Photo Credit: Tor Johnson, Hawai‘i
Tourism Authority
What
are some of the “things” or activities that people in
O'ahu do for fun?
ANSWER:Get out and surf! The island of O‘ahu is known
as “the gathering place.” Fittingly, the water that surrounds
the island is also a gathering place. The water is shared by a diverse
blend of people from different ethnicities, ages, and all walks of life,
all drawn to the magnificent waves to “hit the surf.” Head
to Waikiki to surf the waves as the royal Hawaiians did. Known in Hawaiian
as “spouting waters,” Waikiki was once a playground for Hawaiian
royalty. The gentle waves of Waikiki are perfect for first-timers.
Photo Credit: Joe Solem, Hawai‘i
Tourism Authority
What's one thing the
public probably does NOT know about O‘ahu?
ANSWER:Honolulu
is home to Iolani
Palace, the official residence of Hawai‘i’s monarchy.
Located in the heart of historic Honolulu, the Palace is a National
Historic Landmark and the only official state residence of royalty in
the United States. Influenced by European architectural styles, this
royal residence included Hawai‘i’s first electric light system,
flush toilets, dramatic portraits of Hawaiian royalty, ornate furniture
and royal gifts and ornaments from around the world.
Duke Kahanamoku. Photo Credit: O‘ahu
Visitors Bureau
What has O‘ahu contributed to
the world?
The Aloha Spirit! It is all encompassing and has no
boundaries. It’s something that is to be experienced and shared.
Aloha can be translated to mean love, affection, compassion and kindness.
It is a way of life.
Three Musical Pilgrimages: Mozart, Grieg and Hendrix
Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
could read and compose music, plus play the violin and piano, when he was
five years old. Born into a musical family in Salzburg, Austria (then the
Holy Roman Empire), he had a unique ability for imitating music, which first
became evident when he recited a musical piece by simply observing his father
conducting a lesson to his older sister. This led to a childhood on the
road, where the young prodigy performed before many of the royal courts
of Europe.
Treasures of Ireland: The Irish Goodbye (Dispatch
#20)
The Palladian Traveler brings to a close his 20-part
series on the Emerald Isle from an upscale restaurant in downtown Dublin
where he files his final dispatch and then quietly slips away.
Two "MUST SEE" Truly Spectacular Places
in Europe. Here's Why.
The Han Grotto and Culzean Castle. As the name
of my Traveling Boy feature is "Travel With a Difference," it's
important to me to always bring you offbeat and unusual tourist places around
the world you may not know about. These two fit that category to a T, and
they're absolutely worth a visit. One's in Scotland and one's in Belgium.
Culzean (pronounced CULLANE) Castle is located near Maybole, Carrick, on
the Ayrshire coast of Scotland.
Highway 49 Revisited: Exploring California's
Gold Country
In the 1840s, the population of California was only
14,000, but by 1850 more than 100,000 settlers and adventurers had arrived
from all over the world – and they came for one reason: gold. James
Marshall had discovered the first gold nugget at Sutter’s Mill in El
Dorado County, creating the largest gold rush in history.
Lake Charles’ Family-Size Low-Key Mardi Gras
The Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras in Lake Charles,
the second largest in Louisiana, does not need parents there to avert their
children’s eyes. This is family entertainment and children are very
much part of it. The main office of the Lake Charles CVB has costumes from
last year’s Mardi Gras but it also has figures to fascinate little
ones from country boys fishing for their dinner to alligators who have already
fed and are rubbing their stomachs.
Puerto Vallarta: Magic and Mayhem on the Malecon
So I heard that you could spend from dawn to dusk on
the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and never get bored and I thought,
"Okay, I'm up for that challenge." Well, maybe not the dawn part
– I'm not a morning person – so I had no problem leaving those
early hours to the joggers and those seeking an early start to catch their
red snapper for dinner.
Relaxing at The Inn at Laguna Beach
There is nothing like sleeping in an ocean-front room
and awakening to the sounds of waves crashing against the sand. It is
one of the finer things in life. And it is exactly what I experienced
recently on a memorable getaway to The Inn at Laguna Beach. The adventure
began when a friend I pulled off the 5 Freeway in Orange County and took
SR 133 south nine miles through winding lush hills and wilderness areas
to the ocean.
Tahiti and Her Islands
Just their names (pronounce each vowel!) conjure up romantic
images: Tahiti Nui, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Ra'iatea, Taha'a. Her
people are gentle; the air, tiare-perfumed. Warm lagoons, majestic peaks,
tropical fruits from the land and bounty from the sea all tantalize the
senses. Paradise! As near as can be found on planet earth. And, in my
experience, the finest way to explore her is on a ship designed for that
single purpose.
