LIFEFEST KAPALUA will take place from Sept. 22 to Sept. 25. The health and wellness event combines programs that educate, rejuvenate and encourage the human spirit through lectures, physical fitness and culinary demonstrations. The event takes place at the Kapalua Resort on Maui's western shore. For more information visit www.lifefestkapalua.com or call (808) 669-2440.
August 2005 Archives
Mainland airlines canceled hundreds of flights because of Hurricane Katrina, and for one of them the storm may hasten a Chapter 11 filing.
Most carriers would only approximate the number of cancellations, but United Airlines scratched more than 60 flights, and it has less of a route network across the Gulf States than Delta Air Lines, American Airlines or Continental Airlines do.
Delta Air Lines, already seen as likely to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy within two months, is now expected to file sooner rather than later, analysts said Monday, partly because of the unexpected costs of flight cancellations and partly because the temporary closure of seven refineries along the Gulf Coast is likely to further increase jet fuel costs.
Hawaii was likely to be more affected by jet fuel costs than by any specific hurricane disruption to Hawaii travel plans. No airline flies to Hawaii from the cities slammed hardest by Katrina. New Orleans, Biloxi and Mobile residents would have to fly to Atlanta to catch a Delta flight here, or to Houston to catch a Continental flight, or to Dallas-Ft. Worth to catch an American flight to Hawaii.
PROJECTFOCUS HAWAII 05
A photographic program with members of the PACT Community Teen Center at Kuhio Park Terrace, led by professional photographers Laurie Breeden Callies of Baby Face Productions and Lisa Uesugi of Utopia Photography, themed "Doorways" as young people with social, emotional and/or physical needs learn to express themselves through the use of photography and use this medium as a vehicle for enhancing their self-awareness, self-esteem and understanding of the world in which they live. Exhibit on display at The Shops at Dole Cannery, first floor, with complimentary parking behind the building. Aug 25, 2005 Sep 25, 2005 Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm, Sun, 10am-4pm
Contact: Information (808) 847-3285
Newlyweds Ty and Kirschel Vollebregt considered their home state of California, Mexico and Europe when deciding where to spend their dream honeymoon. After weighing everything from cost and convenience to distance and drinks, they agreed on Hawaii.
"We wanted the beach. We wanted to lay around. We wanted fruity drinks with umbrellas," said Kirschel Vollebregt.
The couple from Dana Point, California are among millions of Americans flocking to Hawaii in record numbers this year. Besides the refreshing mai tais, tourism experts say the boom can be credited in part to the global unrest, including terrorism, which has persuaded many Americans to seek exotic travel destinations within the U.S. borders.
Safety has become a key consideration for globe-trotting Americans.
"We used to say that the motivations for tourists were sea, sun and sand ... the three new S's are safety, security and sanitation," said Walter Jamieson, dean of the School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii.
A recent study commissioned by the state found that "safety-security" was the most important factor for Americans choosing a destination. Value and clean environment were second.
"People are looking for something different at the same time, they want the sense of security that goes with traveling within the United States," Jamieson said.
The Hawaii Marketing Effectiveness Study also showed that Hawaii's image as a safe destination was among the state's strengths, along with scenery, clean environment and being a great place to get away.
"I have no desire to go (abroad) at all, in fact I don't want to even go to Canada any more," said Steve DeMeyer of Phoenix, Arizona, who was recently lounging at Waikiki Beach. "I'm happy with America."
Marsha Weinert, the state's tourism liaison, said "there's no question Hawaii is benefiting greatly from sentiments of wanting to travel within the U.S., rather than internationally."
The 50th state, with its own unique culture, language and history, offers tourists the international experience they are seeking, Weinert said.
"Still in the United States and protected by Homeland Security, but we're still far away and exotic," said John Monahan, president and chief executive of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.
Make your arrangements to visit Hawaii at Travel-Hawaii.
Nearly 56,000 people flew here Saturday and Sunday, about 4,000 more than on the comparable weekend last year.
Arrival counts by the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism show increases in both domestic and international traffic, with higher numbers in all four major counties.
Weekend domestic arrivals (year before in parentheses):
* To Honolulu: 25,920 (24,075).
* To Maui: 10,318 (9,325).
* To Big Island: 3,033 (2,665).
* To Kauai: 2,444 (2,411).
* Total: 41,705 (39,185).
Weekend foreign arrivals (year before in parentheses):
* From Japan: 12,175 (11,826).
* From elsewhere: 2,069 (1,559).
* Total: 14,244 (13,385).
Grand total: 55,949 (51,861).
Through Sunday night for domestic arrivals and Monday morning for foreign arrivals, the state has welcomed more than 576,000 arrivals by air so far this month, up 7.8 percent from the same period a year ago. Arrivals for all of July had been up 7.4 percent from year-before levels.
Arrivals from the Mainland for the month to date topped 450,000 on Sunday. At current traffic levels, Honolulu domestic arrivals will have topped 300,000 on Monday, Maui arrivals went over 100,000 late last week, and domestic arrivals will top 30,000 this week on both the Big Island and Kauai.
Japanese arrivals are actually running 1.4 percent below year-ago levels so far this month, though overall foreign arrivals are up 0.9 percent on the strength of nearly 20 percent higher traffic from other nations.
The American Legion prepared for its general session Tuesday at the Hawaii Convention Center.
Gov. Linda Lingle, Sen. Daniel Inouye, Sen. Daniel Akaka and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann were all scheduled to address the gathering.
Some 13,000 Legionnaires and their families began arriving late last week, but the formal session did not begin before now.
The weeklong event, the organization's 87th annual national convention, is expected to spend $32.7 million for the local economy and $2.7 million in tax revenue.
"Stars Under the Stars" film series brings a classic feature film (plus a cartoon!) screened for free under the stars in Dole Park on Lana'i on the first Wednesday of each month. Films are on DVD, digitally projected on a 16-foot screen, with audio through a quality portable sound system. So pack up the family, bring your blankets, beach chairs and picnic baskets and join us for FREE in Dole Park for a great evening of fun cinema under the stars!
Greg Cohen : (808) 565-7503
339 7th Street
Lana`i City, Hawaii
96763
Make you travel arrangements to Lana'i at Travel-Hawaii.
More than 420 vendors are participating in this year "Made in Hawaii" festival, Friday-Sunday at Blaisdell Center.
The event generates $3 million in immediate sales plus $10 million in residual sales. Many of the vendors roll out new products especially for the festival, using it to gauge consumer reaction.
The festival drew 35,000 people in 2002 and 37,000 in 2003 before flattening out near that level in 2004. The Hawaii Food Industry Association said at the time it thought lack of parking prevent the event from growing even larger.
Made in Hawaii started a decade ago with fewer than 75 exhibitors, growing to nearly 300 in 2003 and more than 400 in 2004.
Dominated by food and apparel vendors but also including a spectrum from home furnishings to gag gifts, Made in Hawaii has become a platform for local entrepreneurs to roll out new products.
The state now predicts 7.4 million people will visit Hawaii this year. The forecast had been 7.3 million as recently as May.
Anything over 7 million will be a record for the state and 7.4 million will represent a 6.1 percent increase from 2004.
Arrivals by air from Jan. 1 through Wednesday morning totaled 5,354,303.
The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism said Wednesday that visitor spending should hit $11.6 billion this year, up 6.8 percent from 2004. Three months ago DBEDT was predicting $11.4 billion.
In their third quarter update, state economists also are forecasting that personal income in Hawaii will grow 3.4 percent this year with continued gains in the number of jobs.
The state population, which did not reach 1.25 million until last year, is expected to expand slightly this year to just short of 1.28 million.
Get great deals on hotels and air tickets at Travel-Hawaii.
Aug 27, 2005 -
Aug 28, 2005
The Obon tradition was brought to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants and evolved into a social and cultural event, as well as a religious custom designed to honor ancestors through an evening of dance, music and merry-making. Special services and festivals. Shingon Sect Mission of Hawaii, 7 p.m., 915 Sheridan St. Honolulu, Oahu.
Contact: Information: (808) 941-5663
Make your travel arrangments to Oahu at Travel-Hawaii.
Anyone who climbs aboard a vessel December through March and heads for the open ocean off Maui can expect to see humpback whales. There are so many of them out there that most boat companies don't hesitate to guarantee sightings. And what a sight these magnificent creatures are. If you've never seen one, you should. And if you have seen one, chances are you'll want to do it over and over again.
For great deals on hotels and air tickets go to Travel-Hawaii.
Castle & Cooke Resorts LLC has signed a management deal with the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts for both its Lanai resorts more than a year after it signed the initial letter of intent.
The Manele Bay Hotel is in the middle of a $40 million renovation and will be rebranded as the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay on Sept. 16. The Lodge at Koele will be rebranded at some point next year after its renovation is complete.
"Because of the limited resources on Lanai it's difficult to do both at the same time," said Tim Hill, executive vice president of Castle & Cooke Resorts. "Also the 236-room Manele Bay is the prime driver for tourism on the island, that's why we are focusing on it first."
The Manele Bay will get a new fitness center and seven new suites, including a 3,200-square-foot presidential suite, as part of the retrofit. The hotel will shut down Aug. 15 to expedite the upgrade.
Castle & Cooke will retain ownership of the hotels and continue to own and operate the golf courses and all of the nonresort operations on the island, including real-estate development, retail and commercial leasing.
"I am pleased to partner with the world's most prestigious hotel group, a favorite of mine along with other discerning world travelers," said David H. Murdock the owner, chairman and CEO of Castle & Cooke .
Book rooms to The Lodge at Koele and Manele Bay Resort at Travel-Hawaii.
Tedeschi Vineyards
Located on the Slopes of Mount Haleakala
Wine Tasting from 9am to 5pm daily except for some major holidays. Free thirty minute tours depart at 10:30am and 1:30pm.
Chardonnay, Methodec Hampenoise, Syrah -- not words one would expect to hear in a destination where hula, aloha and mai tai are the norm. More than 180,000 people visit Maui's Winery each year, discovering that the island's upcountry region has a small but significant vineyard that produces a variety of wines. The most popular wine here is not made from grapes. Maui Blanc, a semi-dry pineapple wine is the result of an experiment by the original owner Emil Tedeschi while he was waiting for the first vines to mature. There are two other pineapple wines, Maui Splash, a desert wine with the essence of passion fruit and Hula O Maui, a sparkling wine using the traditional methode champenoise. The wines are available for purchase starting around $9.00 a bottle. There is also a deli offering sandwiches, homemade chili and other fare in a tranquil setting or ask for take-out if you prefer finding your own personal picnic spot on the Winery grounds.
Plan you trip to Maui at Travel-Hawaii.
DELTA on December 1 will launch daily nonstop service between Salt Lake City and Kona, on Hawaii's Big Island, and daily one-stop service between Atlanta and Kona via Salt Lake City, on 767 aircraft. Delta already flies nonstop to Honolulu from Cincinnati, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Atlanta and nonstop to Maui from Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
Make your air ticket arrangements here at Travel-Hawaii.
THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY held its 14th annual Keep It Hawaii awards that recognize community leaders that make a difference in the tourism industry through cultural programs and incentives. The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows; Ritz Carlton, Kapalua; Kaanapali Beach Hotel; Four Seasons Maui; Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach; Hawaiian Airlines; and the Old Lahaina Luau were among the winners of the Koa and Kahili Awards. Visit http://www.hawaii.gov/tourism for more information.
Make hotel and air arrangements at Travel-Hawaii.
THE BIG ISLAND'S A Taste of the Hawaiian Range Food and Agricultural Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Sept. 16 in the Hilton Waikoloa's Grand Ballroom, from 6 to 8 p.m. Local chefs will showcase Hawaiian agricultural products while demonstrating their culinary talents. Local ingredients will include range-fed beef, lamb, pork, mutton, sausages, pasture poultry and goat, which will be accented with locally grown vegetables and fruits. Tickets are $35 pre-sale, $50 at the door; call (808) 322-4892 or visit www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forages/taste_of_hawaiian_range_04.html for more info.
Plan your stay here at Travel-Hawaii.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, which reopened its Boutique Spa earlier this year, has launched a new line of spa products, all of which are locally created and packaged. Massage oils, scrubs, lotion, body polishes and mists are used during all treatments and are sold at the spa's gift shop. The spa's signature treatment, the Hawaiian Healing Experience, begins with aromatherapy, using flowers grown on Maui, followed by a massage using the client's choice of body oil. For more information, call (808) 665-7280.
Make arrangements to visit Maui and Hawaii's other island at Travel-Hawaii.
Thru Aug 6, 2005
46TH HAWAIIAN INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT
The Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) is known around the world as the "grandfather of all big game fishing tournaments", the 45-year-old non-profit Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT) was founded by Peter S. Fithian and six others, to publicize the Kona Coast through the medium of a big fish contest. The HIBT has become a tradition in the coastal town of Kailua-Kona, located on the Big Island of America's 50th State.
Contact: Tournament Information Desk (808) 329-6155
Book Hotel Accomodations and Air Tickets at Travel-Hawaii.
With the summer holiday season in full swing, many families are taking trips that involve renting a car. Most don't give much thought to insurance until they're offered coverage at the rental car counter.
It can be a costly mistake if there's an accident and the driver doesn't have adequate coverage. At the same time, drivers shouldn't have to pay for insurance that duplicates coverage on their personal auto policies or is available via some credit cards.
"You have to do your homework and not wait until you get to the rental counter to start thinking about insurance," said Lisa Lee Freeman, deputy editor of Consumer Reports Money Adviser.
The two most important types of coverage for drivers are a collision damage waiver, sometimes called a loss damage waiver, and liability insurance. The collision damage waiver relieves the driver of financial responsibility if the rental car is damaged or stolen, while the liability insurance covers costs if the driver is in an accident and is sued.
Accepting the collision damage waiver and liability coverage from a car rental agency can add between $16 and $33 to the daily cost of the car, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
Jeanne M. Salvatore, a vice president with the New York-based institute, said families should check their personal insurance policies to see if they already have coverage.
"In the vast majority of cases, whatever coverage you have on your own personal auto policy is going to extend to your rental car -- with the big caveat that the car is being rented for pleasure, not business," Salvatore said.
So drivers who have comprehensive and collision coverage as well as liability coverage in their personal policies can decline coverage offered by rental car agencies, she said.
"If you're not sure, call your (insurance) agent and ask what coverage you have on a rental car," Salvatore said.
This isn't an option for families who don't own a car or who have dropped the comprehensive and collision coverage on an old car. In these cases, an alternative is to use a credit card such as Visa, MasterCard or American Express, that provides insurance protection as a benefit.
Visa, for example, offers a collision damage waiver program on its consumer credit cards.
"When you use that card to pay for the rental, the protection is automatically kicked in," said Seth Eisen, Visa's director of corporate relations. So drivers can decline the collision damage waiver offered by the car rental company.
"We estimate that cardholders who take advantage of the collision damage waiver will save roughly $10 a day on auto rental," Eisen said.
Still, insurance benefits can vary depending on the credit card issuer and whether the card is basic or premium, so consumer experts advise that drivers check their card issuers' Web sites or call the card companies to confirm coverage.
Consumers who take advantage of these credit card-related collision damage waivers may want to supplement it with the liability insurance offered by the rental agencies.
Rental car companies also offer other insurance options to customers, some of which may duplicate personal coverage.
These can include personal injury insurance, which provides a one-time payment if the driver or a passenger are maimed or killed, and personal property insurance, which covers the theft of goods from a car.
Freeman of Consumer Reports Money Adviser said most people don't need to buy either.
"If you have a health insurance policy, the odds are you're covered for personal injury," she said.
She added that theft of personal property often is covered in a homeowner's or renter's insurance policy and likely isn't necessary if families are security conscious.
"Common sense tells you not to leave anything valuable in your car," Freeman said. "And if you can't take things with you, you put them in the trunk out of sight."
