The Chicago area, where I’ve lived most my life, is a melting pot of cultures. The Midwest is dramatically different from this scenic locale over four thousand miles from the place where I grew up. From the moment we boarded the plane for our first visit we heard “aloha” and “mahalo“. Once we got off the plane in Honolulu we saw bilingual signs, though the second language was not Spanish as it would be at home. English, Japanese and sometimes Hawaiian was printed on these signs. I remembering standing in front of two restroom doors trying to decide if I was a “kane” (man) or “wahine” (woman) since I didn’t recognize the words.

Oahu’s population is a diverse mix of cultures in which no majority is represented. Japanese are the largest minority making up over 23% of the population. Other Asians are another 32% of the demographics. White, non-Hispanic are less than 18% of the total state residents.

Sometimes I’ll ask others if they have traveled to Hawaii. A common response I hear is “No, I’ve never been outside the United States.” Hawaii is a state and has been since 1959, though it has the exotic feel of another country.

Dancing The Hula

Photo Credit: (808Talk) / © All rights reserved

Locals actively promote the Hawaiian culture through dance, stories and music at shows free to the public. The dance is “hula” and you will often find the instrument of choice to be the ukulele. Mistakenly thought to be of Hawaiian origin by many, the ukulele was actually brought to the islands by Portuguese laborers many years ago.

Sunrise From Atop Haleakala in Maui, Hawaii

Photo Credit: (Dylan Parker) / CC by-sa 2.0

The climate in Hawaii is like no other place I have visited. In this tropic region, ocean, beaches, arid desert, rain forests, mountains and snow can all be found within a few hundred miles. The peaks, valleys and ridges of the mountains influence the weather resulting in different terrain throughout the islands. You can see the line of clouds as the rain hangs on the windward side of the mountains.

As a first time visitor to Hawaii, the languages, cultures and variety of terrain endeared me and enticed me to return. Like a siren, the islands keep calling me back for more adventures.

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AprilMWilliams
CyberLife Tutors Blog http://www.cyberlifetutors.com/blog.html
Personal Blog http://aprilmwilliams.wordpress.com

Ohana Walking Tours invited our ohana to a Sunday morning jaunt with tour guide Richard Wong, a local expert on the olden days. Richard’s family has lived in Honolulu for five generations. As a young history buff, Richard researched accounts of Honolulu, Oahu and surrounding islands. Over the years he has amassed a vast collection of antique glass bottles through excavation of abandoned buildings and demolished properties. As a Honolulu police officer he often had official access into government buildings and marveled at their splendor.

We began our two-hour tour at the famous golden Kamehameha Statue on King Street in downtown Honolulu just across from Iolani Palace. It was easy to identify our guide by the Ohana Walking Tours logo on his shirt. Richard began by telling us about his family’s long history on the island of O’ahu. The tour covers Hawaii history from ancient mythology to current events. Richard covered many topics including:

• Four major Gods of nature:
  • Kane – God of all
  • Kanaloa – God of the sea
  • Lono – God of agriculture
  • Ku – God of war
• Captain Cook’s celebrated landing on the islands and his ultimate demise
• Key battles and unification of the islands
• History of the Hawaiian monarchy and the only Royal Palace in the United States
• Benefactors of Hawaii schools and State Library
• Architectural insights

As amateur history buffs ourselves, we were impressed with the quantity and quality of information Richard shared with us. He is an articulate orator and storyteller who kept our attention throughout the tour. When I looked at my watch, it seemed hard to believe two hours had flown by. Richard related these tales to us without use of notes.

Ohana Tours recommends you call to make advance reservations though if you find yourself downtown on Saturday or Sunday around 9AM, stop by the Kamehameha Statue and look for the tour guide. To make reservations or to learn more visit http://www.ohanatours.org.

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
CyberLife Tutors Blog http://cyberlifetutors.com/blog.html
Personal Blog http://aprilmwilliams.wordpress.com

The best time to take this walk is just before sunrise, before the day heats up. If you are starting from Waikiki, walk along Kalakaua Avenue and listen to the quiet of the morning. Traffic is light, mostly trucks delivering food and supplies to businesses. Say “hello” to your fellow early morning walkers and those visitors too jet lagged to sleep in. As you pass the Police Station near the Duke Kahanamoku statue, watch the surfers out catching the best waves of the day. Just outside the station, inside a fenced area are the four ancient Pohaku Stones, a gift from Tahitian healers to Hawaiian residents. Watch out for maintenance workers clearing trash or sweeping sand from the sidewalks to prepare the beach for the onslaught of sun bathers.

Continue walking past Kapiolani Park but don’t stop here before dawn. On your right, you’ll pass the huge banyan trees in front of the Waikiki Aquarium and Natatorium. Continuing along Kalakaua you will see sleepy tourists outside drinking their coffee and hotel workers clearing garden debris from the sidewalk. At the end of the park, take a right onto Diamond Head Road and begin your ascent.

This stretch can get crowded with walkers, runners, bikers and surfers early in the morning. Stay to the right and out of the traffic flow. Beautiful homes are nestled into the side of the volcano. As you pass Kaluahole, Makalei and Le’Ahi Beaches, the number of cars parked on the side of the road increase. Surfers know where the best waves are. If you want to try your luck here, be aware of a long, steep decline to get to the water on sometimes unstable slopes.

Listen to the new sounds along this stretch. Roosters crowing greetings to the new day. Other colorful birds like the Red-Crested Cardinal rustle in the branches. Keep your eyes open for mongoose darting through the rocks. A few stray cats cruise by checking out the scene. Check out the view over the Pacific as the sky begins to brighten.

Soon you will pass Diamond Head Lighthouse. The original was built in 1899 and replaced in 1917. The Fresnel lens shines brightly warning ships away from the jagged shoreline. Take in the view from the street as this lighthouse stands on the current residence of the 14th Coast Guard District Commander and is not open to the public.

Continue along past Kuilei Cliffs beach where you can rest your weary feet for a moment on the lava rock wall. Say hello to the master gardeners who keep this tropical garden trim and neat. This is a prime spot to wait for the sun to crest the ocean as the day officially begins.

Next up is the Amelia Earhart Monument and parking area. Watch out for buses as this is a favorite spot for tour guides to stop for photos. The Pacific views and beaches below are breathtaking. Look along the coast to the left and see Black Point and Doris Duke’s Shangri La. Built in the 1930’s, you can now tour the home and Islamic treasures Duke collected.

Across the street is Diamond Head Park, endowed by Muriel Flanders, and can be identified by the plaque on a large stone. She led the effort to replace the weeds and garbage with native plants. We are not quite at the half way point. Let’s continue on our walk.

As we reach the top of the rise, we will take a left as Diamond Head Road turns and Kahala Road goes straight along the coast. The large park at the intersection is a common gathering spot for charity walks and other events. Now we begin our long descent on the inland side of Diamond Head.

On the right, we pass Fort Rutger Military Reservation. Several buildings out in front and gates on the side of the road further along are made from lava rocks. Few remnants remain of the former Officers Club on the left side of the street. Also on the left is the driveway into Diamond Head State Park. If you still have energy, walk into the park then hike to the top of Diamond Head for spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, Waikiki, and Honolulu. On your .8 mile hike you will climb 560 feet above the crater floor.

If you are not up for that hike, check out the outdoor workout area in the park on the right in front of Kapiolani Community College. Then walk to the front of the college for a tour of their cactus garden and views of Kahala and Koko Head Crater. If this is Saturday morning, check out the farmers market in the college parking lot. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and delectable treats await you. Pick up a cup of Kona coffee to sip while you shop. Taste island and other exotic dishes, even bakery items. As you get back to your walk, check out the Peace Garden nestled in the hillside across from the college entrance.

Now we are on the home stretch. Honolulu and Waikiki stand before you. Diamond Head Road becomes Monsarrat Avenue as we return to the Diamond Head neighborhood. Check out the stores and restaurants like the Diamond Head Market and Grill.

Continue under the tree canopy as you walk along the fence outside the Honolulu Zoo. On the weekends, local artists display their art on the fence and chat with each other or work on new art pieces. On your right is the Waikiki Shell where you can enjoy the outdoors and listen to music. We are back at Kapiolani Park. Check out the gazebo and statues or sit on a park bench and take in the sights.

What a great way to start the day. Now you won’t feel guilty about lounging on Waikiki Beach during the afternoon.

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
Blog http://cyberlifetutors.com/blog.html

Sometimes the jackpot is as small as a prescription pill container with a piece of paper rolled up inside so you can log your visit. Some containers are so tiny; you need to bring your own pencil. Other containers are as large as a Tupperware food saver or an army surplus ammunition box filled with trinkets. Our geocaching equipment includes a bag of tchotchkes (swag) that we swap based on the theme of the geocache.

For me though, the fun is not in finding the treasure, but the thrill of the hunt. We geocache while in Hawaii as an activity to challenge our brain and seek out new adventures.

This is a hobby that both family and friends can participate in. My husband and I often take others with us to introduce them to the hobby. We took keiki with us to the Honolulu Zoo to find their first cache. When we returned to the island, their first question for us is “Are you going to go geocaching?” Other times we need subject matter expertise. One of the geocaches in the north shore required solving a puzzle to figure out the coordinates. Ten car logos were pictured from different auto manufactures around the world. After identifying the car model and country of origin, the digits of the location could be determined. I recruited a couple of world traveling gear heads to help figure out that one out.

While geocaching we learn about local history. A geocache is hidden on the estate of the last reigning Hawaiian monarch, Queen Lydia Liliuokalani. The site overlooks the drainage canal built to convert water logged taro fields into dry land becoming Waikiki.

A multi-stage geocache requires several stops. At each site you visit, you find clues to identify the next location. We learned about local leaders during a 5 stage history tour to five statues along Waikiki. Each statue had a plaque which told a story. There is Father Damien, who came from Belgium, to Hawaii in 1864. He devoted the rest of his life to the leper settlement on the island of Molokai before succumbing to the disease himself. He has been nominated for sainthood. During the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy led by U.S. business men, Princess Kaiulani spearheaded a campaign to restore the throne. Beloved native son, Duke Kahanamoku, born of Hawaiian royalty, was a swimming sensation earning 5 Olympic medals. “The Duke,” starred in Hollywood movies and is known as “The father of modern surfing.”

You can get a good workout in a day hiking up Diamond Head, the extinct volcano which stands at the east end of Waikiki. If you have comfy shoes, cache your way around the volcano on foot enjoying a heart healthy work out and spectacular views of the Pacific, Waikiki and downtown Honolulu.

Get away from the crowds and cache in Kailua. There are finds along both the busy and the quiet parts of the beach. Don’t forget your sunscreen and snorkel gear. You’ll be hungry after a day of swimming and caching. Check out the yummy handmade cookie store in town for a snack.

When you are on Oahu, you don’t have to go far to find these treasures. There are hundreds of local finds. From the crowded pedestrian malls of Chinatown to the top of Diamond Head to the shores of Kailua, there is a cache for every interest and ability.

While we are getting our exercise, learning about the area and catching up with friends and family, we also pick up trash. We carry in a couple of empty garbage bags to snatch up any litter we spy while we are out. This is referred to as “cache in, trash out.”

You can learn more about the hobby at geocaching.com. I enjoy the opportunity to combine time with my family, brain exercise, and physical activity all in one hobby. If you like history, culture and the great outdoors, you should give geocaching a try.

A quick look at some geocaching in and around Honolulu: http://tr.im/higeocaching

About this guest blogger:
April M. Williams is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and a great friend of 808Talk.

Learn more about April by visiting her at the websites below.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilmwilliams
Twitter http://twitter.com/AprilMWilliams
Blog http://cyberlifetutors.com/blog.html

So this year, I’m feeling the need to celebrate all things frigid. I cranked the A/C on Christmas Day so I could wear something long-sleeved. When it’s rainy, I secretly rejoice (sorry to all the visitors for the bad karma). I eat far too much eggnog-flavored ice cream.

And I finally went to visit the penguin colony at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Granted, these are warm-weather penguins from Africa so they’re probably more comfortable in a hot tub than on an ice floe, but allow me to indulge in the fantasy.

This absolutely FREE exhibit features about a half-dozen African black-footed penguins, happily frolicking for visitors. They’re so cute, you want to reach out and pet them. Males are banded on the right wing, females on the left. They’re fed at 8 a.m., so pop by in the morning and get an extra treat.

While you’re there, you’re not limited to just ogling penguins. Stroll around the Hilton Hawaiian Village grounds and you’ll see flamingos, noisy macaws and more koi than you can shake a stick at. My personal favorite was the wood ducks that let you get so close, you could almost pet them. But that would be bad. So just stick to looking, folks, and enjoy!

For more information visit http://tr.im/hiltonwildlife

For Kama’aina, the location makes you feel a little like you’re on vacation right at home. Visitors to our islands can catch a nice view of the western side of the island and enjoy the resort without having to pay the steep prices. I’d suggest dining at Azul restaurant in the main hotel, or take in the Paradise Cove Luau, also located right at the resort. Sit on the beach a spell, then head over to gorge yourself. Life just doesn’t get better.

The four manmade lagoons are mostly sheltered from rough surf making it perfect for everyone, keiki included. Swimming here is also easy because the Marriott folks have nicely cleared away all sharp volcanic rock from the ocean floor. Snorkeling near the rocks can be good—I’ve seen honu and lots of cool fish. No sharks, thank goodness.

One note: the parking is notoriously slim. I’d suggest getting there early or late (after 4 p.m.) in order to snag a spot. Also, immediately before the first lagoon is a large parking lot, but only the back is open to the public.

For directions to the resort, visit the resort website at http://www.koolina.com

So I was happy to find the blissfully un-crowded Ka’ena Point trail on Oahu’s North Shore. The hike is easy, only about 5 miles roundtrip, but bring lots of water and a snack—there’s virtually no shade along the way.

The whole trail provides fantastic views up to Oahu’s westernmost point: natural stone arches, noisy blowholes and big tide pools. If you hike in winter, you’ll see the largest waves in the state—sometimes reaching 40 feet. At the point, you can get lucky and spot sharks in the water or a coastal seabird’s nest.

The best part was that unspoiled feeling: there were locals fishing along rocky outcroppings and kids running along the trail, playing tag. We were even treated to a group of nudists frolicking in a tide pool (but don’t quote me on that one—there are no bare-bottom guarantees).

It’s an easy drive from H1. Take the highway west to the end and just keep going, continuing on Hwy 93 and 930 until the road ends at Ka’ena Point State Park.

Park at the far end of the beach, right at the trailhead. Unless you have a serious 4-wheel-drive, don’t attempt to take your car up the trail. Make sure to never leave valuables in the car. It’s just plain dumb to tempt sticky fingers.

Though there’s a northern hike to the point from the Mokule’ia side, I wouldn’t suggest it. It’s much more dusty and frequented by four-wheelers who tear around the dunes. Cool for them, not so cool for us. Happy trekking!

Ka’ena State Park is open daily during daylight hours. Park includes restrooms, trash cans and payphone. Visit http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/ for more information.