Sileu Avea

[bug_dan]

I know some of you may recognize the name. He's a chief from the Island of Samoa and for 22 years hosted the Samoan Village and also performed the Fire Dance at the Evening Show at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I just recieved the Sept/Oct issue of Hawaii magazine and there is an article in there about a tour he is running at the Kualoa Ranch on Oahu. Their web site is http://www.chiefsielu.com Per the article the cost is $10 pp with children age 9 and under admitted free. There is also a barbeque lunch available for an additional $12. Tours are 45 minutes in length and include many of the things they did at the village e.g fire starting by rubbing sticks together, getting coconut milk etc. If you are looking for something a little different on Oahu, this might be interesting. Since I just tried the web site and found it not to be in operation, there was a phone number (808) 781-2474 and it's called Alii Tour. Maybe I could prevail upon Spleen to see if the tour is still in operation???

[spleen93]

I will try and see if I can call them on Friday ... won't be possible tomorrow (Th) because of my work schedule.

 

In the meantime, a Google search turned up this: http://www.alohaislandtours.com/index195222.htm

 

Spleen

[SweetEmi]

Hey...if I play hookey and stay home from work tomorrow - I'll give it a call. I have free calls to all the islands on my cell phone. (yeah, I'm cheap...hehehehe)

 

Emi

[bug_dan]

I did send an email and the web site is under construction. Tours are being run from 10:45 to 4 pm, except Sunday and Monday when there is only one tour at 10:45.

 

Hey Emi are you playing hookey today since I see you are on the board at 9:30 am HST??????

[SweetEmi]

Oh...lol! Yep...but it's because I'm not feeling all that great today. I also had some home typing work to do, so I took the day off. I forgot I said I'd call though...lol! You got your answer, yeah??

 

Emi

[spleen93]

Do you still need me to call, Dan? I ran across a mention of tours on the web being run by Sielu but it also mentioned that the tour was only available in Japanese?? :confused:

 

Spleen

[bug_dan]

Not necessary Spleen. The e-mail made no mention of being only available in Japanese, one would think they would try to get as many tourists as possible.

If it's still available in Nov, we just might try it, although I'm not sure exactly where the ranch is???

[Sea Island Lady]

I am intersted in this tour also. Do you think we could get off the ship, check into our hotel in Kahala (Mandarin Oriental) and get over to one of the hotel pick-up sights in Wakiki before 10:30 am?

 

I will send an email about the Japanese language.

[SweetEmi]

Sea Island Lady: 1) They don't usually let you check in that early at the hotels unless maybe you arranged early check in...However, they would probably hold your luggage for you until you come back so you can check in after the tour. 2) That said, you would need a bit less time due to not having to actuallly check in yet at the hotel but unless you get priority disembarkation, you would probably be cutting it pretty close. (do you have a Garden Villa or something with priority check out??)

 

But...that info is actually based on knowledge of the Star when she was in Hawaii, but I am thinking the POA is probably scheduled to come home at about the same time as the Star did.

 

Aloha!!!

Emi

[Sea Island Lady]

We are actually in a Junior Suite on the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas.

 

We can get off pretty early, I think. The ship arrives at 7:00, so we should be able to get off by 8:00 if needed. We have also made arrangements for our hotel to hold our luggage.

[SweetEmi]

I think I thought I was on the NCL board - sorry!! lol! Sounds like you have everything pretty well situated...

 

Emi

[Sea Island Lady]

These boards do get confusing...don't they?

 

Here is the response I received from the "Chief":

 

Aloha,

I think the website you found us on is mostly Japanese.

Our own website is currently under new construction.

We do all shows in English with some Japanese or Korean

or even Polish mixed in. The Chief travels around the

world with his Culture Exchange Program - actually he

speaks about 6 or 7 languages.

The tour includes a ride through tropical flowers, a

Polynesian show of fire and coconuts (Very fun!), a

boat ride on the 125 acre fish pond (built 800 years

ago), view and sample a wide variety of fruits and nuts

and staple foods that are grown in the area.

Cost is only $10 per person (kids under 10 are free)

for the 45 - 60 minute tour.

Our phone number for tickets, reservations and

information is: (808) 781-2474

Mahalo... and see you in October!

A hui hou.

I noticed he didn't mention the BBQ. I will write him back. Doesn't seem worth the trip for only 1 hour. Gotta have lunch also. :D

[spleen93]

Thanks for the update!

 

Spleen

[bug_dan]

The magazine also reviewed another tour for Oahu called Taste Bud Tour. Seems a bit pricey for my tastes but someone might like to try it. Here's the web site http://www.hawaiifoodtours.com/

 

I wondered if Chief Avea is no longer at the PCC?? Maybe after 22 years he finally "graduated".