One of our mother’s favorite Kauai restaurants is Hamura Saimin. We grew up eating at saimin restaurants, like Hall Saimin and Palace Saimin. Hall Saimin no longer exist. When I went to Kauai with our mom, Hamura was a go to. It still looks like the saimin restaurants of old. We went when it was not busy because we don’t like to wait in line. If you go during lunch and dinner, expect a line. But we went after lunch and before dinner.

We ordered and there was no real wait for the food. The only thing that the server forgot was my side beef stick. We always get saimin with beef sticks on the side. I’ve eaten this way my whole life. That day, I ordered a won ton min. The soup was kind of lukewarm, but there was still some flavor.

Lupe said that the taste of the soup base changed and I agree. But I wondered if it was that my memory of the saimin was not the same as the actual saimin. Or was it the changes that come as the restaurant changes from generation to generation. Each generation making changes that old people like myself might not want.

The one thing that is constant is the Lilikoi Chiffon Pie that I order and take home whenever I am in Kauai. It is worth the time it takes to carry it on the plane. It is worth the questions and “ahhhs” you get as you go through the TSA check. It is worth spending time savoring each time you eat it. If there is one dessert that you eat in Kauai, make it this pie. I did not share this pie at home. That is how much I loved it.

The menu http://places.singleplatform.com/hamura-saimin/menu?ref=google

Lupe said that Hee Fat has the best shaved ice that she tasted. We were told that Hee Fat had a history of being one of the oldest stores in Kauai. I assumed that it would look like the traditional old Mom and Pop store, but I was surprised to see that my assumption was wrong.

You have a choice of the traditional syrup and then organic juices from fruits. While deciding what I wanted to eat, I took the time to shop for shirts. I ordered the Rainbow because it had li hing in it, which was a bit light for my taste. Lupe ordered the Hawaiian Sunrise. Sam ordered his shave ice with organic juices. Each shave ice came with ice cream.

The best thing about the shave ice is that it is not too sweet. The amount of syrup is just right and makes it easy to enjoy. Sometimes I get shave ice and there is more of the syrup than the ice, which can be almost “cavity” sweet.

I suggest that after your meal as you drive around, stop in Kapaa and check out Hee Fat, you won’t be disappointed.

This was not planned, but it was worth my time. I was looking for omiyage to take back to the office and happened to stop in Koloa. When I walked into the shop I looked around and thought it would be easy to carry home. We started to talk with the person in the store, who was so friendly. We told him that we were in Kauai due to Hawaiian Airlines low fares and our food blog.

I started to look around and the nuts reminded me of toffee covered nuts that I loved as a child. We were offered samples and I have to say, I started to pick out flavors for my co-workers and myself. Most of the nuts were spicy and hot, which I love. There was also curried nuts and sweet nuts. I was glad to get these because for those that travel, the size makes it the perfect omiyage.

I would’ve taken a picture of the nuts, but I ate them. It was that ono, yummy.