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Topic: I'm Goin' to Hawaii!!! |
Paul Honeycutt
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 1 Nov 2006 8:48 pm |
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Thanks to a generous gift of airline tickets, my sweetie and I are spending two weeks in Hawaii in January. We'll be in Honolulu, but will also be island hopping. Neither of us have ever been there, so I'm looking for suggestions of what to do, what to see, who wants to meet up and where to find live steel guitar music.
Besides the music we're interested in native culture, natural areas and things that the tourists miss. |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 4:28 am
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Paul, you will receive many suggestions to your request, but my favorite of the islands is "Hawaii", also known as the "big island". You will avoid MOST of the tourists, and you can enjoy surf & sand, rainforrests, cattle ranches and a volcano within a days travel.
Also, take one of the "Blue Hawaiian Helicopter" tours and see up close the places pictured on the travel brochures. Hovering directly over the crater of the volcano with lava streaming out is a particulary interesting experience. 
As for music, I found one group with a steel-guitar playing in the Lounge of the "King Kamehameha", located at Kona Beach. There were probably others at Hilo on the other side of island.
For the usual tourist interests there is no need to go farther than Honolulu and vicinity.
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 www.genejones.com
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Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 6:08 am
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lucky you.
you need to buy a ukulele while there.
get a really good one and when you get back stateside send it to me 
a friend just came back from Maui. what incredible pictures; bring your camera! |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 10:08 am
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| Bring your umbrella! |
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Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 10:28 am
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To which islands are you going, Paul?
If you're spending a lot of time near Waikiki, the Halekulani and Marriott are just a few important hotels for steel guitarists. I saw Bobby Ingano at the Marriott in September with Martin Pahinui. The young guy, Kaipo, plays once or twice a week at the Halekulani (with the Aloha Serenaders? - not sure about the trio's name) and, if you're lucky, you can see him dance male hula style.
If Jeff Au Hoy and Derrek Mau are back from Japan, you shouldn't miss them.
Otherwise, do all the touristy stuff once. If you go to Kaua'i, take Gene's advice and do the helicopter tour over Waimea Canyon, too.
If you must do a lu'au, they say the one in Maui is the best and most authentic - The Old Lahaina Lu'au. The ones on O'ahu, I'm sorry to say, were a waste of my money and time.
You can probably miss the Polynesian Cultural Center, too. I found the music very hokey and Americanized, even though it was supposed to support all of the "authentic" Pacific island dancing. But don't skip Bishop Museum - the large one. Lots of great cultural history, artifacts, etc. without the Hollywood filtering. And go early in the morning.
There's a few. [This message was edited by Matt Rhodes on 02 November 2006 at 10:50 AM.] |
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 10:49 am
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| Quote: |
| we're interested in native culture, natural areas and things that the tourists miss. |
On Oahu - For scenery - The Tantalus Drive - great scenic views at lookouts. The old road to the Pali lookout. For culture see the Bishop Museum
On Maui - The drive to Hana and looking over this quaint village. The new Hasegawa General Store after the song is located there. The old store burned to the ground. In the past, some villagers had never seen the world outside of Hana.
On Kauai - For scenery -Waimea Canyon and then beyond to the Kalaulau Valley lookout
On Hawaii - Akaka Falls, Volcano district, City of Refuge, Macadamia nut farms, coffee plantations and anthurium gardens southeast of Hilo .
Then for Hawaiian music and steel guitar:
In Waikiki
Alan Akaka with Genoa Keawe at the Waikiki Beach Marriott on Thursdays - 5:30-8:30pm. A must, it is always entertaining
Always some good steel at Halekulani, House Without a Key, 5:00-8:30pm and
Moana Banyon Court – 5:30-8:30pm
Near Waikiki – for a bright new star
Jeff Au Hoy with "Kilinahe." Every other Thurs. evening at Chiko's Tavern on McCully Street in Mo'ili'ili from 9-12 pm
On Maui
The "Old Lahaina Luau" with Ross Ka'a'a, Ralph Melemai, Sam Ako, the steel guitarists. 505 Front Street, Lahaina, 5:15-8:45 pm
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Kapalua, Traditional Hawaiian music hosted by George Kahumoku, Jr.
On Big Island- Hawaii
'Iaukea Bright is on steel with "The Lim Family" at the Maunakea Resort Tuesdays.
Al Greene, Jr. plays at the Copper Bar at the Maunakea Beach Hotel, alternating days with Kalei Bridges and Jamieson Wong 5:30-8:30 pm.
Kalei Bridges is on steel at the Maunalani Orchids in South Kohala
On Kauai
Steel guitarist Ken Emerson plays at the Hanalei Bay Resort on Fridays and Saturdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
I wished you had consulted me before arranging your trip. You picked the rainest month. I like May and October more dry and less hot in Hawaii. In May and October you have some Hawaiian holidays also. For less rain, you will need to consider the Kona coast on the Big Island.
Aloha,
Don
[This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 02 November 2006 at 10:53 AM.] [This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 02 November 2006 at 10:59 AM.] [This message was edited by Don Kona Woods on 02 November 2006 at 11:01 AM.] |
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Paul Honeycutt
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 3:51 pm
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Thanks for all the great suggestions and info! We'll be balancing playing tourist, hearing music and with hanging with family on Oahu (Honolulu). Should be fun.
Now I just need to save up for the trip and getting Randy that uke.  |
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Smiley Roberts
From:
Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 4:17 pm
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Hey Paul,
Got room in your luggage for an ol' f@rt steeler? (namely ME!  ) I've NEVER been to Hawaii,but always wanted to go. In fact,Hawaii & Alaska are the only states that I haven't been to yet. Hope ya have a great time.
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~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 2 Nov 2006 10:12 pm
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Bobby Ingano sits it with George Kuo, Martin Pahinui and Aaron Mahi on Sunday evenings, at the Marriot most times. I talked to him Monday and he said he is leaving for Japan this Sunday,'till Nov 8th.
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 3 Nov 2006 12:32 am
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Smiley says:
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| I've NEVER been to Hawaii,but always wanted to go. |
Smiley this is how you get to go and I as cheaply as I know how.
Watch for discounted airfares between now and Feb, 2007, and they will come because the tourist trade is down for the first half of the year. Reserve your room for the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Assn at the Queen Kapiolani where you will pay approximately $65 a night (which is motel rate). You will have a suite one-half block from the ocean and a view of Diamond Head. You can also eat cheaply but we can get into that later.
How is that for a bargain vacation?
Aloha,
Don |
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Jeff Au Hoy
From:
Honolulu, Hawai'i
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Posted 3 Nov 2006 5:51 am
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Hi... Thanks Don for posting the info... just wanted to make a correction that I'm not at Chiko's on Thurs. nite anymore.
Please stop by the Halekulani Hotel though on Friday and Saturday nights where I play with the Hiram Olsen Trio.
Also, if you're interested in trying surfing, diving, canoe paddling, or just hiking in the rainforest mud, let me know! I'd be glad to show you around!
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pdl20
From:
Benton, Ar . USA,
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Posted 3 Nov 2006 1:40 pm
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Look up Dave Toland while on big island and go to Pearl and see the Memorial.its well worth paying your respects to our lost men.and its a wonderful area.
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Mullen D 10 9&9 Emmons D 10 8 & 5. Evans Amp , Steelers Choice Seat Hilton Pedal ,Herby Wallace JagWire strings
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Don Kona Woods
From:
Hawaiian Kama'aina
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Posted 3 Nov 2006 9:03 pm
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Just want you all to know that I am rarely 100 percent correct. I always shoot for around 90 percent. At least that is above average.
Sorry, Jeff. Thanks for the correction.
Aloha,
Don |
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Paul Honeycutt
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2006 7:08 am
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Jeff, I'll be in touch before I go.
Pearl Harbor is on the list, my cousin was one of the guys on the Arizona. |
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