About
Award-winning author, video producer and historian Duncan O'Brien has presented on maritime history to thousands of passengers aboard dozens of cruise ships around the world. His original series of enrichment and destination presentations focuses on the past 100 years of passenger ship cruising on the Pacific, and the ports of call between California, Hawaii, the South Seas, New Zealand and Australia.
Duncan's history begins with the Matson Line, the beloved San Francisco-based steamship company that pioneered tourism in Hawaii. Audiences follow the incredible journey of Matson's luxury American-flagged passenger liners... learning about the evolution of the ships, their exotic ports of call, and the deluxe passenger experience known as ""The Grand Manner"".
With a close personal connection to Matson''s ships, and a professional background in film and television production, each of Duncan's 45-minute stories captivate audiences through a beautifully curated collection of vintage images, vintage film and music.
In 2009 Duncan's first book ""The White Ships"" won a Ka Palapala Po'okela book publishing award in Hawaii, and in 2023 his video for Steven Espaniola's song ""Sakura"" was a finalist in the Na Hoku Hano Hano Hawaiian music awards.