5/01/2008 at 10:32 AM
Tags: Protests, Landmarks, Attractions, Tourist Attractions, Hawaii Travel, Oahu Travel (all tags)
A separatist group occupied the Iolani Palace in Honolulu yesterday, closing the landmark to tourists to protest the "occupation" of Hawaii by the United States. The peaceful demonstration by the Hawaiian Kingdom Government lasted about eight hours, and no arrests were made.
The group says it wants to reestablish the Iolani Palace as the seat of the islands' sovereign government. The HKG plans to reoccupy the grounds today, though the organization doesn't plan to lock people out like they did Wednesday. Still, might not be the best day to visit.
The palace was the residence of the last two Hawaiian monarchs and it's now a National Historic Landmark. When it's not being occupied, you can visit on a docent-led "Grand Tour" for $20 or just take a self-guided tour of some of the galleries for $6.
Related Stories:
· Group Occupies Hawaii Palace [Honolulu Advertiser]
· Hawaiian Sovereignty Seekers Take over Palace Grounds [AP, via Google]
· Iolani Palace [Official Site]
· Hawaii Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: PeterWebb]
by pbb
1/02/2007 at 2:45 PM
Tags: Restaurants, Food, Hawaii (all tags)
(Alex Salkever is the editor of Hawaii travel blog Hawaiirama.com and a general travel maven on all things Hawaii.)
The Chinatown District of Honolulu has been perennially on the verge of a nightlife breakout. Seedy enough for prostitutes yet sleek enough for urban swells, Chinatown now has enough watering holes and clubs to make a bar crawl more than a one-night affair. Now Dave Stewart, the impresario behind Indigo Eurasian Cuisine, a restaurant with three bar nooks and a fab Indo-Asian vibe, has rolled out Du Vin. It's an Alsatian-style brasserie down to the weird meats and sweet breads.
Oddly out of place in downtown Honolulu, Du Vin, however, is lovely spot. The wine-by-the-glass menu is
pricey but excellent--make sure to ask about the bucket. The crowd is nicely varied from aging boomers down to 20-somethings stepping out. The back room is the place to hang, with dim candles, exposed stone walls, and a speakeasy sensibility. The food is generally good; our risotto was perfectly cooked. The mussels and frittes--natch--hit the spot.
True, its odd to travel to Hawaii to end up in Alsace or--gulp--somewhere in downtown Manhattan. But go with it and the warm weather and you'll have a nice ride.
[Photo:
hawaii]
by ASalkever
