Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A LEGENDARY LIZARD
That eye-catching peaked volcanic islet you see offshore from Kualoa Regional
Park is
Mokoliʻi
('little lizard'). According to legend, it's the tail of amoʻo(lizard
spirit) slain by the goddess Hiʻiaka and thrown into the ocean. Following the immig-
ration of Chinese laborers to Hawaii, this cone-shaped island also came to be
called Chinaman's Hat, a nickname that persists today, regardless of political cor-
rectness.
Sights
Senator Fong's Plantation & Gardens
GARDENS
MAP
(
239-6775;
www.fonggarden.com
; 47-285 Pulama Rd, Kahaluʻu; adult/child 5-12yr $14.50/9;
tours usually 10:30am & 1pm Sun-Fri)
A labor of love by Hiram Fong (1907-2004), the
first Asian American elected to the US Senate, these flowering gardens preserve
Hawaii's plant life for future generations. The Fong family offers 1½-hour, 1-mile guided
tours that wind past tropical flowers, sandalwood and palm trees, and other endemic
plants. Call ahead to reserve a tour.
The gardens are 0.7 miles
mauka
(inland) from the Kamehameha Hwy - turn onto Pu-
lama Rd about 0.5 miles north of
Sunshine Arts Gallery
, where you can browse art-
works by island-born painters, photographers, printmakers, sculptors and woodcarvers.
Eating
Waiahole Poi Factory
LOCAL $
MAP
(
http://waiaholepoifactory.com
;
48-140 Kamehameha Hwy, Waiahole; meals $7-11; 11am-6pm)
About a mile north of the Hygienic Store, this family owned roadside landmark sells
ʻono
traditional Hawaiian plate lunches, baked
laulau
and squid, freshly pounded poi and
seafood
poke
by the pound, and homemade
haupia
for dessert. Get here early at lunch-
time, as food sells out fast.
Mike's Huli Huli Chicken
FOOD TRUCK $
