ALOHA FROM AFAR: OʻAHU CULTURE, HISTORY, AND CUISINE FOR THE HOME

ATTRACTIONS, MUSEUMS, CHEFS AND MORE LEVERAGE ONLINE TECHNOLOGIES TO BRING OʻAHU TO THOSE STAYING AT HOME

OʻAHU – Oʻahu has welcomed generations of visitors to its shores to experience its unique history, culture, and natural beauty. Like many destinations however, Oʻahu is currently focusing on the health and safety of its community, and now unfortunately is not the time to travel to Hawaiʻi.

“In these unprecedented times, the safety and health of our residents, community and prospective visitors is a priority that we take seriously,” said Noelani Schilling-Wheeler, executive director of the Oʻahu Visitors Bureau. “Right now we respectfully ask travelers to postpone any travel to Hawaiʻi until our State and County deems it appropriate. When we are in recovery and open for business, Oʻahu will welcome visitors with aloha, and will share the wonderful experiences Oʻahu has to offer, once again.”

In the Hawaiian Islands, aloha is so much more than a greeting – it’s love, and it’s connection and togetherness. Aloha is what the world needs right now. Until Hawaiʻi can welcome visitors again, the Oʻahu Visitors Bureau encourages everyone to stay safe, healthy and #ShareAloha, too. View the #ShareAloha video on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube and feel free to share it with ʻohana (family) and friends.

In the spirit of aloha, Oʻahu’s attractions, cultural institutions, chefs, and famed hotels send their aloha from afar by leveraging online resources, distance learning programs and virtual experiences to bring a little bit of Hawaiʻi into the home, wherever that may be. Below is a curated list of online experiences to enjoy, until Oʻahu welcomes visitors back to its shores once again.

 
ENRICHING HISTORY & CULTURE

The Hawaiian Islands have a story unlike any other state in the U.S. and offer some of the most diverse experiences concentrated within a single destination. Oʻahu’s museums, monuments, and attractions are producing original content to bring Hawaiʻi’s story into the home like never before.

Pearl Harbor Historic Sites – Learning Center, Tours and Webinars

75th Commemoration of WWII – Learning Center
To celebrate the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II, a Learning Center has been developed to share the story of the “Greatest Generation” with those interested in history and as a resource for teachers, students and parents. Families can find timelines, facts and stories about the brave men and women who served, and about those who supported their efforts. www.75thWWIICommemoration.org 
 
Battleship Missouri Memorial – Virtual Field Trip and Tour
As the Battleship Missouri Memorial commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the End of WWII on Sept. 2, 2020, students are invited to “visit” the Mighty Mo and experience America’s last battleship through a one-hour virtual field trip or a self-guided virtual tour. Through a virtual field trip, students will be taken back in time to explore the ship’s place in history, length of service, and its impressive magnitude of size and power. Fifth through 12th grade students have the opportunity to be included in a more in-depth conversation about World War II and the Missouri’s famous role in that war. Those interested in scheduling a free virtual field trip can email Neil Yamamoto at [email protected] or visit the USS Missouri website to take part in a self-guided virtual tour. www.USSMissouri.org

An audio version of the children’s book, “My Grandpa’s Battleship Missouri Tour” by Jeff Langcaon is now available on YouTube. The book is about a Battleship Missouri Memorial tour guide, Toby Langcaon, who takes his granddaughter’s class on an excursion of the Mighty Mo and explains his story of being stationed on that very ship. Children and parents can listen to this narrated book and learn about the role the ship played in American history. https://bit.ly/2VtGxur


Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum – Pearl Harbor at Home & Educational Webinars

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum has launched a new digital resource called Pearl Harbor At Home. The resource was developed to help families stay engaged and entertained in the home and has everything from historic facts, speeches, rare photos, podcasts, books and movies, to educational and STEM activities. www.PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org/Visit/Pearl-Harbor-at-Home
 
Webinar: Doolittle Raid
Friday, April 17 at 9 a.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time

This webinar will allow attendees to discover the resilience and innovation that defined the Doolittle Raid. 78 years ago, the world was at war and the U.S. was reeling from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Imperial Japan continued its push throughout the Pacific, gaining territory and valuable resources to support its strategic goals. The Tokyo Raid, better known at the Doolittle Raid, was America’s answer to the enemy’s aggression. On April 18, 1942, Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, an experienced pilot with the U.S. Army Air Forces, led a group of 16 B-25 Mitchell Bombers in a secret mission to bomb continental US Japan. This webinar will feature Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, granddaughter of the famous aviator, and Seth Paridon, historian at The National WWII Museum. www.PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org/Visit/Online-Education-Resources
 
Webinar: Eyewitness to History
Wednesday, April 22 at 9 a.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time

The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the impact of WWII shaped the lives of the children who lived through it. Martial law, school closures and rationing were just a few of the hardships they experienced. In this webinar, attendees will join Jennifer Swanson, author of “American Girl: Real Stories From My Time: Pearl Harbor,” and Dorinda Nicholson, author of “Pearl Harbor Child” and inspiration for the American Girl doll “Nanea,” as they share stories and lessons from that era. In addition to learning about the children who experienced WWII, this webinar will teach students how they can become young historians to collect, document, and preserve their own family’s stories. www.PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org/Visit/Online-Education-Resources

Bishop Museum - Online Learning Center

Through its newly developed Online Learning Center, Bishop Museum shares its knowledge about the history, culture, and natural sciences of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific with learners of all ages, creating opportunities to bring their unique work into people’s homes and classrooms. The Online Learning Center will be updated with photos, videos, blog posts, podcasts, activities, and lesson plans on history, culture, science, and other subjects. Families can check back weekly for updated content. www.BishopMuseum.org/Online-Learning-Center

ʻIolani Palace – Virtual Tour & Online Resources

Registered as a National Historic Landmark since 1962 and the only official royal residence in the U.S., ʻIolani Palace is one of the most recognizable buildings in Hawaiʻi. To keep children, parents and educators engaged at home, ʻIolani Palace encourages everyone to use its variety of free virtual experiences and online educational resources, including a 3D Virtual Tour, Palace Grounds app, downloadable kids’ activities, and video lectures. www.IolaniPalace.org   

Polynesian Cultural Center – Activities, Recipes and More

The Polynesian Cultural Center, situated on the beautiful North Shore on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, is dedicated to preserving and sharing the beautiful cultures of Polynesia. Its new Education & History Site provides online guests with a number of activities, easy island recipes, how-to videos from Tahitian dancing to coconut tree climbing, and so much more. www.Polynesia.com/Educational-Resources 

Halekūlani and Halepuna Waikīkī - #HawaiiFromHome and HIFF@Home

Halekūlani and Halepuna Waikīkī, two resorts with a legacy of perpetuating and supporting the arts in Hawaiʻi, are encouraging families to discover #HawaiiFromHome. Based on HalekulaniLiving.TV, the site features seven seasons of Living TV, which follows the lives of those who celebrate the Halekūlani lifestyle through their cultural and artistic pursuits. Families can learn about the art of spearfishing and Hawaiian quilting, while other episodes profile contemporary Hawaiʻi artists and their craft. In addition, as a sponsor of the esteemed Hawaiʻi International Film Festival (HIFF), visitors can explore HIFF@Home. A link provided on the website allows visitors to access content from local groundbreaking filmmakers and short films from around the world screened at Oʻahu’s independent film festival. www.HalekulaniLiving.tv

 
BRING THE OUTDOORS INSIDE

Families can get up close with dolphins from the couch, or create their own Hawaiʻi artwork through virtual lessons. These Oʻahu businesses are doing their part to bring a bit of Hawaiʻi’s natural beauty into the great indoors. 

Sea Life Park Hawaiʻi – Bring the Park to You

Sea Life Park is launching a new series titled “Bring the Park to You.” This social media series allows viewers to follow the animal care team and get a behind the scenes experience of the park that’s both exciting and educational. Live feeds follow workers continuing to care for the park’s animals, and viewers are encouraged to interact by asking Sea Life Park trainers questions. Families can also check out the ever-growing Educational Resources page while at home. The resources page contains teaching material, and will be updated with activities and coloring pages to encourage marine life learning from home. www.facebook.com/SeaLifeHawaiiwww.SeaLifeParkHawaii.com/EducationalResources

Wild Side Specialty Tours – Wild Side Wednesdays

For years, Wild Side Specialty Tour’s marine biologist-led ocean excursions have been creating life long memories and instilling a sense of respect for Oʻahu’s marine life. Now, the company is launching Wild Side Wednesdays, a series that will include weekly educational videos from onboard Wild Side’s boats highlighting Hawaiʻi’s wildlife and maritime citizen science. Families can tune in and even request specific topics to Wild Side’s marine biologist team. For the latest on Wild Side Wednesdays, those interested can follow Wild Side on social media and check their website for updates. www.Facebook.com/Wild.Side.Specialty.Tourswww.Instagram.com/WildSideHIwww.SailHawaii.com

Waikīkī Aquarium – Drawing Lessons and More

As part of an ongoing effort to keep children, parents and educators engaged at home, the Waikīkī Aquarium has unveiled a variety of free virtual experiences and online educational resources for both residents and visitors to enjoy. The online initiatives include weekly Marine Animal Drawing Lessons with local artist Patrick Ching, weekly live Q&As with the Aquarium director Dr. Andrew Rossiter, 15-minute ocean spotlight talks, aquarium webcams and more. The new experiences kicked-off on April 15 with the first drawing lesson streaming on Facebook Live. www.WaikikiAquarium.org/Experience/Virtual

 
A TASTE OF ALOHA IN THE HOME

Oʻahu’s melting pot of cultures has earned it a place among the greatest cuisine destinations. Some of the island’s best chefs and top restaurants are offering virtual cooking demonstrations, recipes and how-to videos to bring the flavors of Oʻahu to the home kitchen.

Chef Chai – Recipe Tutorials

Chef Chai Chaowasaree is the chef and owner of his popular eponymous fusion restaurant located in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and is renowned as a key innovator of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine. Now, chef Chai is giving away some of his culinary secrets with a series of demonstrational videos and recipes. Home cooks can visit the chef’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram to learn how to make larb chicken, pad thai noodles, spicy pork basil and more in signature “Chai-style” that combines the flavors of Asia and Hawaiʻiwww.YouTube.com/channel/UC5iE7KOSaDWtICO3gf6u9tg/videoswww.Facebook.com/ChefChaiwww.Instagram.com/ChefChaiPacifica

ESPACIO, The Jewel of Waikīkī – Mugen How-To

This boutique luxury hotel is giving those at home a behind-the-scenes perspective of its high-touch hospitality through a “how-to” series led by the visionaries behind Mugen, the property’s innovative Japanese-French dining concept. “Live with Lee” features restaurant manager Lee Kamimura leading informative video briefs about topics such as how to select the best bottle of wine from the supermarket. “Chef Shorts” features Mugen executive chef Jason Yamaguchi demonstrating skills such as how to plate a beautiful meal at home using what you have in the pantry. www.EspacioWaikiki.comwww.Instagram.com/MugenWaikiki

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