The singer Jack Johnson at Kokua Learning Farm, part of a foundation he started with his wife, Kim. Photo / Michelle Mishina Kunz, The New York Times
The singer Jack Johnson at Kokua Learning Farm, part of a foundation he started with his wife, Kim. Photo / Michelle Mishina Kunz, The New York Times
If you’re cruising the Hawaiian islands, your holiday will likely begin and end in Oahu. Star musician Jack Johnson shares his tips for what not to miss.
Born and raised on Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson can still remember a time when going surfing inWaikiki on the other side of the island was a bit of a trip. “When I was a kid back in the 70s, that drive seemed extra long. It was mostly dirt roads to get there,” Johnson said, during 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 problem where 90 per cent of our food is shipped in. Ed was one of the first chefs, 20 years ago, who was really talking about how important it was to buy local ingredients. Not only for the local economy but also just so that when people are eating out, they’re tasting food that was grown in Hawaii.”
A pro surfer before becoming a platinum-selling musical artist, Johnson is, with his wife Kim, an active environmentalist. In 2003 they founded Kokua Hawaii Foundation, which supports environmental education in Hawaii’s schools and communities. Over the years they have helped establish school gardens, launched recycling drive programmes and encouraged the elimination of single-use plastics, and most recently, acquired a farm where schoolchildren visit for hands-on learning about the environment.
Johnson’s latest album, In Between Dub, is a collection of some of the musician’s favourite songs from his 20-year career, re-imagined as dub remixes by some of reggae’s biggest names.
Here are five of his favourite places to visit in Oahu.
1. Waikiki Beach
“It can be pretty crowded, so it might seem like a funny place to recommend somebody to go, but it’s about the best place in the world to learn how to surf. Everybody at every level can get in the water and have fun at Waikiki,” Johnson said. “There are these beach boys who rent surfboards all along the beach. A lot of them grew up in the water and they’re the most competent people to teach you how to surf,” he added. Even if learning to hang 10 is not part of the plan, Waikiki is a great place to watch the sunset while skilled surfers do their thing.
A surfer at Waikiki Beach, a favourite place of the singer Jack Johnson. Photo / Michelle Mishina Kunz, The New York Times
2. Hungry Ear Records
“It’s been around and moved locations over the years since I was a kid, but it’s where I bought my very first CDs,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of curated in the sense that the people who are working there are music fans, and when you come in and ask questions, they’re really friendly and show you around.” The store has what Johnson calls “an amazing collection” of vintage Hawaiian music on vinyl, making it “probably the best place in the world” for anybody curious about Hawaiian music, traditional or contemporary. " I have a big record collection thanks to Hungry Ear,” said Johnson, who also likes to shop for records when he’s on tour. “I find that records are a good thing to buy when you’re travelling because they’re flat, so you can put them between your clothes and they don’t add too much space.
Albums at Hungry Ear in Honolulu, one of Hawaii's oldest record stores. Photo / Michelle Mishina Kunz, The New York Times
3. Mud Hen Water
“Mud Hen Water is my favourite restaurant in Hawaii. Ed Kenney is the chef and he’s amazing. He’s the host on a PBS show called Family Ingredients, and it’s made here in Hawaii. The food is great and it’s done by somebody who was born and raised in Hawaii, who has a real grasp of Hawaiian traditions.” A favourite dish to try? “I would say anything on the menu with kalo, which is taro root and one of the most traditional staples in Hawaii cuisine.”
Mud Hen Water, a farm-to-table restaurant in Honolulu. Photo / Michelle Mishina Kunz, The New York Times
4. Honolulu Theatre for Youth
“Somebody got us some tickets as a gift when our kids were probably around 5 years old. And we’ve taken our kids to pretty much every production they’ve ever put on because it’s just amazing,” said Johnson, who called the theatre’s storytelling “very Hawaii-centric.”
“It’s a lot of traditional myths and stories about people like Eddie Aikau or Duke Kahanamoku,” Johnson said, referring to two legendary Hawaiian surfers. “They tell stories that you would only be able to hear or see if you’re here. I would highly recommend going if you’re travelling with kids.”
The singer Jack Johnson's Kokua Learning Farm. Photo / Michelle Mishina Kunz, The New York Times
5. Waimea Valley
Neglected for decades, Waimea Valley is now a nonprofit botanical garden and preservation area that offers workshops on Hawaiian history and culture, as well as performances and educational demonstrations. “It’s a beautiful valley and, I would say, a very sacred place,” Johnson said, referring to Waimea’s deep roots in Hawaiian history and traditions, including the remains of sacred sites, houses and shrines — some believed to have been constructed around 1470 AD. “There’s a nice waterfall at the back of the valley and there’s a long trail that’s accessible for everyone,” he said, referring to the nearly 1600m-long paved path that winds across the valley to Wailele Falls. Along the trail are magnificent examples of “native plants and tropical plants from around the world,” as well as interpretive signs that provide insight into the flora, fauna and history of the valley.
