Thursday, August 26, 2010

Oasis

photograph by Sam Mitzel


It occurred to me that you may want to read about something other than me adjusting to my new life on the most remote island in the world! Maybe you want to know about the people and places that make the island so beautiful and rewarding to live on. I am an employed writer for a Hawaii travel blog and thought I'd share some of my previous posts with you. Come for a  virtual visit to Kauai every Thursday and you will find information on where to go and what to do in this tropical paradise. If there is a specific place or event that you'd like to know about, email me and I'll write a post about it. Otherwise, every Sunday I will write about the progress and adventures Dan, Baxter, Lucy and I are making adapting to island life. 


Tucked away behind the Waipouli Resort in Kapa’a is Oasis on the beach. Walking through the elaborate hotel, a koi pond embellishes the entrance to the courtyard. Your senses come alive as you follow along a winding path lined with hibiscus and indigenous vegetation toward the ocean. Sounds of birds chirping and ocean waves mix with the melody of children laughing and playing in the pool, a serpentine like river switchbacking throughout the courtyard. Adults relax with a book and order snack foods from the pool side cafe. 
Walking into Oasis is like walking into an idyllic beachfront bar with a touch of sophistication. Inside, the floor to ceiling windows are wide open inviting the ocean breeze to sweep through and cool you off. A solid wood, hand-carved Outrigger canoe serves as the bar and seating spills outside onto the lanai.
Oasis proudly serves locally sourced specialties with appetizers, lunch, dinner and tropical drinks, including the house made Mai Tai. Appetizers such as Kauai Shrimp Cakes with a Chili and Black Bean Glaze and entrees like Rosemary Crusted Pork Chop and Pan Seared “Catch of the Minute” are featured on the small, well thought out menu. Working closely with Kauai’s farmers, ranchers and fishermen, ninety percent of their food is local.
On a typical evening, Hawaiian music serenades you into a tropical stupor but occasionally, bands with a youth driven edge play. This past Saturday my husband and I went to see The Throwdowns, a ska band, playing to benefit Surfrider Kauai. Whenever you come, you’re sure to enjoy the local music commingling in a seductive dance with the sounds of the ocean. 
This is where I go to have a drink and relax, celebrate a special occasion or bring friends and family visiting from the mainland. With it’s beautiful ocean view, tasteful tropical decor and fresh local food, Oasis is pure and elegant Kauai.