Hawaii's Historical Tours

by John Ficher

Hawaii's Plantation Village has announced "Hawaii's Historical Tours" - a new sightseeing tour targeting visitors interested in learning and experiencing unique cultural aspects of Hawaii's history.

According to Jeffrey Higa, assistant executive director at Hawaii's Plantation Village, "The tour was designed to provide glimpses into territorial and modern Honolulu, plantation-era Hawaii and Hawaii's host culture - which naturally includes a popular luau feast."

Tour Highlights

The tour departs Waikiki every Wednesday and highlights include:

• Narrated tour of Honolulu's historic landmarks - featuring the Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha Statue, Kawaiahao Church, National Cemetery of the Pacific.
  
  
• Historic Waipahu town and Hawaii's Plantation Village - an outdoor history museum showcasing restored buildings and replicas of plantation structures. Here visitors and are transported to Hawaii in the early 1900's as they meander through the Village led by docents sharing stories of life and struggles on the sugar plantation and the beginnings of Hawaii's multi-cultural society. Hawaii's sugar industry was an important part of life in the Islands for over 100 years.
  
  
• The Hawaiian Railway Society, located in the former bustling plantation town of Ewa - Hawaii has a rich history of public and sugar plantation railroading and, on this leg of the tour, visitors enjoy a 45-minute narrated ride on a vintage locomotive along restored track that goes far as the Kahe Power Plant on Oahu's leeward coast.
  
  
• Paradise Cove Luau finale - After a full day of sightseeing and learning about the last 200 years of Hawaii's colorful history, visitors are introduced to Hawaii's host culture at Paradise Cove by way of ancient Hawaiian activities, feasting and entertainment.

Schedule and Pricing

"Hawaii's Historical Tours" is available every Wednesday with pickups at various Waikiki locations starting at 12:45 p.m. The full-day tour returns to Waikiki at about 10 p.m.

The price is $109 per adult and $90 for children, 12 years and under and includes the narrated bus tour, admissions, guides, entertainment and all-you-can-eat luau dinner.

For the first month, reservations for the tour can be made by calling Hawaii's Plantation Village at 808-677-0110. Thereafter, visitors will be able to book the tour at various travel desks located in Waikiki.

About Hawaii's Plantation Village

Hawaii's Plantation Village is a non-profit, living history museum and ethno-botanical garden located on a 50-acre site in the heart of sugar plantation country in Waipahu.

Established by the Friends of Waipahu Cultural Garden Park, its mission is to ensure that the struggles, sacrifices, innovations and contributions of Hawaii's sugar plantation forebears are preserved and acknowledged as the cornerstone of Hawaii's successful multi-ethnic society.

Hawaii's Plantation Village opened its doors in 1992 and offers docent-led tours through the Village as well as special events and activities. It is located near the old sugar mill in historic Waipahu town, at 94-695 Waipahu Street, Waipahu, HI 96797.

For more information please contact the Village at 677-0110 or visit their Website at www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org.