The Hawaiian islands can swell with upwards of 10 million visitors each year, so getting off the beaten path is the best way to appreciate the islands’ multicultural history.
Beyond its sandy beaches and seductive, jewel-toned waves, Hawaii‘s lesser-known local tours and activities make the days in paradise more meaningful. Whether it’s mellowing out at a rum tasting that acknowledges Hawaii’s sugar-producing past or exploring the lush countryside on horseback, these are our 10 favorite ways to embrace Hawaii’s aloha spirit.
1. Taste locally made rum on Oʻahu and Kauai
For more than 100 years, the sugar industry shaped Hawaii into one of the most diverse populations in the world as plantation laborers and managers arrived from China, Japan, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Portugal’s Madeira islands and other parts of Europe. Although the last sugar mill closed in 2016, visitors can still taste its history today.
Manulele Distillers in Oʻahu cultivates more than 30 varieties of native Hawaiian sugarcane as part of their Kō Hana line of agricole rum. While most rum on the market is made from molasses, Kō Hana spirits are made from pure sugarcane juice. Witness part of the process in action with a tour, which passes through its native cane garden and includes a rum tasting. Bring home a sippable souvenir, like their rum aged in koa wood barrels available exclusively in Kō Hana’s tasting room.
On Kauai, Koloa Rum Company offers daily tours and tastings at Kilohana Plantation in Lihuʻe, which got its start as a working cattle ranch in 1896.
2. Visit Honolulu’s Chinatown
An area once associated with gambling and brothels, Honolulu‘s historic commercial district now has a great restaurant and arts scene. After a bowl of vegan or oxtail pho from The Pig and The Lady, catch a live musical, comedy or theater performance at Hawaii Theatre. To be whisked back in time, join a food, history and cultural walking tour with Hawaiʻi Heritage Center.
3. Learn about the significance of Hawaiian places
Often, outdoor recreation areas cross paths with historical and cultural sites that, without context, visitors may not recognize as a significant encounter….
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Stories – Lonely Planet…