February 2005 Archives

Hawaiian top in passenger load

Hawaiian Airlines reported 85.1 percent load factor in January, finishing at the top of the nation's airlines.

The airline's performance compares to an industry average of 71.7 percent, according to statistics published by Aviation Daily. Competitor Aloha Airlines doesn't report its performance statistics to this voluntary airline data report.

Other airlines that finished in the top five include JetBlue at 83.7 percent; Spirit 77.9 percent; Northwest 76.8 percent; Continental and United at 76.1 percent.

Hawaiian Airlines finished 2004 at the top with 85.7 percent load factor.

By Prabha Natarajan
Pacific Business News-

Potential buyers, including Starwood Hotels & Resorts, are lining up in anticipation of Prince Resorts Hawaii's four hotels coming on the market.

Estimates place the value of the portfolio -- which includes the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki, Hapuna Beach Prince, Mauna Kea Beach and Maui Prince -- at about $750 million. If sold individually, each property could fetch $200 million.

Starwood, the operator of Sheraton, W and Westin hotels on Hawaii, is "absolutely" interested in Prince, said Keith Vieira, Starwood's senior vice president for operations in Hawaii and French Polynesia.

For Starwood, the Prince properties would present a unique second chance to reflag them as Westins. The hotels operated under the upscale Westin brand until 2000, when Prince decided to run them under its own brand name.

While Prince management insists the hotels aren't for sale, several factors point to the time being right.

Hawaii is in the midst of an especially busy hotel-dealing period, with more than $3 billion in sales since 2000. Sellers are getting top dollar, especially for properties at the high end, where business is booming.

A big chunk of the transactions have been distress sales by Japanese companies that threw away millions on hotels and golf courses in the 1980s and now are faced with the cost of repaying all that debt.

The Japanese parent of Prince hotels in Hawaii, Seibu Railway Co., was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is now undergoing a corporate restructuring. One of the recommendations is for the $4 billion conglomerate to scale back its 150 hotels and leisure facilities to a manageable 40 resorts exclusively in Japan, according to a Nihon Keizai Shimbun news report.

Seibu's critics have pointed at the hundreds of millions it spent to buy and build its Hawaii hotels and to open affiliated championship golf courses at all these properties, three of which were designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay.

"The information out of Japan is so limited, there are so many rumors and speculation that until I am told so, we are not for sale," said Donn Takahashi, president of Prince Resorts Hawaii. Takahashi succeeded former Gov. George Ariyoshi at the company's helm last year.

But the lack of information hasn't stopped investors, who have heard the on-and-off rumor that the properties are for sale, from lining up.

"There's a lot of people looking at the [Prince] portfolio," said Kevin Aucello, vice president and director of hotel sales in Hawaii, Micronesia and the South Pacific for CB Richard Ellis. "The hotels' owner always had the thought that if the right offer came along they would be willing to sell."

Reports are not available on the hotels' annual revenues; the company didn't disclose the numbers. Its peak performance was in 1999, with $148 million in sales. In 2000, sales were $146 million, according to financial databases.

"2004 was a banner year comparable to 2000," Takahashi said. "We had a great year last year and are looking forward to an even better 2005."

The Prince hotels, like others in the hospitality industry, found the rebound of Mainland visitors making up for the lower numbers of Japanese visitors.

Takahashi added that the profitable years should be reason enough for the parent company to hold on to its Hawaii assets.

Starwood Hotels Hawaii
Prince Resorts Hawaii

By Allison Schaefers
Honolulu Star Bulletin

Because accommodations are limited on the North Shore, turning around Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, the area's only full-service hotel, is a lynchpin in the plan to market the region as a destination.

While business is booming for many who run the North Shore rental vacation homes, Turtle Bay has struggled to find its identity. The resort markets itself as "the Hawaii many have hoped for but few have discovered," -- a slogan supported by the hotel's historically low occupancy rates.

Years of neglect delayed the property's ability to position itself as a major player among Oahu's resorts, said Abid Butt, vice president and general manager of Turtle Bay.

Benchmark Management is one of several resort management companies to try and turn the resort around. The tourism drop after 9/11 affected the North Shore particularly hard and the resort fell into disrepair under a previous owner.

"Parts of the building were falling down, sliding glass doors were bolted shut and balconies were boarded up," Butt said. "At one point, the property was ready to be condemned."

A $60 million renovation, paid for by owner Oaktree Capital Management LLC, has given the property another chance.

Turtle Bay's repositioning has benefited the North Shore by boosting awareness of the region among the mid- to high-end markets and the group market, said Alfred Grace, vice president of sales and marketing at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

"Travel writers for magazines and newspapers have also taken a much greater interest in the North Shore now that the newly renovated Turtle Bay Resort is fully operational," Grace said. "For example, the North Shore received an excellent, multipage write-up in the Delta Air Lines in-flight magazine. I am sure this would not have happened without the developments at Turtle Bay Resort."

Yet, while Turtle Bay's substantial capital and marketing investments have propelled the region into the spotlight, the resort itself has remained quiet. While other Oahu hotels posted near-record numbers, last year Turtle Bay's occupancy still averaged around 45 percent, Butt said. Special events and the group market have propelled occupancy higher at times, but for the most part Turtle Bay's business outlook is unchanged.

"The hotel has only been profitable two out of its 30 years," Butt said. "It's on its ninth life and we have to turn it around -- not just for the hotel, but for the community as well."

A yearlong labor dispute between Turtle Bay Resort & Spa and its unionized hotel workers is being blamed by some in the community for the resort's underperformance. The union has promoted a boycott of the property until a new contract is reached.

"We've had several large groups that were planning on staying at the hotel call and tell us that they have canceled their reservations and that they won't stay at the hotel until the dispute has been settled," said Jason Ward, a spokesman for Unite Here Local 5, the hotel worker's union.

Members of the Koolauloa Neighborhood Board passed a motion at their last meeting to encourage both the resort's management team and its union employees to reach a labor agreement so that the region can move forward, said Creighton Matoon, past chairman of the Neighborhood Board.

"The dispute is hurting the community," Matoon said.

The North Shore is in great need of funds because the population base is low, Butt said.

A more prosperous tourism market could bring much needed revenue to North Shore schools, medical facilities, and infrastructure, Butt said. A thriving tourism market also could improve the quality of life for North Shore residents by creating more jobs closer to home.

It's very important that Turtle Bay succeed because it is the top employer on the North Shore, said Elaine Hornal, who left her job at Michel's at the Colony Surf to work at Turtle Bay, which is closer to her Waialua home.

"I used to have to drive three hours a day back and forth from work," said Hornal. "Now I have more time to enjoy my home."

Most of the resort's 300-plus employees work near their homes and many work alongside family members, she said.

Turtle Bay Resort & Spa

CONSTRUCTION will begin in the spring on a retail center on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. The single-acre shopping center, a two-story, $10 million project, will include shops like Footlocker and Whaler's Market, with eateries such as California Pizza Kitchen.

THE KAPALUA WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL will take place July 7 to 10 at the Kapalua Resort on Maui. The event is split between the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and the Kapalua Bay Hotel. Tickets are $895 for the four-day pass to all events. Visit www.kapaluawineandfood.com for more information on tickets and a schedule of events.

Lodging available at Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and Kapalua Bay Hotel.

By Brian Berusch

HONOLULU -- When Southwest Airlines began selling seats on ATA Airlines’ flights to Honolulu on Feb. 4, it opened up Hawaii as a new frontier for the low-cost carrier.

“Southwest has very loyal passengers, and it can only help us,” said Marsha Weinert, tourism liaison for Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle. “An increase in service is a positive overall for the state. And they serve some places we have been hoping to increase service from, as well.”

But not everyone sees it that way. Some tourism officials here say they are concerned the move will result in price wars between the carriers that serve the Hawaii market.

“We don’t actively oppose the Southwest-ATA code-share agreement, but when a new carrier brings in more or new people, it will change the fare structures,” said Frank Haas, marketing director for the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA).

“We’ve seen that trouble before and hope to actively support the legacy carriers [such as United, Delta and Northwest] that helped us through rougher times.”

Haas was referring to the price wars of the 1990s in which the airlines responded to reduced West Coast fares by decreasing the number of seats they offered to Hawaii.

Haas said the HTA “will do everything it can to market the legacy carriers who bring the growing number of visitors to Hawaii.”

“We won’t subsidize any airline, but we will spend dollars on marketing efforts,” he said.

The HTA spent $500,000 on airline cooperative marketing in 2004.

Weinert said she can understand why the HTA is concerned for the airlines that have served Hawaii for many years.

“Our legacy airlines are all experiencing problems. [The HTA] needs to ensure that [the carriers] operate, for our sake. But, really, there is nothing the HTA can do, as most of the carriers are in Chapter 11.”

ATA also announced that it is increasing service in and out of Hawaii. The carrier will launch a new Phoenix-Honolulu flight as well as another daily flight from Los Angeles to Kahului, Maui, beginning on April 3. Both flights will originate in Indianapolis, where ATA is headquartered.

Book flights to Hawaii Here.

At 10am February 15, 2005-
The Kauai Coconut Beach flag was lowered and the Courtyard by Marriott flag was raised, officially re-branding the resort Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Waipouli Beach.

Areas open for use:

- Kapaa, Waipouli, and Lihue wings, 163 beautifully appointed rooms
- Front desk and main lobby
- Valet and bell desk
- Self-parking and valet parking lots
- Pool and Jacuzzi whirlpool
- Temporary restaurant in the Chart Room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Luau Halau - Luau Dinner/Show nightly except Mondays
- Administration, executive and sales

Currently under renovation and closed:

- Voyagers Grille steak and seafood restaurant (opening late March)
- Cook's Landing Lounge (opening late March)
- Paddle Room - meeting facility (opening April)

Courtyard by Marriott Kauai at Waipouli Beach

By Michael Milligan

WASHINGTON -- The airlines rounded up an array of industry lobby groups to echo their concerns about the effect of the plan to raise the 9/11 security tax on airline tickets.

The Air Transport Association (ATA), the carriers’ main lobbying group, contends that thousands of airline jobs will be at risk and the long-term health of the overall economy will be placed in jeopardy if Congress approves the plan.

At a briefing here Feb. 10, a number of aviation, travel and consumer groups came together to reinforce that message, including the Travel Industry Association and the Competitive Enterprise Institute.

The emerging industry consensus is that the cost of airline security should be borne by the government.

James May, president of the ATA, warned the tax increase would significantly harm an already struggling airline industry.

“Last year, the industry lost another $10 billion, bringing our three-year total to a staggering $33 billion,” he said. “Now, if that isn’t the definition of a crippled industry, I’m not sure what is.”

The ATA laid out its concerns in a letter to Bush administration officials. It hopes to convince Congress to quickly hold a hearing on the matter.

“Over the past three years, our industry has eliminated more than 123,000 jobs, and, unfortunately, thousands of more cuts are expected in 2005,” May said.

And the airline’s economic troubles have a broader impact, he added.

“When aviation is damaged, the ill effects ripple across national and regional economies,” he said.

Also on hand to support the ATA’s position were representatives from the Air Travelers Association, the Regional Airline Association, the National Taxpayers Union, the Interactive Travel Services Association and the Americans for Tax Reform.

To contact reporter Michael Milligan, send e-mail to mmilligan@travelweekly.com.

Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight canceled after midnight
at Lihue Airport were forced to sleep on the grass and huddle on
sidewalks because a state employee refused to let them stay in the
terminal.

The incident angered tourism officials and Gov. Linda Lingle even
considered writing personal notes of apology to the 165 passengers.

Though the incident occurred in August, it has continued to
reverberate through tourism circles as an example of how, despite
spending $60 million on tourism marketing, the Hawaii visitor
experience can easily go bad.

"It's a terrible way to go about conducting business," said Rex
Johnson, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the
agency that oversees tourism marketing.

On Aug. 9, United Airlines Flight 74 from Lihue to San Francisco was
delayed by mechanical problems. The airline decided to cancel the
flight at 12:30 a.m.

United staffers contacted local hotels but there were no rooms
available. No taxis were running and the car rental counters were
closed.

Airline workers and employees of the federal Transportation Security
Administration decided it would be easiest if passengers stayed in
the terminal overnight.

But the state employee in charge of the airport said the airport was
closed and that everyone would have to leave.

United's staff tried to make the passengers comfortable outside the
terminal with pillows, blankets and food from the plane.

Some called cabs and slept in the lobbies of hotels. A few took up
offers from the Kauai-based United staff members who offered to open
up their homes.

The flight took off the next morning.

After hearing about the incident, officials of various agencies put
together a plan to deal with such situations.

Marsha Wienert, the state tourism liaison, volunteered to be the
first to be called, after which she would call the island visitor
bureaus and hotel associations.

"There is no question that everybody at the airport knows the
procedure and the need to communicate," Wienert said.

If the hotels are full, the state's first option would be to let
passengers stay at the airport. If that's not possible, the next
option is to open up a gym, community center or other public
building.

Scott Ishikawa, spokesman for the state Department of
Transportation, said now airport operators are required to inform
supervisors of such situations.

"But it was a bad decision," he said. "And nothing can justify what
happened to the passengers."

Wienert said that when Lingle heard about the incident she wanted to
write a letter of apology to each passenger, but because of
confidentiality rules, the airline wouldn't release their names.

The awareness of how to handle such situations was recently tested
at Honolulu International Airport, where passengers were stranded
overnight after their flight was canceled.

Immediately, the airline and airport managers opened areas for the
passengers, gave them pillows and blankets, and made sure the
bathrooms were open.

"We didn't even need to rally the troops," Wienert said.

Reach Prabha Natarajan at 955-8041 or pnatarajan@bizjournals.com

OUTRIGGER is extending its "Catch a Wave in Waikiki" promotion for guests staying at any of the 11 Outrigger or Ohana hotels. The promotion gives guests the choice of a free two-hour surfboard rental, an outrigger canoe ride for two or a 90-minute catamaran sail when staying five nights or more. The promotion extends through Dec. 20. Visit Outrigger Hotels Hawaii for more information on the hotels.

By Brian Berusch

HONOLULU -- Visitors here who have a passion for the food arts are fortunate people. The blending of Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and, more recently, European cuisines with traditional Polynesian dishes has spawned entirely new flavors that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Drawing parallels to the people who live here, the foods found throughout the islands are diverse and eclectic, but still maintain roots sewn deep in tradition.

The Halekulani is celebrating this idea with a two-day culinary tour that delves not only into food but into the cultural aspects of dining on Oahu.

The tour is being offered monthly to guests of the hotel. Private tours can be arranged for meetings and other groups staying at the hotel, a spokeswoman said.

The two-day sessions are pricey, at $600 per person, not inclusive of hotel accommodation (the tour is open to all visitors, with a 14-person maximum).

Itineraries vary. On the tour I took, most of the group activities took place on the first day. The following is a look at that day's itinerary:

We began with a short drive to the Honolulu fish auction, run by the United Fish Agency. En route, the group was introduced to Joan Namkoong, author of a number of food-related books and the host of the daylong excursion.

Halekulani executive chef Darryl Fujita holds up the 30-pound red snapper he was preparing for dinner. Photo by Brian Berusch.Halekulani executive chef Darryl Fujita joined us at the market, where he tested the quality of a yellowfin tuna by rolling the fish's red meat between his fingers. The "give," scent and visible fat all factor into the quality and price of a fish, he said. He settled on a 30-pound red snapper for our dinner.

Next stop was Honolulu's Chinatown, a four-square-block area teeming with outdoor markets, lei stands, dim sum eateries and bakeries. The district emerged in the 1870s, Namkoong said, when migrant Chinese workers arrived in droves to work the sugarcane fields that populated much of the island.

We ducked into Mei Sum, a family-run establishment that Namkoong called her favorite. There we nibbled on dumplings and won tons filled with mushroom and chicken, shrimp, bean curd and fresh vegetables.

A half-hour away by bus is Aiea, where our attention was turned to a 10-acre watercress farm owned by the Sumida family.

The farm produces 75% of the watercress consumed on the island.

Established in 1928, it lies in an area that has changed dramatically with the urbanization of Aiea, according to owner David Sumida.

Sumida walked us to the spring-fed marshes where the watercress blossoms.

"There used to be this great river that flowed all the way from the mountain down to the sea," he said.

"The kids used to come all summer long and swim in the river, and I could always see them when I was working in the fields, asking my father if I could go out and play."

By midday, we had returned to the hotel to begin preparing our lunch.

First, we enjoyed a salt and soy tasting in the kitchen of La Mer, the Halekulani's fine dining restaurant.

There, Namkoong explained the difference between soy sauces. The heavier and thicker soys are best for marinades or paired with meats, she said, and the lighter and less salty soys are best for fish or dipping with sashimi and vegetables.

We made our way to the workstation area in La Mer, where chef Fujita was cleaning the red snapper he had purchased earlier that day.

Fujita explained the process of preparing a whole fish, and then put us to work julienning ginger, garlic, cilantro, green onion and shiitake mushrooms, which would top our steamed fish along with the watercress we had picked at the farm.

He taught us techniques for heating sauces and oils as well as the proper way to pan-fry vegetables. As soon as the fish was done, we sat in the kitchen and ate of our efforts.

Between lunch and dinner, there was time to enjoy the beach, wander Waikiki or relax at the hotel.

At 6 p.m. we reconvened for cocktails at one of the hotel's other restaurants, House Without a Key, before venturing over to Orchids, the final restaurant on property, for a full dinner with wine pairings and instructions on how to pair vintages with Asian flavors.

The second day began with a culinary class in La Mer with chef Yves Garnier, who delved into the use of local ingredients and techniques to improve one's skills in the kitchen. The day ended with a dinner at La Mer, inclusive of wine pairings.

For more information on the Halekulani click here.
To book a trip to the Halekulani visit Travel-Hawaii.com

To contact reporter Brian Berusch, send e-mail to traveledit@excite.com.

PAPENBURG, Germany -- Construction began on NCL America’s third ship, the Pride of Hawaii, last week as the Meyer Werft shipyard here laid the first of the ship’s 67 keel blocks.

The ship, which will join the Pride of America and the Pride of Aloha in Hawaii after it is delivered in spring 2006.

Maui Land and Pineapple Co. announced it will demolish the Kapalua Bay Hotel in 2006 to make way for a $300 million development that will be more in line with the new business strategy of the entire Kapalua Resort.

“Kapalua Resort is undergoing a significant transformation as we reposition the destination at the pinnacle of the Hawaiian hospitality industry,” said David Cole, chairman, president and CEO of Maui Land, owner of the property.

Marriott International and Exclusive Resorts, which specializes in short-term stays at luxury residences, are minority partners on the project.

“Our partnership’s redevelopment of the Kapalua Bay Hotel is critical to the resort’s successful revitalization,” Cole said.

The Kapalua Resort encompasses the 548-room Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, the 196-room Kapalua Bay Hotel, the 292-unit Kapalua Villas, three beaches and three golf courses.

The new, 24-acre complex, to be rebranded the Kapalua Beach Club, will include 150 hotel rooms, 120 timeshares, 30 condominiums, an oceanside spa, a beach club and a boathouse.

The razing of the Kapalua Bay Hotel, which opened in 1978, marks the first time an upscale Maui hotel has been torn down, although several have been rebuilt, including the Maui Marriott, now a timeshare.

Part of the new arrangement will be similar to timeshare, although Maui Land and Marriott are not using that term.

Guests will not own a share in the new hotel, but they will have to join a club and pay dues to use the hotel facilities and to have signing privileges at the restaurants.

Rates and prices have not been disclosed.

Maui Land and Pineapple Co. owns 29,000 acres on the island. Besides operating its pineapple business and the Kapalua Bay Hotel, it also creates and manages holistic communities on Maui.

Last year, Maui Land announced that it would partner with Miraval, Life in Balance to build the Kapalua Resort’s oceanside spa. Maui Land and Miraval also plan to open a 150-room spa hotel for adults only and a mountain fitness center.

The Kapalua Bay Hotel will remain operational until next spring. The development is expected to be completed in 2008.

For reservations, visit
Kapalua Bay Resort
or
Marriott-Resorts-Hawaii.com/.

Outrigger Enterprises completed the sale of the Ohana Reef Towers on Lewers Street here to Fairfield Resorts.

Outrigger has retained the street-level, retail portion of the building, which will become part of a planned $460 million Waikiki Beach Walk entertainment project.

Fairfield will turn the hotel into a 195-unit vacation ownership resort, to be opened as the Fairfield Hawaii at Waikiki Beach Walk in the fall of 2006 following a $54 million renovation.

Aloha Airlines reported that it reached a tentative accord with the union representing 330 mechanics and inspectors.

The tentative, five-year contract agreement with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), District Lodge 142, is subject to membership ratification. Specific details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Aloha’s mechanics have been working closely with the company to help us move ahead with our business plan,” said David Banmiller, Aloha’s president and CEO. “We’re gratified by their spirit of cooperation in this process.”

Honolulu, Hawaii-
Aston Hotels Hawaii announces a super 4th night free promotion at many of it's fine Hawaii properties. This promotion replaces the previous 5th night free promotion for select dates. Details are as follows:

On Oahu For Travel 4/9/2005 - 6/9/2005

Aston Waikiki Sunset - Relaxed island-style living in large One and Two-bedroom suites in a quiet residential neighborhood only two blocks from Waikiki beach. 4th night free promotion may be combined with added values and promotions.

Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel - Recognized in the March 2004 issue of Travel & Leisure magazine as one of 50 affordable beach resorts in the world. 4th night free promotion may be combined with free daily breakfast promotion in Partial Ocean View and above categories.

On Maui/Kauai/Hawaii For Travel 4/4/2005 - 6/9/2005

Aston Paki Maui - Located in a quiet neighborhood near the Kaanapali Resort area directly on the ocean. Low rise units are surrounded by lush tropical gardens complete with a charming Koi pool. 4th night free promotion available in 1 Bedroom Garden View Category Only.

Aston Maui Kanapali Villas - Set in 11-acres of lushly landscaped exotic tropical gardens on one of Kaanapali's finest stretches of beach. The resort is ideal for active travelers who want to be surrounded by all the fun activities that Maui as to offer. 4th night free promotion available in studio Garden View Category Only.

Aston Mahana at Kaanapali - Offers oceanfront high-rise condominium apartments all overlooking beautiful Kaanapali Beach and the blue Pacific with views of Lanai and Molokai. From their lanais guests can watch humpback whales in the winter and a variety of sea life including dolphins, turtles, and rays that inhabit a reef just off-shore. 4th night free promotion available in 1 Bedroom Ocean Front Category Only.

Aston Poipu Kai - A condominium resort complex on 70 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds in the sunny Poipu area of Kauai. Brennecke's and shipwreck Beach are a stroll away, reached by the walking paths throughout the property. 4th night free promotion available in 1 and 2 Bedroom Garden
View Categories Only.

Aston Shores at Waikoloa - An upscale condominium resort in the world-famous Waikoloa Resort. The Shores is surrounded by the Waikoloa Beach Course fairways and is graced with lush gardens of sweet-smelling plumeria and meandering lagoons. 4th night free promotion available in 1 and 2
Bedroom Deluxe Categories Only.

Aston Kaanapali Shores - A fine condominium resort combining the ambiance of a full service resort with accommodations, services, and amenities guests have come to expect with the "at home" convenience of condominium living. Located on beautiful Kaanapali Beach, the resort reflects what travelers want from a Hawaiian vacation. 4th night free promotion available in 1 and 2 Bedroom Categories Only. (Guests also receive a $100 restaurant credit and 2-for-1 luau coupon with a 4 night minimum stay.)

To book a vacation to any of these fine Aston properties, please visit Aston Hotels Hawaii
or Travel-Hawaii.com
or call Toll-Free 888-373-2422

Tour Talk, Oahu
Visitors to Oahu often spend a day in a rental car checking out the sights beyond Waikiki. If they head to the Kailua side of the island, they are likely to drive along the Pali Highway and pass the stunning Nuuanu Pali Lookout. Denise Moreland, founder of Tour Talk Hawaii Nei, wants people to take in more than a pretty view from the spot. “Do they know what they are looking at? Do they know the significance of things?” she asked.

By the time listeners of Tour Talk’s guided audio tour pull into the vista parking lot they will have learned, through a dream sequence narration by a Native Hawaiian, that warriors once jumped or were pushed over the cliffs at this major battleground site for Hawaii’s unification. In another sequence on the audio tour, a local historian narrates a 12-minute reenactment of the Pearl Harbor bombing as drivers approach the USS Arizona Memorial. Tour Talk draws upon Hawaiian authorities and musical artists to provide a background to the famous and not-so-famous sites on a circle road tour of the island.

“It’s not just a site tour. It’s a culture-based tour,” Moreland stressed.

Drivers can go at their own pace, pausing at any time during the three hours of recordings. A minimum of four hours is needed to complete the full driving tour.

Launched in 2003, the tapes have caught on. Frequent travelers who had grown weary of the “same-old same-old” now find new interest in familiar sites.

Until listening to the audio tour, “they never connected to the destination,” Moreland said.

Other feedback to Moreland has come from locals who apologized for being skeptical at first, but found, in the words of one, “I learned so much about my homeland.” Tour Talk is available in CD or cassette and includes an information-packed booklet. It retails at $24.95. Travel agent commissions are available.

Tour Talk, Oahu
808-685-0751
www.tourtalkhawaii.com

Couples say "I do" all over again at Outrigger's Complimentary Vow Renewal Ceremony popular throughout Pacific

February 15, 2005

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii - Throughout the Pacific, Valentines Day was especially romantic for guests at Outrigger Hotels & Resorts thanks to complimentary vow ceremonies hosted by the Hawaii-based hotelier.

Dozens of couples vacationing in Hawaii, Australia, Tahiti, Guam and Fiji took advantage of the hotelier's romantic offer to re-tie the knot in special oceanfront ceremonies at 18 Outrigger properties.

In Hawaii, 44 couples were gathered on the beach to renew wedding vows as the sun rose over Diamond Head and lit up the golden sands of Waikiki.

South of the equator in Tahiti, seven couples at the Outrigger Te Tiare Beach Resort recited vows on the very beach where crewmembers from the HMS Bounty fell in love with the local islanders in the late 1700s.

Across the international dateline in Guam, four Japanese couples recited vows through a translator at the Outrigger Reef Guam Resort; and in Fiji, two couples actually got married in special ceremonies on property at the Outrigger on the Lagoon Resort.

Down under in Australia, eight couples at the Outrigger Hervey Bay Resort and four couples at the Outrigger Beach Club & Spa celebrated the world's most romantic day of the year by renewing their wedding vows overlooking the South Pacific Ocean.

The ceremony on Waikiki Beach at The Outrigger Reef on the Beach was by far the largest ceremony. The 44 couples were split into five groups to keep each group ceremony somewhat personal and intimate. A Hawaiian "Kahu" (priest) led the 15-minute ceremony which included song, hula and lei exchange between couples. Couples enjoyed champagne toasts after the ceremony and received a commemorative vow renewal certificate.

Frederick and Rosemary Depew of Montour Falls, New York, decided to celebrate their 50th Anniversary by staying at the Outrigger Reef and participate in the ceremony. "We just love it here," Rosemary said after the ceremony. "This is our 14th visit in 14 years. Our first trip here was a dream, and I didn't think we'd ever be able to return. If we had come here when we were young, we never would have left."

Another couple, Tim and Gerri Reagan, who met in Hawaii while attending high school, celebrated their first return visit to Hawaii after 21 years of marriage by participating in the ceremony. "I was shopping for hotels on the Internet and looking for a good rate," said Tim, an officer in the United States Air Force. "When I read about the Valentine's Day Vow Renewal ceremony, that was what clinched it for us to stay here (at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach)." The couple met here in Hawaii while their parents were stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in the late 70s and became high school sweethearts. They stayed in touch after their families moved to the mainland and later married after college.

The Hawaii-based hotel company introduced the complimentary Valentine's Day vow renewal ceremony as a way to promote the romantic locations across the Pacific where they operate resorts. Management hopes to make this an annual event.

Not only can visitors to Hawaii behold a beautiful waterfall, they can paint it in the company of accomplished local artists. Or they can take a photo of one of the islands’ majestic volcanoes or canyons, then learn how to create an artsy print of it.

Making art may not be considered your typical island activity, but local art centers actively encourage the hands-on participation of guests in their arts programs, making for a fun and rewarding addition to the usual tourist fare.

The Hui No’ea Visual Arts Center on Maui recently began promoting “a day of art” for visitors through resort concierges. The half- and full-day classes include raku ceramic firing, watercolor painting, glass fusing and holiday wreath making. For non-members, the four-hour courses cost $42 and the six-hour courses cost $60.

The center will also cater to requests for group instruction. It recently arranged a half-day silk painting class for 20 women in a wedding party from New Jersey.

“A lot of visitors want to take part in the local art community,” said Linda Doyle, the center’s program manager.

Its location in the scenic upcountry town of Makawao provides an additional draw. Visitors can tour the grounds of the former sugar plantation mansion and estate, attend free lectures by local and visiting artists, view year-round gallery exhibitions and access the open studios for jewelry-making, printmaking, photography, drawing, woodworking and ceramics.

In West Maui, the Art School at Kapalua is similarly housed in a historic plantation building. The school also has an open-air facility for large events.

The art school offers children’s classes every day of the year except Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and Thanksgiving. Instruction includes creating art with glass, “Lego-mania,” introduction to jewelry, hand building with clay and digital photography. The Keiki Day Camp for ages 5-10 and the Adventure 7 Camp for ages 11-16 cost $60 for a full-day, six-hour session or $30 for a half-day, three-hour program.

Adults can select among painting courses in the fine arts studio or sculpting and pottery instruction in the ceramics studio. One-day workshops may feature coconut painting, while visiting artist workshops cover subjects like painting tropical fruit or waves in watercolor.

“We are the number-one spot for rainy days,” said Molly McMillen, the executive director, pointing out that weather can be volatile in the Kapalua region.

The Art School at Kapalua is well equipped to manage corporate events as well. Events for spouses left on their own during meetings have included art lectures and lessons. The school regularly provides courses at the Kapalua Bay Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and can facilitate a course anywhere on the island. Class sizes depend on what is being taught.

Watercolor instruction can accommodate 50 to 75 people, for instance.

The Kauai Outdoor Painting Association organizes several workshops throughout the year and brings in accomplished plein-air (outdoor) artists from elsewhere. The four- to five-day workshops are limited to 15 people and are attended by people from around the world. The one-day attendance fee is $125.

Two unique resources for visitors on the Big Island are the Donkey Mill Arts Center, a former coffee mill owned by the Kona Coffee Cooperative farmers, and the Volcano Art Center. Both sites sponsor exhibitions and workshops.

The Donkey Mill Arts Center recently hosted a lunch and papermaking session for a group traveling from the Smithsonian. Its regular programs feature Japanese woodblock printing, Chinese brush painting, basketry and clay raku.

A studio pass for $15 allows visitors to spend a day creating ceramics, printmaking or paper making with some initial instruction provided. Weekend workshops range from around $90 to $125 with a free lecture given by the instructor on Fridays before the workshops. During the school year, children can attend an art class on all mediums from 2 to 5 p.m.

Visitors can also stop in at seven art galleries located in the town center of Holualoa just minutes away.

Nestled 4,000 feet up the active Kilauea volcano, the Volcano Art Center offers a mix of arts and craft classes specializing in glass and woodworking. Farther up at the summit of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the art center’s gallery represents the work of more than 250 artists, the majority from Hawaii.

The center can customize programs, including transportation and catering, if desired, for groups of all ages.

“We do it quite often, for family reunions, school groups and alumni,” noted Marilyn Nicholson, executive director.

“We can also take a program to them” in the Volcano region, she added, or offer tours of visual artists’ studios in the area.

Whether Hawaii visitors find inspiration from ancient lava beds, sugarcane fields or any of the other beautiful island settings, next trip recommend that your clients pursue their artistic inclinations a local art center.

Aloha Airlines is increasing it's service between Orange County, California and Hawaii. Aloha Airlines now offers three roundtrip a day between John Wayne Airport and Honolulu; Kahului, Maui; and Kona on the Big Island.

Effective April 3 2005 Aloha Airlines will add a second flight each day to Honolulu, as well as a second daily flight to Kahului, Maui.

They will also add a daily non-stop from San Diego to Honolulu beginning on April 2 2005.

Aloha Airlines flight can be booked here.

An elderly woman walks into the renovated arts center in Kamuela and exclaims, “Oh, I went to school here...in 1921.”

Hawaii is replete with arts and cultural attractions that have strong ties to the community. The most prominent draw a large share of the visitor industry, but many lesser known or overlooked places have just as much to offer. Whether it is the architectural legacy of a famous Hawaii resident, an ancient Hawaiian temple, the alternative gallery scene or a revitalized arts town, there are as many ways to connect to the arts and culture of Hawaii as there are cultures and art forms to absorb.

Hawaiian Airlines to start assigning seats on inter-island flights beginning on March 1 2005. Hawaiian Airlines decided to make the change after tests showed that assigned seating makes boarding faster and more orderly.

KAHULUI, Maui — At the first World Conference on Hula in 2001, Hokulani Holt-Padilla sat among the elders of hula, awestruck.

“To hear what they had to say, to see them in person, to enjoy their stories and experiences, gave me a greater appreciation of hula discipline as well as creativity,” said Holt-Padilla, a kumu hula (hula master) in her own right. “It taught me more about how time and place affect the evolution of hula. I came away believing more than ever that there must always be a place where traditional hula is maintained, no matter how it eventually evolves as an art form.”

The inaugural conference convened in Hilo, on the Big Island. This year, from July 24 to 30, it’s Maui’s turn to host the prestigious event, which takes place only once every four years. During the week, clients can learn about Hawaii’s hallowed dance through workshops, presentations, excursions, performances and hands-on experiences.

“The Maui community sees this as a wonderful opportunity to welcome people interested in hula and Hawaiian culture, to open our doors, and to practice hookipa (hospitality),” said Holt-Padilla, one of the conference coordinators.

This isn’t your cellophane-skirt Hollywood-style hula we’re talking about. Instead, the conference addresses the dance as a truly cultural and historical experience. However, that doesn’t mean clients need to know how to dance hula or speak Hawaiian in order to benefit from the conference, stressed Holt-Padilla.

“The conference offers learning opportunities for people who have had no exposure to hula,” she said. “A participant can take trips to outlying areas, hear lectures on Hawaiian history and literature, view and participate in demonstrations of cultural practices and learn how to sing Hawaiian songs and dance hula.”

At the same time, the conference provides new insights for clients who may already be well versed in things Hawaiian, even someone as tuned into the culture as the highly esteemed Holt-Padilla. Recalling her experience at the 2001 conference, she said, “It was stimulating for me to see such excitement and hear the discussions of the participants. The thoughts and ideas, the realizations, the many new pieces of information that were being discussed — all of it was very moving.”

A prolific composer of mele (songs) and oli (chants), and the cultural programs director at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, the Maui-raised Holt-Padilla mounts major dramatic hula productions like “Tales of Maui the Demigod” and “Maui Moonlight Serenade.” But she also channels her energies toward keeping the culture alive for the next generation. She co-founded Maui’s Hawaiian language immersion preschool, for instance, and she served as a program coordinator for Maui’s center for gifted and talented native Hawaiian children.

In the midst of her many projects, Holt-Padilla is making sure Maui gets its moment in the sun as host of the World Conference on Hula.

“This time around, we plan to focus on information that stems from Maui,” said Holt-Padilla. “In Hawaii and the rest of the world, Maui does not readily come to mind when people think of hula traditions. Bringing Maui’s information and experience to conference participants is an important goal. Perhaps then, more Maui songs and dances will be done throughout the world, because people will have a personal experience and reference with the places and people of our island.” Presenters during the conference include luminaries from Hawaii’s cultural, intellectual and artistic fields. Besides Holt-Padilla, clients can mingle with and learn from Cliff Pali Ahue, Manu Boyd, Hailama Farden, Kaipo Frias, Leinaala Kalama Heine, Pualani Kanahele, Kekuhi Kanahele, Robert Kaupu, Manu Meyer, Kathy Holoau Ralar, Lisa Raymond, Alicia Smith, Piilani Smith and Vicky Holt Takamine.

“It’s a very rare occasion when all of these people come together in one place,” Holt-Padilla said. Members of Maui’s tourism industry are looking forward to the conference, expected to draw 2,500 people to the island for one to two weeks.

“Like all other conferences, the World Conference on Hula will bring more visitors to our hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and other businesses,” said Holt-Padilla. “We anticipate that revenues during this time will be upward of several million dollars.”

The conference registration fee itself isn’t commissionable to travel agents, but travel agents can benefit from the commissions paid on related expenses such as hotel accommodations and rental cars.

THE DETAILS

The 2005 World Conference on Hula takes place at various Maui locations July 24-30.

The weeklong celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture features workshops conducted by 100 hula teachers, cultural practitioners and artisans, and evening hula performances. Some 2,000 hula teachers, students and enthusiasts are expected to participate.

While it’s open to all ages and abilities, most of the conference’s activities are geared toward adults, with specific programs designed for children.

Registration includes conference materials, lunches for five days, evening performances, one evening meal, excursions and shuttle service to conference venues.

Several Maui hotels are setting aside room blocks for conference participants. The conference Web site provides a link to accommodations that are available during the week.

Rates for early registration by March 1 are $325 per adult, $225 per senior (60 years and older) and $150 per child (ages 5-12).

Registration after March 1 costs $375 per adult, $275 per senior and $200 per child. Evening performances (open to the public): $10 per person.

To book a trip to this incredible event please visit Travel Hawaii.

808-984-3363
www.hulaconference.org

Galleries of Makawao, Maui
A drive to the sleepy town of Makawao, perched along the slopes of Haleakala Volcano, affords a perfect getaway from the coastal resorts of Maui, as well as a great opportunity to step into the local arts scene. Over the last decade or so, 10 galleries have established themselves in the former cowboy town. Among them is the artist-owned Viewpoints Gallery, cooperatively run by about 15 artists.

“The difference with Makawao is that you are more likely to see an artist,” compared to the galleries that line Lahaina and Wailea, said painter Kari McCarthy of Viewpoints Gallery.

Viewpoints regularly arranges artist demonstrations on site and hosts a new exhibition every month. A fun time to be in the gallery is on “hanging day,” usually the Thursday preceding their monthly opening reception.

“A lot of chaos is going on with the artists hanging their paintings. We all drift in and out,” McCarthy said.

The openings, which take place on Saturdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., attract a local arts crowd. McCarthy, who also publishes “Art Guide Maui,” a comprehensive guide to the galleries and artist studios across Maui, added that one of the surefire crowd pleasers in Makawao is the Hot Island Glass studio and gallery. Visitors can watch through a protective shield as glass artists blow large pieces and platters as large as a foot-and-a-half wide.

“It’s amazing to watch. It’s a spectator sport,” she said.

Galleries of Makawao, Maui
808-572-5979
www.viewpointsmaui.com

Isaacs Art Center, Hawaii
Housed in a historic school building dating back to 1915, the Isaacs Art Center in Kamuela, outside Waimea, displays many Hawaiian art treasures and offers some works for sale. The renovated seven-room school house that once housed first- through seventh-grade classrooms, still has its original Douglas fir floors and sliding pocket doors, which doubled as blackboards.

Since the building’s relocation to the campus of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy, the art center’s mission has been twofold, said Director Bernard Nogues.

First, the center will display its permanent collection of 19th- and 20th-century Hawaiian artworks. The original works of art, represented by its collections, donations and consignments, include significant etchings, engravings, vintage furniture and koa woodwork. Its most famous painting is the “Lei Queen Fantasia,” a 10-foot by eight-foot oil painting by Madge Tennent created in 1934.

“She is one of the greatest artists on Hawaii,” said Nogues.

Its second objective is to raise money through its gallery offerings to fund scholarships to the academy, a boarding and day school for children kindergarten through grade 12. The center will also maintain a rotating exhibition space. Currently on display is Japanese art of the early 20th and late 19th century and classical Chinese furniture of the 19th century.

Isaacs Art Center, Hawaii
808-885-5884
www.hpa.edu

Historic Hanapepe, Kauai
“When you’re driving down Hanapepe Road, you have this feeling you’re going through an Old West town,” said Carol Bain of the Hanapepe Economic Alliance.

The town has gone through many evolutions since the first wave of Chinese immigrants came to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations in the early 1900s. Hanapepe became a sizable merchant and farmer town, with a distinctive plantation-style architecture. In the 1970s and 1980s, artists and craftspeople moved in and the town went through an arts renaissance.

This year the alliance introduced a 1½-mile historic walking tour of the town with a self-guided map. The map provides a history of Hanapepe’s commercial buildings, several of which are on the state and national historic registers. One building, currently a woodshop and gallery, has been a nightclub, a barbershop and even a bowling alley. A pinsetter at the bowling alley later became mayor of Kauai and the first mayor of Filipino descent in the United States.

The town now boasts 11 galleries, and for more than 10 years the galleries have opened their doors and lit up the streets to host the festive “Art Night in Hanapepe,” every Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“There is a lot of diversity in terms of the types of art,” said Joanna Carolan, owner of Banana Patch Studio, with works ranging from watercolors, oils, batik, marble, basket weaving, ceramics and koa wood sculptures and furniture.

“No two galleries really have artwork that are similar,” she said, unlike some other popular gallery towns in Hawaii.

Historic Hanapepe, Kauai
808-335-5944
www.kauai.net/hanapepe/

Kahanu Gardens, Maui
Given the number of people who drive the famous Road to Hana, it is surprising how few turn off the curving highway to visit one of Hawaii’s most sacred places. Just outside the town of Hana resides the state’s largest heiau, an ancient Hawaiian temple, on the grounds of Kahanu Gardens.

Built from all kinds of stones in the area, including round river stones and lava flows, the terraced walls of Piilanihale Heiau rise to a height of 50 feet and stretch across nearly four acres. The heiau is believed to have been the home of Piilani, the first Maui chief to unite the entire island back in the 16th century. Unlike heiaus on the western side of the island, which were destroyed by missionaries, this heiau is nearly intact.

Visitors to the garden can meander through 50 acres of the property on a self-guided tour, following signs and a booklet, which takes about one to 1½ hours to complete. In addition to the heiau, the garden features Hawaii’s “canoe” plants, those brought to Hawaii by its Polynesian ancestors, such as taro, breadfruit and sugar cane.

“It’s more like a step back in time than a showy flower garden,” said Kamaui Aioni, director of the gardens.

Operated by the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, Kahanu Gardens is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entrance fee is $10 per person. Children 12 and under are free.
Kahanu Gardens, Maui
808-248-8912
www.ntbg.org

Shangri La, Oahu
Certainly, many people have built their dream homes in Hawaii. Few, though, will ever exceed the lavishness of Shangri La, built by Doris Duke in 1937 on five oceanfront acres overlooking Diamond Head. One of the home’s more impressive features is a glass living room wall which can completely descend into the basement, powered by an old-fashioned elevator system.

“It was very avant-garde technology for back then,” said Shangri La’s executive director Deborah Pope.

Duke, a tobacco and energy heiress labeled the “richest girl in the world,” discovered Hawaii on her honeymoon after traveling through the Middle East and southern Asia. The 22-year-old fell in love with both Islamic art and Hawaii’s lifestyle. Her 14,000-square-foot residence, opened to the public for small group tours two years ago, reflects her lifelong passion for collecting Islamic art.

The most artistically significant piece, a 13th-century mihrab room, a niche that points Muslims toward Mecca, was acquired from Iran. A marble bathroom inlaid with semi-precious stones was modeled on the Taj Mahal. Entire rooms were imported from overseas, including a wealthy merchant’s home from Syria. The pool house, a scaled-down version of a mid-1600’s palace complex built in Iran, overlooks a 75-foot-long saltwater pool. The 16-foot deep end accommodates a hydraulic-lift diving platform; Duke having been an avid swimmer and athlete.

“I think what stands out most for visitors is the total mood and ambience as a whole,” said Pope. “You are not walking into a gallery with objects in cases and labels. It’s sort of an entry into seeing the Islamic world.”

Tours of the property start at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Wednesday to Saturday, at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A mini-van ferries groups, limited to 12 people, to the residential neighborhood. Cost is $25 for adults and children ages 12-17 and includes admission to the academy. Advance reservations required.
Shangri La, Oahu
866-385-3849
www.shangrilahawaii.com

Book your vacations to any of these events by visiting Travel-Hawaii.com

Feb. 10-April 19: NEO RAUCH WORKS 1994-2000: THE LEIPZIGER VOLKSZEITUNG COLLECTION (Oahu).
An exhibition of artworks by one of Europe's most famous contemporary artists. Rauch has been called the coolest name in art and is known for his monumental paintings and drawings that critics say are a contemporary echo of American Pop or Soviet posters. Honolulu Academy of Arts (808) 532-8700

Feb. 22: CYRIL PAHINUI (Maui).
The award-winning slack-key guitarist appears with host George Kahumoku, Jr., to perform traditional Hawaiian songs and share authentic "talk-stories." Indoor Amphitheatre, Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. 888-669-3858

Feb. 24-March 12: MISS SAIGON (Oahu).
Inspired by "Madame Butterfly" and transferred to a modern setting, this revolutionary musical that earned high praise in London, on Broadway and around the globe. Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. 808-438-4480

Feb. 24- March 27: EDDIE WOULD GO/QUEEN OF MAKAHA: RELL SUN (Oahu)
The Honolulu Theatre for Youth presents the stories of two Hawaiian surfers and role models, Eddie Aikau and Rell Sunn. Kumu Kahua Theatre. Downtown Honolulu. 808-839-9885

Feb. 25-March 3: TURANDOT (Oahu).
During Hawaii Opera Theatre's thrilling production, discover why Puccini's final work is regarded as the pinnacle of his career. Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, Honolulu. 808-596-7858

March 2: THE ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND (Oahu).
Established by King Kamehameha III in 1836, the band remains a symbol of Hawaii's rich monarchial past. Enjoy great Hawaiian music during a free concert featuring singers and hula dancers. Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Waikiki. 808-922-2299

March 9-27: CABARET (Oahu).
In this Broadway musical, a female entertainer in Weimar Republic-era Berlin romances two men while the Nazi Party rises to power around them. Manoa Valley Theatre, Honolulu. 808-988-6131

March 11-13: HONOLULU FESTIVAL (Oahu).
Promoting cultural understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region. Various locations. 808-596-3327

March 12: KONA BREWERS FESTIVAL (Big Island).
Hawaii and mainland breweries serve 60 types of beer and chefs prepare culinary creations, with live music, hula and fire dancers rounding out the day. Luau grounds, King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. 808-334-2739

March 12-13 :OCEAN ARTS FEST IN LAHAINA (Maui).
Lahaina celebrates Humpback Whales with a marine arts event at Banyan Tree. Local artists display their ocean and marine-life themed art for sale, Hawaiian musicians and hula troupes entertain, and kids have fun with art activities, games and a touch pool. Lahaina Visitor Center. 888-310-1117

March 12-Sept. 5: E KU MAU MAU, E KU EVERLASTING
(Oahu). An exhibit of the many aspects of Ku, the Hawaiian god of war, as told through museum collections and the pieces of invited contemporary artists. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. 808-847-3511

March 13: PARKER RANCH CENTER KUPUNA (SENIORS) FESTIVAL (Big Island).
Enjoy interactive family activities, entertainment, games and craft demonstrations that salute the older generation. Parker Ranch Center, Waimea. 808-885-7178.

March 19: NA MEA HAWAII HULA KAHIKO (Big Island).
See traditional hula and chant performed outdoors on the hula platform overlooking Kilauea Crater, with Hawaiian crafts demonstrations at Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. 808-967-8222

March 26: PRINCE KUHIO CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS (Kauai).
Festivities celebrate the birthday of one of Hawaii's most beloved monarchs. Commemorative ceremonies at his birthplace are followed by demonstrations, lectures, entertainment and a luau. Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa. 808-240-6369

March 27-April 2: MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL (Big Island).
A week-long festival of cultural events including Hawaii's most prestigious hula competition, starting with an outdoor party and ending with a parade through town. Edith Kanakaole Stadium, Hilo. 808-935-9168

April 1: SWINGTIME IN HAWAII (Oahu).
Hawaii International Jazz Festival's signature event highlights music during Hawaii's Territorial years and features local jazz greats alongside Grammy-nominated pianist Jessica Williams. Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa. 808-941-9974

April 12: BEAUX ARTS TRIO (Big Island).
This legendary ensemble has a well-established tradition of superb artistry, exacting musicianship and a complete classical portfolio that has made them a hallmark in chamber music. Kahilu Theatre, Waimea. 808-885-6868

April 15-16: INTERNATIONAL NIGHTS (Big Island).
Students from diverse backgrounds share a taste of their cultures with costumes, dances and music from around the world. University of Hawaii at Hilo Theater. 808-974-7310

April 28-May 8: HAWAII QUILT GUILD ANNUAL EXHIBTION (Oahu).
Featuring the best new quilts by contemporary Hawaiian quilters, this popular exhibition is the biggest of its kind in Hawaii. Art Center, Honolulu Academy of Arts. 808-532-8700

May 1: MAY DAY FESTIVALS (statewide).
Celebrated since 1927, this annual tradition perpetuating the custom of giving and receiving flowers includes lei-making contests, hula competitions, a king and queen and their royal court. On Oahu, there's an evening of Hawaiian song and dance under the stars at the Waikiki Shell. 808-692-5118.

May 12-14: 13TH ANNUAL WORLD FIREKNIFE DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Oahu).
A North Shore town lights up during this annual test of fire-spinning champions from around the world, vying for the title of world's best. Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie. 800-367-7060

May 12-28: THE SECRET GARDEN (Oahu).
Bring the family to the musical version of the enchanting children's classic, presented by the Army Community Theatre. Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter. 808-438-4480

May 14-29: INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CANOES (Maui).
Master Carvers from across the Pacific create canoes from wood logs. Other festivities include cultural arts demonstrations, a parade down Front St. followed by a seaside Hawaiian music concert, and a launch of the completed canoes. Lahaina. 888-310-1117

May 19-21: MOLOKAI KA HULA PIKO (Molokai).
This celebration of the birth of the hula includes a variety of entertainment, food, arts and crafts, lectures and excursions to sacred sites. Papohaku Beach Park. 808-553-3876

May 26-29: POLYNESIAN FESTIVAL (Kauai).
Starting with a pageant and dinner at the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort at 6 p.m., the festival continues at the Kukui Grove Pavilion with entertainment, crafts, seminars, dance competitions and food. 808-335-6466

May 26-29: KAUAI MUSIC FESTIVAL (Kauai).
Top songwriters network with producers and publishers in forums, workshops, panel discussions and concerts. Hyatt Regency Kauai, with concerts at Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center. 808-634-6237

June 10-12: PAN-PACIFIC FESTIVAL-MATSURI IN HAWAII (Oahu).
This annual event is a cross-cultural exchange between the people of Hawaii, Japan, Mainland USA and other Pan-Pacific regions, with activities and concerts for all ages. 808-926-8177

June 11: KING KAMEHAMEHA CELEBRATION FLORAL PARADE (Oahu).
Colorful floats, marching bands and glamorous horseback riders decked out in flowers traverse the streets of Honolulu, ending at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. 808-586-0333

June 15: FLAVORS OF THE REEF (Oahu).
An annual celebration highlighting Hawaii's multi-ethnic cultures. Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Waikiki. 800-688-7444

June 15-19: MAUI FILM FESTIVAL (Maui).
In its sixth year, this high-profile cinematic event showcases a variety of films, some for the first time ever. Celebrity appearances, Hawaiian music and an enormous outdoor movie screen add to the fun. Wailea Resort. 808-579-9996

June 23-26: DOLPHIN DAYS (Big Island).
The weekend features a charity golf tournament, luau, silent auction, dolphin-watching programs and the Great Waikoloa Food, Wine and Music Festival, all to raise funds for Hawaii Shriner's Hospital for Children and the Pacific Marine Life Foundation. Hilton Waikoloa Village. 800-HILTONS

June 24-25: KING KAMEHAMEHA HULA COMPETITION (Oahu).
An international cultural event which features 500 dancers from the continental U.S., Hawaii and Japan competing in traditional and contemporary hula styles. Neal Blaisdell Center, Honolulu. 808-536-6540

June 24-26: TASTE OF HONOLULU (Oahu).
Hawaii's vast outdoor food, wine, and entertainment festival provides tastes from top restaurants, fun and educational activities, cooking demonstrations and non-stop local entertainment. Downtown Honolulu. 808-536-1015

June 25-26: ANNUAL CULTURAL FESTIVAL (Big Island).
A major celebration in a beautiful historic setting, including traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts, canoe rides, Hawaiian Royal Court, Hawaiian food tasting and a hukilau (community fishing event). Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, South Kohala. 808-328-2288

July 2: PINEAPPLE FESTIVAL (Lanai).
This annual event celebrates Lanai's rich pineapple plantation and ranch history. Residents and visitors enjoy local foods, craft and game booths, and exceptional entertainment. Dole Park, Lanai City. 800-947-4774

July 16: PRINCE LOT HULA FESTIVAL (Oahu).
In a beautiful shaded outdoor setting, here's the oldest and largest non-competitive hula festival in Hawaii. Moanalua Gardens, Honolulu. 808-839-5334

Mid-July: PACIFIC HANDCRAFTERS GUILD ANNUAL SUMMER FESTIVAL (Oahu).
The crowds gather each year to purchase island-made wares. Food and entertainment, a native Hawaiian plant sale, massage tent, bonsai demonstration and martial arts demonstration are also on hand. Thomas Square, Honolulu. 808-841-0171

July 23-31: KOLOA PLANTATION DAYS (Kauai).
A full week honoring the island's plantation history, with entertainment, sports, Hawaiian games, historic walks, crafts, a block party and parade. Various locations. 808-822-0734

Aug. 6-7: MAUI ONION FESTIVAL (Maui).
The sweet Maui product is feted during a weekend of chef demonstrations, cooking contests, tastings, a farmer's market, games, live music and an onion-eating contest. Whalers Village, Kaanapali Resort. 866-FUN-N-SUN

Aug. 19-21: SLACK KEY WORKSHOPS (Oahu).
Here's a hands-on opportunity chance to learn more about Hawaii's distinctive slack key guitar music with masters of the craft. Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach. 800-688-7444

Aug. 19-21: MADE IN HAWAII FESTIVAL (Oahu).
Offerings for 2005 include food, books, gifts, fashions, plants, arts, crafts and produce, along with live entertainment and Hawaii culinary artists. Neal Blaisdell Center, Honolulu. 808-533-1292

Aug. 21-Oct. 15: ALOHA FESTIVALS (statewide).
Hawaii's premier showcase, this celebration of music, dance and history aims to preserve unique island traditions. Event dates vary according to islands. 800-852-7690

Sept. 9-10: A TASTE OF LAHAINA (Maui).
Sample dishes from popular Maui County restaurants, listen to live local music, let the kids play in the games area, and sip a few in the beer and wine garden. Lahaina Recreation Park II Ballpark. 888-310-1117

Sept. 17: ALOHA FESTIVALS FLORAL PARADE (Oahu).
A cascade of flowers, floats, horseback riders and marching bands float through Honolulu, ending in Waikiki. 800-852-7690

Sept. 25: QUEEN LILIUOKALANI MUSIC FESTIVAL (Big Island).
Honoring Hawaii's last Monarch, the event features music, food and dance, a flower drop, multi-ethnic dancing, performances by 300 hula dancers and island entertainers. Queen Liliuokalani Park, Hilo. (808) 961-8706

Oct. 13: HAWAIIANA FESTIVAL (Kauai).
Highlights include a nature walk, island crafts demonstrations, local comedians, live music and an evening concert. Hyatt Regency Kauai. 808-240-6369

Oct. 20-30: HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (statewide).
Dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. Various sites. 808-528-3456

Nov. 9-13: HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND FESTIVAL (Big Island).
A five-day showcase of all that makes the island unique, including fine wines and cutting-edge island cuisine, agriculture, fine arts, health and wellness, championship golf, history and Hawaiian culture. Various locations. 808-934-9044

Nov. 4-13: KONA COFFEE CULTURAL FESTIVAL (Big Island).
Hawaii's oldest food fest features over 30 events, like art exhibits, tastings, a cupping competition, a coffee picking competition, coffee recipe cooking contest, farm tours, sporting events and a parade. Various locations. 808-326-7820

Nov. 10-12: WORLD INVITATIONAL HULA FESTIVAL (Oahu).
Halau (troupes) from California, Mexico and Japan join with local dancers to share their love of hula, Hawaiian culture and language. Waikiki Shell. 808-735-7950

Dec. 9: NATIVE MEDICINAL PLANTS (Oahu).
Learn about the uses of Hawaii's native plants at this fascinating lecture and hands-on demonstration led by a Hawaiian medicinal plant expert. Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach. 800-688-7444

Dec. 11: NA MELE NEI ... THE MUSIC OF HAWAII TODAY (Oahu).
Showcasing a variety of island tunes, with a free Hawaiian music sing-along, on the second Sunday of every month. Ward Warehouse Stage, Honolulu. 808-596-8885

Dec. 22: KEIKI KALIKIMAKA (Oahu).
Fun holiday activities are designed especially for children, including Hawaiian-style ornament making, Santa's arrival on an outrigger catamaran and local holiday stories. Outrigger Reef on the Beach. 800-688-7444

Dec. 31: MOCHI (RICE CAKE) POUNDING FOR THE NEW YEAR (Big Island).
Traditional rice cakes are made the old-fashioned way, and everyone takes a turn at pounding the glutinous sticky rice for good luck. Fire building starts at 6 a.m. to steam the rice. Akiko's Buddhist Bed and Breakfast, Wailea. 808-963-6422

Hawaii is a year-round destination for golf-something that sets it apart from many other destinations.

This year, the professional golf season started with four events in Hawaii; each year, six professional tourneys are staged in the islands. Can you envision yourself playing a round where the pros do?

Hawaii is home to 80 championship-caliber courses. Of these, Golf Magazine places eight on its top 25 domestic courses; no other state has more than two resorts on the list.

Some of our favorite Hawaii Resorts with golf nearby...

Turtle Bay Resort - Newly remodeled on Oahu's North Shore
Prince Resorts Hawaii - Several resorts on Oahu, Maui, and Big Island
Fairmont Resorts - Luxury properties on Maui and Big Island