15 May 2015 – After visiting the USS Missouri we had to rush over to Waikiki to board a ship for a Pirate Adventure. We found the Hawaii Pirate Ship Adventure by looking through a list of activities on the island and when we researched the reviews it was clearly a winner.
The ship is well decorated to look like a prototypical pirate vessel and the crew is dressed and in full character throughout the adventure. They cater mostly to the children but the adults get involved as well. The ship travels along Waikiki towards Diamond Head where it turns around and heads back. As we encounter enemies (e.g., other vessels) along the way we man the cannon and do our pirate thing.
Pirate ship masts
Diamond Head from Pirate Ship
Waikiki and Honolulu from Pirate Ship
Once aboard the kids adorned their pirate gear (an eye patch and bandana) and got to explore the ship. Then, they put them to work swabbing the deck and instructing the new crew on ship terminology.
Lucas scrubs the decks of the pirate ship
Aurelia scrubs the decks of the pirate ship
Pirate crew gets instructions
Then, the crew learns to fire the cannon – which are air-pressure powered water cannon. They don’t fire far but the kids loved it. Of course, when another ship passes close enough the real crew pull out larger water cannon and fire for greater effect. It was obvious that other tour ships in the area pull in close to the pirate ship for the benefit of their customers as well.
Isabella, Aurelia, and Lucas man the cannon
Further into the adventure the ship goes to look for treasure – a treasure box floated with buoys which was placed previously. They (unsuccessfully) attempted to get me to tie myself to a hook and hang overboard to retrieve the box from the sea. Luckily they had a hook on hand and the entire crew worked to pull the box up out of the sea. The kids then helped find the key for the treasure box.
Sergio gets ordered to go overboard to get the treasure chest
Lucas and Isabella involved in opening the treasure chest
Finally, the kids learned to sword fight and toss a skull through the stocks in a macabre pirate game.
Aurelia, Isabella, and Lucas eat cookies and wait for instructions
Finally the children were “branded” as pirates and graduated. The 90 minute adventure was excellent and a highlight of the trip for the kids.
The new crew graduates as pirates
Passports and Poppets 