Oahu culture
June 17th, 2009 by admin
Head to downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown every first Friday of the month and dive deep into Oahu’s vibrant art scene. At each “First Friday” you can interact with local artists and artisans sharing their work.
From paintings to powerful cultural exhibits, you’ll get to see a diverse sampling of Hawaii’s artists. Art galleries open their doors with exhibits, free entertainment, and light refreshments. There are numerous restaurants and bars open offering great food and live music. Discover a buzz of activity in the streets of Chinatown where people from all over Oahu come to see what’s new on the local art scene.
First Friday runs from 5pm to 9pm, so its a perfect way to wind up your day using a Go Oahu Card. See the First Friday website for all the latest on what’s happening at the next First Friday.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
February 17th, 2009 by admin
What is Shave Ice?
This is a favorite in Hawaii and with former Hawaiian resident President Barack Obama. His picture eating this Hawaiian delicacy has been shown all over the world. Similar to Snow Cones found elsewhere, Hawaiian Shave Ice tends to be a bit finer in texture and often comes complete with a scope of ice cream over which are added condensed milk and favored ice shavings.
So where can you get real shave ice on Oahu? Listed below are arguably the three best places to sample this treat.
1-Matsumoto’s General Store: 60 years at the same location in Historic Haleiwa Town-66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, Hawaii 96712
2-Island Snow Hawaii: Kailua Beach Center, 130 Kailua Road, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, this is where the President Obama was shot eating his shave ice treat.
3-Waiola Shave Ice: 2135 Waiola Ave, Honolulu Hawaii 96805 (corner of Paani and Waiola)
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
April 2nd, 2008 by jamie a
Underwater Fun Photo uploaded by
The best way to experience a new place and culture is to listen to the amazing stories of the locals. In Hawaii, residents are extremely passionate about their homes, praising the land, the sea, and everything in between that makes them love living there. I stumbled upon a trove of wonderful accounts of the islands on GoHawaii.com called .
Instead of simply text, the website features videos of everything from swimming with manta rays in Kona and surfing with the Waikiki Beach Boys to walking on one of the world’s most active volcanoes and the history of Pearl Harbor. The videos are narrated by friendly and engaging storytellers that’ll make you want to drop everything and head straight to Hawaii.
I hope you enjoy the stories as much as I did! Let us know if you’ve got a story of your own to tell, and if you do, be sure and submit it to their site.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
March 24th, 2008 by jamie a
After a full day of sightseeing with your , head to downtown Honolulu for a performance of the Broadway musical at the Diamond Head Theatre.
The show, playing until April 6, focuses on the struggles of immigrants in San Francisco’s Chinatown trying to make it in the entertainment industry. Written by Rogers and Hammerstein, the show is based on the novel of the same name by C.Y. Lee, and features beloved songs like “I Enjoy Being a Girl” and “My Best Love.”
As a recipient of 6 Tony Award nominations and the inspiration for a 1961 musical film, this show is a piece of theatre history that’s not to be missed!
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
March 21st, 2008 by susan j
Ukulele photo uploaded by
On Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, the Honolulu Symphony will present a concert to celebrate the Golden Age of Hawaiian Music at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. This sounds like a great way for visitors to the islands to discover the music that made Hawaii famous during the 1930s to the 1960s. The evening’s program features the music of R. Alex Anderson and Charles E. King, Alfred Apaca, Kaiser’s Hawaiian Village, and others, and it promises a memorable evening of entertainment.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
March 5th, 2008 by susan j
Honolulu Festival 2007 Photo uploaded by
Planning a trip to Oahu this spring? If you’ll be in the Honolulu area during the weekend of March 14-16, then I’d definitely plan to check out the . This annual event celebrates the cultures of Asia, Pacific, and Hawaii and features dance performances and art demonstrations from Japan, Australia, Tahiti, Philippines, Republic of China, Korea, Hawaii and the mainland United States.
The festival culminates on Sunday, March 16 with the Grand Parade, which starts at Lewers Street and continues along Kalakuau Avenue. Highlights of the parade include appearances by hula dancers, dance troupes from across the Pacific, Miss Hawaii, and others. There is also a craft fair showcasing crafts from around the Pacific Rim and educational programs for kids.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
February 29th, 2008 by susan j
Chinatown photo uploaded by
Give Hawaii’s proximity to Asia, it’s no surprise that Honolulu has a thriving Chinatown. But it didn’t used to be that way. According to this , Honolulu’s Chinatown is a newly revitalized wonderland of art museums and galleries, restaurants serving live eel and pigs’ heads, night clubs pulsating with a hip, international crowd. Thanks to the local arts community and preservationists, this 20-block area now boasts more 50 restaurants and a market with vendors hawking jewelry, exotic fruits, and more.
Interested in exploring Chinatown for yourself? Check out the Hawaii Heritage Center and Chinatown Walking Tour with the Go Oahu Card.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
February 15th, 2008 by jamie a
Punchbowl Cemetery Photo uploaded by
Our fellow blogger over at the Fly Away Cafe posted focusing on the National Cemetery of the Pacific.
Mary Jo recently traveled to the island of Oahu, where she visited the Punchbowl Crater overlooking Honolulu. She writes:
In addition to its tremendous views of the city, Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Pearl Harbor, the Punchbowl is the final resting place for veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During holidays, the individual graves are decorated with small flags, making a sobering view.
It is a wonderful way to pay respects to our Veterans, as well as learn about the history of the islands that is frequently overlooked.
There’s even an , complete with stunning photographs and the story behind the Punchbowl.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
February 13th, 2008 by jamie a
Iolani Palace Photo uploaded by
Visit the only official state residence of royalty in the United States at in Honolulu.
Once the official home of Hawaii’s last two monarchs, the palace began to be restored in the 1970s and now welcomes tourists from all over the world. It is considered both a national treasure of Hawaii and a National Historic Landmark.
There’s everything from of the property to guided visits to the galleries along with . If you need a special souvenir for those back home, be sure to check out the .
To learn more about visiting the property and the history of the palace, CNN.com has an in-depth article entitled which is a great read.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
January 25th, 2008 by jamie a
An Albatross on Oahu Photo uploaded by
Besides the stunning botanical wonders that surround you, Oahu also boasts an extensive population of all kinds of birds. From marine birds to urban dwellers, keep your eyes open for these amazing creatures!
You’ll most likely stumble upon an , soaring above the beach. Whether it be a Laysan, Black-Footed, or Short-Tailed, they’ll be gliding effortlessly through the air with their whistle-like voice.
If you’re traveling to Kilauea Point, you may be lucky enough to see a , diving into the water to catch fish and squid. These birds are hard to spot, so it might be best to bring binoculars. There’s also the Masked , the Red-Footed Booby, and the Brown Booby which also plunge into the water to catch their lunch.
You’ll see birds uncommon to tropical climates like the and , who had the same idea as you by jetting off to the islands for the winter months!
While in the country, try and spot a , the state bird of Hawaii. This medium-sized goose likes to hang around golf courses, grasslands, and lowlands. Its caw is much like the Canada Goose or the ‘moo’ of a cow, surprisingly, so you’ll probably hear one before you see it.
Finally, there’s the , a tiny bright scarlet bird with a salmon-colored curled beak. Its feathers were commonly used in featherwork and it was also sung about in many ancient chants, making the bird a legend of the islands.
Planning a trip to
Oahu?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Oahu Card.
