Wendy Wheeler ([info]zainybrain) wrote,
@ 2009-04-07 22:13:00
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Current mood: bouncy
Entry tags:dayjob, screenwriting craft, travels

Hawaii Writers Conference
Never been to Hawaii, but I will this August. AND it will be a tax write-off. w00ty w0oT!

The Maui Writers Conference is now in Honolulu (cheaper hotels and food that way) so is now called the Hawaii writers conference. I plan to do the writers retreat too, the masters class in screenwriting.

Here's more at http://www.hawaiiwritersconference.com/.

Then I will of course do all the cultural and historical things of a tourist. (Not so much with the partying and Mai Tai's on the beach and stuff.) And get to know folks from all over -- which is always fun and, as an organically* shy person, something I take pride in. I just chat folks up, crack jokes, and it seems to work!

And the dayjob is so frantic and challenging right now, it's fun to think of a beautiful beach and creative activities. aaaaahhhhh


* Shyness is in-born. An infant's response to unusual stimuli shows whether it's extroverted or shy. As an internal gauge, you know you're extroverted if being around people energizes you. If, like me, you have to be alone to recharge so you can go out and meet more folks, then you're shy. So I'm a shy person who's taught herself to be gregarious....


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[info]karenkay
2009-04-08 01:16 pm UTC (link)
I used to live about two miles from that hotel! I can make you a short list of cool things to do if you want.

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Yes, please!
[info]zainybrain
2009-04-09 02:53 pm UTC (link)
I'm staying at the Outrigger Reef Hotel on Waikiki Beach (at least the first 5 days). What's the best stuff to do? I'm planning on taking the little bus to the Bishop Palace because I love history...

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Re: Yes, please!
[info]karenkay
2009-04-09 04:28 pm UTC (link)
It's very cool; I only went there once, which is a big regret. Isabella Bird Bishop is a really interesting person--she was one of those sickly Victorian women who traveled all over the world. I read her book about Japan when I lived in Japan, and I knew that she'd also gone to Tibet. But when I was in Hawaii, I came across her book about the Cook Islands--and noticed her change of name. (It was interesting, but not fascinating--I think only hard-core Isabella Bird fans would enjoy it.)

If you can go to a hula festival, I definitely would I went to the Prince Lot Hula Festival one year and it was...life-changing.

There's more, but I'm out of time for now.

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[info]karenkay
2009-04-10 02:48 am UTC (link)
When I say "hula", I mean traditional hula, kahiko. And male hula is...well...life-changing!!!:)

Banyan trees: 1) There's one at the Kapahulu end of Waikiki, on the Waikiki side of Kalakaua Avenue. At sunset, a lot of musicians gather under the tree and make music. (I used to run a 3-mile route from my house down past the zoo, and through Kapiolani Park (across the street), so I just enjoyed it in passing.)

There's another banyan tree in Thomas Square, across the street from the Honolulu Academy of the Arts. This one is much better for swinging on than the other one.

Aloha Tower was more interesting than I expected--it's down by the harbor. Downtown, more or less.

Keep your eye out for Hawaiian quilts-they are unusual and distinctive. Even if you're not into quilts, these are generally worth looking at.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is a good place to have a drink. It's the oldest hotel. There are shops associated with the hotel that are quite nice.

I never went to the Polynesian Cultural Center--the fact that it's run by the LDS kind of put me off.

I loved living in Honolulu; I would live there if I could afford it.

Oh, and bring sunscreen. I took a walk when I moved there and got a very nasty sunburn--my 4th in my life, I think. I was unprepared for being so close to the equator.

I guess that's it. Honolulu is pretty easy to get around by bus, and the buses are very used to tourists.

There may be obon dances when you are there--they are usually in August some time. If you can go to one, do.

And that's my Honolulu core dump for today.

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