Aloha Honey

Three of my favorite things in life are traveling, eating, and writing—not necessarily in that order. This blog is a combination of all three. In every novel I write, I consider the setting a character as important as any other. My goal is to capture the spirit of a place and its people in a way that honors them, their home, and immerses the reader in the world of the characters. And in doing so, hope to take the reader to places, tastes, and experiences they might otherwise miss—an imaginary vacation. The places—whether it’s somewhere I’ve lived, traveled to often, or visited for the first time—each time I picture my characters there. I research, plot, observe, and take tons of photos. No encounter or experience goes to waste. In the end, it all finds a way into a book at some point.

And then there is the food. Before my husband and I travel anywhere, I always scope out local specialties, restaurants, and hidden culinary gems. It cracks me up because I diet like a madwoman for months, obsessing over fitting into specific outfits for a trip. And still, I spend a crazy amount of time planning our next gastronomical adventure. Whether it’s a garlic shrimp food truck on the North Shore of Oahu, gumbo in New Orleans or Michelin guide veal cannelloni in Siena, guaranteed, if an outfit is snug at the start of a trip, it won’t fit by the end. Which is one reason I love purses and sunglasses. No one ever said, “Your butt looks fat in that purse or suck it in so I can get these sunglasses over your ears.” Right?

And now we arrive at the truly rewarding part—the pure joy of storytelling. I have two daughters and a passion for writing for women, especially young women. Inspired by them as I am led on this writing journey with every word I put on the page. Every morning, I wake up eager to start my day and often have to tear myself away from the computer, usually surprised when my husband walks through the door at 5 p.m.. If I’m on a roll, the man, bless his heart, loves a turkey sandwich. Having said all that, I’ve started writing my fifth book, High Ground, the third and final installment of my Romantic Suspense Parting Glass series. Only recently returning from a once-in-a-lifetime trip, where a stop in the beautiful region of Tuscany was made to perform research for pivotal events that will unfold during the second act.

But for this first post, I’m starting with another place close to my heart—Hawai’i. Specifically Waikiki. A place I’ve been fortunate to visit many times, and where a significant part of God Calls Me Honey takes place—a contemporary romance with a sprinkle of rom-com. The inspiration for the story about a runaway bride/bikini designer and a Navy SEAL came to me during a trip to Oahu for July 4th and the annual MacFarlane Outrigger Regatta. An incredible event where canoe clubs from all over Hawai’i compete. We stayed at one of my all-time favorite hotels, The Moana Surfrider, which first opened in Waikiki in 1901—a key setting in the novel.

I understand Honolulu is touristy and not for everyone, but it has more nostalgic charm than it gets credit for and is a great way to spend a few days while in the islands. And I have a soft spot for historic hotels, and this one is a top pick. Enjoying an ice-cold Mai-Tai under the courtyard banyan tree or sitting in a rocking chair gazing past the white columns on the plantation-style porch captures the aloha spirit. I almost expect Elvis to appear and start singing ‘Blue Hawaii.’ (yes, just for me).

This timeless gem is on Waikiki’s main drag, Kalakaua Ave., next to the famous pink hotel, The Royal Hawaiian. The second hotel built in Waikiki in 1927. And my dad’s favorite since being stationed at Pearl Harbor during WWII. These two icons embody old-world Hawaiian charm serving as majestic gateways between the lively dining and upscale shopping of Kalakaua and the blue-green waves of the Pacific rolling onto the white sands of Waikiki Beach.

If you want to splurge, I suggest an ocean view room in the Historic Building. The rooms are small but charming. And in Hawai’i, who spends time in their room except to shower, sleep, and …? Plus, you can watch adorable sea turtles from your window. They tend to congregate in the southwest corner. If you prefer a larger, more modern atmosphere, I’d choose a tower room on the opposite side of the hotel. Also, this is not a huge resort. While it has three restaurants, a spa, shops, and all the usual vacation amenities, it doesn’t stretch on for miles. If that’s what you’re after, I’d recommend a property off Waikiki.

And while the beach is usually crowded, the wonderfully nostalgic Hawaiian experience is worth it. But if you seek a little more privacy, the hotel offers stationary sand chairs and umbrellas for rent in a designated area for guests, which includes food and beverage service (but not alcohol). A walk to the pool bar is needed for a golden Mai Tai. If full service is your preference, I recommend a lounge chair by the pool or an ocean facing poolside cabana. (But book the day before as soon as the pool desk opens—there are only four cabanas, and they fill up quickly).

If you’re looking to escape the sun, the Beach Bar restaurant is tucked under a stunning banyan tree. My favorite dish is the poke nachos—wonton chips topped with local ahi, guacamole, bonito flakes, kizami nori, and sriracha aioli. They’re absolutely delicious. Love a good burger? Theirs is the perfect juicy beach treat, served with sweet Maui onion confit and crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside garlic fries. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

Also, I have never had a bad Mai-Tai in the islands, and I consider myself an expert on the subject. A pool attendant at the Moana once tried to convince me to do a Mai Tai crawl and rank my favorites in a book. Not such a good idea for me, it would be like a mother picking a favorite child. The Moana offers several variations—I prefer the classic. Why mess with perfection?

Duke’s Restaurant next door has an excellent selection of fresh local fish and also makes a mean Mai Tai served up in their signature tiki glass. Dukes sits on the beach, with a cool Hawaiian vibe and tiki torches lining the perimeter. Lovely ladies make leis in the lobby, and during dinner, local musicians often wander through the restaurant playing Hawaiian music. A suggestion: Please, for the love of Duke Kahanamoku, don’t request a song from the Disney movie Moana. Either find a classic Hawaiian song you love or let them choose. You can thank me later.

As for the food, although it’s nothing new, we always start with the calamari or the coconut shrimp, neither of which is as good anywhere on the mainland. They also have an amazing salad bar. I know this kind of thing went out with COVID, but theirs is a must-try. If a salad bar isn’t your thing, they also serve a pretty good Caesar. For the main course, I love the macadamia nut-crusted local fish—so fresh. The mango BBQ ribs sourced from a local farm are also an excellent choice. And for dessert, save room for the world-famous Hula Pie — chocolate cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, toasted macadamias, and whipped cream. If any of this sounds good to you, call the restaurant directly after booking your plane ticket. They tend to fill up months in advance. I could go on forever about restaurants and food. No wonder my clothes don’t fit. But I have one more menu recommendation. It’s about a half-mile walk from the hotel: Roy’s and the Jumbo Garlic Parmesan Black Tiger Shrimp resting atop crab ravioli. It is hands down one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Enough said.

God Calls Me Honey’s story takes place in Waikiki and Hale’iwa, plus a few chapters in Kauai. The second book in the standalone series, God Calls Me Sunshine, opens on Oahu’s North Shore with a best friend connection and ends in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Both books are semi-finalists for the American Christian Fiction Writers 2025 Genesis Award. Next month’s ACFW annual conference will announce the finalists and winners.

And on a more personal note: close since middle school, I’ve been trying to get my friend Patti to Hawai’i for decades. Patti loves the Caribbean and was completely uninterested in a Hawaiian vacation—until she test-read God Calls Me Honey (a best friend requirement). Two chapters in, she called and said, “I want to go to Hawai’i.” By the end of the book, she requested we visit all the places represented. We went on the following July 4th for her husband’s birthday. It was during that trip (and another in North Carolina),  God Calls Me Sunshine, was conceived. I’d love offer more detail, but I don’t want to spoil anything by divulging more.

One last note: my books are not yet available for purchase. I’m pursuing traditional publishing, and it’s been a more arduous journey than I expected. But I remind myself that if God showed us the entire path, we’d probably never take a single step forward. So I keep writing and honing my craft while working through queries, proposals, and elevator pitches getting closer everyday.

For an overview of my books, visit www.kellylobato.com. And Five Minutes With Kelly, a fun/observational writing sample, can be received monthly along with publishing updates by signing up for priority access.

Mahalo for your visit.

Aloha,

Kelly

 

Kelly Lobato is not affiliated with any of the businesses or places mentioned. The recommendations are based on experience and personal opinions formed during book research.