Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
provides everything: expert guides (geologists, historians, archaeologists), round-trip trans-
portation, entrance fees, bottled water, and use of day packs, binoculars, flashlights, and rain
gear.
Rolling Through Waikiki on a Segway
One of our favorite ways to tour Waikiki is on a Segway Personal Transporter, the silly looking
two-wheeled machine that resembles a push lawn mower (big wheels and a long upright
handle). Amazingly enough, within just a few minutes you get the hang of this contraption,
which works through a series of high-tech stabilization mechanisms that read the motion of
your body to turn or go forward or backward (it's propelled forward through twisting the hand
throttle). And it's fun—think back to the first time you rode your bicycle and the incredible
freedom of zipping along without walking.
Glide Ride Tours and Rentals,
at the Aloha
the Segway (they make sure that you are fully competent before you leave their training
area), then take you on an introductory tour (you must be 16 years of age or over and weigh
more than 80 pounds). The tours range from a 30-minute introductory tour for $49 per per-
son to a 2½- to 3-hour tour of Waikiki, Kapiolani Park, and Diamond Head, for $130 per per-
son.
SPECIALTY TOURS
Below are a couple of little-known, off-the beaten path tours.
an excellent “behind the scenes” tour of their LION and Royal Kona Coffee facility as well as
their Hawaiian Island Tea Company. You will be met in the retail/cafe area of their facility
and taken through the 55,000-square-foot plant on a step-by-step tour of how Hawaii's oldest
and largest coffee company processes and roasts their dozens of different brands and types
of coffee. Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the tour, plus extra time to try the various coffees in the
cafe. This is one of the best places on the island to stock up on a few bags of coffee or boxes
of teas. Not only are the prices competitive, but, in November and December, exclusive spe-
cialty Christmas coffee can be purchased at this location. Free tours are given Monday through
Thursday, 10 times a day (call for current tour times and reservations). The E Noa Trolley no.
10 also stops here.
For those looking for a really different look at Honolulu and the island,
OahuGhostTours
Originally started by Glen Grant (1947-2003), who dedicated his life to exploring stories and
sightings of the paranormal, the company has continued his investigations of ghosts, unusual
sightings, and the unexplainable. The tours range from
HonoluluCityHaunts,
a 2-mile walk-
ing tour of places where supernatural events still occur today ($34 adults and $29 children 11
and younger), to
SacredSpiritsTour,
a 5-hour walking tour of the most sacred Native Hawaii-
