Hawaii is known as the ‘Rainbow’ state! If you visit here, you are guaranteed to see some spectacular rainbows and views. A normal day in Hawaii consists of a rainbow, especially during the rainy season! And the best part is… rainbows never get old! They always seem to mesmerize us no matter how many we have seen. So, why does Hawaii have so many rainbows?

How do rainbows form?

The recipe for a rainbow is quite simple. Basically, you need some sunshine and some rain. Each droplet in a rain shower acts as a mini prism. The droplet bends and bounces light. The light waves refract as it enters the droplet, reflect off the back of the droplet, and then refract once more as it leaves the droplet. Since each color wavelength has different energies, they refract at slightly different angles, allowing the colors to separate out into the spectrum we see in a rainbow. The more uniform the raindrops are in size, the more distinct are the colors of the rainbow.

Why does Hawaii have so many rainbows?

The combination of constant cloud coverage, trade winds, mountainous terrain, and clean air all contribute to rainbow sightings in the islands of Hawaii. The mountain tops force the trade winds coming from the ocean to rise and cool. This creates rain showers, and holes in the clouds where the sun can enter. Hawaii which is known for its very clean marine air, and clean atmosphere because we are far from pollution. The clean air makes for strong sunshine, and that strong sun helps produce a vibrant rainbow.

Hawaiian culture and rainbows

In Hawaii, rainbows are on the license plates of cars and Hawaii state drivers licenses and identifications. The ‘Rainbow Warriors’ are literally the mascot of the University of Hawaii!
In the Hawaiian language and culture, rainbows (anuenue)  symbolize a boundary. The veil between the realms of gods, and the realms of humans. Rainbows also signify the presence of supernatural, royalty and sacred entity.

What season is best in Hawaii for rainbows?

The winter time, or rainy season (November-April) is the best time to sight rainbows. You will see them almost everyday! The best time to spot them is early morning or evening when the sun is low and common rain showers occur.

At this point, sometimes when we look out the window we can even recognize the “rainbow weather”. This is where we feel and see the magic happening. It’s a kind of golden glow where the rain is drizzling lightly, or a dark grey cloud is in the distance and the sun is also shining very golden. Every time this happens, I go outside and immediately spot a breathtaking array of colors in the sky. It almost reminds me of the Northern Lights, Hawaiian style!

No matter what time of the year you choose to visit, your odds of seeing a rainbow are extremely high! Whether or not you actually do see a rainbow, there is still plenty of beauty surrounding the Hawaiian Islands to see and explore. From the mountains to the oceans, there are endless cracks and crevices to adventure and it never gets old! Who knows, you might even end up moving here too 🙂

Your plane just landed on Maui, and the fresh aroma of tropical air and flowers greets you. After getting settled in, you will be itching to get out and explore! Some people come to Maui on family trips, some on honeymoons or as a couple, and others visit with their friends or even solo! Whatever the occasion, most likely there will be some or lots of drinking going on! The main question is, what are the 6 best cocktail bars in Maui, and where do I find them?!

Monkeypod Kitchen

Merrimans

Tiki Lounge

The Pint and Court

Down the Hatch

Vana Paia

A crepe is made from 3 simple ingredients: eggs, flour and milk and resembles a very thin pancake. Crepes are popular in France. It is said that the history of crepes dates back to the 13th of Century Brittany, France. A housewife accidentally dripped some porridge onto a hot cooktop! During this time, people were not inclined to wasting their food so she ate it and that’s how the crepe began! Now, these delicious plates are being served everywhere from street food to fine dining restaurants. Crepe batter is thinner than pancake batter and typically has more eggs in it to keep the thin pancake flexible and easy to bend. This makes it perfect for filling it with food and wrapping it together. We have created a crepe recipe that is simple yet enjoyable! Read below to learn how to make the perfect crepe.

How we make them

Belle Surf Cafe has a pretty diverse menu and we were also known for serving mouth watering crepes. Due to the pandemic, our crepes are not currently offered on the menu. One day, when we are back to hosting customers at full capacity and as busy as we were pre-pandemic, we will be able to bring the crepes back!

We make our crepes on a crepe griddle. First we let the griddles warm up very hot before using them. Once they are ready, then you pour oil on the griddle, and use a paper towel to spread the oil evenly across the surface. Then, you pour one cup worth of batter onto the griddle. Using a crepe batter spreader, you guide the batter in a circular motion around the surface until it is one big circular crepe, kind of like the shape of a big tortilla. Now, you let the crepe cook and become bubbly. Once it’s ready, you flip it using a special spatula!

Fillings

Now, this is when your chance comes to fill the crepe with whatever you are most excited to eat. The most typical French filling is with lemon and sugar. However, We offer many more sweet options too! Nutella, bananas, strawberries, honey, and more! Or, you can opt for a savory taste with bacon, egg, cheese, veggies, etc.
All of them are absolutely delicious! Once you have added your toppings and they are cooked, you may fold the crepe. Let it cook a little bit more and bon appetite!

This is how we would make them at Belle Surf Cafe but there are many different ways or variations of making crepes, whether it is at home in your pan with alternative ingredients, or a cafe in Paris!
Here is a simple recipe to get started so that you can learn how to make the perfect crepe. Try this at home, it is fun for the whole family!

Easy French Crepes:

Ingredients:

1 2/3 Cup Plain / All Purpose Flour
1 Tbsp Caster Sugar or fine white sugar
One pinch of salt
2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (melted)
2 Cups Full Cream Milk
3 Eggs

Instructions:

1. Melt the butter and set aside to cool down
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the plain flour, sugar and salt. Create a well or hole in the middle of the bowl.
3. Mix the melted butter and milk, then pour about 2/3 of the batter into the well. Mix well with a whisk until you get a thick batter.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, then add them to the batter. Whisk until combined and smooth-make sure there are no big lumps anywhere.
5. Add the rest of the butter / milk liquid and whisk well until all combined. You should have a rather liquid batter. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge to rest for at least an hour, or up to 24 hours.
6. Heat up a non-stick skillet or crepe pan on medium/high heat and great it with a little bit of butter or oil.
   Pour a small cups worth of batter onto the pan.
7. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until the edges of the crepe start to lift up. Use a wooden spatula to get under the crepe and flip! Now, cook the other side for about 1 minute.
8. Place the cooked crepe on a plate and repeat this until you have cooked all of the batter! Adjust the temperature of the stove if needed, and re-grease the pan between each crepe if they seem to stick to it.Well, now you know how to make the perfect crepe! A fun way to make breakfast and practice your cooking skills! Enjoy this crepe recipe with your friends or family. It is exciting to gather a bunch of different toppings and figure out your favorite combination. Enjoy!