DiGiovanni Hawaiian Newsletter

The

DiGiovanni Hawaiian Excursion Newsletter

Summer 2015 Written by Tom DiGiovanni

The


May 22: 10 Weeks Out Want to know a little more about Hawaii, its history and its culture to make the most out of your trip? Look no further! Each Friday, you will be regaled with a new edition. Enjoy! While the island of Oahu has some great fine dining restaurants, there is tons of fun food to check out that won’t break the bank. Let’s check out an icy snack that you are bound to scratch your head about…

Shave Ice … yes, it looks (and tastes) like the Snoopy Snow Cone Machine, but this frozen dessert is an Oahu staple. Why? We aren’t sure. The best place to get it? At Matsumoto’s, on the north shore in Haleiwa (66-087 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712). While most places just shave some ice and squirt some flavored, colored sugar-water on top, check out the cross-section at Matsumoto’s.

It’s not Italian Ice – not even close - but you gotta try one while you’re there. And if you’re freaked out about Condensed Milk and Azuki Sweet Beans (what?!?), get over your food fears and

remember that food IS culture – and you’re in Hawaii – so do as the

Romans do…

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May 29: 9 Weeks Out Why does the Hawaiian language have so many vowels? And really long words? (humuhumunukunuku’apua’a is the state fish) And why the apostrophes? (It’s actually Hawai’i & we are beginning our journey O’ahu.) A short language lesson will give us some cultural insight and probably prevent you from getting lost at some point during your stay. For starters, this is the Hawaiian alphabet: A E I O U H K L M N P W ‘ That’s it. 5 vowels and 8 consonants. And yes, that last consonant is an apostrophe. When you see an apostrophe (Hawai’i), you should sound a glottal stop. Yes, a glottal stop. A what? Here – practice your glottal stop: say, “uh-oh”. You just performed two glottal stops. Good work. At the beginning of each of those syllables, your vocal cords come together to create a hard attack. Try “uh-oh” again. THAT is a glottal stop. Pronounce Hawai’i like this: Hah-wah-ee-ee and place the glottal stop before the second ‘ee’. Try it a few times. And one more thing – sometimes a W is pronounced like a V.

So if you want to really sound obnoxious to your friends, pronounce it “Hah-vah-ee-ee”. Remember, only do the glottal stop on the second ‘ee’, not both. Every consonant has to be followed by a vowel. All of the vowels are pronounced as in Italian, Spanish, or Latin: A E I O U sounds like “ah eh ee oh oo”. Pronounce every vowel! There are no vowel blends like in English (train, ouch, etc). The Hawaiian word for YES is: ‘Ae. Start with a glottal stop on “Ah” then go to “eh”. Ah-Eh. If you see a line over the vowel (ō), just hold it out a little longer. It doesn’t change the sound of the vowel. Ukulele? Oo-koo-leh-leh.

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June 5: 8 Weeks Out Like food trucks? On Oahu, you’ll find food trucks that are known for their shrimp dishes. Shrimp is generally flown in (frozen) from the gulf coast, with just a small portion of shrimp locally farm-raised. These shrimp trucks have been featured on the Food Network (multiple times). The crowd favorite for great atmosphere and decent food is Giovanni’s. There are two locations: one in the town of Kahuku, and one in Haleiwa.

Kahuku boasts the original truck (mobile since 1953 – parked since 1996) and with a super-tiny menu (shrimp, hot dogs), they’ve perfected each dish. And don’t forget to sign your name on the truck before you leave. Yes – it is encouraged. If you can find a spot.

AND…

What is a Portugese bakery doing in Oahu?

Making awesome doughnuts - sorry - ‘malasadas’ (a Portugese doughnut). Pao-Doce is their other feature, which is a sweet bread, but it’s really all about the crispy doughnuts, with a variety of fillings or simply coated with sugar or cinnamon-sugar. Feeling ultra-Hawaiian? Try the coconut filling, or the flavor-of-the-month – currently pineapple! Minutes from our hotel…

…Leonard’s – since 1952.

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June 12: 7 Weeks Out We all know by now that Hawaii is not right next to Arizona, contrary to most maps of the U.S. There are 8 main islands - actually 137 islands in total, but anything west of Niihau is uninhabited. (Or is it where secret societies plan to take over the world?) Most of the islands are really wet (and green) in the northeast and dry (and brown) in the southwest, due to the trade winds. Most of the best surfing is on the northern parts of the island due to these winds.

Because of the severe altitude differences, the surrounding water and the trade winds, Hawaii is known for its micro-climates. You can travel from a rainforest to a desert in a matter of minutes. Hawaii and Alaska are tied for the LOWEST high temperature in the U.S.: 100 degrees. While we are there, temperatures will range from 88 during the day, down to 75 at night, and rarely dips into the 60s during the winter. Well, I’m lying a little bit – it gets very cold at the top of some of the mountains (it snows above 13,800 feet, too). Waves for surfing are the biggest during the winter. February & March are the best months to go whale watching, as the whales are visiting from Alaska to give birth. We are traveling to Hawaii in the dry season, so waterfalls may not be as gushing as they would be during the winter (the rainy season). AND…Los Angeles is about 2400 miles from New Jersey and about 2500 miles from Hawaii. There is a 6-hour time difference for us. The best way to combat jet-lag is to stay hydrated, and move your sleeping/eating habits closer to the new time zone before you leave. For us, that means stay up later and eat dinner at 11PM!

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June 19: 6 Weeks Out

Poi, Poke & Pig

…Three foods you should all consider trying while in Hawaii. Personally, I enjoy two of them, but I will give Poi another chance. Want to know more?

Poi A staple in traditional Hawaiian cuisine, legend has it that the Hawaiian people are actually ancestors of the taro plant, from which this starchy food is derived. The taro root is cooked and then mashed until it is at the desired consistency (which varies). Because poi contains super-healthy probiotics, much like yogurt (but in much higher quantities),

AND ferments naturally, Hawaiians have used poi for centuries to stave off diseases (by ingesting small amounts of the naturally occurring bacteria in the environment – much like locally-raised honey). During our luau, give it a try by dipping some smoked

pork into it. The texture is like nothing you have ever eaten – unless you’ve tried bread dough. Yeah – bread dough.

Poke This stuff is my favorite: raw tuna (ok – I realize I just lost many of you…), sea salt, a lil’ bit of soy sauce, chili pepper & sesame oil. Eat it and you will fall in love with its salty goodness. You will see this stuff everywhere – grocery stores, gas stations, and on almost every menu. Give it a shot.

Pig Yeah – you know what it is, but did you know that at a traditional luau, the pig is cooked in the ground? Here is what you’ll need to do it at home: 260 pound pig, 25 feet of burlap, 75 banana leaves, 15 heads of lettuce, a bunch of round river rocks (4”-8”) that won’t explode under high heat, a cord of firewood (a lot!), a plastic tarp and some chicken wire. Dig a big hole - 2 feet deep, fill the hole with wood, light it on fire, cover the fire with rocks (wait 2-3 hours), wrap the pig in the banana leaf-lined chicken wire, put lettuce and banana leaves onto super-hot rocks, place the pig on top, cover with the tarp, cover with dirt. Wait 8-16 hours. The cheeks are the tastiest…

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June 26: 5 Weeks Out Maui…Wowee!!

This is Maui County. We are staying in Wailea-Makena, aka the South. We will fly into Kahulu Airport, on the north shore (great surfing up here). Maui is made up of two volcanoes, the largest of which is Mt. Haleakala. This is also known as “the upcountry” because it’s up (higher in elevation). Looking out from our beach resort, we will be able to see Lana’i (straight ahead), Kahoolawe (to the left) and teeny little Molokini (where we will go snorkeling). We may be able to see Moloka’i, but it will be pretty far away and partially blocked by west Maui. The two major resort areas are Wailea and Kaanapali (west coast). Each are connected to two very cool towns. Kihei is closest to us, and is very much like driving the ocean block at the Jersey shore – restaurants, houses, condos. Just south of Kaanapali is Lahaina, which has a great downtown to walk, shop, and eat. Lahaina is about a 50 minute drive from our resort, and is worth a trip to spend a đ day. Hana is on the east coast, and the road to Hana is usually taken clockwise, in a circle around the big volcano, Haleakala. Our snorkeling trip leaves from Maalaea, a 25 minute drive, located on the southern coast at the skinny part of the island.

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July 3: 4 Weeks Out

5 weeks from now, you’ll be in Maui, relaxing in a glorious sunset overlooking the extinct volcano of Molokini wondering, what should we do tomorrow? While the answer could very easily be: “very little”, there are so many incredible natural and human-made places to see, pull yourself away from the pool and the beach for a trip.

You will be glad you did.

The well-known spots: the Road to Hana (think ‘journey’ over ‘destination’ & take your time), Haleakala Volcano (maybe catch a sunrise or bike down the mountain), Iao Valley State Park, Seven Sacred Pools, Lahaina, Molokini, the Lavender Farm & the Tedeschi winery.

The hidden gems – this is where it gets interesting – you might get lost. Perhaps you will try to find some of these spots because you really want to get lost. Afterall – getting lost in Maui is not like getting lost in Hackensack.

Try the Bamboo Forest (on the way to Hana), ONO organic farm to sample tropical fruits, hike the Kahakapao trail, shop the cowboy/artsy town of Makawao, find the ‘Secret Beach’ (not too far from our resort!), the bohemian town of Paia, the Sacred Garden, the Nakalele Blowhole, Big Beach & Little Beach at Makena State Park, ‘Ahihi-Kina’u and La Perouse Bay. And if you’ve finished a day of

checking out Maui’s awesomeness, and you are really hungry, try the ‘loco moco’. Every local place does it differently, but here is the gist: 2 burgers, 2 eggs over easy, onions, brown mushroom gravy (marsala?), rice, and a little side salad… to go!

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July 10: 3 Weeks Out

Hawaii Trivia I realize that the title of this week’s newsletter may elicit a small bit of drool to descend from Nick’s lower lip onto the CTRL key, but, come on, let’s face it – we are a family who loves to know useless bits of information. So, here goes:

Hawaii is 1500

miles across – the

distance from NYC

to Colorado

A Hawaiian’s life expectancy is 81.5 years – the longest of any state

Beaches are

publicly

owned in the

state. That

means you

can go on all

of them!

In the last 32 years of continuous eruption, Kilauea has added 500+ acres to the big island

Hawaiian Standard Time is 6 hours later than the East Coast during summer

Leis w

ere

origi

nally

given

to lo

cal

chief

s as a

peace

off

erin

g

The Big Island (Hawaii)

contains 4 of 5 climates found

in the world: tundra, desert,

temperate & tropical.

All of the Hawaiian

islands were formed

by one volcanic

‘hotspot’ as the Pacific

plate drifts 3-4 inches

each year

LAN

D SIZE:

Haw

aii: 10,932 sq. mi.

New

Jersey: 8,729 sq. mi.

70% of native Hawaiian birds are extinct. The other 30% are endangered species

Hawaii (and Alaska, Maine & Vermont) has banned billboards.

King Kamehameha I (aka, Kamehameha the Great) united the Hawaiian islands in 1810

STORYTIME: In 1788, Captain John Cook was the first European to ‘discover’ the islands. During the first trip, the Hawaiians were fascinated by the technology shown off by the ships, especially their use of iron. Trading ensued (especially diseases! – just like the Native American story) and the ships left. They returned a year later during a holy time, and happened to land in a holy place, and so Cook and his men were treated as gods for a month or so. After sailing out again, Cook’s two ships were ravaged by storms and upon return to the island a week after venturing out, the British were exposed as mortals and the Hawaiians attacked Cook and his men, killing Cook and many others before the Brits fled back to England.

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July 17: 2 Weeks Out

Snorkel Like A Champ

Snorkeling in Maui is more than just ‘something to do’. It is THE thing to do. Sure, we could all head up to the North Shore and try to surf, but let’s face it – throw on a pair of flippers and float on top of the water and you will not wipe out. Snorkel gear: THE MASK… don’t let any hair in and make sure it’s not too tight – that’s just as bad as being too loose for water seepage. THE FINS… don’t curl your toes! Make sure they fit. You will be out there a LONG time. Kick from your hips – try not to bend your knees, but knees and ankles should be relaxed, not tense. Keep your fins underwater. No splashing. DEFOG… spit actually works. Dog drool works the best. Not sure if you can bring that in your carry-on. A little baby shampoo mixed with salt water works, too. ADVANCED TECHNIQUE… leave a teeny bit of water in your mask so you can swish it

around to defog. In addition to incredible coral and colorful fish, the Hawaiian Green Turtle is probably the coolest (biggest!) animal we will (hopefully) see. They grow to be 5 feet long and weigh up to 700 pounds!

They are endangered species.

They can not put their heads into their shells.

They lay 100-200 eggs at a time (on the beach).

They are herbivores – that means they probably won’t eat you. Unless you are arugula.

They need to go to the surface to get oxygen, but can usually last 4-7 hours underwater without heading to the surface.

They can live to be 80 years old.

… You will probably get cold. Rent (on the boat) or bring a wet suit type of shirt.

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July 24: 1 MORE WEEK UNTIL DEPARTURE!!! What tunes should you have in your ears to get you ready for Hawaii? Here are some all-time favorites. Tony & Lydia plan to eat at a restaurant mentioned in the first one,

which is my favorite all-time Hawaiian song – this version by Annette Funicello. My Little Grass Shack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edbWRpxzzvg Don Ho – probably the most famous Hawaiian musician. Ever. Tiny Bubbles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlCiDEXuxxA Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (try to say THAT last name… aka “Iz”) Somewhere Over the Rainbow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DKWlrA24k Written by Queen Lili’uokalani. You all probably know the chorus @ 1:08 Aloha Oe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1bIxMYPlas

The ukulele was brought to Hawaii from Portugal in the late 1800s. The Portuguese have a similar instrument called the machete. Ukulele can be

translated either as “the gift that came here” or “the jumping flea”. You choose. Here is my favorite ukulele player performing a song about a guitar…

While My Guitar Gently Weeps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k

Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar is merely a regular acoustic guitar tuned differently, usually to an open tuning. That means the strings will sound like an actual chord if

you strum them ‘open’ – with no fingers pressed down on the neck. Slack-Key guitar style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwAphcMk7tI&list=PL93B6EFBC4A1B362D

Remember when you used to drive your 3rd grade music teacher crazy by playing your recorder with your nose?

You were onto something there… ‘Ohe hano ihu (nose flute) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSPCsoMQgP0

Download these tunes to your device using www.youtube-mp3.org

It is legal, as long as you don’t share or distribute… …start packing!

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DiGiovanni Hawaiian Newsletter