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Experiencing the Hula: For a real, authentic hula experience on Oahu, check out the
Bishop Museum, which has excellent performances on weekdays.
Or, head to the Halekulani's House Without a Key at sunset to watch enchanting hula dances under a century-old kiawe tree.
The first week after Easter brings Hawaii's biggest and most prestigious hula extravaganza, the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, at Hilo on the Big Island; tickets sell out by January 30, so reserve early. | Watching the Ancient Hawaiian Sport of Canoe Paddling on Oahu From February to September, on weekday evenings and weekend days, hundreds of canoe paddlers gather at Ala Wai Canal and practice the Hawaiian sport of canoe paddling. Find a omfortable spot at Ala Wai Park, next to the canal, and watch this ancient sport come to life.
 | Attending a Hawaiian-Language Church Service in Honolulu: Kawaiahao Church (tel. 808/522-1333) is the Westminster Abbey of Hawaii. The vestibule is lined with portraits of the Hawaiian monarchy, many of whom were crowned in this very building. The coral church is a perfect setting in which to experience an all-Hawaiian service, held every Sunday at 10:30am, complete with Hawaiian song. Admission is free; let your conscience be your guide as to a donation.
| Buying a Lei in Chinatown (Oahu): There's actually a host of cultural sights and
experiences to be had in Honolulu's Chinatown. Wander through this several-square-
block area with its jumble of exotic shops offering herbs, Chinese groceries, and
acupuncture services. Before you leave, be sure to check out the lei sellers on Maunakea
Street (near N. Hotel St.), where Hawaii's finest leis go for as little as $4.
Be sure to have lunch in one of the many authentic Chinese restaurants.
| Taking the Plunge: Don mask, fin, and snorkel and explore the magical world beneath
the surface, where you'll find exotic corals and kaleidoscopic clouds of tropical fish; a
sea turtle may even come over to check you out. Can't swim? That's no excuse -- take one
of the many submarine tours offered by Atlantis Submarines (tel. 800/548-6262) on Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui.
| | Don't leave Oahu with Feeling History Come Alive at Pearl Harbor: The United States could turn its back on World War II no longer after December 7, 1941, when Japanese warplanes bombed Pearl Harbor. Standing on the deck of the USS Arizona Memorial -- the eternal tomb for the 1,177 sailors and Marines trapped below when the battleship sank in just 9 minutes -- is a moving experience you'll never forget. Tel: 808/422-0561
Also in Pearl Harbor, you can visit the USS Missouri Memorial; World War II came to an end on the deck of this 58,000-ton battleship with the signing of the Japanese surrender on
September 2, 1945.
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