Mauka to Makai - April/May/June 2023

Order food and beverages upstairs (hence the “attic” in the eatery’s name). While you wait, ask if you can play one of the instruments on display: 8 guitars (one dates to 1922), 4 ‘ukulele, a cajón (box drum), and a piano, most donated by local music lovers. Closed on Sundays. Daytime shows are free. Performers set the prices for evening shows, which usually start at $10.

Knee-deep in mud, Kaimukī resident Karin Jones (pictured) felt a strong connection with the lo‘i kalo (wetland taro farm). “The taro was cool and silky,” she recalls. “It looked vibrant and healthy, and it seemed the entire patch was radiating gratitude for the care it was receiving.”

Jones had just participated in a 2-hour Mālama Experience at Kualoa Ranch, a private reserve in Windward O‘ahu that offers activities in harmony with nature, Hawaiian culture and values, and the verdant area’s history. The Mālama Experience is a new hands-on opportunity for visitors to give back to the land that is their lifeline.

First, guides explain native Hawaiians’ ancestral link to kalo and how the ahupua‘a (land division) system ensures a thriving ecosystem through wise watershed and resource management. Depending on what work is needed, guests might thatch hale; tend a garden of native Hawaiian medicinal plants; or clean, plant, and harvest kalo.

Of her time with taro, Jones says, “It felt good to be close to the plants and to put positive energy into the earth. It felt good to know that one day soon, someone would be nourished by the taro I helped care for.”

The Mālama Experience costs $51.95 for adults and $36.95 for children ages 5–12. It is not available to younger keiki.

Kehaulani Kekua’s passion for creating beautiful things dates back to “small-kid time,” when she spent hours in her grandmother’s garden, picking flowers and weaving lei with her kūpuna. Her Culture to Canvas class at Anaina Hou Community Park in Kīlauea combines her gift for art and her knowledge of Hawaiiana as a kumu hula (hula teacher).

Participants will render their interpretation of one of Kekua’s original paintings, most of which are inspired by wahi pana (celebrated places). Among them are Honu Haven, an underwater Po‘ipū scene featuring a sea turtle—an ‘aumakua (ancestor) who has assumed a natural form to connect with loved ones. Another is Nāpali Moonset, which prompts discussions about why the Hawaiians of old fished and planted crops according to phases of the moon.

Kekua shares mo‘olelo (stories, myths, legends) and Hawaiian traditions and place names along with step-by-step painting instructions: “I love how conversations flow throughout the evening—and how people arrive as strangers and leave as friends.”

Culture to Canvas is available 6–8 p.m. on Thursdays. $89.50 per person ($74.50 for kama‘āina), including supplies, refreshments, and the completed 11-by-14-inch painting.

Lee (pictured) loves to “talk tea,” and you might be surprised to find out that loose-leaf tea can last up to 2 years if it’s kept away from air, light, heat, moisture, and strong odors. She’ll note that Volcano Village’s nutrient-rich soil contributes to a unique terroir that is expressed in Tea Hawaii’s flavors. And she’ll encourage you to take time to appreciate tea’s appearance, aroma, and taste. “Enjoying tea,” she says, “is enjoying the moment.”

Tours cost $25–$80 per person, depending on the size of your party. Keiki 5 and under are free.

Want to stand face-to-face with a sand tiger shark and not wet a single hair on your head? It’s easy: Just wade into the 200,000-gallon shark tank (pictured), the centerpiece of the Golden Nugget Las Vegas’ $30 million pool complex The Tank, for up-close looks at 4 types of sharks, 2 southern stingrays, and more than 100 schooling fish.

The mega aquatic playground also boasts 2 swimming pools (one reserved for adults); a waterfall; firepits; hot tubs; gaming tables; a full-service bar; 25 private cabanas (some with a TV and fridge); and a winding 3-story waterslide, part of which goes through the shark tank. On first Friday nights from May through September, enjoy live rockabilly music at Honky Tonk at The Tank. These free concerts are open to the public; attendees must be at least 21 years old.

Nightly room rates at the Golden Nugget start at $69; kama‘āina receive a 30% discount (blackout dates apply). Non-hotel guests can get pool access by booking a daybed (starting at $35), gazebo (starting at $95), or cabana (starting at $135), or by buying a day pass (price varies).