For our annual holiday vacation, we had 3 glorious weeks to enjoy the fruits of our labor at the end of the year. Thank you, Rob! This year, my wife and I spent the week of Christmas Eve to New Years Eve in Oahu in Ewa Beach. Our host at Ewa Sands, Oahu Dave, just so happens to be a huge (not fat) fan and loyal maggot of the RAD show for 20+ years! Dave and his family have multiple homes in Oahu that provide a unique, local experience for visitors to the island! If you’re interested in learning more about these beautiful properties, including the plantation style house that we were lucky enough to call home for a week, email us at [email protected] and I will get you in touch with Oahu Dave! We ate a lot of great food, spent most of out time on beautiful beaches, bathing in the sun (nude most of the time), and finally came home to pick up two brand new bengal kittens. That brings the current count of the Brandon Zoo to 2 dogs and 6 cats. Want one? They come with food and toys! Take one! Just kidding… Enjoy the photos!
-Brando
On December 23rd, we visited our friends in South Lake Tahoe for dinner and spent the night to enjoy some snow before heading to the tropics for Christmas.
On the drive up to Tahoe, sitting in traffic behind the chain control area, I spent my time working to allow the maximum amount of relaxation once we got to Hawaii.
Here is an icicle that was found near the wheel-well of our SUV in the hotel parking garage in Tahoe. This thing looked deadly.
Later that day, we made our way home to do our version of Christmas since we would be spending Christmas Eve traveling. Opie’s present was to sit on papa’s lap on the couch.
It’s gift opening time!
Since we were really laid back about the gift exchange, I did the bare minimum when it came to my wrapping job.
See? Bare minimum.
I’ve always wanted to try these boozy chocolate treats! Update as of 1/7/20, I haven’t tried them yet!
I won’t bore you with every single present we gifted each other, but this is one of the best gifts ever. Best. Brittle. Ever.
We’re on our way to Oahu! Quick 20 minute layover in Maui.
Around Noon on Christmas Eve, we have arrived to Ewa Beach in Oahu.
This sign was posted in the kitchen to welcome us.
Time to relax! The view from the couch.
This plantation style home in Ewa Beach was the perfect place to call home and relax for a week.
This kitchen allowed us to enjoy our own meals with all of the creature comforts and grocery stores close by for maximum convenience.
This is one of the two bedrooms we had available to us. We chose this room as the windows looked out to the property and private beach.
The property that leads to the private beach.
The living room was the perfect place to post up each morning, enjoy some coffee and plot our course for each day.
Here is a view back at the plantation house from the private beach.
We spent A LOT of time sitting on the beach and we made it a point to watch the sunset every night.
This view never gets old. In the distance you can see Waikiki and the Diamond Head crater.
These sunsets never get old.
Take me back…
Seriously… take me back.
Hawaii looks good on us.
On Christmas morning, we woke up to tropical storm like conditions. The winds were gusting and the rain was pouring. And it was amazing.
The weather cleared up just in time for our Christmas dinner plans at the Top Of Waikiki. A rotating restaurant overlooking the city which provided the perfect backdrop for our evening.
Appetizers and drinks have arrived.
These goat cheese rangoons were to DIE FOR!
We went all out and enjoyed a giant porterhouse, paired with a lobster tail for each of us, crab legs and vegetables. Yum.
Check out this time lapse video we captured that shows the view from our table.
For the remainder of the week, we spent venturing all over the island to our favorite beaches.
Get a load of this hat! This thing was HUGE
Dreamy.
This path leads to a beach on the North shore of Oahu. It is by far our favorite beach, and it also happens to be clothing optional. BONUS. With an emphasis on the bone.
Beach bound.
Another beach bound selfie.
For our last full day before we left, Oahu Dave (pictured here) and his family invited us onto their catamaran for a cruise around the West side of the island, and a stop at Electric Beach for snorkeling!
We can get used to this sailing thing.
The view of the island from the water is humbling and breathtaking.
The view of the island from the water is humbling and breathtaking.
The view of the island from the water is humbling and breathtaking.
This is a view of Electric Beach from the sailboat. This beach has this nickname due to the power plant located right by the beach.
This day ended up being the warmest and clearest day for this excursion.
Seriously, we can get used to this sailing thing.
Towards the end of the trip, we dropped anchor and spent over an hour swimming around and snorkeling.
This excursion is available to anyone that stays at Ewa Sands.
The boat was roomy and was shared with only one other couple, along with Oahu Dave, Captain “Blue”, Dave’s sister Michelle and Blue’s mom Lynn. A beautiful family and a beautiful day.
Pictured here from left to right: Captain “Blue”, Michelle, Oahu Dave, Mrs Brandon, Brando
After sailing, we were starving and hit the Ewa Beach Golf Club restaurant to get some grub. Highly recommended by locals, this place has outstanding food at an affordable price. This is an appetizer called salt and pepper crispy pork. Basically deep fried slices of pork belly.
A traditional Hawaiian side dish of mac and cheese and white rice.
Another traditional Hawaiian dish, a full pound hamburger patty on a skillet with grilled onions, bathed in brown gravy.
We hit the Dole Plantation for some Dole Whip and pearl jewelry.
Time to fuel up at a food truck.
This is from Big Wave Shrimp on North shore… outstanding garlic and coconut shrimp, with a side of spring roles. Washed down with a Thai Iced Tea and Thai coffee.
Our last night meant a nice dinner out! This was right after we found out that this particular restaurant had a wait time of an hour and 45 minutes. We found somewhere else to go.
Time to go home 🙁 Here we are at Honolulu airport waiting for our flight.
On New Years Day, we brought home the newest addition to our family zoo. These are two Bengal kittens, both sisters, and they are warming up to the family very quickly.
Aren’t they gorgeous? We are still working on names. The current contenders are Mitsu and Bishi.
The idea came from this conversation between my wife and I…
