Kendall Brown enjoys an interactive dolphin swim at Sea Life Park Hawaii in Honolulu, Hawaii

Sea Life Park Hawaii Dolphin Swim

As I ungracefully paddled my way into the center of the salt water tank, I felt something move in front of me in the water. The theme song from Jaws briefly floated through my mind. I reached out to grab a flipper and was gently pulled through the water by a 450 pound dolphin.

My daughter had wanted to swim with a dolphin during our recent trip to Honolulu, Hawaii. Located in East Oahu, Sea Life Park Hawaii is about a 30 minute drive from Waikiki and has the only interactive in-depth program with dolphins on the islands of Hawaii.

Is it right for humans to hold animals captive for our viewing enjoyment?

As an animal and nature lover, I have an inner battle going on inside my brain when I visit animal parks, aquariums, wild life compounds and zoos. Is it right for humans to hold these animals and sea creatures captive for our viewing enjoyment and pleasure? While the answer to that question is a personal decision, I can tell you that places such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Sea Life Park Hawaii have a vested interest in the well being of their “family members.”

Interactive Dolphin Swim at Sea Life Park Hawaii

Our interactive dolphin swim was with Itsy Bitsy. Itsy Bitsy was born at Sea Life Park Hawaii, and at 32 years old, she is living longer than she would in the ocean. Itsy Bitsy, along with her companions, continues to provide “teachable moments” to children and adults about the different marine life and how we need to protect the ocean and their environment for future generations to come.

“If she didn’t want to interact with us,” said Sea Life Park Hawaii Dolphin Trainer, “she would swim away. It’s that simple. The dolphins enjoy the stimulation and interaction.”

Green Sea Turtles are a threatened species

Green Sea Turtles have been swimming in the world’s oceans for more than 200 million years.  The ancient Hawaiians called the Green Sea Turtles in Hawaii’s waters honu – the name that is still used today.  Many early Hawaiian legends tell stories that credit the honu as being the guides for the first voyagers to Hawaii.  Adult honu can measure more than three feet straight in length and weigh up to 450 pounds.  The sea turtles grow very slowly in the wild and typically don’t reach sexual maturity until they are around 25-30 years old. While the life span of the honu remains unknown, today the honu is regarded as a threatened species and is protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.  

Turtle Independence Day on the Big Island

Since 1989, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows has received 3-5 month old juvenile honu (Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle) from Oahu’s Sea Life Park and has raised them in the saltwater ponds of the resort. The honu are cared for until they grow to a size and weight that is appropriate for release into the ocean.  Mauna Lani raises the honu for 2-3 years until they grow to a minimum shell length of 35 cm. The release occurs every July 4 at the ocean’s edge fronting Mauna Lani.  Over the years Mauna Lani has released 206 honu. 

The honu are gathered at the ponds before joining a procession down to the beachfront for release, proceeded by a Hawaiian ceremony.  The annual Turtle Independence Day celebration honors the honu and educates the public about the threatened Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.

Have you visited Sea Life Park Hawaii? Have you participated in a turtle release or dolphin swim program? What are your favorite things to do in Honolulu? Leave a comment below.

If You Go:

Sea Life Park Hawaii 1 (808) 259-2500

41-41-202 Kalanianaole Highway #7
Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795 USA

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Article written by and video courtesy of Nancy D. Brown. I was a guest of Sea Life Park Hawaii and Oahu Visitors Bureau.

2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Alaska

There’s a whole lot of harness-banging going on in Anchorage, Alaska today. I’m at the March 6th ceremonial start of the 2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race – the Last Great Race – taking place across the Alaskan wilderness.

MUSHERS FROM NEAR AND FAR

Dog mushers come from as near as Willow, Alaska and as far as Aberdeen, Scotland and St. Anne, Jamaica to compete in this 1,049 mile Iditarod sled dog race to Nome, Alaska. Seventy one mushers will guide their Iditarod sled dogs as they manuever over Rainy Pass, the highest point on the trail, through bumpy Nikolai, and over frozen tundra, eventually reaching Nome, Alaska.

Quick Iditarod sled dog mushers are rewarded in Cripple, an abandoned mining town and the race’s halfway point. The first musher to Cripple is rewarded with a $3,000 check.

CHICAGO MUSHER COPES WITH CANCER

Chicago Musher Pat Moon has been dealing with more than logistical problems as he tackles this Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Moon, 33, has been fighting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood malignancy. Iditarod Update: Unfortunately, Moon crashed into a tree on Tuesday while navigating a gorge and had to be dropped from the race.

JAMAICA ROOKIE

Jamaican Iditarod Sled Dog Musher Newton Marshall

Another rookie musher, Newton Marshall of Jamaica, will have to cope with drastic Alaska weather conditions during the Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Unlike his native Jamaica, hurricane-velocity winds and blizzards are common as the trail crosses Norton Sound to Koyuk.

WHO WILL WIN 2010 IDITAROD SLED DOG RACE?

Who will be the first to cross the finish line in Nome, Alaska to win the Iditarod sled dog race? Will it be Alaska’s Jeff King? The 54-year-old King, a four-time champion, hopes to end his Iditarod career with a bang. I certainly remember holding puppies at his Husky Homestead Tour in Denali Park.

What about Lance Mackey of Fairbanks, Alaska? Mackey hopes to win his fourth straight Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Update: Mackey won his fourth consecutive Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

Let’s not forget about DeeDee Jonrowe, a breast cancer survivor, Jonrowe started the 2003 Iditarod Sled Dog Race just three weeks after finishing chemotherapy.

Young musher Dallas Seavey, 22 of Seward, hopes to follow father Mitch Seavey, the 2004 Iditarod Sled Dog Race champion, in bringing home the title.

On the other end of the age spectrum, Chuglak’s Jim Lanier, at 69 years of age, will be singing to his sled dogs as he races the Iditarod. Lanier, along with his wife and son, serenaded us at the Iditarod Sled Dog Musher’s Banquet with their beautiful voices. Is that what keeps his dog’s running?

Finally, four-time champion Martin Buser of Big Lake, Alaska, holds the Iditarod Sled Dog Race record of eight days, 22 hours and 46 minutes.

Who is your favorite to win the 2010 Iditarod Sled Dog Race? What are your favorite things to do in Anchorage, Alaska?

Related Post:

What to pack for Alaska Winter Vacation

Things to Do in Anchorage, Alaska

Thank you to the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau and Alaska Travel for allowing me and inside look at the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

Photos and video by Nancy D. Brown

Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Iditarod Sled Dog Race Champion Jeff King of Denali Park knows how to pack for an Alaska winter vacation.

It’s winter and I’m wearing my Mukluks to break them in for my upcoming trip to Anchorage and Fairbanks, Alaska. Only problem is, I live in Northern California, so my two teenagers are giving me the look.

I’ve snow-proofed my Arctic Mukluks with water repellent and added the felt inserts to keep my feet toasty warm as I watch the start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and while I’m checking out the ice sculptures at the 2010 World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska.

My last trip to Anchorage and Fairbanks was August, 2009. A highlight of that trip was holding a sled dog puppy. Termination dust was just starting to blanket the hillsides. A sign that winter was on its way.

Early March I’ll be flying Alaska Airlines from San Francisco to Anchorage to watch the “Last Great Race on Earth” as a guest of Alaska Travel.

For all things Alaska, follow them on Twitter. Of course, I’ll be tweeting during my trip, as well. The Fairbanks CVB is on Twitter, too.

Prepare for wide temperature ranges during Alaska winter vacation

“In a winter trip to Alaska, you have to be prepared for a huge temperature range,” notes Lyle Croft of Fairbanks-based Apocalypse Design. “It can be 40′F above one day and -40′F the next. You worry about moisture at warmer temperatures as everything around is melting. Colder temperatures you want to stay warm.”

When Croft volunteers for the Yukon Quest, a dog-sled race in Fairbanks, he has multiple outfits for different temperatures, including different insulation levels of hats and boots. (Clearly this guy doesn’t need to worry about carry-on restrictions.)

How to pack for an Alaska winter vacation

• Layering is key.
• Synthetic is in – cotton is out.
• Long underwear – Cuddl Duds for me.
• Fleece Pants – mine are from Apocalypse Design
• Snow Bib – Apocalypse Design
• Moisture wicking t-shirts
• Long-sleeve shirts for layering
• Snow Parka – insulation levels vary – Apocalypse Design Alpine Parka Review
• Arctic Mitts – mine are from Steger Mukluks & Moccasins
• Smart wool socks - Icebreaker Merino Wool Sock Review
• Arctic Mukluks – Steger Mukluks Review
• Warm hat
• Bathing Suit – I’m going to Chena Hotsprings

The key to warm feet on Alaska winter vacation

Patti Steger of Steger Mukluks and Moccasins adds that, “flexibility, insulation and light weight are the keys to warm feet. If your hand are cold, you understand that with vigorous motion you will generate blood supply to warm them. That same principle applies to your feet. The colder it gets, the more flexible and insulated you must be.”

Have you been to Alaska in the winter? What have I left off my “How to pack for an Alaska winter vacation” list? Please leave a comment with your suggestions.

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Apocalypse Design Alpine Parka – Travel Apparel Review

Future Iditarod Found in Denali Park, Alaska

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