Hawaiian Luau

The Hawaiian Luau has generally come to mean a feast featuring a pig roasted underground combined with exhibition dancing and other food and drink. Hawaiians may use this term to mean a "party" and it can be associated with a variety of celebrations.

Feasting is a traditional activity dating back hundreds of years in Polynesian History even though the name Luau has been dated back only to about 1856 when it was associated with commercial feasts rather than traditional ones.

Here, at the popular Luau held daily at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu's North Shore, a pig is roasted kahlua style - wrapped in banana leaves and bulap and then buried underground with hot coals for many hours. This cooking method results in very tender and moist pork which is served with Taro rolls and other Hawaiian treats.

DSCF0144
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Chemainus British Columbia Mural

Chemainus BC Mural
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

British Columbia in Canada is home to some of the richest Canadian and Native American art and history you'll find anywhere.

Chemainus is one place where you can catch a ferry to Victoria B.C.

Chemainus has a simply incredible collection of public wall murals. Themes vary from Native American History to logging to the early history of Chemainus. If you visit be sure to pick up a walking guide to the town murals - you can see them all in an hour or two.

Mission San Luis Rey, California

Mission San Luis Rey, California
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Just north of San Diego, only a short drive from the Coast Highway is the Mission San Luis Rey.

San Luis Rey was 18th in the line of old California Missions, founded by Father Lasuen in 1798.

San Luis Rey soon became the largest of all the California Missions. Father Peyri, builder of San Luis Rey, remained at the Mission for 34 years and saw it prosper.

After the mission was taken from the Padres it became a ruin but restoration has taken place in recent times and continues today. The former Glory of San Luis Rey as “King of the Missions” can still be seen today, and a tour of this California masterpiece is strongly recommended.

San Luis Rey is only about 10 minutes off Highway 101 at Newport Beach, CA. Got Kids? Promise to drop in to the In and Out Burger for a great lunch on the way back on to California Highway 101.

Kit Carson, famous pioneer scout, led Gen. Kearny’s “dragoons” and camped at San Luis Rey in December of 1846.

More California Travel

More San Diego Area and California History

Dolos, Crescent City California

Dolos, Crescent City California
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Dolos in Crescent City line the huge concrete breakwater and guard the Crescent City harbor from the catastrophe of a Tsunami or major storm. The Dolos weight up to 40 tons each, and are designed to maximize the dispersion of wave energy.

When you visit Crescent City California don't miss the County Museum which has some great Maritime artifacts from this California coastal city, and of course you'll want to take in Redwood National Park, one of the few World Heritage Sites in North America. Redwood trails and parkland in the State Parks and National parks extend along the California Coast for over 100 miles in Northern California.

Crescent City Lighthouse, California

Crescent City Lighthouse, California
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Crescent City California is one of the few American Cities to have experienced a Tsunami/Tidal Wave. 1964 brought a major sea surge to Crescent City which inundated the downtown area and killed four people.

The huge cement breakwater from which this picture was taken was built after 1964 in an effort to make subsequent destruction unlikely. It also offers great views of the lighthouse, huge waves, and giant cement dolos which help disperse the energy of the mighty pacific waves.

For more about this area see our Northern California travel pages.

Betsy Ross House, Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Betsy Ross House, Philly
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Betsy Ross was a Quaker revolutionary who was commissioned by George Washington to create and produce a new flag for the US war of independence - an American Flag.

Ross' house still stands in downtown Philadelphia. During summer months actors perform and interact with tourists throughout the downtown area. Active walkers can take in the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, Ben Franklin Square, and many more amazing sights from American's Revolutionary past.

Tip: Go early to the National History Center to get tickets for Liberty Bell and Independence Hall tours, and then build your day around them.

History of California

The history of California stands in great contrast to the history of the USA's Eastern lands. There was some Spanish Mission activity dating back for several hundred years, but Native Americans representing hundreds of different tribes and several language groups dominated the California scene until about 1849 when the Gold Rush to California's Gold Country near Sacramento changed California's future quickly and dramatically.

Few California miners ever struck it rich or even stayed in the West, but the huge influx of miners along with businesses to serve the mining communities turned forts into towns and towns into larger cities. Soon, California was a key destination for American's westward migration.


California History

California's Gold Country

California Travel

The California Kids Guide has some good California history links.