January 2005 Archives

The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort And Spa (formerly the popular Kona Surf Resort) is nearly finished with an extensive $70 million renovation and remodeling. The "soft opening" was in October 2004 but some construction will continue until April 2005.

Some of the highlights of the property are:

**The Manta Ray Super Slide & Pool**
with it's enormous fresh-water pool including its own small man-made beach, the island’s largest waterslide, bubbling whirlpool spas, and a delightful childrens play area.

**The Ho'ola Spa**
Imagine...the thatched roof of the tea hut rustles gently in the trade winds...the scent of freshly prepared tropical oils fill your senses...and you close your eyes for the most thoroughly relaxing massage you have ever experienced. Once the construction is completed, this should be another top-notch Sheraton Resort.

**The Kona Country Club Golf Courses**
For nearly 40 years, the Kona Country Club has been welcoming golfers to Kona's south coast. Offering two 18-hole courses, the Kona Country Club, within steps of Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, will challenge the expert and prove manageable for the novice.

**The Manta Ray Experience**
Picture a large, shadow-like creature gliding like an acrobat through crystal clear ocean waters. Strangely shaped, yet hauntingly beautiful and graceful, one cannot help but crave to learn more. What is it you have seen? You have seen a manta ray, the largest of the ray species, reaching wing spans of more than twenty feet and weighing as much as 3,000 pounds. Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa has teamed together with local manta ray expert, James L. Wing, to re-create an environment attractive to the world-famous Keauhou Manta Rays and welcome them back to a familiar feeding ground.

Again, the Sheraton Keauhou is almost completed. In the meantime they are offering some good "renovation specials." Once the entire resort is up and running in April, this should be one of the premier resorts on the Big Island. For more information or to make your reservation today, visit Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort And Spa.

The Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel from $156 including tax.
Rated one of the 50 affordable beach hotels in the world by Travel And Leisure magazine. The recently remodeled Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel is right across from famous Waikiki Beach.
Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel

2004 was a record year for travel to Hawaii. Almost every month of 2004 set an all time record for occupancy rates and for number of travelers to the state. Hotel occupancy rates were 80% or higher for much of the year.

The trend is continuing into 2005, so it looks like another record setting year!

What does this mean for you, the Hawaii traveler? IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON VISITING HAWAII IN 2005, NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK YOUR TRIP. If you wait too long then the rooms you want may already be sold out!

Don't let this happen to you, plan your trip today by visiting us at Travel Hawaii or call us at 888-373-2422.

Like you, we at Travel Hawaii are greatly saddened by the recent tragedies caused by the massive tsunamis. A catastrophe such as this affects all of us and reminds us that we should count our many blessings every day.

If you would like to make a donation to help with the relief effort, you can find a good list of aid organizations here.

Even though Hawaii is over 6500 miles away from the tragedy, many clients have asked us if Hawaii was effected by the tsunamis. The answer is, thankfully, no.

Unlike the Indian Ocean region, there are about 100 tsunami sensing devices surrounding Hawaii. The devices are scattered in the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Alaska, to the West Coast of Canada and the US, and all the way down to South America, and dozens of points in between.

If a tsunami were to affect Hawaii, we would have several hours advance notice in order to secure ourselves and to get to safety. Also, buildings in Hawaii (such as hotels) are built to withstand the affects of hurricanes and tsunamis.

Year after year, Hawaii continues to be a very safe, fun, and rejuvenating destination.