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}

gourmet cooking hawaii

chef mavro at work

island & visiting foodies, whether they have hawaii's finest restaurants on speed dial or, due to budgetary constraints, must be content to be an armchair gastronomist, have a chance to take a peek behind the kitchen door via gourmet cooking hawaii which offers cooking classes with notable island chefs. classes are scheduled a few times a year and the price of admission ($125 to $185 depending on the restaurant) gives you access into the islands' hottest kitchens where you have a chance to learn a trick or two from the chef and his staff.

participating chefs willing to reveal a few of their culinary secrets to the public include george mavrothalassitis of chef mavro and rodney uyehara of the recently shuttered bistro at century center. classes are limited in size (15 for chef mavro & 25 for chef uyehara) to allow for more personalized instruction and each three hour class ends with a well deserved food & wine tasting. and you won't leave empty handed since students also score a goody bag filled with gourmet treats made in the islands plus recipes to continue their culinary journey at home.

gch also organizes private cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs like sam choy & roy yamaguchi which would certainly add the wow factor to a corporate event or private affair.

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.

pineapple painting tours

 

two local artists have a novel approach to bringing back a souvenir to remember your holiday . . . create it yourself. pineapple painting tours offers the chance to tap into your inner gauguin and take home a piece of art made by you. yes, you could just head over to the weekend art mart at the honolulu zoo and buy something but this sounds like a lovely diversion for those who have an artsy side and are looking to do something other than the typical tourist activities.

the tour specializes in the plein air style which means you will be painting on location at scenic spots around oahu. transportation from waikiki hotels is included as are art supplies and, most important, instruction from professional artists so chances are good that your creation will be worthy enough to add to your personal art collection when you get home.

{update | jan 2010: pineapple painting tours seems to be no more}