Thursday - Visit Ala Moana Mall and Driveby tour

When Audrey returned, we left for Ala Moana Mall. Very beautiful mall, so much greenery.
Bought very cool bags...2 for $20 at ABC store. Purchased one for me and other for Audrey. (I am definitely going to need to buy at swap meet a larger suitcase )
My feet were getting sore....dang it......so we were pretty much thru walking around and then headed towards Waikiki.
OMG, I cannot believe the hotels and condos. It has been 23 years since I've been here....I guess they've sqeezed in a few more buildings.
(friends: If you click on a photo you can see a larger upclose view)


Here is an example of traffic! It is merely 2pm and crowded !!!


Had to take a peek shot of such pretty dishware in Macy's.



Ala Moana Mall




This is the closest I've gotten to the ocean so far! (view from 2nd floor of Mall)




This is view of main road down Waikiki


Here is view of the popular Duke Kahanamoku Statue. Right in front (up above) is a web cam!


http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/cameras/waikiki_beach/waikiki.htm



We rounded the corner of the main drag towards the Zoo and headed on up and out of the area (again, LOTS of traffic, it was about 4:45pm) We drove by Leonards Bakery! What a treat! I really wanted to go here, but saw how out of the way it was and figured I'd never get over here, but we drove right past it! So Audrey was so sweet and found a parking spot block away in a tiny gas station and waited for me.



Masaladas:
Read and learn:
Every nationality or culture has its own name and slightly unique recipe for flavored fried dough. In the United States, we call it a doughnut. French scoff up their beignets with coffee. Canadians enjoy beaver tails. Mexico calls fried dough churros, and the Italians relish their zepoles. If your travels take you to Honolulu and your cholesterol level is not super-elevated, don’t miss the Hawaiian version of fried dough called the malassada. Served steaming hot directly from the Fryolator, these golden puffs of moist rich fried dough are drenched with delightful cinnamon sugar. Unlike some versions of fried dough that often weigh as much as a billiard ball, Hawaiian malassadas are light and airy producing the unfounded impression that they are non-caloric. You must order at least three per person because no one can resist the addictive power of these delicacies.

The ultimate malassada maker is Leonard’s Bakery located a just a few blocks from Waikiki Beach. Most of the time, Leonard’s is packed with malassada cravers so you must take a number and wait your turn to be served. But you will soon reach the front of the line and place your order with a short Hawaiian woman who mysteriously disappears through a door into the kitchen. Leonard’s continuously produces small batches of malasada throughout the day and each order comes quickly from the kitchen hot and fresh.

While Leonard’s also offers other traditional bakery items that look wonderful, why use up your caloric input count on anything but Hawaiian malassadas??








Audrey's "Momma Cat" was waiting for us.....