The Strange Voyages of Shanghai Brown


Travel





Being a journalist doesn't mean you can't have fun - especially on a Sunday afternoon, trying out variations in mai tais at Duke's in Waikiki while enjoying Henry Kapono's music (from the legendary Hawaiian group, Cecilio & Kapono).


As a travel writer, I don't follow the herd. I look for unique experiences and opportunities, whether it's finally getting to see one of my favorite musicians from my college days, to snorkeling around with the humuhumunukunukuapua'a (and having my snorkel gear stolen off the beach).


My ideal trips incorporate fun hikes, lots of nature and natural beauty, road tripping, history, local culture, dining, and music. Toss in a flight in a doorless helicopter with me hanging out the side over glowing lava flows, and that's my idea of a good time!


Photo by Delphine Lucas.



Music





Whether it's as Shanghai Brown, captain of There Be Pirates!, as a traditional shantyman, playing Greek music, or playing drums, percussion, harmonica, and singing rock and folk music, teaching folk music in the classroom, or working up new original piratical tunes with The Sweet Trade, I love playing and performing music.


Check out There Be Pirates!' two albums, with a blend of originals and traditional sea music and pirate ditties jammed out, or more options on my Music page.


Photo by Ian Harland.



Television & Video





Creator, writer, and host of Southwest Stories, a regional travel show created for public broadcasting (the first two seasons broadcast on KVCR PBS TV across Southern California, with Season 3 to be distributed nationally to all 360 PBS stations, the Southwest Stories Roku channel, and a host of other platforms).


When Season 3 of Southwest Stories was derailed by the global pandemic, I partnered with nonprofit organizations to write grant applications to produce historical videos that we shot in 2021. As a result, I wrote and produced a short video on the Butterfield Overland Trail in the deserts of California; a short video on historic trails in Missouri (Butterfield, Wire Road, Trail of Tears); a television documentary (KVCR PBS, FNX - First Nations Experience - network, nationally) on the Old Spanish Trail, and produced a television documentary on Doug Hansen, the country's leading expert on building and restoring 19th century wagons and stagecoaches (PBS stations in California and South Dakota).


Photo by Kevin Marcus.





The strange voyages of shanghai brown