While Hawai‘i, of course, is our 50th state even well-traveled people like us needed the assistance of a well informed, knowledgeable guide to help us navigate all the goodies that awaited us on O`ahu. People come to Hawaii for sun and sand, and we were no exception. However, we are always interested in the history and culture of the places we visit. So spending time with Denise Moreland, owner of TourTalk-Hawai‘i Nei and Hawai‘i’s Cultural Connection, was worth every penny and then some.
She has special access to places that were off the tourist trail and, since she has been a resident of O`ahu for some time now, she has formed special relationships with native Hawaiians. But the topper was her skill in arranging a private hula lesson with one of the world’s most beloved Kumu Hula. She managed to facilitate this coup for just me and the kumu! Additionally, she realized my husband’s love for WWII history and went out of her way to make all those historical places come alive for us.
So even though you think you can go out on your own in Hawaii, for a truly special vacation experience--one that's really memorable--run to the phone and dial Denise Moreland and TourTalk for a trip of your dreams.
R & A Webb
Alexandria, VA
Trip: Feb 1-13th, 2010
Thanks again for the amazing tour on Monday! It was truly one of the highlights of my trip to Oahu. You gave me so much perspective on everything I was seeing and showed me so many places that I would never have seen on my own. I had a great time and it was wonderful meeting you! Let me know when the new website is up and I'll make sure to let my friends know all about it and you! Have a great weekend.
D. Belitsky
Denise,
We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for greeting us at the airport and giving us extra tips for our week in Oahu. Our vacation was wonderful and we hated leaving your beautiful home. I think it is the most beautiful place we have ever been and the people are all so warm and wonderful (at least the ones we came into contact with).
We missed the place you suggested for lunch because we were too far along when lunch time came around. There was a little roadside place that had been a sugar cane mill where we had a delightful lunch. There were several beaches we stopped at and took lots of pictures. The place we were to meet you at proved very interesting. There was a young lady (model, I think) posing for pictures down on the rocks. She was dressed in a flowing white wrap skirt and little top. Doug was taking pictures also because it all seemed so interesting. I pointed out to him that she was very pregnant and our daughter caught that her skirt was being held on by clip clothes pins. We got a big chuckle out of all that.
Our daughter took her surf lesson and did get up on the board several times. She had a ball. Later at Sea Life Park, Doug and Lara went swimming with the dolphins. Need I say, they were all smiles. Our tickets were waiting at Pearl Harbor thanks to you. So you see,we could not have enjoyed ourselves more and we thank you for all your help.
If you are ever in our area, please look us up.
Jeanette, Doug and Lara Squires
