Explore January favorites! From good food to good company, get inspired and find joy.
First month of 2024, off to a strong start! Has this month felt superrrr long but also really quick for anyone else? While I can’t believe it’s already February, I felt like I’ve been in January forever.
This month consisted of good eats, good views, and good company! While the beginning of the year is often when people are hyper-focused on their goals and work, don’t forget to take time for yourself and find things that bring you joy 🙂
All this to say, I hope this list inspires you to try new foods, go to a fun restaurant, admire the sunset, and spend time with good people. And may February bring even more joy and wonderful memories!
JANUARY FAVORITES
1. THE ORIGINAL ROY’S HAWAII KAI
If you know me you KNOW The Original Roy’s in Hawaii Kai is one of my FAVORITE restaurants on the island. They do Asian local fusion so well and it truly never disappoints. We normally start off with some appetizers: the brussels sprouts, zucchini baos, and sushi rolls are always great options. For my main, I normally go with the butterfish (a fan favorite), but this particular time I opted for the crab cakes, and they were SCRUMPTIOUS! And of course, when you go here, you have to end with dessert. You have to. And we just happened to have 3 that night! Chocolate lava cake, pineapple upside down cake, and banana bread pudding – all fantastic. Treat yourself to a nice meal!!
2. BEACH SUNSET
I love a sunset, and this one was no different. The cool thing about sunsets is how different you can experience them depending on where you are! For instance, I love watching the sunset from my house because of the elevated view. But here’s a sunset from right on the beach! The water sparkles and shines, the sun glows a bright yellow-y orange, and you can catch the green flash as it sets into the horizon. Magical!
3. SONY OPEN
I am a retired athlete, and in my retirement I have (somewhat) taken on the sport of golf. Why you ask? I’m not sure, because it’s really hard and really frustrating. And as you might guess, I am not very good. But ANYWAY… I have still developed more interest in the sport overall, especially after watching the “Full Swing” golf documentary on Netflix. All that to say, I attended the Sony Open this year, which happens annually in Honolulu. It’s really neat to watch the sport with a new lens, recognize players’ names, and enjoy the country club vibes!
4. FUN LITTLE DRINKS
I am not a huge drinker, but I will enjoy a nice little drink with friends every now and then. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about alcohol, meaning if I went to a bar I would not know what to order myself. In college, I’d drink what people would buy and if I didn’t like what was there, I just wouldn’t drink! Haha. All that to say, I’ve been exploring different drinks and cocktails a bit more recently. Maybe one day I’ll get back to you with my go-to order 😉
5. KOREAN FEAST AT MILLIONS RESTAURANT
I don’t eat Korean food especially often, but when I do, I really enjoy it! In Hawaii especially, we tend to lean towards a lot of Japanese inspired foods. But that’s not to say that we don’t have some great Korean (and local-inspired Korean) restaurants on island! So for the first time, I tried Millions Restaurant with my family, and it was delicious! We did family style (of course), and ordered zucchini jun, fish jun, a KBBQ set, spicy cold noodles, and a soup! (Sorry about the lack of actual Korean names..). The spicy cold noodles and zucchini jun were my favorites! And the meet was really yummy, too. Every now and then, Korean food really hits the spot!
6. (HOMEMADE) HAWAIIAN FOOD
My dad’s Hawaiian food feasts are top tier. Admittedly, I did not always like Hawaiian food. But as I’ve grown a bit, so have my tastebuds, and thank goodness for that. Laulau, luau, lomi salmon, poi, beef stew, chicken long rice, sweet potato – all of it is SO good. I will say that first of all, it is not just local food, it’s more native Hawaiian inspired dishes. And secondly, they are very unique dishes, so if you’re unfamiliar with them, it may take you a few tries to find what you like and really appreciate the delicious-ness! But anyway, I love it, and I highly recommend you give it a try.
7. FRIENDS VISITING
It’s always a pleasure having people visit home and showing friends around, especially friends I haven’t seen in a while! Going to the beach, eating good food, and just spending time together is so nice. Some college friends visited this month so it was nice for everyone to be together!
8. LULULEMON PANTS
Lululemon will forever be a wonderful place for athletic and athleisure wear. Recently, I came across Dance Studio pant, and I LOVE them! They can be worn like loose, wide-leg pants, but you can also cinch them at the end for more of that “dance” look. But here’s the best part – they come in a short length!! It’s about time Lululemon starts making more height inclusive items… and although there aren’t as many color options as the normal length, I will take what I can get at the moment. Even though they do offer free hemming as well, it’s just so much more convenient to buy it at the perfect length. So, here are my new favorite on-the-go pants – perfect for traveling, errands, lounging, you name it.
