photo credit: Jeff Kubina

Hawaii Shark Encounters is a professional cage diving organization that allows people of all ages to experience the thrill of coming face to face with real live sharks! Operating out of Haliewa Harbor on Oahu’s North Shore, the crew of Hawaii Shark Encounters carries its passengers 3 miles off the coast to the dive site. From the minute the boat arrives, sharks begin to surface all around, enticed by the sound of the engine. Once the boat is secured alongside the dive cage, the crew provides its passengers with snorkels, and the first group climbs into the cage. The moment you look underwater, the real excitement begins! The naturally curious sharks circle the cage close enough for you to reach out and touch, (which is not recommended if you want to go home with all of your limbs!). The 30 minutes that you spend in the water is absolutely filled with excitement, and also allows you to view sharks in a different light; not as mindless killers, but as truly magnificent creatures. This is, without a doubt, one of the most amazing things that I have ever done on this island! Whether you are just visiting or have lived on Oahu all of your life, this experience is not to be missed.

Cirque Hawaii, one of Oahu’s most popular night shows, features a variety of acrobatics and other talents including aerial performances, dance, and even magic. The show was a bit more “small-scale” than I had expected; the auditorium was not very large, nor was the stage, and there were less than 20 performers in the show. The small size does allow for more interaction with the audience. Vili, the UH Warriors mascot, acts as host and chooses individuals from the audience to participate. During the main performance, there were many impressive displays of strength and agility. I most enjoyed watching the aerial acrobatics. The performers were graceful, especially considering the difficulty of their acts. Overall, I enjoyed the show and had a good time. However, if you’re expecting a spectacular event, Cirque Hawaii comes up short.

Birthday bash Waikiki Shell

First of all I love going to the Shell. Birthday Bash was a great time I attended the Friday show,  the line up was awesome and I love the Music. The only thing that changed from last year is that I couldnt “Double Fist” which is understandible with all the teen and preteens running around.