VIRTUAL ALOHA ARCHIVE
'Kepakemapa (September) 2000
Issue #17
What’s in a name?
Even before arriving in the islands one of the first things people notice about Hawaii is
some of the names of places, streets, and people are a bit challenging to pronounce. The
Hawaiian language only has 12 letters in it: A, E, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P, U, W. Words are
more easily pronounced when the word is broken down into single syllable chunks. Take the
name Kalakaua and pronounce it Ka-la-kau-a.
A traditional Hawaiian name has a specific meaning behind it and is given to a child when
they are born by family elder. The child is typically named after something that came to a
family elder in a dream, by distinguishing characteristics the child displays when born,
or characteristics the family would like the child to display. For example the
woman’s name Lani means Heavenly.
When outsiders began visiting Hawaii adaptations were made to "translate"
non-Hawaiian names to "Hawaiian names" based on the Hawaiian alphabet. For
example the names Mike and Kim are "Mikala and Kimo". We have just added an
extensive list of English-to-Hawaiian name translations to our web site at www.alohafriendsluau.com/names.html
Check it out to see what your name is in Hawaiian. If you throw a luau it’s also fun
to make name tags for people with their Hawaiian name on it!
Splishin’ and Splashin’ at Hawaiian Adventures Water
Park
Hawaiian Adventures Water Park is an exciting and fun way to keep cool in the hot Hawaiian
sun! With 7 major waterslides and 3 theme areas there are lots of thrills to be had by
people of all ages. Especially designed for small children ‘Keiki Kove’, an
interactive playground filled with mushroom waterfalls, mini-slides, animal floaties,
water cannons & more. Especially for teenagers there is ‘Water World’
featuring seven family friendly slides. For adventure seekers there are five thrilling
slides including a giant half pipe slide and a 7-story free fall slide. Each of these 5
slides requires riders be at least 48" tall.
For more details about the Hawaiian Adventures Water Park, including photos, check out our
Virtual Adventure review at www.alohafriendshawaii.com/waterpark.html
CREATE AN AUTHENTIC HAWAIIAN LUAU ANYWHERE!
Luaus are fun for
birthday/anniversary parties, promotion/retirement parties, family reunions,
company picnics, block parties, bridal/baby showers, or just when a few good
friends get together. For lots of great decorating tips, tasty recipes, and fun
Hawaii
theme game ideas visit www.alohafriendsluau.com
and have a party that everyone will enjoy! There are even instructions for
creating an underground imu pit to cook your feast like the ancient Hawaiians
did! Another fun option is to host a Hawaiian Theme Cookie Decorating Contest
with suggestions and cookie cutters featured at www.alohafriends.com/HIcookiecutter.html
Getting married? Check out our tips on creating a
Hawaii
theme wedding anywhere at
www.alohafriends.com/Hawaii_wedding.html
Planning to host a Christmas in April party? Check out our NEW tips on creating
a Hawaiian theme Christmas luau at www.alohafriendsluau.com/christmas.html
Larger Than Life
Imax movies are special theme movies shot on 70mm film and are shown on a screen 5 ½
stories tall. With a combination of fantastic footage and digital surround sound you feel
like you are in the movie, some people even get motion sickness when watching! There is
currently one Imax Theater in the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu that shows a
Polynesian themed movie. There is also another Imax theater on Oahu located in Waikiki
that is showing the three films: "Siegfried & Roy’s Las Vegas Illusion
Show", "Hidden Hawaii", and "Extreme". "Hidden Hawaii"
takes you to remote Hawaiian mountain cliffs, deep in the ocean where a new Hawaiian
island is forming, through lush rainforest, and through Haleakala National Park.
"Extreme" features some of the worlds best extreme sports persons doing what
they love: surfing a 55 foot Hawaiian wave, climbing an Alaskan ice waterfall, scaling
rock formations in the desert, skiing and snow boarding the remote mountains of Alaska,
and windsurfing in gale force winds! You’ll get an adrenaline rush just from watching
this movie!!
In Lahaina, Maui you can experience a tour of Hawaii on a 60-foot domed screen with
surround sound in the domed theater. The 40-minute feature "Hawaii, Islands of the
Gods" shows the islands natural beauty, wildlife and marine environment. Once a day
the movie "Alaska Adventure" is shown.
The movies shown at these theaters may change through out the year. To find out what will
be showing when you will be in the islands, about a month prior to your visit check our
island specific activity suggestions at www.alohafriendshawaii.com
Finger Lickin Good
If you are in the mood for some excellent down home southern cookin’ while in
paradise check out Dixie BBQ Grill & Crab Shack is located on the outskirts of
Waikiki. They offer scrumptious items like catfish, BBQ ribs, pulled chicken & pork
entrees, hot wings, hush puppies, crab cakes, gumbo, Cajun soybeans, crab, and more! Dixie
Grill features six of their own BBQ sauces that complement any meat and also taste great
on fries. If you show up with a big appetite try the 2lb "Bust Yo’ Belly"
cheeseburger with all the fixin’s. If you can finish it yourself in less than half an
hour it is FREE, otherwise if you share it or don’t finish it in the half-hour it is
$20. They also offer a fantastic meal called the "trash can" that has generous
servings of crab legs, catfish, BBQ ribs and chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, corn on the
cob, and a pile of fries all served in a trash can lid. The trash can meal is available
for 2 or more people at $17.95 per person.
The atmosphere is very casual and is uniquely decorated in all kinds of signs, neon
lights, and unusual "Southern" memorabilia. Dixie Grill is open for Lunch and
Dinner but they do not take reservations and the wait for a table at dinnertime can some
times be up to half an hour. Seating is available inside as well as outside on their
open-air lanai. Located at 404 Ward Avenue, parking is behind the restaurant or in the
Sports Authority parking lot across the street. For other restaurant suggestions visit
www.alohafriendshawaii.com
Babes in Paradise
We often receive emails from people planning a visit to Hawaii with the family and want
suggestions of activities to enjoy with children under 2. There are many options on each
island that the entire family will enjoy. Most activity providers do not have any
restrictions on bringing babies as long as someone in your party is willing to stay with
and be responsible for the baby during the activity. Some may also charge for the baby to
attend if they take up a space with a baby seat or stroller. Below are few specific
activities suggestions that may interest you and your child/children under 2.
* On any island: sight seeing driving tour, beach, lunch or dinner cruise,
submarine ride, hiking through rainforest and to waterfalls (if you bring a baby back
pack)
* Oahu: Children’s Discovery Center, Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, Sea Life
Park, Waimea Falls Park, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, Kodak Hula Show
* Maui: drive down to Hana and up to the summit of Mt Haleakala, Hawaii Ocean
Center, Hawaii Nature Center
* Big Island: glass bottom boat ride, draft horse wagon tour
* Kauai: Butterfly Ranch
What we recommend doing is reviewing the island specific activity options on our web site
to create a list of what interests you. Once you’ve created your list re-look at it
and consider which of the activities will you really be able to realistically enjoy with
the baby in tow. We do not recommend activities that will require children to keep still
or be quiet for long periods of time like bus tours of the island and memorials like the
Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. For more suggestions on enjoying a family Hawaiian
vacation check out our tips specific on traveling with children located at www.alohafriendshawaii.com/keiki.html
For other island specific activity suggestions and Hawaii travel tips visit www.alohafriendshawaii.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know the University of Hawaii’s football team has a new name and look?
The UH Football squad will be sporting a new look this coming season. Dark green with
black and white jerseys replace the familiar old green, and the new dark green metallic
helmets will be emblazoned with an ‘H’ with a Polynesian influence. No more
rainbows on their helmets, no more screaming "GO BOWS!" The University unveiled
the new look recently to mixed reviews, but it isn’t the only change to the team.
They also revealed they will change their name from "The Rainbow Warriors", to
"The Warriors". It sounds a lot tougher, which goes along with the Warriors new
attitude. Coming off the first winning season in many years a lot is expected of the new
football team. Graduating a number of last years key players leaves fans hoping they can
and wondering if they’ll pull off another stunning year!
JUST ASK!
Q: On my recent visit to Hawaii I stopped at a small roadside store and they were
selling food items I would like some assistance identifying. There were small sealed clear
bags filled with shriveled red ball like items, and others with shriveled up strips of
something. What are these? D.M., USA
A: It sounds like you saw packages of seed snacks. Seed snacks are made from dried fruit
seeds like prunes, mango, papaya, pineapple, coconut, cherries, lemon, strawberries, etc.
Many seed snacks are available plain or with a coating of Li Hing powder to add a tangy
zip. Some of the seed snacks are an acquired taste, like li hing mui (dried prune with li
hing powder), which is probably the shriveled red ball like snack you saw. Seed snacks are
very popular with island locals and are hard to find outside of Hawaii. Seed snacks are
the most requested items ordered from our Island Gift Shop by people who used to live in
Hawaii. To check out the wide selection snacks popular with island locals including seed
snacks, cracker snacks, and sea snacks visit www.alohafriends.com/products6.html
Do you have a question about anything related to Hawaii? We are sure other Virtual Aloha
subscribers are staying up nights wondering the same thing. Get it off your mind and just
ask us! Submit your Just Ask question to islandtips@aol.com
ISLAND WEATHER
August was a mild summer month. Not too hot and not very rainy. The summer swell came
through on the south shore giving us some 6-8ft. waves! It has recently become more humid
but it is expected to return to normal soon. If you are planning a visit in September
expect highs in the upper 80s during the day and high 70’s at night. Keep in mind the
sun is still HOT and powerful be sure to keep a coating of sunscreen on if you go out into
the sun. For more useful Hawaii travel tips visit www.alohafriendshawaii.com
ADD A LINK TO A FRIEND IN THE ISLANDS
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if you would like to choose a graphic.
Mahalo for assisting us in spreading Aloha!
VIRTUAL ALOHA ARCHIVE
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PLEASE
NOTE: Prices
for island activities featured within our site are NOT guaranteed.
Since we are not affiliated with any of the activity
providers we are not notified if services or prices change.
You will need to contact
the activity provider directly for a current price quote and for availability
information.
Disclaimer : Our activity suggestions, tips, and
Enews articles are based on our experiences and research. The information contained within
this site and our Enews letter "Virtual Aloha" is meant to be a guide for anyone
who wants to learn more about the islands and for visitors to explore what kinds of
activities are available prior to arrival. Prices are listed to use as a guide to help
determine what fits in each visitors budget and are subject to change by the activity
provider. We are NOT affiliated with any activity provider and do
NOT make any money from activity providers our suggestions! We are concerned with
the quality of our suggestions and welcome positive and negative feedback about the
activities. We, Mike and Kim Crinella, and our company, "A Friend in the
Islands", will not be held responsible for any accidents, loss of property, or any
other misfortunes associated with activities who's information is provided.
This page was created by and is maintained by Mike & Kim Crinella. All
information, graphics, and photos contained in this web site are property of Mike &
Kim Crinella. Reuse of anything for commercial purposes requires credit be given to Mike
& Kim Crinella and A Friend in the Islands at www.alohafriends.com
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