Each month, residents in participating affiliated communities will have the opportunity to learn more about a different city or country through engaging activities, fun facts, and delicious cuisine through the Port of Call program. The Life Enrichment teams put together a program where residents will experience and celebrate the culture of the selected city. During May, the Port of Call theme is Honolulu, Hawaii!

About Honolulu

Honolulu is Hawaii’s capital city, located on Oahu Island along the foothills of the Koolau Mountain Range.¹

Historians believe that Honolulu had settlers as early as the 11^th century. It wasn’t until 1794 that the first European made landfall in Honolulu. Honolulu was ruled by Hawaiian kings and queens for nearly 100 years until 1893, when American businessmen and Marines overthrew the monarchy. Five years later, Hawaii officially becomes a territory of the United States. Then, in 1959, Hawaii became the 50^th state.²

Today, nearly one million people call Honolulu home. The official language of Honolulu is Hawaiian, however; English, Japanese, and Yue Chinese are also widely spoken.^{3, 4} Honolulu has a warm climate, with temperatures ranging from 75 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and 71 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter.⁵

Honolulu Attractions

One of Hawaii’s most beautiful beaches is Waikīkī Beach, located along the southern shore of Honolulu. In addition to relaxing in a beach chair on the golden sands, you can take a walk along the two-mile shore, learn how to surf or paddle a canoe, or swim in the beautiful water.⁶

If you are a fan of history, you could tour the Iolani Palace located at the Hawaii Pacific University. The Palace was the location where King Kalākaua and his sister Queen Liliʻuokalani ruled the Kingdom of Hawaii. While touring the Palace, you will get to explore the first and second floors, see historical artifacts, and learn about the history of the monarchy.⁷

Another must-see attraction is the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. At the memorial, there is a visitor center with exhibits and educational films that commemorate the Pearl Harbor attack. Additionally, you could take a short boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, where you can reflect on the attacks of December 7^th while looking at the site of the sunken USS Arizona.⁸

A great kid-friendly attraction is the Honolulu Zoo. While at the zoo, you will be able to see 1,000 different animals across a variety of exhibits. For example, you will be able to see African penguins, Fiji iguanas, black rhinos, Galapagos tortoises, and more! The zoo offers a variety of tours such as the Twilight Tour, Morning Safari, and the Histories & Mysteries Tour.⁹

Honoluluan Cuisine

Honoluluan cuisine has a strong influence from Asian immigrants who traveled to Honolulu during the Plantation Era in the 1850s. For example, many Chinese travelers brought with them barbequed pork; Koreans introduced Kimchi, and Japanese people brought over sushi.¹⁰

The influence of Asian cuisine is still prominent today. Here are some popular Honoluluan dishes:

Lau Lau. Lau Lau is a traditional Hawaiian dish that consists of either chicken, pork, beef, or fish wrapped in a steamed Taro leaf.¹¹

Kālua Pig. Kālua pig is a pork shoulder dish seasoned with garlic, Hawaiian sea salt, and liquid salt, and wrapped in banana leaves.¹²

Lomi Lomi Salmon. Lomi lomi salmon is a traditional Hawaiian side dish that is made up of salted salmon, tomatoes, onions, and green onions mixed together.¹³

Haupia. Haupia is a coconut pudding that locals often eat for dessert.¹⁴

Activities for the Port of Call

Every month, the participating Life Enrichment Departments at the affiliated communities will offer fun activities that celebrate the culture of each city. This month, the activities will be centered around Honolulu! All activities are subject to change, and these lists are not final. Here are some examples of the activities the affiliated communities plan to offer.

Eagle Creek       

Eagle Creek plans on having a Hawaiian luau with a tiki bar, shish kabobs, mocktails, and more!

Valley Hill

Valley Hill plans on having a Tropical Breeze Bash with a variety of food to enjoy and fun games to play!

Autumn Care of Mechanicsville

Autumn Care of Mechanicsville plans on hula dancing during morning exercise and have a sip and share social where residents will drink coconut water and share stories about their Ohana (families).