by Dean Christener

Kauai Fern Grotto River Boat Tour - I really had no clue what it was or where it would take us. It didn’t take long however, till I came upon the east side of the island of Kauai, where the district of Wailua is located.

The area where Smith’s Fern Grotto takes place can immediately be taken as a significant region in Wailua as the landscape was very unique, covered in thick over-brush, with a wide river leading up into the valley.

The boat we took up into the valley had a large Smith’s tour logo on the side of it, making it easy and distinct to spot. The boats we used on the tour were very big, and I guess for the inexpensive price you pay for this activity, I could not blame nor second-guess why this activity had so many people on our boat. It did not affect me however at all, as the tour made sure everyone had a great seat to partake in the beauty, going up the valley and taking in Kauai’s beautiful sightseeing.

We had a very knowledgeable tour guide take us on our ascent into the valley, describing different zones along the river that were used by the Hawaiians. According to the guide, this was a place that was very significant because it was a dwelling ground for the Ali’i and Kings in the Hawaiian tribes. Ali’i is the term for royalty, and that is exactly what and who partook in this area.

I cannot exactly remember all the native plants that our guide pointed out for us, however I guarantee you will not be disappointed on how many unique Hawaiian flora you will encounter. As our tour pushed deeper in to this dense valley we came into an area where the river split, or one could say where it connected if you were coming down from the valley. From what the tour guide told us, this was actually how Wailua got its name, “where things connect, or meet.”

After going upstream for almost two miles, a small dock with guides waiting for us could be seen. We were shortly informed after that we would be taken up into the valley, a short ways which was all on a paved path and easy to walk on, to the main attraction of the activity, the Kauai Fern Grotto.  Along the way there were restroom facilities that also gave the opportunity to take a rest.

The fern grotto itself was an amazing thing to see, ferns hanging hundreds of feet down, leading into a large cavern. Unfortunately, visitors are no longer allowed to go into the grotto anymore due to a massive landslide that took place in 2006.

However, it is still a cool site, and our guides who we only found out after were great entertainers as well. They played beautiful Hawaiian melodies complimented by an awesome hula performance. After about a half an hour we started to make our way back to the dock where the boat was waiting for us.

The return did not take long from where we started, but we were not disappointed as our crew sang songs and danced the beautiful Hawaiian hula all the way back. Toward the end, people started trying to dance the hula as well — a pretty entertaining and a fun sight to see.

The Activity was great and simple, and was much more than I had honestly expected. I learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture, and was able to get some great sightseeing from royal land that had provided to thousands of people in the past.

– > Book this Activity

By A.R. Royo

The only known breeding and birthing areas for humpback whales in the United States are the Hawaiian Islands. No wonder Maui Whale Watching in Hawaii is among the most popular commercial activities for both locals and tourists alike.

Each winter, the islands become home to 6,000-8,000 humpbacks, making the tropical, clear, shallow, and protected waters of Hawaii one of the best natural laboratories in the world to study humpbacks and similarly, to book a whale watch.

Humpback whales make one of the longest migrations of any mammal, migrating as far as 5,000 miles Alaskan summer feeding areas and Hawaii’s breeding grounds. Humpback whales undergo prolonged periods of fasting and have completely separated feeding from breeding and calving activities during the winter.

The Whale Trust
The Whale Trust was formed in 2001 to support field research on earth’s largest marine mammals — whales and their marine environment. Much of their current research into the biology and behavior of humpback whales is carried out in the shallow and protected waters between the four islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kahoolawe.

The mission of Whale Trust is to promote, support and conduct scientific research on whales and the marine environment, and develop public education programs based directly on results of scientific research. It also has the goalof cultivating and furthering Maui’s unique situation as a natural whale and marine environment research laboratory.

The Whale Trust is presently pursuing a number of ongoing research experiments in Hawaii, that are focused on: humpback behavior; social norms; and communication. Here are a few:

Song Study
Whale songs, occurring primarily during the breeding season, are sung only by males, and their composition slowly changes as they are being sung, with all singers in a population singing the same version at any one time. Why humpback whales sing remains unknown.
Female Status in the Hawaiian Breeding Grounds
One of the great unknowns in humpback whale behavior is the status of the female: reproductive behavour and how they fit in to the social structure of humpback breeding and calving grounds.

Feeding
Humpback whales will usually devour close to an entire tonne of nourishment per day in order to survive the winter fasting period! A humpback’s diet consists of shrimp-like crustaceans called kill (euphausiids) and various types of small schooling fish, including herring, capelin, sand lance, and mackarel.

Mating & Calving
During the winter, humpback whales assemble in Hawaii’s tropical waters to mate and to calve. Most of Hawaii’s breeding grounds are toastier, more shallow, and have fewer predators than summer feeding areas.

Humpback Whale Societies
Most humpback social groups or communities are believed to be short-lived, with the longest lasting bond being between mother and calf. Still, there are hints of unexplored depths of communication..

Cow & Calf
After a 10-12 month gestation period, female humpbacks give birth to a single calf. Scientists have yet to officially record the live bearing of a humpback calf. Females with newborn calves are commonly sighted throughout the winter, often in shallower or more inshore waters than the adult population.

Yearlings & Sub-Adults
Calves typically nurse for the first 6-12 months of life, usually separating by the end of the first year. These year-old calves(yearlings) have often increased in weight by a factor of eight, and typically approach a length of nearly 9 metres-having nearly doubled in length.

Cow, Calf & Escort
Often a male escort accompanies or “escorts” a cow and calf on the breeding grounds. Surprisingly, the calves’ are not fathered by these male escorts, revealed by genetic testing. Female Humpback Whales reach sexual maturity at four to six years , and birth calves every 2-3 years after that.

Humpback Behavior
Well known for their acrobatic surface displays, humpback whales are a favorite for whalewatchers around the world. Whether there is any meaning inherent to these impressive displays, however, is still unknown.
But you don’t need to be a research scientist to experience and enjoy wild humpback whales exhibiting a wide variety of behaviors. HawaiiActive.com is located on Maui and offers a variety of Whale watching tours on the island.

They also feature:
•  Oahu Whale Watching in Hawaii
•  Kauai Whale Watching cruises in Hawaii

Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii, located in Laie, Oahu about an hour’s drive from Waikiki, showcases 7 native Polynesian villages that give visitors the rare opportunity to participate in the daily adventures of Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures. Together with the Center’s authentic luau and the world’s largest night show, the Polynesian Cultural Center has become the most popular paid visitor attraction in the Hawaiian islands.

All the Romance and Excitement of the South Pacific
Many South Pacific nations are represented at the Polynesian Cultural Center, where recreated villages, exhibits and hands-on activities highlight 8 of them: Samoa, Aotearoa (Maori New Zealand), Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga and Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
• Meet, learn about and interact with the people of Hawaii, Samoa, Maori New Zealand (Aotearoa), Fiji, Tahiti, the Marquesas and Tonga
• Watch Hawaii’s only canoe pageant
• Experience an authentic Hawaiian luau, a Hawaiian food feast and dinner-show feast fit for an ali’i (royal chief) complete with Imu ceremony and Hawaiian dances
• Enjoy our world-famous evening show with Hawaiian music and entertainment, “Horizons: Where the Sea Meets the Sky”
• Enjoy family activities from all of Polynesia.

Founding of the Nonprofit Polynesian Cultural Center
The Center is a 42-acre facility on the North Shore of Oahu. Founded in 1963, the nonprofit Center was created so that the Pacific Island students of nearby Brigham Young University Hawaii could work their way through college by sharing their island heritage with visitors.

As early as 1844, missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly called the Mormons) were working among the Polynesians in Tahiti and surrounding islands. Missionaries arrived in the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) in 1850. By 1865, the LDS Church had purchased the 6,000-acre plantation that encompasses all of Laie.

The students come from an area that covers approximately 12 million square miles of the Pacific Ocean. At the heart of the PCC experience are the island villages, which offer visitors a unique opportunity to learn about — and participate in — the customs of each island.

Travel Throughout Polynesia in a Single Day
Visitors are encouraged to take part in a number of authentic activities, representing everything from island games and crafts to food preparation and war training skills. An authentic Hawaiian luau, all-you-can-eat buffets, a canoe pageant, an IMAX™ theater, shops and the world’s largest evening show are all part of the experience.

With its large lagoon, waterfalls, lush tropical flora, and an “erupting” volcano, the Polynesian Cultural Center captures all the romance and excitement of the South Pacific islands. A visit here represents a chance to travel through Polynesia in a single day, and participate in the celebration of centuries of Polynesian culture — no passport is required.

Several villages provide more adventurous activities than the normal cultural presentations that have been scheduled throughout the day. These new activities now available include Spear Throwing, Fire Walking, Wood & Tiki Carving, Fire Pit Cooking, Tree Climbing, Fire Starting, Fire Knife Dancing, Tattoos, Haka Dance, Maori War Canoe, Coconut Husking.

The Polynesian Cultural Center has become world-renowned as a special place of enchantment, entertainment and education. The allure of old Polynesia lingers among the Pacific island people who demonstrate their traditional arts and crafts and perform their lively songs and dances at the Polynesian Cultural Center from noon till 10pm, 7 days a week.

All Day Package on Oahu
All Day Package for Polynesian Polynesian Cultural Center on Hawaii is the best way to experience the the cultural, diversity and spirit of Polynesia. The Ambassador Package – with or without luau or transportation, is a great way to enjoy this unique Oahu treasure. Or take a Deluxe Circle Island Tour to explore many of Honolulu’s most scenic areas, tropical forests, Dole Plantation and Northshore surfing beaches, along with a visit to the Polynesian cultural Center

By Terry Reim

Hawaiian leis are known the world over as the symbol of aloha. The custom of Hawaiians wearing flower garlands was first recorded by a member of Captain Cook’s crew in 1779. Today, wearing Hawaii flower leis is more prevalent than ever, among both locals and visitors.

An Ancient Polynesian Custom
The lei custom was initially introduced to the Hawaiian Islands by early Polynesian voyagers who migrated to, and settled in the islands. Leis were worn by these original Hawaiians to beautify themselves and distinguish themselves from others. The original Hawaiians excelled in the creation of permanent leis constructed of feathers, ivory, beads, and even teeth. Often, these leis were an emblem of the ali’i, or ruling class.

The maile lei was probably the most significant, because it was the lei of all people, all classes, and all occasions, but, it was especially associated with the worship of the gods of hula. It was also used to signify a peace agreement between opposing chiefs.

A Modern Hawaiian Tradition
With the 20th century advent of tourism to the islands, the lei quickly became the symbol of Hawaii to millions of visitors worldwide. During the “Boat Days” of the early 1900s, lei vendors lined the pier at Aloha Tower to welcome arriving visitors and locals returning home. Departing visitors would throw their lei into the sea as their ship passed Diamond Head, hoping they would return to the islands again some day.

For the residents of Hawaii, the most popular occasions for lei givings are birthdays and graduations. It is not uncommon for a high school or college graduates to be seen wearing so many leis that they reach higher than the ears. It is common for locals to have a nut, seed or shell lei on hand to wear on special occasions.

Hawaii Flower Leis
Among the flowers used in modern Hawaiian leis are plumeria, lehua blossoms, and orchids, although maile leaves are extremely popular, and remain traditional adornments for hula dancers. Today, most visitors are only aware of the plumeria lei – a relative newcomer – widely available at airports and hotels.

There are very few rules when it comes to wearing a Hawaiian lei. Anyone can wear one, anytime – there need be no special occasion. A lei is regarded as a celebration of one person’s affection for another, so it’s considered bad form to refuse one. The proper way to wear a lei is gently draped over the shoulders, hanging down both in front and in back. It is acceptable for one to purchase or make a lei for themselves

Airport Lei Greeting
The airport lei greeting is now a standard experience in Hawaii. As tourism increased between Hawaii and the continental U.S., it became customary to present flower leis to those arriving or departing all of the islands by air, creating a cottage industry of lei construction.

These days, visitors experience a traditional welcome to the Islands with authentic Hawaiian leis right at their airline arrival gate. Vendors are pre-arranged to distribute Hawaii flower leis and assistance to baggage claim or directions to connecting island flights.

A friendly lei greeter stands just outside arrival gates at the Honolulu International Airport, Kahului, Lihue and Hilo airports, holding a welcome sign personalized with visitors’ name on it. These vendors offer a Hawaiian-style reception with beautiful, fresh flower leis at an extremely reasonable price.

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii
In Hawaii, May 1st is celebrated as Lei Day, rather than May Day, as the rest of the world does. This Festival of the Lei was first held on May 1, 1928, when a pair of local artists in Honolulu encouraged everyone to wear a lei. Festivities were held downtown with hula, music, lei making demonstrations, and exhibits and contests.

In 1929, Lei Day was made an official holiday in the Territory of Hawaii, a tradition that continues to the present. Lei Day, May 1st, remains a state holiday in Hawaii with festivities and celebrations all centered around the Hawaiian lei.

Honolulu Airport Lei Greeting | Kahului Airport Lei Greeting
Lihue Airport Lei Greeting | Hilo Airport Lei Greeting

By Terry Reim

[tags]hawaii lei, hawaii flowers, hawaii aloha, hawaii may day[/tags]