Valentines Dinner at Dukes Waikiki

[slip]

Our daughter sent us a Dukes gift certificate for Christmas so we figured today would be a good time to use it.

We got up early and got our grocery shopping done and then my wife had an Appointment on the south side so we headed over there right after grocery shopping.

We got back right in time to make it to our 4:45pm reservation time. It was pretty crowded and it looked like the Resort was pretty busy too.

We started with a Rocket Salad and Korean BBQ Ribs. My wife had the Coconut Ginger Seafood with a side of Crab Legs and I had the Prime Rib with a side of Crab Legs. Then of course we finished off with some Hula Pie.
We walked back home on Kalakaua and through the International Marketplace. It was a little busier.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Our daughter sent us a Dukes gift certificate for Christmas so we figured today would be a good time to use it.

We got up early and got our grocery shopping done and then my wife had an Appointment on the south side so we headed over there right after grocery shopping.

We got back right in time to make it to our 4:45pm reservation time. It was pretty crowded and it looked like the Resort was pretty busy too.

We started with a Rocket Salad and Korean BBQ Ribs. My wife had the Coconut Ginger Seafood with a side of Crab Legs and I had the Prime Rib with a side of Crab Legs. Then of course we finished off with some Hula Pie.
We walked back home on Kalakaua and through the International Marketplace. It was a little busier.

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Dukes and Kalakaua are starting to look kinda normal as far a busy that is encouraging. This is President's Day weekend and the beginning of school/winter break. I wonder what the number of tourists that are coming this week versus 2 weeks ago when nothing was going on?

 

[JanT]

Oh my...that looks wonderful!!! It’s 27 degrees here today and getting worse. Sigh....I miss Hawaii!!

 

[Passepartout]

Happy Valentines Day, you lovebirds living the dream in Paradise!

Jim

 

[slip]

Dukes and Kalakaua are starting to look kinda normal as far a busy that is encouraging. This is President's Day weekend and the beginning of school/winter break. I wonder what the number of tourists that are coming this week versus 2 weeks ago when nothing was going on?

Still far from normal but there are more people. We watch this site at work and we ca see the difference in our sales when the numbers are up.

http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/visitor/daily-passenger-counts/

As you can see by the graphs numbers are still way down and it will be a while before we are back to normal.

We are not near having most things open and when it does get a little busier, service has suffered since businesses are hesitating to bring back more staff.

Duke’s did a good job and they were pretty busy. We had a reservation and there was a long line when we arrived but when they took us to our table there were many empty tables toward the middle and back of the restaurant. There were some open tables when we left too.

You can see how the other islands are having even less people visit. I’m sure the holiday week made a difference also.

It’s not as desolate as it was. You definitely see more people in spots but when you walk around and look you will notice it is far from normal. Most people that come seem to like the less crowds though. It’s a unique experience and you may enjoy it of you come.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Still far from normal but there are more people. We watch this site at work and we ca see the difference in our sales when the numbers are up.

http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/visitor/daily-passenger-counts/

As you can see by the graphs numbers are still way down and it will be a while before we are back to normal.

We are not near having most things open and when it does get a little busier, service has suffered since businesses are hesitating to bring back more staff.

Duke’s did a good job and they were pretty busy. We had a reservation and there was a long line when we arrived but when they took us to our table there were many empty tables toward the middle and back of the restaurant. There were some open tables when we left too.

You can see how the other islands are having even less people visit. I’m sure the holiday week made a difference also.

It’s not as desolate as it was. You definitely see more people in spots but when you walk around and look you will notice it is far from normal. Most people that come seem to like the less crowds though. It’s a unique experience and you may enjoy it of you come.

Nice graphs that show about 25% of the passengers normal so maybe 20% of the tourists are coming as normal. The international tourists and in particular the Japanese tourists are really missed which makes a big difference in Honolulu. We want to come after we get our vaccinations. Besides the coronavirus the other concern we have is the uptick in crime particularly the assults and robberies. We have noticed that it seems to have gotten better in Waikiki with the addional tourists since December and once it gets really going it should be safe. The other area that we frequent frequently is the mall, Walmart and Sam's and we have noticed numbers of crimes there.

 

[geist1223]

We are at Royal Solaris in San Jose del Cabo. Tonight is the Members' Weekly Gala Dinner. I will be wearing my Tuxedo with Red Bow Tie and Red Cumberband. It is Surf and Turf.

 

[zentraveler]

We were at Dukes in Lahui for Sunday (Valentine's) brunch and they were doing a good business also (although I could see that part of the restaurant was closed off. The buffet brunch was delicious and they had two Hawaiian musicians playing 10 am-12 pm. (There is also music 5-7 pm. Mon-Sat.) Next to Marriott's Kauai Beach Club.

 

[artringwald]

Looking at those pictures is killing me because we should be there right now. You might be glad that we're not there, since we seem to attract tsunami warnings. We were in Maui when the big earthquake in Chile caused a tsunami warning, and we were 11 floors above Duke's when the 2011 earthquake hit Japan. Three times the tide went way out, but fortunately didn't come back in any higher. Thanks for all the pictures!

3/11/2011 All the lights on the water are boats that left the harbor.

 

[slip]

Looking at those pictures is killing me because we should be there right now. You might be glad that we're not there, since we seem to attract tsunami warnings. We were in Maui when the big earthquake in Chile caused a tsunami warning, and we were 11 floors above Duke's when the 2011 earthquake hit Japan. Three times the tide went way out, but fortunately didn't come back in any higher. Thanks for all the pictures!

3/11/2011 All the lights on the water are boats that left the harbor.
View attachment 32380

When you make it back, let me know and we’ll grab a Mai Tai!!

 

[artringwald]

Slip, aren't you sad that you're missing the wonderful Wisconsin winter weather this year? In MN, it's been sub-zero since last Thursday. Right now it's noon and still -6. At least most the snow passed through to the south. Enjoy those tropical breezes!

 

[slip]

Slip, aren't you sad that you're missing the wonderful Wisconsin winter weather this year? In MN, it's been sub-zero since last Thursday. Right now it's noon and still -6. At least most the snow passed through to the south. Enjoy those tropical breezes!

I definitely still watch the weather there. My son still lives there. I have a brother and sister there also.

There have been posts on Facebook I see. -15 this morning back there. I really don’t remember what that’s like any more. It’s been a year and a half here and I literally haven’t worn a coat or jacket the whole time.

When we had our cold snap here last week the high was 79 and the low for down to 63, I still went out in a tank top and shorts. We did have to close the window in our apartment for a couple days.

I was always able to handle the cold better than the snow. I never liked when we would get a few inches and then get more every couple of days. It was just a pain. Even using the snow thrower wasn’t fun. My drive way was 100 yards long so I had to have a big thrower. We had a 10 horse.

My son calls me a wimp now and I tell him to let me know what he thinks after dealing with snow for another 25 years.

May wofe gets cold just seeing the pictures about the storms on the news. It’s nice not having to worry about the weather for our trips to Hawaii too. We usually always came here right about when this storm started.

By far the best part of being here. People always ask if I miss the seasons. So far it’s no but we’ll see as the years go on.

 

[artringwald]

We have a Ring Doorbell and last winter I really enjoyed sitting on the lanai in Poipu, drinking a mai tai, and watching the guy shovel the snow off our front sidewalk.

 

[Tamaradarann]

I definitely still watch the weather there. My son still lives there. I have a brother and sister there also.

There have been posts on Facebook I see. -15 this morning back there. I really don’t remember what that’s like any more. It’s been a year and a half here and I literally haven’t worn a coat or jacket the whole time.

When we had our cold snap here last week the high was 79 and the low for down to 63, I still went out in a tank top and shorts. We did have to close the window in our apartment for a couple days.

I was always able to handle the cold better than the snow. I never liked when we would get a few inches and then get more every couple of days. It was just a pain. Even using the snow thrower wasn’t fun. My drive way was 100 yards long so I had to have a big thrower. We had a 10 horse.

My son calls me a wimp now and I tell him to let me know what he thinks after dealing with snow for another 25 years.

May wofe gets cold just seeing the pictures about the storms on the news. It’s nice not having to worry about the weather for our trips to Hawaii too. We usually always came here right about when this storm started.

By far the best part of being here. People always ask if I miss the seasons. So far it’s no but we’ll see as the years go on.
View attachment 32406

We are on Long Island this winter instead of Hawaii for the first time since 2008, while dealing with the snow is tolerable it is certainly not as much fun as walking on Waikiki Beach.

As far as missing the seasons, everytime someone says that they would miss the chnage of seasons I respond with "The only change of seasons I like is the change from Late Spring to Summer" On the subject of winter I will offer: When I was young I remember telling my Mother that I wish I was a bear and I could hibernate all winter and wake up in the Spring. In practicality compared to our activity in the summer in New York and all year in Hawaii we really do hibernate in the winter in New York.

 

[slip]

We have a Ring Doorbell and last winter I really enjoyed sitting on the lanai in Poipu, drinking a mai tai, and watching the guy shovel the snow off our front sidewalk.

I had a couple of cameras set up so I couple look and see a few areas of my house also. I had one looking out a back window and one set up on my driveway.

I really wanted to set one up looking out my lanai on Molokai but decided against it since we still rent it out.

My family has been posting pictures mostly of the temperature readings from their cars.

Every couple of weeks my wife still says how glad she is that we moved and she retired. We are probably going to go back for our first visit since we moved next year. Probably in June, no winter visits for us.

 

[slip]

We are on Long Island this winter instead of Hawaii for the first time since 2008, while dealing with the snow is tolerable it is certainly not as much fun as walking on Waikiki Beach.

As far as missing the seasons, everytime someone says that they would miss the chnage of seasons I respond with "The only change of seasons I like is the change from Late Spring to Summer" On the subject of winter I will offer: When I was young I remember telling my Mother that I wish I was a bear and I could hibernate all winter and wake up in the Spring. In practicality compared to our activity in the summer in New York and all year in Hawaii we really do hibernate in the winter in New York.

My favorite was summer into fall. Spring to summer was too muddy where we were but still better than winter.

I really never minded winter until I was into my 40’s. I always had to do my snow and then my fathers after work and when I reached this age I had already been doing it about 20 years. It wears on you after awhile. Of course, it didn’t help that we started to go to Hawaii once or twice a year and then even more when we were making plans to retire there.

The winters don’t seem to be as bad back there when we watch them from Hawaii but everyone reassures us that that are.

 

[DaveNV]

Jeff, your comment about people sending pix of the temperatures in their cars reminded me of this hilarious meme. It claims Minnesota, but Wisconsin is not far away.

Dave

 

[slip]

Jeff, your comment about people sending pix of the temperatures in their cars reminded me of this hilarious meme. It claims Minnesota, but Wisconsin is not far away.

View attachment 32407

Dave

Yes, I remember the first time I saw that one, Hilarious!!

This storm has been a long one and it seems people are getting used to the cold temps. Some windchills were in the upper -30’s in my old neighborhood. It looks like they will get a little bit of a break later in the week but then they will get more snow.

 

[DaveNV]

This storm has been a long one and it seems people are getting used to the cold temps. Some windchills were in the upper -30’s in my old neighborhood. It looks like they will get a little bit of a break later in the week but then they will get more snow.

Nope, nope, nope. I'll take my desert weather, thanks.

The coldest it's been this winter here in my backyard was about 33 degrees, only a few times, and it was during the middle of the night. But as soon as the sun came up, the temps started to climb, up to around 60, a number that is mild and comfortable. Much better than my old town in Washington, where they're just now digging out of a major snowfall, and temperatures in the low 20s. So very glad that's behind me.

Dave

 

[slip]

Nope, nope, nope. I'll take my desert weather, thanks.

The coldest it's been this winter here in my backyard was about 33 degrees, only a few times, and it was during the middle of the night. But as soon as the sun came up, the temps started to climb, up to around 60, a number that is mild and comfortable. Much better than my old town in Washington, where they're just now digging out of a major snowfall, and temperatures in the low 20s. So very glad that's behind me.

Dave

It definitely wears on a person after a while. Now I only have to watch for ponding on the roads during winter and we haven’t had much of that.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

My cousin from northern MN (where it was 39 below a couple mornings ago!) posted this on FB:

And no, I don't miss it either (it was -17 in my hometown)!