale of green sea turtles; passing underneath, a school of manta rays; and during the season, the strong possibilities of humpback whales. Then you’ll wonder if there’s an opening in the next session.

Mele Kalikimaka

This Christmas holiday was filled with just pure excitement — great food, amazing friends, and loving families. After spending a spectacular holiday with my family, I was surprised with a last minute trip to Hawaii. Or, I should say, Hawai’i.

Long story short, every year for the past 15 years my boyfriend’s family goes to Hawaii for the holiday but for the past 5 years my boyfriend hasn’t joined them because it’s a crazy time of year for him at work. But this year he pulled a huge surprise for his family and for me — we flew to the South Pacific for some fun in the sun and quality family time.

Over the next week I’m going to post a few times about our trip to Hawaii — it was a short 3-day trip because we both needed to get back (for him he needed to get back for work, for me I wanted to get back to my family). I hope you enjoy the posts — be sure to keep a look-out for an exciting recipe that will tell you how to make my new favorite mojito! I promise you, you won’t be disappointed!

four seasons wailea

Above you’ll see a view of our hotel’s beach in Wailea. The side of the Maui island we were on had calm waves — the perfect water for snorkeling, paddle boarding, and other water sports.

hawaiian green turtle

We learned some rowing techniques on a traditional Hawaiian canoe called The Canoe of the Red Sea. Rowing with 2 other locals, we were able to learn some interesting history of the island as well as see some gorgeous wild life. Above, you’ll see a photo I took of a Hawaiian Green Turtle. I was able to capture this picture at a spot the locals call “The Cleaning Station” — it’s where the turtles swim to to have their shells cleaned by the fish. If their shells don’t get cleaned, the algae acts similar to mold and will destroy their shell by making it too soft.

fish tacos

Nothing is more satisfying for lunch than some fish tacos! The flavors came together beautifully — especially once we squeezed the lime juice over top of the fish!

hawaiian sunset

I can’t wait to get back for more Hawaiian sunsets! Everything about the island was so magical — it truly is paradise!

ahi tuna tacos

These Ahi Tuna Tacos almost look fake — don’t they? The fish was so fresh — I don’t think any of us ever saw such exquisite seafood! The taste on these tacos was fresh and savory — look closely and you can see the sesame seeds on top and the drizzle of a special sauce that added the perfect kick to the tuna.

Be sure to check back next week for more Hawaii posts and that mojito recipe I told you all about!

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