Born and raised on Oahu’s North Shore, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson still remembers going surfing in Waikiki on the other side of the island as a trip. “When I was a kid in the 70s, it seemed like a long way. Mr Johnson said in a video chat from his farm on the island.
He also remembers hearing about a local chef, Ed Kenney, who supported and promoted local agriculture. “In Hawaii, we have a hard time getting 90% of our food delivered. Ed was one of the first chefs, 20 years ago, who really talked about the importance of buying local ingredients. Not just for the local economy, but so that when people eat out, they are tasting food grown in Hawaii.”
A professional surfer before becoming a platinum-selling music artist, Mr. Johnson, along with his wife Kim, is an active environmentalist. In 2003 they established Kokua Hawaii Foundation, which supports environmental education in Hawaii’s schools and communities. Over the years, they have helped set up school gardens, launched programs to promote recycling and encourage the elimination of single-use plastic, and most recently, they have acquired a farm where they study. students visit to learn facts about the environment.
Johnson’s latest album, “In Between Dub,” released this month, is a collection of some of the musician’s favorite songs from his 20-year career, reimagined as a dub remix. of some of the biggest names in reggae music.
Here are five of his favorite places to visit in Oahu.
1. Waikiki . Beach
“It can get pretty crowded, so it might seem like a fun place to introduce someone to, but it’s the best place in the world to learn how to surf. Mr Johnson said people of all levels can get in the water and have fun at Waikiki. “There are beach boys who rent surfboards along the beach. A lot of them grew up in the water and they are the most qualified to teach you how to surf,” he added. Even if learning how to hang ten isn’t part of the plan, Waikiki is a great place to watch the sun go down while the skilled surfers do their thing.
“It’s been around and moving places for years since I was a kid, but that’s where I bought my first CDs,” Mr Johnson said. “It’s curated in the sense that the people that are working there are music fans, and when you walk in and ask questions, they’re really friendly and show you around.” The store has what Mr Johnson calls “an amazing collection” of classical Hawaiian music on vinyl, making it “probably the best place in the world” for anyone curious about Hawaiian music, traditional or contemporary. “I have a huge record collection thanks to Hungry ears,” said Mr. Johnson, who also likes to buy records while on tour. “I find that phonographs are a must-buy when you’re traveling because they’re flat, so you can put them between your clothes and they don’t take up too much space.
“Mud Mud Water is my favorite restaurant in Hawaii. Ed Kenney is the chef and he is amazing. He’s the host of a PBS show called “Family Composition” and it’s made in Hawaii. The food is great and made by someone born and raised in Hawaii who really captures Hawaiian traditions.” A favorite dish to try? “I would say anything on the menu has calories, is taro root and is one of the most traditional dishes of Hawaiian cuisine.”
“Someone gave us some tickets as a gift when our kids were probably around five years old. And we’ve taken our kids to see almost every production they’ve ever done because it’s amazing,” said Mr Johnson, who called the theater’s storytelling “very Hawaii-focused.”
“There are a lot of myths and traditional stories about people like Eddie Aikau or Duke Kahanamoku,” Mr Johnson said, referring to two legendary Hawaiian surfers. “They tell stories that you could only hear or see if you were here. I highly recommend going if you are traveling with kids.”
5. Waimea Valley
Forgotten for decades, Waimea Valley is now a nonprofit conservation and botanical garden that hosts workshops on Hawaiian history and culture, as well as educational performances and demonstrations. “It’s a beautiful valley and, I would say, a very sacred place,” Mr. Johnson said, referring to Waimea’s deep roots in Hawaiian history and traditions, including the rest of Hawaii. remains of sacred sites, houses and temples — some are said to have been built around 1470 AD “There is a beautiful waterfall at the back of the valley and there is a long trail that everyone Anyone can walk,” he said, referring to the nearly mile-long paved road that winds through the valley to Wailele Falls. Along the trail, are excellent examples of “native and tropical plants from around the world,” as well as interpretive signs that provide insight into flora, fauna, and flora. and history of the valley.
