Those who have traveled to the Big Island with us on Tour 33 may be familiar with the legend of Pele. However, many are not made aware until they get there. At times her story is tragic, but the legend of Pele is one of the most strongly preserved legends in Hawaiian lore.

Born in Tahiti, her family consisted of six sisters and seven brothers born to Haumea, an ancient Earth goddess, and Kane Milohai, who was the creator of the sky, Earth, and upper Heavens. Though there are many variations of her legend and arrival to Hawaii, the most common is told that she was exiled by her father because of her temper and her most recent fight with her elder water-goddess sister Na-maka-o-Kaha’i, whose husband Pele seduced. Traveling with her brothers in a great canoe, with her angry sister in pursuit, Pele eventually landed in Hawaii.

Painting Depicting Pele and her volcanic home

When first arriving to Hawaii, Pele landed on Kauai and used her Pa’oa, commonly known as a digging stick, to strike deep into the Earth, until she was found and attacked by her betrayed sister. Pele left her mark on the island of Molokai before traveling further southeast to Maui and creating the Haleakala Volcano. By this time, Na-maka-o-Kaha’i, realized that she was still alive and she also went to Maui, in order to battle her sister. The epic battle ended near Hana, where Pele was defeated and torn apart by her sister, her bones left on a hill called, Ka-iwi-o-Pele (The Bones of Pele). Pele recovered and fled to Oahu where she dug several fire pits, including what is now Diamond Head. Following her death, Pele became a Goddess and found a home on Big Island at Mauna Kea.

Here Pele dug her final fire pit, the Hale’Mau’Mau Crater, where she would remain for eternity. Located at the summit of the Kilauea Volcano, Pele is said to remain there to this day and is believed to be happy at this location because it was the Ka Piko o ka Honua (Navel of the Earth), where the Gods began creation.
Perhaps the most notorious legend of Pele is the curse placed on those disturbing or stealing from her home.

Many have made the decision to take a lava rock from Kilauea, and though some say that this myth was made up by a park ranger on Big Island trying to discourage visitors from taking the sacred rocks from the park, each and every year thousands of packages containing lava rocks are mailed back to Hawaii by the guilty from around the world that have had a string of bad luck since taking the sacred rocks from Pele’s home and are forced to ask her for her forgiveness.

Discover Hawaii Tours has trips to the Big Island available from Hilo, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. With increased lava flow from Kilauea, the sights and opportunities to see Pele’s home are better than ever. We look forward to seeing you on tour and sharing more of Pele’s story with you!

Each June, Hawaii gears up for a fantastic celebration of their greatest ruler, King Kamehameha. The great monarch led the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under one rule, creating the Kingdom of Hawaii. Long remembered for the “Law of the Splintered Paddle”, which protects human rights of non-combatants in times of battle, Kamehameha was a very ambitious ruler who has been honored and celebrated in many ways since his death in 1819.
The first Kamehameha day occurred in 1872 after the King’s great grandson, Kamehameha V, established the order in the previous year. June 11 brings a parade and a block party through Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, complete with food, games, and music, with a ceremonial lei ceremony draping his statues on not only Oahu and Big Island, but a statue located in Washington DC in the company of federal officials. A 2-day hula competition also takes place in Honolulu at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
Many of our tours visit King Kamehameha’s statue located in downtown Honolulu near the Iolani Palace. To see this and many more Hawaii landmarks, join us on one of our fantastic island tours.

Returning to television this fall will be a new take on a long-time favorite. CBS has recently announced that they have given the green light for ‘Hawaii 5-0’ as part of their fall lineup. Though the characters remain the same, the story will have a different premise and promises to be edgier and more action packed than the original that ran from 1968 to 1980.

The show will star Alex O’Loughlin as Steve McGarrett and “Lost” cast member Daniel Dae Kim as Chin Ho Kelly. The pilot was shot in early March at many locations around the island including Punchbowl Cemetery and at many locations in Downtown Honolulu. Filming has since resumed and many of our tours have witnessed the sets and glimpses of the actors.
The original show was filmed in a studio built in Diamond Head, with on-location filming taking place at sights such as Iolani Palace and Waikiki Beach. Starring Jack Lord and James MacArthur, the showed used many locals as extras due to the lack of a film industry in Hawaii at the time. Though Jack Lord’s character Steve McGarrett was the protagonist and his character was the lead of the show, his catch phrase “Book ‘em Dan-O” is what has long been remembered as time has gone on.

This new version of the cop-drama will be filming throughout the summer on Oahu and there will be opportunities to see many of the locations used in this, and many other shows and movies, by joining us on one of our circle island tours. These tours also feature many famous locations for surfing, historical sights, and beautiful views.

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, what better way to celebrate than with family, friends, baseball, and barbecues. It is also important to remember what the meaning of the holiday is and salute the brave soldiers that have served our country both presently and over the many years through our countries history.
History lives on at Pearl Harbor everyday with remembrance and tradition; and perhaps the most storied and touching tradition that lives on with the USS Arizona is the burial of the surviving crew members. Crew members who were assigned to the Arizona on December 7, 1941 have the right to have their remains cremated and interred inside the remains of the battleship. Those who were crew members before the fateful date, have the right to have their ashes scattered over the ship, also in a private ceremony. Accordingly, any survivor of the Pearl Harbor attacks can have their ashes scattered over the location in the harbor where their ship was located during the attack.
This tradition began on April 12, 1982 when retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Stanley M. Teslow was returned to his ship, becoming the first survivor to return. This tradition has since continued, and as of 2006, 28 surviving crew members have chosen to return to the ship on which they once served.
The process to return the survivor’s remains to the ship is a private ceremony for the families, consisting of a two-bell ceremony from the Fleet Reserve Association, a rifle salute from the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps, and a benediction with the echo of Taps being played across the harbor. These services are conducted inside the memorial and consist of an invocation, a funeral ceremony, and a flag presentation to the family. As the ceremony concludes, the urn with the remains of the sailor are presented to divers, who swim the urn into the open barbette of gun turret number four and proceed to a large opening where the urn is placed and slides into the ship.
Though these ceremonies are entirely private and restricted to family, you can discover Pearl Harbor on one of our tours. We offer many tour options and give you the best chance to see Pearl Harbor and tours are available from Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, as well as Oahu. We look forward to sharing Pearl Harbor with you and showing you our beautiful island.

Aloha and welcome to our new series of 4 blogs showcasing the many free activities on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii the Big Island.  During a time when everyone is feeling the economic crunch in their pockets, relax and make the most out of your stay by checking out the following activities.  Oahu will be first island that will be showcased.

Oahu – “The Gathering Isle”

Chances are that if you visit Hawaii your stay will include a visit to the island of Oahu where the state capital Honolulu is located. Besides enjoying the free sunshine and beaches you may also like a list of our Top 10 Free Things to do on Oahu:

10. LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF PINEAPPLE at the Pineapple Variety Garden in Dole Plantation located outside of Wahiawa.  Don’t forget to wet your taste buds with the world famous Dole Whip!

9. ASCEND TO THE TOP OF ALOHA TOWER, Honolulu Harbor’s famous clock tower, which at one time was the tallest building in Honolulu

8. TAKE ‘UKULELE OR HULA LESSONS at the Royal Hawaiian Center.

7. TAKE A STROLL THROUGH INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE, a bazaar of clothes, jewelry and souvenirs from the island’s colorful merchants set under the shade of a large banyan tree.

6. Make your friends and family envious as they watch you on a live streaming webcam from the Duke statue on the beach of Waikiki http://www.honolulu.gov/multimed/waikiki.asp

5. VIEW THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTISANS at the Art Mart along the fence of the Honolulu Zoo

4. CHEER AS THE HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE BEACH RESORT & SPA’S HOSTED FIREWORKS EXPLODE into beautiful colors on Friday evenings in remembrance and celebration of King Kalākaua’s Jubilee

3. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR HUMPBACK WHALES off Makapu‘u on O‘ahu’s South Shore or Ka‘ena Point on the northwest side of the island. 10,000 whales migrate to Hawai‘i between November and May.

2. WALK THROUGH CHINATOWN for a fascinating look at noodle factories, herbal shops, markets and gift shops

1. VIEW WORLD-CLASS SURFING COMPETITIONS during the winter months from November to March where waves can reach heights as high as 50 feet!!!

As we welcome 2010 it is a time of celebration and new beginnings. While most people make plans to lose that extra holiday weight or to stop bad habits, here at Discover Hawaii Tours we too are committed to resolutions for the upcoming year. As a growing company we are committed to providing excellent customer service that surpasses the industry’s standards. Enjoy our list of our Top 5 New Year’s Resolution for 2010.

1. Go Green! – Reducing the amount of resources used is our top priority. Our office staff is committed to reducing the amount of paper used by sending our guests emails instead of printed vouchers. We are also committed to recycling everything including our used oil for the busses, plastics, and papers.

2. Provide Superior Customer Service – We are constantly finding new and fun ways to offer our guests the best experiences on their vacations. Our “Mystery Shopper” program allows our guests to receive $20 off their tour. Mystery Shoppers just have to fill out a quick online survey after their tour to receive the discount. This is just one of the many ways Discover Hawaii Tours is committed to providing excellent customer service.

3. Expand to Eco and Cultural Tours – New for 2010 our Eco & Cultural Tours will share with you the “Real Hawaii.” Escape the crowds and explore the tranquility of the rainforest as our naturalist guides walk you through some of the most scenic terrain where a hidden waterfall awaits you. We also offer guided hikes to the top of an extinct volcanic crater, Diamond Head, where you can tower 765ft above the white sandy beaches of Waikiki.

4. Ongoing Tour Guide Training – All of our guides go through an extensive training program and are constantly being evaluated to ensure a professional tour every time. Greg, our newest tour guide supervisor, is committed to keeping his staff well trained and prepared for the upcoming year. We are committed to our tour guide training program and look forward to serving our guests needs.

5. Provide State-of-the-art Multimedia Experience – One of our newest and most anticipated departments of Discover Hawaii Tours is our Video/Media production team. Creating the most visually compelling and engaging videos are just some of the ways our Web Department interacts with our guests. Filming has already begun for our upcoming TV commercial and online testimonials. Who knows, while on tour you might get your big break and end up on camera!

When most visitors think of historic Pearl Harbor, they are most likely to focus on the USS Arizona Memorial. Less widely known but frequently visited is another historic museum at Pearl Harbor, the Pacific Aviation Museum. Located on Ford Island, the Pacific Aviation Museum houses numerous aircraft from around the world. Two of the most notable aircraft here are a Japanese Zero plane – the Grumman Wildcat – utilized in the WWII surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the Stearman which was flown by the youngest aviator at that time, President H. W. Bush.

Japanese Zero Plane

Recently, local news stations have announced that there will be some new arrivals to the Pacific Aviation Museum. Flown in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, a collection of fighter jets: two F-86 Sabres, an F-4 Phantom, an F-102 Delta Dagger, and a Soviet MiG-15 will join the list of historical aircraft available for viewing at the museum. With exciting news like this, a trip to the Pacific Aviation Museum during your stay in Hawaii is sure to be enjoyable and memorable.

Delta Dagger

We offer daily tours to the Pacific Aviation Museum with included hotel pick up in Waikiki and airfare from Maui (Kahului and Kapalua), Kona, and Kauai. If you are interested in visiting the Pacific Aviation Museum, join our 42: Pearl Harbor War Memorials Tour. Included in this one-day long adventure to Pearl Harbor is a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine, and the Pacific Aviation Museum. Also, you will enjoy a deluxe Honolulu city tour featuring the Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha Statue, and Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific. Throughout the whole tour, listen to your guide as he/she offers narration filled with intriguing historical and cultural facts. What you get from a guided tour, you can never achieve on your own.

Grab a seat on the Discover Hawaii Tours mini-coach to Pearl Harbor and be one of the first to see these new aircraft at the Pacific Aviation Museum!

F-86 Sabre Fighter Jet

Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai is a truly unique spot on the Earth in terms of its stunning geography and natural beauty. Historically, this place has an amazing story to tell as well. During the time of the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1866, King Kamehameha V authorized the establishment of a settlement of leprosy patients at Kalawao on the eastern end of the Kalaupapa peninsula. Saint Damien arrived in 1873 to care for the patients before contracting and succumbing to Hansen’s Disease himself in 1889.

Trace the path of Saint Damien in Kalaupapa

With this background information in mind, my day began with a flight on a private chartered plane departing from Honolulu. The aircraft had wide windows on both sides of the plane, offering a panoramic view of the Hawaiian Islands on the way to Molokai. The sights of Oahu’s leeward coast stretched underneath, and the islands of Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the Big Island were all visible ahead. My final destination of course was Molokai; after stopping in Kapalua on Maui to pick up some more guests we took off toward Molokai’s northern coast.

The northern coast of Molokai, home to the tallest sea cliffs in the world

On our approach to Kalaupapa, even at an altitude of 1500 feet the tallest sea cliffs in the world stood high above me. The sheer rock face to the left of the aircraft gave way to valleys cut into the ancient volcano and in the distance was Kalaupapa. Upon exiting the plane, I had ample opportunity to snap photos of the Molokai Lighthouse, all while waves crashed into the coastline surrounding the airstrip. The Saint Damien tour bus pulled up to the airport and the ground tour began. On the road to the Kalaupapa settlement, the guide pointed out a beach where endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals like to rest; we were lucky enough to see a couple!

Kalaupapa settlement viewed from the sea cliff above

The tour itself includes a number of stops, starting with St. Francis Church, a Catholic church built in 1908 that has beautiful gothic-style stained glass windows. Continuing with the drive around the small town our guide pointed out various important buildings, including guest residences and the recently-constructed health clinic; the old one burned down almost two decades ago and some of its remnants still stand. Across the street from the ruined hospital is the monument to Mother Marianne. She is not as well-known as Saint Damien, but she worked just as selflessly for the patients of Kalaupapa and she carried on Damien’s work after he had passed. The last stop here is at the local bookstore, which gave everyone a chance to buy some souvenirs and books about Kalaupapa and Saint Damien to take home.

St. Philomena Church, built by Saint Damien

The tour then shifted, taking us to the other side of the peninsula to the old settlement location at Kalawao. On the way the guide made sure to dispel some misconceptions regarding Hansen’s Disease, and also enlightened us as to the possible future of Kalaupapa once the remaining patients pass away. One stop on the road included the remains of an ancient Hawaiian heiau, an important place of worship, before we finally arrived at St. Philomena Church. Saint Damien himself erected a portion of this church, and this is where he was initially buried following his death; no doubt devout Catholics may take the opportunity to pay their respects at his grave marker in the cemetery. The final stop for lunch offered everyone on tour some time to think about what they had seen and experienced that day, all in the very location where Hansen’s Disease patients over a century ago came ashore after being dumped into the rough waters.

Over the past month, we have been adding new tours for guests to enjoy on a regular basis.  One that we are particularly excited about is the Tour 19: Dolphin Swim, Pearl Harbor and Scenic Oahu.  This tour is available with hotel pick up in Waikiki or as a 19M, 19H, or 19K with airfare provided from Kahului, Maui, Kona, Big Island, and Lihue, Kauai respectively.  Swimming with dolphins is a wonderful activity for families, couples, and individuals and often appears on personal bucket lists.

A happy dolphin at Sea Life Park

So let us take you on a tour that you are sure to remember for the rest of your life.  The dolphin swim on tour is entitled the “Dolphin Swim Adventure” and is 45 minutes in length.  You will kiss, play and learn about the dolphin.  You will also have the exciting opportunity to partake in a dolphin handshake and a dorsal fin ride.

Dolphin and new best friend

Your Dolphin Swim Adventure will take place at Oahu’s Sea Life Park which is situated on the south shore.  Also available for viewing while stopped at this location will be various shows and attractions featuring sea creatures such as penguins, sting rays, sea lions, and more.

Dancing Penguins

In addition to your Sea Life Park excursion, your tour will include a visit to the USS Arizona site at Pearl Harbor as well as a tour of Oahu’s south shore.  A no-host lunch will also be included in the tour at Honey’s Restaurant on the Koolau Golf Course.

We are currently selling this tour for a special introductory rate.  Become friends with a dolphin and witness must-see sites on Oahu.  Our special introductory rate won’t be available for long so we encourage you to book ASAP.  You’ll be sure to enjoy every moment!

Please note: If you are traveling with children under the age of 8 and are interested in this tour, please contact us about other dolphin swim options.  The “Dolphin Swim Adventure” requires that participants be at least 8 years of age.

One way to learn about another culture is by sampling the cuisine. Here in Hawaii, the cuisine consists of a medley of recipes and dishes from all around the world, as well as a few choice foods that have had their place in Hawaiian cooking for centuries. This blog addresses three specific staples that have existed in Hawaii’s kitchens for many, many years. They are the plate lunch, poi, and Spam Musubi.

Plate lunches can be found in pretty much every local restaurant. The most basic version consists of 2 scoops of rice, 1 scoop of simple macaroni salad (macaroni and mayonnaise), and a choice of protein for the main entrée. Loco Moco is the most popular type of plate lunch. A loco moco begins with 2 scoops of rice which are topped with a hamburger patty, fried egg, and brown gravy. Over the years, numerous variations of the classic loco moco have been derived with an easy switch of the main protein. You can find loco mocos that feature bacon, ham, spam, *Kalua pork, Portuguese sausage, teriyaki beef or chicken, mahi-mahi, shrimp, oysters, or other meats.

Loco Moco Plate Lunch

Poi is extremely popular in traditional and modern Hawaiian cuisine. Made from the stem or corm of the Taro plant, Poi is created by mashing the plant until a desired consistency is reached (consistencies range from liquid to dough like). Poi is traditionally eaten with the fingers, and oftentimes is referred to as either 2-finger or 3-finger as a description of its consistency.

Purple Poi

Spam Musubi is a low-priced snack that can be found at eateries like 7-11, grocery stores, snack stands, and movie theatre concession stands. Served either warm or cold, a musubi is composed of a block of rice with a small piece of spam overtop and wrapped in seaweed. Though not necessary, condiments can be used to offer more flavor to a musubi. Common condiments used include teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and *furikake. The spam in a musubi can also be cooked in jelly to add flavor to the snack.

Spam Musubi

“Do as the locals do” and make sure to try these traditional Hawaiian foods on your next trip to the islands! It will without a doubt be a great experience on your vacation…and tasty too!

* Kalua refers to the method of cooking meat with an underground oven or imu

* Furikake is a Japanese condiment made from a mixture of dried and ground fish, sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, sugar, salt, and MSG