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Hawaii’s Back yard Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi |
Expo to feature cruises,
exhibits and entertainment
While on a boating trip to Molokai, out of the blue we found ourselves surrounded by whales! One came alongside our 26-foot boat, rolled over as if to check us out and disappeared. We were filled with excitement and awe at how magnificent they are and how small we can be.
"After the adrenaline subsided, we agonized over the fact that we were so taken with the experience, we forgot to take pictures. But as with all fishing and boating tales, pictures could have never told the whole story."
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He hopes these same feelings will be aroused in everyone who attends the third annual Hawaii Boat Show and Ocean Expo he's helped to organize at Ko Olina. Set for next weekend, this event is akin to Disneyland for boating enthusiasts. There will be in-water and on-land displays of state-of-the-art vessels and marine accessories, harbor cruises, exhibits and demonstrations of ocean recreation products, live entertainment and shows featuring the latest sun and surf apparel and accessories.
In addition, more than 30 boats will be up for sale in the marina. Visitors are welcome to step aboard many of them for a leisurely tour; some even will be available for test rides.
One head-turner no doubt will be the brand-new Cabo fishing yacht with a price tag of $1.1 million. This 43-foot air-conditioned vessel is furnished with a Bose home theater system; two flat-screen televisions; a master stateroom with a private head and full shower; and a galley that would please any gourmet chef (it's even equipped with a Sub-Zero refrigerator and Corian countertops).
"It's the sportfisherman every angler dreams about," asserts Mark Caliri, vice president of Cabo Yachts Hawaii, who owns the vessel with Oahu auto dealer Mike McKenna. "She's all luxury from stem to stern; she'll get you to your favorite fishing grounds faster, smoother and more comfortably than any other boat on the market today."
Also certain to draw crowds is the Polynesian Voyaging Society's famed double-hulled canoe Hokule'a, which proved courageous Polynesian pioneers were exploring the vast Pacific centuries before Christopher Columbus left Spain. "Talk story" with PVS members about their incredible journeys and the ancient art of way-finding -- navigating the ocean by the winds, stars and currents.
Don't be misled by its name; the Hawaii Boat Show and Ocean Expo isn't just about boats and the ocean. For the first time in Hawaii, the public will have the opportunity to test-drive a Segway human transporter, which enables riders to cruise effortlessly along the ground as they stand on a wheeled platform that's steered by their body movements.
Many other demonstrations are planned, including a daring helicopter rescue by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Kids will be able to cavort in a big play area filled with all kinds of fun diversions, among them a 24-foot rock climbing wall; a 29-foot Big Tsunami wave slide; a 50-foot interactive inflatable called Koa the Whale; and the Jurassic Survivor obstacle course, where they can squeeze through tight spaces, crawl down tunnels, climb over barriers, scale a wall and more.
Meanwhile, adults will be crossing their fingers that they'll be the lucky ones walking away with fabulous prizes such as a Las Vegas vacation and a Ford F150 truck attached to a 21-foot Seaswirl boat and trailer.
The Hawaii Boat Show and Ocean Expo traces its beginnings back to 1998, when Mike Nelson founded the Hawaii Fishermen's Festival. He staged the event for two consecutive years, first in Waianae, then in Haleiwa.
Response was favorable, but the festival's scope needed to be broadened to attract more participation.
"Many retail vendors expressed interest in becoming involved if the event could expand beyond fishing," recalls Nelson, who is also an executive of Ocean Sports Productions LLC Hawaii, which has produced international fishing tournaments on Oahu and the Big Island, and television shows about yachting and kayaking in the islands for the Outdoor Channel, ESPN and others. He approached Ko Olina Resort and Marina about hosting a larger festival that would make use of the marina facilities.
The Hawaii Boat Show and Ocean Expo made its debut in 2001 and has been growing ever since.
"Ko Olina Marina is ideal for this event," says Nelson. "In past years the only boat/ocean recreation exhibits were displayed at the Blaisdell Center in conjunction with cars, trucks, etc. -- not on their own. If a potential boat buyer wanted to test a boat seen in the show, they would have to make arrangements for a water demonstration.
"What the Ko Olina venue provides is an immediate opportunity to try before you buy. It offers locations for in-water displays and test rides as well as a lawn area for activities, demonstrations, food booths, entertainment and exhibits ranging from sunglasses to fishing tackle."
While the Hawaii Boat Show and Ocean Expo is geared to those who love water sports, it's also a fun and educational event for people who don't have the desire or opportunity to participate in them that often.
"We're fortunate to live in Hawaii, where we're surrounded by a vast, beautiful playground," notes Nelson.
"Technology has increased the number and quality of ocean recreation experiences. This show spotlights the very best of them and reminds each of us to do our part to preserve what God has given us. There's bound to be something at the boat show that'll lure even the most steadfast landlubbers to the sea!"
and Society of American Travel Writers award winner.