hina adventures

 

the saturday travel post is back after an unintentional hiatus just in time for summertime!

today is all about hina adventures, a company owned by two local girls which specializes in cultural eco tours of oahu. one of the coolest things about hina is that both travelers and locals are welcome to join them on one of their many explorations around oahu. this is a very good thing since i know more than a few kama'aina who would enjoy learning more about all the historical hot spots that are literally in their backyard but may not know where to begin.

hina owners ena & uluwehi spent many years as eco guides and their backgrounds include stints as a vatican tour guide and voyaging to rapa nui. their passion for the islands really shines on their super informative website which is filled with field notes about the various sites to give you a sneak peek of what you can expect on your adventure.

there's a tour for everyone whether you want to stargaze, pay your respects at an ancient heiau, or scout the island's terrain on a custom hiking adventure with the safety & knowledge of an experienced guide. and for the socially conscious traveler, twice a month hina offers their ho'olaulima community service project/tour where you get to roll up your sleeves and help maintain one of the island's sacred sites.

{update | jan 2010: alas, hina adventures shuttered last summer}

star gazing at sea

the thought of watching a meteor shower while floating on a boat is one of those things that has captured my fancy ever since i stumbled upon the wild side specialty tours website a few years ago. you have to head out to the west side to enjoy this overnight off the beaten path adventure which only sets sail when the stars are aligned and mother nature has chosen to cooperate.

tours head out in time to catch the sunset and, after dinner is served on board, it's time to be schooled in celestial navigation 101 while the crew shares voyaging tales and island legends as you snuggle down and wait for the star show to kick off in the wee hours of the night.

wild side's crew of marine biologists also take guests out for morning wildlife tours of the waianae coast and you can always opt for a sunset sailing if a meteor shower is not in the stars. the company operates on the not-just-for-profit philosophy with tour proceeds helping to fund their wild dolphin foundation which also offers volunteer opportunities for those who dream of the life aquatic and want to tap into their inner jacques cousteau.

{photo credit: tori cullins, wild dolphin foundation}

lava roy's ocean adventure

lava meets sea

my fella is totally fascinated with lava especially after we paid a visit to volcanoes national park on our honeymoon. since then he has talked about trekking into the park to camp and explore the lava fields (which is why i made him watch man vs. wild's survival guide to kilauea).

i know i am off the hook for that little adventure however i also know that he would dig watching the lava flow into the sea. a helicopter tour is out and, for safety reasons, you cannot get too close by land, however it is now possible to gaze at the plumes of smoke as the lava hits the pacific with lava roy's ocean adventure which operates a unique sizzling sunset tour.

the owner is a coast guard captain who pilots a ship aptly named the protector. tours take guests down the kalapana coast to a viewing point of the active lava flow where you can be mesmerized by the work of pele from the relative safety of the boat. tours are only available when weather permits so be sure to contact captain roy in advance to find out when the next sailing is scheduled.

{photo credit: hawaii tourism authority}

mauka makai excursions

pu'u o mahuka heiau

locals know there is so much more to oahu than the postcard scenes depicting waikiki so if you are a traveler ready to discover the real hawaii (beyond the glossy brochures and package bus tours) you will definitely want to hook up with mauka makai excursions. the small native hawaiian owned eco-tour company offers intimate cultural walking tours taking guests off the beaten path to parts of the island many visitors never see.

while exploring the 'aina (land), guides share stories and legends of the people of old (ka po'e o kahiko), the history and rituals of the native hawaiians, and the cultural significance of the plants and flowers found on the island. tours are available to different parts of oahu and mauka makai also offers custom shoreline fishing tours for those who would like to learn how to throw a fishing net hawaiian style, spend an evening torch fishing, or go tide pooling with your keiki.

take a peek at the star-bulletin to learn more about the company's mission to protect the 'aina while preserving and sharing the culture of hawaii.

{update | jan 2010: company website has been taken down}

eco whale watching

with whale season in full swing, consider booking a trip with the non-profit pacific whale foundation which just happens to operate an award winning eco-friendly tour company on maui. marine naturalists are on board to educate guests on ocean life and hydrophones are used to listen to the mystical whale sounds emanating beneath the water.

one way they are minimizing their impact on the earth is by taking guests out on biodiesel powered sea vessels to explore the pacific and choosing biodegradable tableware & 100% post-consumer recycled paper products. 85% of their income is reinvested into the foundation's research work and ocean outreach program which includes the kid friendly discovery center.

the foundation's whale day festival takes place next weekend (sat, feb 17th) with a parade, whale race (inspired by the great hawaiian rubber duckie race), crafters, food booths & a music stage that has booked island artists amy hanaiali'i gilliom, barefoot natives, john cruz, george kahumoku, jr. & raitea helm to perform.

take a peek at tripadvisor for reviews.