Lanai met us at our hotel with his Jeep and a big smile. As we drove he told us about growing up on the island of Lanai (hence his name), the history of Hawaii, and the geographical points along the way. We stopped at numerous lookout points during his narrative, and he was kind enough to take pictures of us so we wouldn't have to struggle with selfies!
One of our stops was Sherwood Beach, known for its beautiful sand and water color, and as I was standing ankle-deep in the water, something stung me on the ankles! I saw the culprit, which looked like a baby jellyfish with a blue "kite string" coming out of it, and picked it up with a small piece of wood and showed it to Lanai. He said it was a Portuguese man o' war and immediately got the attention of a beach guard, who sprayed vinegar on the stings. As we continued on our tour, Lanai continually asked me how my ankles felt and, fortunately, the sting began to subside almost immediately. I appreciated his quick identification of the culprit, instinctive action to flag the beach guard, and concern for my well-being, as I had no idea if the creature was dangerous or not.
Throughout the tour we talked about many aspects of Hawaiian culture, and Lanai allowed us to lead the conversation with questions. He gave us many suggestions for good restaurants, as he has had significant experience in that field, and even hosts his own food show, "Cooking Hawaiian" on the Lifestyle channel. At the end of the tour he stopped at a supermarket and got us tastes of poke (ahi tuna) in 3 different seasonings as well as a sample of musubi (block of spam and rice held together with seaweed). Everything was delicious and our horizons were broadened!
Lanai is a great ambassador for Hawaii. He radiates pride in its rich and diverse blend of cultures, its history and cuisine, and its "aloha spirit" of love and respect for others. He was informative, kind, and funny, and I recommend booking a Jeep tour with him. Mahalo, Lanai!