Things to Do in Pearl City

The Boom Boom Room Karaoke's repertoire of Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, and English instrumental tracks keeps persons of all singing abilities occupied for hours. The space boasts five smaller private rooms and two larger ones, each outfitted with high-definition flat screens with DVD and auxiliary input options that can accommodate PlayStations, Xboxs, and portable imaginations. Guests can also bring their own stage-fright-quelling libations until midnight.

Though he earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California San Diego, Matt Zimmerman decided to pursue his love of the ocean instead of science and move to Oahu. He founded Island Divers Hawaii there as a way to share his enthusiasm for scuba diving as well as the discoveries it can share, from intricate coral to schools of fish locked in a never-ending struggle for tenure. Zimmerman and his knowledgeable staff teach dive courses for curious students and lead boat charters that give divers the chance to test their new skills in pristine waters.

Featured in Pacific Edge for their trailblazing approach to crafting wine, Oeno Winemaking founders Lindsay and Greg Minarik craft an eclectic variety of bottled bouquets from pre-crushed grapes and speedy fermenting techniques. The winery hosts wine-sampling sessions, which educate sippers on the nuances of aroma and body while imparting the skills of proper swirling, sniffing, and spilling in tribute to sommelier homies. Patrons who desire Oeno wines can purchase a barrel of their choice from more than 50 varieties, which age for up to six weeks in a temperature-controlled cellar-type crypt. Interested oenophiles can then return with friends in tow for bottling parties, during which coteries pour their chosen varietal into 28–31 bottles emblazoned with their own personalized labels. Amidst their cache of bottles and corks, Oeno also stocks beer-making kits, which include materials for up to five gallons of homebrews.

Seabreeze Water Sports' licensed adventure-seekers have been helping likeminded folks safely skim over the water's mirrored surface or dive deep below rolling waves since 1986. Their certified flight and scuba instructors dispense their knowledge as they prep guests for safe scuba diving and Jetlev jetpack flights, during which a jetpack propels guests up to 30 feet in the air using a high-powered pump that, like Poseidon's Harley, uses ocean water as fuel. They also outfit nautical voyagers with equipment and safety vests for jaunts on surfboards, parasails, jet skis, and high-speed tubes.

To further fulfill their mission of adventurous memory making, Seabreeze's staff also runs their own digital media shop, where they snap photos of each watery experience using the media chips that accompany each guest. Their direct taxi service makes pesky logistics a breeze as their drivers shuttle guests between Waikiki hotels and picturesque shores.

When educator Nicole Kealoha set out to enrich her community, she harnessed the vibrant power of hip-hop and urban culture to captivate young people. Her nonprofit Diverse Art Center, launched in 2008, seeks to foster connections between youths and the community via enriching and engaging instruction from professional artists. The accomplished teachers and artists—including leading local art figure Shaun Castro and award-winning dancer Josh Skittle—strive to instill positive values and self-esteem in their pupils as they shepherd them through the many mediums that comprise hip-hop culture, including dance, music, and the visual arts. No fewer than five area schools participate in the center's fitness-focused Healthy Hip-Hop program, and daily urban art instruction includes tutorials in hip-hop lettering, break dancing, and beatboxing with inner-city kangaroos.

Jon Jepson draws on his experience navigating the seas for 20 years while captaining Makani Catamaran's crew in a 65-foot luxury vessel that he helped build. He strives to combine grand prix sailing with charter boat comfort while capably navigating waters from Seattle to the Panama Canal.

During morning, afternoon, and evening cruises, Captain Jon's staffers sling refreshments as the ship clips through the waves at speeds of up to 30 knots, zipping past paddling sea turtles or schools of dolphins. Inside the $1.8 million catamaran, an LCD television with a Bose surround-sound system immerses viewers in in-depth exposés of Davy Jones's locker. Below two billowing sails, tanners loll on special nets at the ship's stern, and bartenders pour soft drinks or stronger stuff to fortify them.