Daydream58090534676
Mar 2024
When we were planning our vacation to O'ahu, one thing my wife wanted to book was a sunset cruise. I browsed through several options, many of which were on Tripadvisor with hundreds of positive reviews. This excursion only had a few but the cultural aspect intrigued me and I decided to take a chance, and we were well rewarded.
This is not your standard sunset cruise. First, there's the boat. It's a 100+ year old wooden double-hulled canoe with an interesting history that puts you just a few feet above the water. The first half we relaxed with a goblet of fresh coconut water as we sailed out along the Waikiki coast toward Diamond Head. Our hosts sang songs and played the ukulele in between anecdotes and information about how the coast has changed over it's history. They are scholars of Hawaiian history and not only had a lot of things planned to share, but were able to answer my (many) questions. We also saw a turtle!
The second half of the trip was much more hands-on. We learned some hula steps, sang, played traditional instruments and mashed taro as part of our dinner. Along with the taro, there was other fresh fish and fruit and a couple desert items. It was all delicious, and there was plenty of it. Before or during each of these activities, we learned the associated cultural significance.
As the sun set and we were singing a traditional Hawaiian sunset blessing, a huge yacht with over a hundred people aboard who chose a more traditional sunset cruise came into view and I realized how lucky we were. If you want to observe the sunset from a detached, low-stakes position behind glass or thirty feet above the water, this option is not for you. If you aren't afraid of getting your hands dirty, learning new things and participating in new experiences that may be a little outside your comfort zone, this is a must-do while in O'ahu. This is a unique experience and one we will probably never forget. Aloha!