Okay, I’m going to start out with Hawaii, which is where I wish I were today.  Tragically, I’m trapped in rural West Texas and there’s a sandstorm blowing in.  Ick!  No offense to you Texans out there — I grew up here, so I’m allowed to gripe! — but there’s nary a body of water in sight, and it makes me pine away for the beach.  Any beach.

Some of my favorites are in Hawaii (duh!), and it’s on the island of Oahu that I’ll start.  After all, that’s probably where you’ll land if you fly to Hawaii.  Everyone knows about Diamond Head, Waikiki and Pearl Harbor, but what about the things you won’t find in the standard ‘Chamber of Commerce’ literature? 

For starters, how about a Hawaiian luau?

(thanks to commorancy for the photo)

 Nothing unusual about that, you say?  Well, how many commercial luaus are there that let you don your own grass skirt, jump up on stage, and gyrate those hips in front of your fellow luau-goers?  Yes, it’s true — while staying at the Royal Hawaiian (aka the “Pink Palace”) and after consuming a number of drinks with those little umbrellas in them,  my travel companion convinced me of the wisdom of putting on a grass skirt.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, and the performers were similarly impressed with my outfit.  Hey, I’ve got nice legs!

Thanks to blisspix for this shot.

My memories of the rest of the evening are a little fuzzy, but I woke up still wearing the grass skirt and buried under about 50 leis.  Everybody should get lei’d in Hawaii, and the Pink Palace is a great place to do it.  A refined hotel to be sure, but they know how to have a good time.  On my last trip, we bumped into fellow guest Carol Channing.  I thought she was dead, so you can imagine my shock. . .

On a more sedate note, another of my fave activities on Oahu is exploring the museums of Honolulu.  Yes, you read it right.  I know one doesn’t typically think of Hawaii as a museum destination; but Honolulu abounds with them, and they’re a refreshing break from the ‘humdrummity’ of most.  Bishop’s Museum is focused on the flora and fauna of the islands, and I’ve seen people bring in weird creepy things for the curators to identify.  And the Honolulu Academy of Art has one of the best collections of Oceana I’ve ever seen, and of course the obligatory Hawaiiana.  Check them out.  It’s a great way to work off the aftereffects of a long night of luau-ing!

Posted on November 2nd, 2007 by scoutabout
Filed under: Hawaii, Oahu