Oahu is an island that blends a rich history with a vibrant
present. And thanks to an award-winning audio tour that has been
introduced by TourTalk-Oahu, visitors can experience it all with
narrated convenience as they cruise the island at their own
pace.
TourTalk-Oahu is a culturally authentic audio driving tour that
transports visitors through time, blending ancient Hawaiian
historical and cultural highlights with famed attractions. The
one-of-a-kind, self-driven audio tour contains site information
with specific directions to each location provided by male and
female narrators. What distinguishes this product from any other of
its kind are the cultural histories provided by experts throughout
the tour.
“When I was stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, I was
often inundated with visitors,” said Denise Moreland, owner and
creator. “I found myself constantly driving around the island,
pointing out the few areas and things I knew. Then I began creating
maps for visitors pointing out things I thought they should see and
experience.”
But Moreland found that this became rather time consuming and
laborious because she was also finishing her business degree and
had little free time.
One of her final college classes was Intro to Hawaiian
History.
“It was one of my best classes as well since it introduced me to
more than the intellectual precepts of the culture,” Moreland
said.
As she drove across the island at 7 a.m. every Saturday morning
for this class, she began to experience for herself the energy of
the places she visited.
“The island and its culture became alive for me! And thus, a
seed was planted to share with others what I as a transplanted
mainlander was experiencing,” said Moreland.
In addition to the audio tour which is presented in both
cassette and CD formats each TourTalk-Oahu package contains a
full-color booklet filled with important information to prepare
visitors for their touring experience. It includes a full-island
foldout map for quick reference, factoids that further enhance site
information and photos and detailed maps to assist along the
journey.
There are also note pages, a reference section that revisits key
information and a "More To See" component that provides information
on several sites not included in the driving tour. Significantly
contributing to the TourTalk-Oahu experience, the stand-alone
booklet helps visitors relive their Oahu memories even after
they’ve returned home.
More than an informational tour with driving directions,
TourTalk-Oahu digs deeper into such things as the meaning of aloha,
importance of ohana (family), connection to the aina (land), the
inter-connection of all things, life in ancient ahupuaa (land
divisions and political systems), core cultural teachings that live
on today, sacredness of heiau (temples), Hawaiian spirituality,
historical battles and hula.
“Oahu-bound visitors now have the option and convenience of
renting a car and having a ‘semi-self-guided tour’ of the island,”
said Moreland. “For those who don't prefer a bus tour, this is the
answer. This tour allows the purchaser to travel at their own time,
at their own pace, and in the convenience of their rental car. They
can stop to visit any locale they finding attracting them."
“It's also perfect for those living on Oahu who either want to
better integrate into the
Island experience such as military newcomers or have lots of
visitors but no time to take them around the island,” Moreland
said.
While the TourTalk-Oahu package retails for $24.95 on the
company’s Web site, travel agents can purchase the guide
individually or in bulk as client gifts at a 20 percent discount.
Moreland added that she is in the process of creating a separate
Web site that will feature a selection of new experiential vacation
programs conducted by cultural guides. Operational by June,
www.hawaiisculturalconnection.com will share details on such
programs as hula as a healing art, and Hawaiian cultural
understandings and practices.
877-585-7499
www.tourtalkhawaii.com
