Paalaa Kai Bakery - North Shore Day Trip Stop #1

Over the Memorial Day weekend we decided to spend a day on the North Shore, and our first stop on our North Shore Day Trip was at Paalaa Kai Bakery.

Here you'll find typical baked goods and pastries, but what they are really known for are their Snow Puffies.

Snow Puffies are light, flaky pastries filled with sweet custard.  They are so delicious (but a little messy to eat).

Of course, my boys picked out the most chocolatey, colorful-looking donuts, and they devoured them!

It was definitely worth a stop in Waialua to indulge in some Snow Puffies and Donuts - but be sure to get there early or call a day ahead if you want your Snow Puffies, since they often run out (we arrived on a Sunday at about 9am and there were still quite a few left, thank goodness!).

Paalaa Kai Bakery
66-945 Kaukonahua Rd
Waialua, HI 96791
(808) 637-9795

Read More

M. Matsumoto's General Store (aka Matsumoto's) - Stop #4 on on Oahu Half-Day Trip: Windward to North Shoreon Oahu Half-Day Trip

Our last stop on our half-day trip from the Windward side of the island to the North Shore was M. Matsumoto Store, more commonly known as Matsumoto's.

As expected, there was a long line.  Not including the people inside the store, the line was 5 people deep outside, and we went at just the right time, because in only a couple of minutes the line was was at least 20 people deep outside.

Since the last time I went to Matsumoto's, they've added new flavors and did away with some too, and they also now offer shave ice in bowls.  They also have an employee stand near the entrance to take your order, mark it on a bowl or cone, and then you take your bowl or cone to the register to pay and you then wait for your shave ice.

They no longer offer the flavor I wanted - Creamsicle, so I got the Banana instead (with Ice Cream).

DS2 got Strawberry, also with Ice Cream.

DS1 got Vanilla, also with Ice Cream.

It was a great way to end our Half-Day Trip!

(Half-Day Trip Windward to North Shore - approximately 4 1/2 hours including stops to eat and play)

M.Matsumoto Store: 66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI, 96712, (808)637-4827

Read More

Tropical Farms - Stop #2 on Oahu Half-Day Trip: Windward to North Shore

After grabbing some snacks from the Kaneohe Bakery, we still had some time before the place we wanted to go to for lunch opened, and we were going to stop at another park for the kids to play, but we ended up stopping at Tropical Farms.

Tropical Farms is a Macadamia Nut Outlet where they sell not only macadamia nuts, but LOTS and LOTS of local goods.

They also offer free samples of their Macadamia Nut Coffee (and I read that they have samples of their different Macadamia Nuts, but I didn't see any - although I didn't really look around too much).

Outside of the shop there is an area where you can crack open macadamia nuts using nothing but stones.

There are also a lot of chickens running around (they have a big sign near the macadamia nuts that says "Don't Feed the Chickens, but they need to make signs in different languages because many tourists from other countries kept feeding the chickens!).

I read Tropical Farms does offer a tour, but there didn't seem to be much to do other than crack open macadamia nuts and shop (shopping seems to be the big draw).

Regardless, it was a quick, fun stop along the way!

Tropical Farms: 49-227 Kamehameha Highway  Kaneohe, HI 96744; 808-237-1960

Read More

Kaneohe Bakery - Stop #1 on Oahu Half-Day Trip: Windward to North Shore

Our family recently decided to spend a half-day driving around some of the island.

We started in Kaneohe, and our first stop was Kaneohe Bakery to pick up some snacks.

In addition to the typical baked goods, they also have lots of pre-packaged goodies, drinks, and just about anything you need to satisfy a snack craving.

The older boys could not make up their minds.  They kept deciding between Cupcakes and Chocolate Donuts.

In the end, the Chocolate Donut won!

I also got some Donut Holes for DS3.

And even though I love my sweets, I ended up getting a Ham Roll.

We took the boys to a nearby park (Kaneohe Community Park/Playground), and the park itself was completely empty, but the playground was full of a lot of adults and older teens, so needless to say we didn't let the boys go on the playground.

We ate our baked goods (which all were yummy), let the boys run around the field for a while, and then headed toward Kaaawa for our next stop.

Kaneohe Bakery: 45-1026 Kamehameha Highway  Kaneohe, HI 96744; 808-247-0474

Read More