The other night I strolled along Waikiki Beach with my local friend Jeanne whom I met a few years ago. We watched the fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village that occurs almost every Friday night. I noticed a bunch of people on Segways and they looked like they were having a blast. So, I went ahead and booked a morning three-hour tour of Honolulu History and Culture.
First I was given a helmet, which made me feel a bit dorky, but for safety reasons I was glad to have something to protect my super powerful rock star brain. Alan, Segway of Hawaii owner, gave me a training lesson before the tour. At first I was hesitant, because this thing is just two wheels. It doesn’t look like something I should step my chubby body onto, but Alan assured me the weight limit is 280 lbs, so I’m all good on that problem.
I stepped onto the Segway, thinking it would tip over, but to my amazement the thing balances itself. Before long, I was gliding in and out of cones and able to stop on a dime (almost). Michael, my tour guide, felt confident that I was able to maneuver the streets of Honolulu, so off we went.
We started off on Waikiki Beach, where people stared and pointed. Yes, I wanted to tell them, it is CajunMama in the flesh, don’t be intimidated. We were almost like street entertainers, performing a ballet of environmentally friendly, gas free transportation, and I was the star.
Michael took Jeanne and I through bustling Chinatown, where I felt sure I was going to take out a pedestrian, but I did well, even when a store curtain blew into my face blocking my vision of the sidewalk baskets of fruit. Thanks to my pre-tour training, I was confident enough to maneuver around three baskets of bok choy and two elderly Asian ladies with canes. Whew! Crisis averted.
We stopped for a breather at Iolani Palace and glided by the King Kamehameha statue. Our return trip provided an open area for me to glide open wide. In fact, I think I’m ready for the Segway races now. I was glad I took the time for this environmentally friendly tour of Honolulu. The price of $130 for a historic, cultural and fun three-hour tour is worth it.
Now I can say, “This is how I roll.”
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This looks like wall-to-wall FUN!
Aren’t segways great. I discovered the joys of sightseeing by segway when in Madrid last year.
This would be a great post for the Green Travel Carnival that I am hosting at Traveling the Green Way.
Can I interest you in submitting it?
Cheers,
Liz
Write to Travel
You rock, Cajun Mama!
Looking great! Is there any better way to have fun on vacation. Next time you visit the famous New Jersey Shores look up Moving Forward Rentals in Sea Isle City, NJ. Our Segway Experience can be matched by no other activity. Segway rentals and tours along side the beach and ocean, what could be better than that?
Sounds interesting, what I want to know is what it’s like to visit at the very end of the season. We’re trying to avoid crowds, and it’s also a bit cheaper out of high season. Last summer we went Paros in Greece in September and it was wonderful, a few places had already closed but it was much more pleasant.