Oahu Virtual Vacation Worksheet

1. What other wildlife might you see at Turtle Bay besides turtles?

Hawaiian Monk Seals

2. Can you touch a green sea turtle if you come across one on the beach in Hawaii?

No, you cannot even get within 10 feet of them, bother them or, of course, capture or kill them.

3. Are those shrimp trucks safe to eat at?

Yes, even the morning new programs on the local stations say it is so! According to the news story I saw, there has not been one reported case of anyone getting sick from eating at a food truck, even the unlicensed ones!

4. What is an Acai bowl? For that matter, what is an acai?

An acai bowl is a dessert made of frozen acai berry puree (much like ice cream) that is topped with various fruits and perhaps granola, honey, and perhaps some apple or orange juice.

The acai palm is a palm tree that produces fleshy purple berries and while it is grown in Hawaii, it is an invasive species that can crowd out native Hawaiian plants and is considered a weed or even a “garden thug” by some. Sounds like a tropical kudzu to me!

5. Why is surfing at Waimea Bay so great?

Big winter swells gave birth to big wave surfing, and you can find beaches with small waves such as Sunset Beach where new surfers can learn to ride just down the road from much more demanding and dangerous spots like the Banzai Pipeline. Great competitions are held here, too, and surfers from all over the world come to compete.

6. Polynesians view the ocean much like a large highway system whereas we tend to view the oceans as barriers. Why?

Polynesians could navigate the waters by looking for signs (go to the jellyfish and turn left) and understood how to use their knowledge of the ocean to travel and trade. Their lands are small and surrounded by water and these facts contributed to their sea-faring explorations. Europeans lacked the same intimacy with the oceans and could travel great distances over land, thus reducing their need to explore the unknown. Thus, the ocean is a highway to the Polynesian and a barrier to the European.

7. What are the most common types of whales to see in and around Honolulu Bay?

While researchers have seen about 24 different species of whales in the waters surrounding Hawaii, the most common are Humpback whales. If you are lucky you might also see Spinner Dolphins, Spotted Dolphins, Bottlenose Dolphins. Rarely you might spot a False Killer Whales or a Melon head whale. ( http://www.hawaiioceansports.com/html/whales_101.html)

8. Why does a pineapple sold at the Dole Plantation cost more than the pineapples found in the average grocery store on the US mainland?

We still do not know with any real certainty though we suspect that the tourists are being price-gouged. ;)

9. If you decide to go see the Breath of Life at the Polynesian Cultural Center, why do you want to skip dessert at the luau prior to the show? What are the best seats in the house according to your trusty tour guide?

They sell a marvelous looking rainbow sherbet bowl at intermission. It costs $5, but come on, you’re on vacation! While I generally shy away from the front row in any venue, in this case the front row seats on the aisle were fantastic. You feel like you are part of the show almost, and it is cool to have the actors standing right next to you in the aisles waiting to jump on stage and do battle with the other village. LOL, loads of fun!

10. Who did your tour guide meet at the Kahuku Grill? Why?

I met loads of other folks from Utah. The BYU Hawaii campus is just down the road from the Kahuku Grill, so the place was packed with visitors, students and heaven only knows who else from Utah or BYU. It was kind of like being at home, but way warmer!