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Guides of Oahu

ByThe Skeptical Traveler

My wife and I were at the top of Diamond Head, a popular destination in Waikiki and therefore very crowded. There we overheard Mitch from Guides of Oahu pitching his tour, “Real Hawaii”; he was saying that his tour goes to places where the commercial tours do not.

Usually I don’t fall for these kind of things but, at the same time, I tend to do what others do so I kept an eye on him. I think I only saw a couple of people signing up. In the end, I decided this might be a good way to see some sights, not having a rental car. My wife didn’t want to come, she is not as adventurous as me :).

Mitch said that I could pay at the end of the tour if I considered that he delivered what he had promised. The tour was in the afternoon and lasted around 4 hours. The bus was full, so I guess not everyone is as circumspect as me.

I’m glad I went, I would have gotten bored at the beach. I got to see some really interesting sights that I would never had seen otherwise.  Mitch took us to some sacred sights as well as some “common” sights. We saw a couple spots where the show, Lost, was filmed (I’ve never seen an episode, but I’ve heard it was very good with the exception of the ending); we saw some ancient ruins from a Hawaiian king’s summer home, and a stunning lookout near the top of a mountain. 

Mitch’s tour was very informative, not only about the places we visited but also about health, nutrition, medicine, etc. He’s a character and clearly loves what he does. I did not regret going on this tour; it was well worth the “gamble!” and the price I suppose, but I cannot compare Mitch’s “Real Hawaii” tour with a ‘commercial’ tour as I hadn’t been on one before.

One think I forgot to ask Mitch was whether he was using any sunscreen. He was really into healthy living and I was curious about his take on sunscreens.

We ‘saw’ petroglyphs, as well. Apparently there is a warrior and an eagle here somewhere. Sorry Mitch, but I didn’t see anything even if you used a laser light to point out the shapes that supposedly were there. Even if my life depended on it I don’t think I would have been able to see anything ! The image shows a rusted metal cage placed in front of a rocky cave entrance. The ground around the cage is covered with dry leaves and small twigs. The rocks surrounding the cave are large and have a greenish tint, possibly due to moss or algae growth. The cage appears old and weathered.

The image shows a close-up view of a large rock or boulder with a rough, uneven surface. The rock has visible cracks and crevices, and there are some small patches of moss or lichen growing on it. The ground around the rock is covered with dry leaves and twigs. The lighting is dim, suggesting that the photo might have been taken in a shaded area or during an overcast day.

A close-up image of a rock formation with some white markings and patches of moss. The rocks have a rough texture and are surrounded by fallen leaves on the ground. The markings on the rock appear to be faded and may have been made by humans.

Some of the scenes from Lost were filmed here.

A serene forest scene with a small waterfall flowing into a calm river. The area is lush with dense green foliage, including trees and various plants. The water is surrounded by rocks and vegetation, creating a peaceful and natural environment.

Mitch

A man is walking on a paved path in an outdoor setting. He is wearing a gray t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. The background features a white building, green lawns, and trees. There are also some small decorative items or plants along the grassy area to the left of the path. The sky appears to be overcast.

A man is walking outdoors on a paved path. He is wearing a gray short-sleeved shirt, gray cargo shorts, and brown shoes. He appears to be smiling or talking. There are trees and a grassy area in the background, along with a green pole and some fencing. Another person is partially visible on the right side of the image.

 

The image shows a scenic landscape with rolling green hills and mountains under a partly cloudy sky. In the distance, there is a body of water, possibly a lake or the ocean, and some scattered buildings or structures. The foreground is lush with greenery, including trees and grassy areas. The overall scene is serene and natural.

The image shows a well-maintained cemetery with rows of graves adorned with colorful flower arrangements. The graves are marked with flat headstones, and the cemetery is surrounded by lush greenery and trees. There is a building visible on the left side and a road with parked cars on the right side. The overall atmosphere is serene and peaceful.

 

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