Rut Buster Blog

I think Oahu is a wonderful place to raise children and I feel blessed to be raising ours here. The spirit of aloha and the feeling of ohana (family) in the community are alive and well. I mean it's not utopia or anything, but overall people are warm and friendly and pleasant to be around. Life is also simpler here. Well, in some ways anyway. Speed limits are slower, things are close together and easy to access (it is an island afterall) there's not as much emphasis on materialistic things as in some places I've lived, and we don't have to own gear for multiple seasons. But just like life anywhere it can get busy and I get overwhelmed by my 'to do' list, wrapped up in my errands and chores and stuck in my rut.

So I'm starting this blog in the hopes that it will help me get out of my rut and away from my chores more often. There is lots to see and lots to explore on the 597 square miles of my island home and I'm hoping that having a few people waiting to read about our adventures will motivate me to get out there with my kids and do some adventuring on a more regular basis. And hey, if it encourages you to do the same then that's an added bonus!

Why 'Sun With Passing Showers'?

I seldom check the weather forecast here because it is almost always "sun with passing showers" or "sun with scattered showers" or "partly cloudy with occasional showers" or some such thing. This is far too vague to be of any help. Depending on the day it might mean there will be rain showers on and off throughout the day, so not the best beach day. But it might mean that it will rain once in the morning while we're eating breakfast and then be nice and sunny the rest of the day. It could also mean it will rain on one side of the island a lot but not a drop on the other side. It could even mean it will rain a bit at my house but not at all at the end of our road. Or there's my favorite - it could mean there will be rain showers when there are no clouds nearby, like this:

Can't actually see the rain in the photo, but if there's a rainbow you know there is rain in the air (at least you know that if you paid any attention during science class back in the day).

I think Oahu's weather is a good metaphor for life. Life is always a mix of sun and showers. The timing and ratio of that mix is impossible to predict and sometimes you will have both at the same time.

So here we go - a blog about life on Oahu. Some sun, some showers and some rainbows to be discovered and admired along the way.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Here are some of my favorite spots & activities on Oahu. Click on the links to read more about them on my blog.

Favorite Park: Nu'uanu Valley Park

Restaurants:

For a romantic dinner: Hau Tree Lanai in Waikiki

Thai food: Keo's in Waikiki
Italian food: Baci Bistro in Kailua

Affordable family meal: The Old Spaghetti Factory in Ward Warehouse
Brunch:  Duke's in Waikiki

Sweet Treats:

Yogurt Mama in Kailua.

Island Snow in Kailua

Beaches:

Bellows Beach in Waimanalo

Kailua Beach

Waimea Bay on the North Shore

Stores:
Office supplies: Fisher Hawaii

Other:
Friday night fireworks at Magic Island

Check back often to see my newest favorites!

Last Updated: June 27, 2010

Beaches and Parks

For more free activities look at my posts categorized under 'beaches' and 'parks and botanical gardens.'

All beaches in Hawaii are public property and are free!

Most parks and some botanical gardens are also free.