Thinking of bringing a Guitalele on a trip to Hawaii

[sunvalleylaw]

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Those would be on the list I am posting later but I don't believe his mother will want to hike Diamond Head. Dole is a great place for them and it isn't very far from where they are staying.

However I can list all the guitar shops that I go too when I am there.

Guitar Magic/Hot Licks (Waimalu) - Say hi to Tom Hinson or Carlos that I sent ya. The owner is Zack Peterson.
*Majority of instruments are Fenders with some Gibsons, as well as some other brands - ie: Ibanez, ESP, etc. - some used but more new. Gear is beginner to medium with some top end stuff. This shop is a great accessory shop filled with spare guitar parts, pedals and other guitar items.

Island Guitar (Ward Warehouse on the 2nd floor) I know that Peter used to work there, uncertain now. Don't this shop very much.
*I don't visit here much as the Ward Warehouse is a major tourist spot. Mostly medium to high end gear but still friendly for the beginner or novice. They do have a great selection of Taylor Guitars and Gibson guitars. From what I recall, the carry Boogie Amps too.

Coconut Grove Music (Kailua) - Say hi to Frank, Rick and Mark (Owner)
* This is a friendly store with beginner to medium gear. The guys are great here and run the open mic jam at the end of the month in Kailua. I have gone to two of the jams and just had a great ole time. You'll find Fender's and Danelectro's in here plus ukes and acoustics as well.

Dan's Guitars (Moilili) - My friend Dan owns the store
*This is my second favorite shop. Mostly medium to high end gear but still friendly for the beginner or novice. They have a great assortment of ukulele's and acoustic guitars. For electrics LSL, Ernie Ball and other higher end instruments as well as some medium and beginner stuff. What I love is finding used gear here. I got my Danelectro and my Gibson Melody Maker used here. They also have a great selection of boutique pedals as well as the unusual stuff such as Wampler, Fuchs and Mooer.

Good Guys (Kapahulu) - Clay and Bryan own the store. Say hi to the Owners, Vernon & Dennis.
* This is my #1 shop. Really a local favorite as well and when mean favorite....a local for more of the discerning players who work in Hawaii. The store carries alot of used instruments (which I love) as well some new items. New items might be custom made by Bryan as well some oddities too. The shop is small and tight so walking room is limited but talk about stock piling gear into a small shop.

I have been told that there is another shop in Wahiawa but have never gone there. There are a few other music stores such as Harry's Music (Kaimuki) - not much stuff and Easy Music (Moilili and Pearl City) - Kind of the GC/Sam Ash of Hawaii that I don't care to go too unless I am absolutely bored or looking for some oddity I need for a jam.

thanks for the tips! I plan on heading to a couple of the shops, as I like to pick up a little something such as a strap or whatever as a souvenir. Hiking Diamond Head can be on the list too, as though the trip will be mostly about my Mom, some side trips for the chillins will be allowed. I will look into the Dole thing too, but with the Arizona scheduled, along with the luau and Thanksgiving Day, we may want to hold some time for beach and unstructured play too.

PS., I put a low E string from a extra high tension set on the guitalele, then put a high tension set, moved up one string, on the rest, so that the high tension E is in the A spot, A on the D, etc. so that I can tune the thing standard. The tension feels about right as compared to original tuned Uke style this way, and I can play with my normal chord shapes. Seems to work so far and have a good sound. Looking forward to some relaxing beach time with it. I hope to end up with just a little sand in it for the trip back home.

 

[Modern Saint]

thanks for the tips! I plan on heading to a couple of the shops, as I like to pick up a little something such as a strap or whatever as a souvenir. Hiking Diamond Head can be on the list too, as though the trip will be mostly about my Mom, some side trips for the chillins will be allowed. I will look into the Dole thing too, but with the Arizona scheduled, along with the luau and Thanksgiving Day, we may want to hold some time for beach and unstructured play too.

PS., I put a low E string from a extra high tension set on the guitalele, then put a high tension set, moved up one string, on the rest, so that the high tension E is in the A spot, A on the D, etc. so that I can tune the thing standard. The tension feels about right as compared to original tuned Uke style this way, and I can play with my normal chord shapes. Seems to work so far and have a good sound. Looking forward to some relaxing beach time with it. I hope to end up with just a little sand in it for the trip back home.

Sorry I didn't respond on the tourist things to do but here goes: Dole Plantation, Arizona Memorial, Trip Around the Island, Drive up to Tantalus for the View, Pali Lookout, Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Aloha Towers, China Town.

Local Food Favorites: Zippy's - aka McDonalds of Hawaii, Rainbow Drive Inn - Kapahulu, Kua Aina Burgers in Haleiwa

Have Fun!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

@Modern Saint Thanks! The Polynesian Cultural Center is where Mom already scheduled the Thompson Bunch luau. LOL! That sounds so tourist it is almost ironic. Maybe I can pretend I am a hipster.

We are doing the Arizona too, which I suppose is also touristy, but since I like history, and particularly the Pacific theatre WWII history, and since Dad was in the Navy, I am looking forward to that one. As far as local eats and tavs, are there any places that have some good music scenes? both family friendly and not?

 

[Modern Saint]

@Modern Saint Thanks! The Polynesian Cultural Center is where Mom already scheduled the Thompson Bunch luau. LOL! That sounds so tourist it is almost ironic. Maybe I can pretend I am a hipster.

We are doing the Arizona too, which I suppose is also touristy, but since I like history, and particularly the Pacific theatre WWII history, and since Dad was in the Navy, I am looking forward to that one. As far as local eats and tavs, are there any places that have some good music scenes? both family friendly and not?

Don't worry about the cultural center. All of the elementary students in Hawaii had to visit there so as for being "mondo touri", you should be around a mixture of different people.

Arizona is a trip. Can you imagine that I lived there for my 27 years of my life visiting yearly and have never gone there....

Punchbowl is another landmark as it is the cemetary to the vets if interested.

Regarding music scenes - lmbo - it is all in Waikiki and the touristy music associated with Hawaii is what you will hear. Anything rock based, I have lost touch as the dominant music of the islands is no Jawaiian.... That is a mixture of Hawaiian and Jamaican rhythms.

I mentioned in my previous posts the common local eateries where it is family friendly and you won't feel out of place.