© Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
© UnCruise Adventures
VIDEO
HAWAII BEYOND THE LUAU by MING TAPPIN
TR AVEL I CRUISE HAWAII
© Hawaii Tourism Authority
My journey of discovery began in Moloka’i, the gorgeous and uncrowded island that is a throwback to pre-commercialized Hawaii. There are no high-rises, sprawling resorts, or even public transit. Instead, I found deserted beaches, quaint towns and lush valleys. On Moloka’i’s must-eat list is piping hot bread from Kanemitsu Bakery, slathered with your choice of cinnamon butter, cream cheese, or strawberry jam — or better yet, make it the works. After four days of mellowing in Moloka’i, I board Safari Explorer where another reality lies ahead. Forget what you know about conventional cruising – UnCruise Adventures is aptly named because it is unlike any other. With just 36 guests, the vessel is more like a laidback private yacht. Where else can you see a captain steer his ship wearing shorts and flip flops? And packing becomes so much easier without dressy clothes and fancy shoes. We eat in a comfortable dining room and socialize in a cozy lounge with comfy leather sofas and a wood-trimmed bar. No shows or casinos here, but there are social hours and informative talks about Hawaii’s history, culture, flora and fauna. Each day, as we tuck into breakfast that ranges from huevos rancheros to macadamia nut French toast, we listen attentively to our chef describe what’s for lunch and dinner. Whenever we couldn’t decide — which was often — we would ask for a sample of each dish on our plate. We dine on seared ahi tuna steaks, Thai curries and crispy pork belly, all deliciously made from scratch and cooked to order. But if one desires, a cheeseburger and fries are easily arranged.
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ENSEMBLE VAC ATIONS I SPRING 2021
INTERVIEW
"In Moloka’i’s sacred Halawa Valley, we meet Anakala “Uncle” Pilipo Solatorio — a descendant of the Hawaiian people MUSIC still living off the land by hunting, farming taro and raising livestock."
RECIPE
For seven days, we snorkel, kayak, and head ashore to hike and visit the locals, guided by an expert expedition team. In Moloka’i’s sacred Halawa Valley, we meet Anakala “Uncle” Pilipo Solatorio — a descendant of the HawaiianCOCKTAIL people still living off the land by hunting, farming taro and raising livestock. Through his fascinating stories, we learn authentic Hawaiian culture is much different from the touristy version. BOOK In Lana’i, I meet descendants of a furry kind at the Cat Sanctuary, built to house the feral cats that used to prey on the native birds. Today, more than 600 felines call the 3.5-acre sanctuary home. The birds are proliferating, and the cats are content getting lots of head scratches and love from cooing visitors like me. And under the inky skies off the coast of the Big Island, I don a wetsuit and jump into the water to watch giant manta rays feed on plankton while performing their swooping dance. As this is March, our cruise includes humpback whale watching. We come across a small group of males fin-slapping and bodyslamming each other in their own underwater sumo match. The strongest and most resilient
