Aloha! I was going to wait until we returned to write a post, but at this point we really don’t want to ever return. We’re ready to ‘go bamboo’ up in Hanalei Bay. Up on there, on the north side of Kauai it is so beautiful that it starts to be a little ridiculous. Really. It is so lush and green with majestic mountains and picturesque beaches. So if you don’t hear from us for a while, you’ll find us up there, probably in front of Java Kai’s or across the street eating fish tacos with an umbrella clad drink. Or maybe just laying on the beach. Although, I suppose living in paradise would get old..at least that’s what I tell myself when flashes of reality come back to us.
Meanwhile, let me show you this incredible fruit we’ve been finding. I underestimated Hawaii a lot. I just always thought of Hawaii as resorts and beaches and coconuts, pineapples leis and luau’s. I didn’t realize how rich and interesting the culture is. It’s like visiting a completely different country in some respects. Nor did I realize how friendly the natives would be. And I really didn’t think that we would discover the little works of natural art that we’d find at roadside stands.
Our first find was bananas. We have a Safeway across the street from us and on our first morning we ventured over to fill up our kitchen. We found regular bananas, the kind we all have at our market, from Equador. And then we found these smaller fatter bananas, called apple bananas. They are creamier have a slightly peachy color when you bite in and do have a bit of an apple taste to them. From that first realization, that there was a whole new world of fruit awaiting us, we’ve become a couple obsessed. When we aren’t sipping frosty drinks, logging in hours in the water, or driving off to another adventure, we are hitting the car breaks to find all sorts of little roadside markets and trucks with odd fruit spilling out the back.
The oranges here are not really orange. They are ugly and heavy….and juicy and the sweetest that you’ve ever had. The avocados are insanely huge. The papayas and starfruit actually have flavor unlike what you find at the grocery store.
And then there are these things called Rambutans. Unbelievable. Apparently they are widely cultivated in the tropics. And I guess it makes sense that I’ve never heard of them since I’ve never been to the tropics. But oh my. They are golf ball sized and red, with soft, thin spikes. And they smell like lilies. Then you open them up and inside is a lychee like fruit – like a peeled grape. But it tastes like a sweet flower. If you ever run across one, do try it. We are captivated by them.
Then there are Longans or Dragon’s Eyes. Kind of like rambutans, because you peel them and are left with a lychee/eyeball kind of fruit. But these are small and brown and the flavor is much more intense.
So as you can see, between these wonderful finds and all the fresh fish we’ve been having, the eating has been good. In fact everything has been good. And I’m quite sure that I might actually shed a tear or two upon getting back into that plane. But in the meantime, we’ve got more beach walking to do. I hope you had a Happy New Years friends.
Well if you are into fruit, don’t denigrate the pineapple there. I’m not talking about the ones that get shipped to the mainland. They have quite a few varieties and one of them (I wish I knew the variety) was the best pineapple I’ve ever had in my life. Just heaven.
Nice pictures and post.
Aloha, Brad
I had rambutans in Thailand and I was never quite sure what they were called, just that they were yummy!
Somewhere between the north coast and Lihue, on the inland side of the highway, is a wonderfully visitable guava plantation. The gardens are lovely and you can walk through the groves and pick the fruit off of the tree. And don’t miss the guava ice cream in the gift shop. If you haven’t already been there, I hope you can find it!
Thanks for all of your comments! Daphne, we did have pineapple and it was tasty! We didn’t find too many and the ones that were were Dole pineapples, even the ones at the fruit stands…maybe its not pineapple season?
Donna, we did see what we thought guava plantation, but we didn’t see a spot to stop. I’m sure I would have loved the guava ice cream! Too bad we didn’t find that spot.
Corrie, Oh Thailand! That’s certainly on my short list of places I want to visit.
The apple banana makes me think of paw paws. I wonder if paw paws are actually good. There’s so much fruit in the world I have never tried.
Sounds like a wonderful trip!
Oh you are bringing back some incredible memories for me! My husband has never been to Hawaii, and I keep saying we need to go — to Hanalei Bay! My favorite place I have been in Hawaii by far. Have you been able to hit the farmer’s market? I became addicted to these ginormous avocados that has the taste and texture of the creamiest butter I have ever had.
Now I’m hungry for fruit! haha
Have a blast!
Just found your blog from another and let me just say I am sooooo jealous that you got a chance to go to Hawaii. It’s on my list of places to visit but with 4 homeschooled kids, that may take awhile 😉
Hi Tamara! Thanks for the visit. You definitely must visit Hawaii! It sounds like it might be a good homeschooling adventure. Travel sometimes is the best education you can get. However, paying for and flying with four kids does sound like a handful! I hope you get there some day.
Is this the fruit stand located on the outside of Kilauea? There used to be another one going into Kapaa that had fresh macadamia nuts from the tree.