Kailua's most famous visitor has arrived for the holidays — President Obama and his family are here for their annual Christmas trip. Local television stations provided live coverage of the arrival of Air Force One this afternoon. While the President's visit receives public notice, several other big names in sports, music and entertainment are rumored to also be enjoying a tropical holiday on one of Hawaii's islands. And why not? The weather is a mellow 80 degrees most days, pleasant even if you're not escaping frigid winter temperatures.
This week, I've noticed the arrival of many non-famous tourists spending the holidays here. They're often recognizable because they are wearing lei on a trip to the grocery store, or are looking with curiosity at the unusual food items on the shelves (as I once did myself). Mostly, it's the big smile and the "I can't believe I'm really here" expression on their faces that gives them away. Hawaii's beautiful scenery and gentle weather can seem too good to be true.
A mid-winter holiday break is not only for the wealthy or political and entertainment stars. It's more affordable than most realize, even though more expensive than other times of the year. However, it is not a decision to be made on the spur of the moment. Most of us don't arrive on Air Force One or in private jets to stay in exclusive vacation compounds. The popularity of a mid-winter island visit makes it essential to plan far in advance. How does Hawaii in 2010 sound?
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
As soon as you arrive in the islands on your Hawaii vacation, you’ll see it: Locals gesturing to each other with their thumbs and pinkies extended, their middle three fingers curled into their palms with the back of the hand facing the person being greeted. Sometimes the hand is rotated back and forth to emphasize the gesture.
It’s’ the ubiquitous shaka sign. It can mean just about anything — "all right," "cool," "thanks," “hang loose, “all right!” – but it’s always used in good spirit, a gesture of friendship and understanding among the various ethnic cultures that live here.
It’s used when driving as a signal of thanks to other drivers who let you into a lane, or to wave to someone who’s a considerable distance away. President Obama was seen making the shaka sign on his inauguration day.
How did it originate? Good question
One theory is that of a worker who lost the three middle fingers of his right hand while working at a Sugar Mill. After the accident, the worker was shifted to guarding the sugar train, and his all-clear wave of thumb and pinkie is said to have evolved into the "shaka."
A second theory is that the "shaka" sign had to do with marble playing. The position of the hand after shooting the marble is in the form of a shaka, which came to mean “sharp” or “accurate.”
Still another theory is that the word was originally "shark eye." Holding the hand with the pinkie and thumb extended represented the shark head, with the thumb and middle fingers being the eyes.
It’s generally agreed that the shaka sign was popularized in Hawaii through its use by a used car salesman to close his television commercials, which were broadcast throughout the state in the 1960s and early 70s. It was adopted as a salutation of friendship by the local culture at large from then on. One of the Honolulu TV stations ends its evening newscasts with a group of people who happen to be at the site where a story has just been covered. They’re all smiling and waving shakas at the camera.
The shaka sign is an effortless but meaningful way to advise locals and vacationers alike of how people should always keep an eye out for one other on these islands. It is also a reminder to make an effort to share the aloha spirit every day.
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
If you’d like a taste of the “real” Hawaii, take your rental car for a trip up the east coast of Oahu. The drive itself is gorgeous (many think it’s the prettiest in the whole state) and it will take you to the little town of Waimanalo.
On the way you’ll pass Waimanalo Beach Park, where there are restrooms, a picnic area, a pay phone, and a lifeguard on duty. It’s Oahu’s longest stretch of sandy, swimmable coastline. You might consider taking your swimwear.
The terms “quaint” and “rustic” both apply to Waimanalo. The highway you’ll be on (Kalanianaole) is the scenic way to get from Waikiki to the Windward communities of the island. It’s heavily used by both vacationers and locals. There have been attempts to widen the highway in Waimanalo Town, but the residents just won’t have it. You’ll agree it would be a mistake, even if you get tied up by sluggish traffic there.
The Waimanalo area invites your investigation. Its backdrop is the unique Koolau range, which is a vertically corrugated, cliff-like curtain of green hovering behind produce farms and stables.
You’ll see a little shopping center with a couple of worthwhile stops. Keneke’s is a terrific local restaurant with low prices (especially compared to Waikiki prices), delicious food and really friendly servers. And there’s a flower shop called Flowers by Jr Lou & T that has a good variety of orchids and exotic flowers. It’s kind of expensive, but they’ll ship your purchases home for you. Even if you don’t buy anything it’s good browsing.
Up the road, the Waimanalo Polo Fields hold matches on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. from May to October. That’s a pleasant way to spend an afternoon; very casual and comfortable. There’s a grandstand, but you can pack a picnic lunch and hang out near your car and watch from there, too. If you like, you can go onto the field between chuckers and stomp down the divots the horses’ hooves make. If you’re vacationing with the family, you can take the children to visit the ponies after the match. Admission is only three dollars, and kids under 12 get in free.
As you leave the “business area,” you’ll see a turnoff immediately after the McDonald’s. The sign for Sherwood Forest is small and difficult to see, but the beach is definitely worth a stop. The surf is calm, and it’s a good place for relaxing.
Olomana Golf Links is one of President Obama’s favorites. If you’re a golfer, consider a round on that diverse course. It has two distinctly different nines – one featuring level fairways with a formidable water hazard at each hole, and the back nine has irregular rolling hills with abundant sand bunkers.
This is anything but an exciting way to explore the island and not many vacationers take the time. They should.
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
Published by Bruce Fisher
