HAWAII POSTCRIPT ~ You know you have a bad case of Hawaii Fever when you’re unpacking after you return to the mainland, and you find yourself pressing your pareo against your face so you can catch the last tropical floral scent that still lingers in your suitcase. But I cannot help it. I find myself clinging to the last remnant of our Hawaii Adventure…and a non-stop adventure it was! Interestingly though, through it all, our ESCAPESEEKER Advance Research Team never felt the fatigue that an assignment of this magnitude should instill–but rather, we felt revived and rejuvenated by the entire experience. Maybe, Ralph Waldo Emerson is right after all when he proclaimed, “The health of the eye seems to demand a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough.” Hawaii is a plethora of horizons…never-ending vistas that energize the soul…vistas that infuse the mind with gratitude for eyes that see, and for hearts that feel. What did our research uncover? Hawaii’s ALOHA SPIRIT is ALIVE AND WELL! We cannot wait to return for Phase 2–the Filming Phase–and turn the many inspiring stories, our unforgettable experiences into moving pictures! In the meantime, please allow me to share a few sneak peaks of what you can expect to find.
Our team completed one of the most successful advance research/scouting assignments ESCAPESEEKER has done to date. And, this is in great part due to hotel directors like the HALEKULANI’s Geoff Pearson who does not believe in the 8-hour work day! Geoff volunteered to pick up our crew at 4:30 a.m. and take us on a 1-mile ascent to the top of Makupu’u Point just so we can witness the glorious Oahu sunrise at 6:30. And, oh what a stunning sunrise it was! Thank you Geoff.
On the eastern most point of Oahu sits the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse, a shining beacon built in 1909 on a 600-foot sea cliff overlooking Makapu'u Beach — known as one of Oahu’s best bodysurfing beaches. This moderately easy hike rewards you with breathtaking views of the saphire blue ocean and Oahu’s Windward Coast. You can even see the island of Molokai in the distance.
Two smaller islands can be clearly seen from this lookout – Manana Island, the largest, and Kaohikaipu Island. The Molokai Channel runs past Makapu’u Lighthouse and is an excellent spot for watch Humpback whales as they travel the channel between December and April. That’s definitely going to be added on our filming schedule when we return in April.
A wonderful reason to rise early when you're in Hawaii. Makupu'u is just one of many peaks that afford these breathtaking "beauty shots"...I love that there's so much to do in Hawaii that doesn't cost! I can think of at least 101. If you'd like to know what they are, write me at: escapeseeker@gmail.com Nothing would please me more than to have you walk the same path we've walked!
Driving back towards Honolulu, just a short drive from Makupu’u, lies Halona Blowhole. Every day visitors flock here to see this particular Hawaiian natural wonder. Molten lava tubes from volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago formed the natural occurrence known as the blowhole. The lava tubes extend to the ocean, and when the surf is right, the blowhole can shoot water up to 30 feet in the air. The lookout off the Kalanianole Highway at Halona presents an exceptional vista of the coastline and outer islands, and it is also a fantastic spot to watch whales at play in the winter. Just to the right of the Halona Blowhole is the Halona Beach Cove, the place known for the renowned love scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the 1953 movie, From Here to Eternity. More recently, Geoff informed us that another famous Hollywood star graced this beach cove–a certain pirate by the name of Captain Jack Sparrow! I can’t wait to see it. Stay tuned, the Captain will be hitting the screens in May…and if you haven’t visited Hawaii by then, you’ll definitely recognize this view when you watch the film.
Geoff's important advice to us as we hiked down to this Blow Hole, "Never ever turn your back to the sea!" "Yes, Captain!" And, what great advice it was indeed. Even facing the sea, we were sprayed with unexpected sudden waves that seem to come out of nowhere!
Thanks Geoff for taking us to all of these terrific vantage points…and we didn’t even have to ask. It is so helpful to have a real local as your personal guide–someone who adores his State of Hawaii. We really lucked out because it’s not everyone who likes to wake up at 4 a.m. just to hike mountains! You know I can never say it enough: To truly enjoy a destination, you must experience it through the eyes of the natives–it doesn’t matter whether they’re Hawaiians who descended from King Kamehameha, or transplants from other states who’ve been blessed to live and embrace their adopted Hawaiian culture like Geoff–it is still the best way to learn the real lay of the land.
Oh, if only this historic tree could talk, what stories it would tell...
Exquisite Blooms such as these are prevalent throughout the Halekulani.
Upon returning to our home away from home–the HALEKULANI, we couldn’t help but notice all the beautiful flowers in full bloom throughout the hotel grounds. I don’t know what I like better–their beauty or their scent. All I know is every time we return from one of our island explorations, I begin to understand even more why they call this place, the House Befitting Heaven!
Please stay tuned, as I continue my report, Segment 2 of our HAWAII Adventure.
In the meantime, have an absolutely TREMENDOUS day…and,
Here’s to BLISSFUL, ENDLESS ESCAPES.
With love, Mel aka ESCAPESEEKER
We salute the Landscape Artists at the Halekulani whose meticulous care and talents keep these flowers forever blooming.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to GERALD F. GLENNON, the General Manager of the HALEKULANI for gathering his Executive Team to meet with us shortly after our arrival in order to ensure that our OAHU research would go as smoothly as possible. May I introduce the people behind the first phase of the “Making of” I AM HAWAII, I AM FOREVER episode.
How do you ensure a successful ADVANCE RESEARCH TRIP? You get Halekulani GM, Gerald Glennon's Executive Team behind you: (L-R, ESCAPESEEKER; Matthew Evins, Chairman & CEO of Evins Communications, ltd.; Geoff Pearson, Director of Sales; Gerald F. Glennon, General Manager; Patricia Tam, Vice President-Halekulani Corporation; Christina Noakes, ESCAPESEEKER Production Assistant; Executive Chef Vikram Garg, La Mer Restaurant; Diane Ako, Director of Public Relations; and let's not forget, Lisa Hensley, ESCAPESEEKER Photographer--behind the camera!
For inveterate globetrotter Mel Gee Henderson and her talented film crew, travel is like air. They cannot live without it! Mel thrives on serendipitous encounters, embraces the unexpected adventure, and charms locals everywhere. Mel’s background as a seasoned journalist and Washington Congressional staffer, combined with her philanthropic activities, introduced her to the globetrotting lifestyle, and took her everywhere, from gatherings on the French Riviera to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Along the way, Mel’s winning personality opened doors and created lasting friendships with people we would all love to hang out with – from scholars to international royalty to celebrated chefs, to maverick fashionistas, to musical artists, and even some of Hollywood’s A-list stars. It’s the desire to share these amazing experiences with others to inspire and demonstrate that they too can explore our beautiful world, and embrace other cultures and people everywhere, that has motivated Mel to create the breathtaking new television series ESCAPESEEKER.
WQED is pleased to be the official “National Presenting Station” for ESCAPESEEKER, offering the new series to PBS’ 356 member stations. PBS offers all Americans – from every walk of life – the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each week, PBS reaches more than 65 million people and invites them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, travel, and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. 
