We asked the world-traveling ukulele player
Jake Shimabukuro talks about the true charm of his beloved home, Hawaii

About half of the year is spent on tour, which is why it's so important to have a place to return to.

OnTrip JAL Editorial Department (hereinafter, JAL): Jake, you were born and raised in Hawaii, but now you often spend your time outside of Hawaii.

Jake Shimabukuro (hereafter referred to as Jake): Recently, I've been in Hawaii for about half the year. The other half is spent on concert tours in the US mainland, Europe, Asia, and other places. I often record at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee. I just recently recorded a new album at a studio in Nashville.

During the tour, we have concerts in various cities almost every day, so we often travel in our own large bus (equipped with showers, beds, and other accommodations). The appeal is that we can travel to the next venue while sleeping, so we can use our time effectively. Of course, we also travel by plane or car and stay in hotels while visiting each city, and in those cases we relax in our hotel rooms and enjoy the unique atmosphere of the city. We get inspired by each place and adjust our performance so that we can give a good performance at each venue.

JAL: So during a concert tour you are constantly "traveling."
Jake: Basically, yes. It's exciting to travel with like-minded staff. You get to encounter all kinds of music, and the reactions of the audience vary depending on the place. Of course, eating delicious food that's unique to each city is also one of the best parts of traveling.

But when I'm away from Hawaii for a long time, I do miss it. Hawaii is a special "home" to me. I'm a local, born and raised here, but living a life that's almost halfway out of Hawaii, I feel something fresh every time I come back. No matter where I come back from, the moment I get off the plane at Honolulu airport and feel the Hawaiian air, I think, "Ah, I'm back. I'm home!" and my body and mind slowly become filled with joy.

For me, Hawaii is filled with invisible positive energy, such as the gentle scenery, the beautiful sea, and the warm people. It is a place that brings me back to the state I want to be, and a place that accepts me as I am, relaxed. I feel very lucky to have this special place as my "hometown."

I want to pass on to my sons the experiences I had as a child.

JAL: Can you tell us how you spend your time in Hawaii, your special home?

Jake: I like to spend time with my two sons at the park or our favorite beach, fishing, hiking, and more. I want to give my children as many experiences as I did growing up. In my free time, I also enjoy diving and spear fishing in the ocean.

I often go to Kaimana Beach near Kapiolani Park with my kids. This is a beach that brings back fond memories of my mother taking me there when I was little. It can get quite crowded these days, but it's still a great place to relax. There's a park with lots of palm trees nearby, and you can often see local families enjoying barbecues here.

That's right, sometimes people enjoy "staycations" by staying in a hotel on the island of Oahu for a few nights. I think a lot of locals enjoy it that way. They stay in a hotel in Waikiki with their family and relatives and play in a big pool... Even though they're both in Hawaii, the mood is different between home and the hotel, so it's refreshing. The kids seem to enjoy it as if they're on vacation.

I often go to the Big Island of Hawaii, and my favorite places are the beautiful white sand beaches of Hapuna Beach and Anaehoomalu Bay in Waikoloa.

Locals call this place A-Bay, and it's a beautiful beach where you can fish. For me, the number of fish is also an important deciding factor when choosing a beach (laughs).

For information on the latest restaurants in Hawaii, rely on local friends' reviews.

JAL: You often spend time actively enjoying Hawaii's nature.

Jake: Ah, but I also like spending quiet time. I like to read books and write songs at my favorite cafe. I also love eating delicious food with friends. Some of the restaurants I've recently recommended are "Zigu" in Waikiki, which serves creative Japanese cuisine, "Vegan Hills" in Kaimuki, and "Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine" in the Moiliili area. There are so many to list. Recently, the number of healthy restaurants has been increasing, and the evolution of food in Hawaii is unstoppable. I often go to "MW Restaurant" and "Alan Wong's Restaurant", where notable chefs show off their skills.

For dessert, the cakes at "Cake M" in the Ala Moana area are also delicious. When I go to my relatives' houses or when I bring their cream puffs to meetings, I always bring them as a gift. By the way, when I'm away from Hawaii, I often get information about new restaurants from local friends. People keep telling me about new places, saying, "That restaurant is delicious. Have you been there yet?", so I'm always getting information. Word of mouth is the most trustworthy thing to know (laughs), so I'm grateful.

I often grill steaks at home and invite my family and friends over. I like cooking myself. Whether I'm a good cook or not is another matter (laughs), but I try all kinds of dishes. Of course, I often fillet the fish I catch myself. Fresh seafood is the best.