The CLAMs

La Mariana Restaurant & Bar

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:42:00 -0800

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Tonight, The Clams find themselves at La Mariana Sailing Club, a throwback to the days of old Hawaii: bamboo, stuffed fish, fish tanks,

tiki-inspired columns, seashells, fishnets and twinkling lights. Its all about the ambiance at La Mariana. From the moment you step into view of the Ke'ehi Lagoon during sunset, to when you've just finished your meal, comfortably lying back on the high-back wicker chairs, its not long before you understand why they say La Mariana is a feast for the senses.

A trip to Hawaii just isn't complete without a stop at this hard to find but well worth the hunt spot on the way to airport from downtown just of Sand Island Access Road.
We highly recommend this hidden spot for those who are craving a little something different to the usuals that Waikiki offers..

Ala Moana Shopping Center

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:31:00 -0800

Get ready..set..SHOP!!

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This week, The Clams are happy to announce that they are taking you to the ultimate shoppers paradise! Located in Honolulu, within a stones throw from Waikiki, the Ala Moana Shopping Center boasts over 260 luxury brand shops, local specialty stores, fine-dining restaurants and an international food court.

This open-air shopping oasis has more than enough to offer every individual a phenomenal shopping experience they can take home with him and remember.

Join us in getting lost in Hawaii's largest shopping center as we spend the afternoon indulging in retail therapy...

Waikiki Aquarium

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 00:09:00 -0800

Under The Sea!
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For this Podcast we made a day trip to the Waikiki Aquarium that is located across from Kapiolani Park in Honolulu. The is something everyone in a family can enjoy no matter what age they are. The entrance fee to visit this attraction is affordable even for a college student. The aquarium has different a few rooms with different themes, for example there is a coral room with different corals and a video and a jelly fish area, a room Clair really enjoyed. All of the exhibits are interactive in some way and provide useful information on the sea life, they are even able to be understood by young children. There is an indoor area with many tanks and an outdoor area that has some stations where you can actually interact and touch some sea creatures. There are many family friendly volunteers stationed all around that are eager to answer questions and talk about the different creatures. We found the volunteers very helpful with answering some of our questions. This aquarium is a perfect size because it's not too big or too small. It is a small enough size to be able to see everything there is and has a unique assortment of animals. You are able to see them all in a reasonable amount of time. It also has a small gift shop to buy souvenirs to remember your adventure and at the entrance you are offered electronic devices that will explain a tank to you so you are able to do a self tour. This is a great place to see and learn about the beautiful and unique sea life that we have here in Hawaii.

The CLAMs w/ the GIANT Clam!

The Art Festival

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:29:00 -0800

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Looking for that ideal gift to take back home to your family and friends? The Clams have found the absolute perfect spot for shopping which is not far from the hustle and bustle of the city. .

Every Saturday & Sunday year round, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Art Festival features artists who present their artwork for viewing and sale in Waikiki on Monsarrat Avenue, across from the bandstand in Kapiolani Park. They are within view of the Pacific Ocean, in the shade of lovely Banyan trees and within walking distance of Waikiki hotels.
Here, you can discover the richness of Hawai’i through the eyes of various artists who personally present their wide range of art styles and subjects in original paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, jewelry and much much more! The friendly store owners are more than happy to explain to you how their products are made so you feel as though everything you purchase is authentic created by locals themselves.

Manoa Falls

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:25:00 -0800

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Get ready to strap up your hiking boots! This week, The Clams are taking you on one heck of a

muddy journey up the legendary Manoa falls… But first, they make a quick stop-over at the Lyon Arboretum.

Deep within the lush garden of Oahu's Manoa Valley, there lies a cool and tranquil oasis - over 193 acres of tropical botanical treasures known as the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum.
Lyon Arboretum contains approximately 7,500 types of living plants from the Pacific Basin and Asia, including 200 that are native Hawaiian. Visitors are welcome to learn a little about the different varieties of flora before they embark on their hike.

It’s muddy and cold on this rainy Sunday morning, nevertheless The Clams toughened up and made it to the top of the falls! A perfect hike for families as it is conveniently located behind the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and is well known as a relatively ‘easy’ trail.

Wai'oli Tea Room

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:10:00 -0800

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On our third podcast adventure, we ate breakfast at the Wai'oli Tea House in Manoa. It is located at 2950 Manoa Road. The Tea house is a historic landmark set amongst the beautiful green plant life that thrives in the valley. The dinning area is predominantly open air. We sat at a lovely round table for four under a canopy. It was very relaxing to sit outside and gaze at the beautiful gardens surrounding us. It did not take us long to decide what to order because everything looked so yummy on the menu. Clare ordered the Guava and Berry French Toast, Matt ordered the Breakfast Combo, Andrea ordered the Eggs Benedict and I ordered the Breakfast Burrito. The selection was really nice with a balance of sweet and savory breakfast items. Clare ordered a latte, I order tea, and Matt and Andrea ordered two very decadent looking hot chocolates. As far as breakfast places go in Honolulu, this is one of the best places to eat. The price is reasonable, the selection is good, the food quality is good, and the atmosphere is unique. It is the ideal place to go for a traditional breakfast with a Hawaiian twist. It is somewhere you must take your family when they come to visit.

Diamond Head Market and Grill

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:00:00 -0800

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Heading to the beach or just coming back from the beach, Diamond Head Market and Grill is the place to be. It is located at 3158 Monsarrat Avenue nestled at the foot of Diamond Head. They have ample amount of parking and also street parking as well. It contains both a market and outside grill. The market itself boasts an array of health foods from salads to delectable wraps. What is interesting though is the in house bakery. They make pies and cakes of all sorts but the one thing they specialize in is blueberry scones, amazing I tell you. The counter is loaded with finger foods from musubis to potato chips and everything in between. Perfect for the beach or a picnic in the park. The outside grill is the place to be. The workers are very polite and willing to serve you with a smile. The menu is littered with mouth watering entrees waiting to be eaten. Some of the entrees included portabella mushroom burgers and grilled ahi steak salads. There is something for everyone to enjoy and perfect for the family. They have both mini and regular plates so not finishing the plate is not an option. Take it to go or dine at one of their seven outside tables. Diamond Head Market and Grill is the perfect combo to a day of fun in the sun.

noreply@blogger.com (CLAMs) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:38:00 -0700

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For our first podcast we ate at Cafe Sistina.

Cafe Sistina is a Northern Italian restaurant located at 1314 King street. Louise works there and she said that the prices are very reasonable (entrees between $11-$24). She also mentioned that it had a very unique atmosphere. Overall, it sounded like the perfect place to take our families when they come to visit.

When we first arrived we sat at the beautiful long marble bar and drank a glass of wine. The server gave us a few tastes of wine to make sure that we found one we really liked. We ended up with a two reds and a white. They were all really good.

Once we were sat, the server brought us an order of the Fungi con Polenta appetizer as a special treat. Later we ordered carpaccio and caprese di melanzanne. They were all delicious.
We asked the server about the history of the restaurant and he told us that it had been around since 1990. He also explained that the owner Sergio was the artist and chef.
For dinner we shared two entrees, a risotto called Spicy Tutto Mare and a puntanesca pasta dish with sausage. They were both substantial portions and after three appitizers, it was just enough food for the four of us.
We couldn't leave without trying some of the yummy looking desserts on the dessert menu. We ended up ordering tiramisu, mango sorbetti, and a coffee liquor drink called Roman Holiday. We learned that tiramisu means "to lift one up" which makes sense because it is made with coffee and rum. The mango sorbetti was made down the street at Le Gelatria.
Overall, we had a great time. The atmoshpere was really interesting with all of the walls painted with famous italien paintings. The service was friendly and helpful yet casual which we though would be great if we were to bring out families to Cafe Sistina.