We got a room change today at Waiohai. We always request 4th floor (because we are awakened every day by people above us sliding chairs on the balcony). We always seem to get 3rd floor... But they were able to move us to 4th - Hale 7 to Hale 2, facing the lawn. Very decent view of the ocean as well. The only problem with a move is that you have to be out by noon (assuming they let you do a late checkout) and you don't get the next room till 4. So we drove into town to see Jurassic World.
On the way back, we tried a new Mexican restaurant called Verde. It is located in the same shopping center as the Safeway on Kuhio (between the tree tunnel and Costco). Food is pretty good - a lot classier than Da Crack. I had two ahi fish tacos for $15 (rice & beans are $3 extra). The ahi was sliced very much as it would appear in a seared ahi appetizer. My wife ordered two crispy tacos with shredded pork and although they verbally acknowledged crispy corn shells for her, she got soft flour shells. Oh well. Happy hour is from 3-5 and is 10% off. We will probably stick with Tortilla Republic. This same shopping center has an Uncle's Shave Ice, which was packed.
My wife tried Ruth's Chris for their "happy hour". She got the petite filet and loved it. Happy hour at Ruth's Chris is not much less than full price, but comes with salad, side and dessert.
On another visit I went to Merriman's for my beloved fish tacos, and they seem to have once again changed their menu and preparation. They now come with sliced avocado again instead of avocado aioli, and the shells were thick warmed corn tortillas instead of the wafer thin lightly fried corn. This is no bueno, as the tortillas immediately got soggy and fell apart. But the flavor was there. I will try one more time, asking if they can prepare it the old way. Hoping for the best. Happy hour is still 3:30-5:00 and the prices are same as last year.
Don't know if I mentioned this, but the Kukuiula shops have the farmer's market every Wednesday now. Used to be just the first Wednesday of the month. Saw all the same vendors except the croissant/bread ladies were not there. Got us some wonderful sugarloaf pineapple.
The ocean swells are quite a bit larger than previous years, and the rip currents are very strong. The sandbar on Poipu Beach is still gone. My son loves to boogie board at Brennecke Beach, which is especially rough this year. We watch him like a hawk. It doesn't help to hear that the locals refer to that beach as "Break-a-knee Beach" because of the strong currents and all the rocks.
