March 2006 Archives

March 31, 2006

National Weather Service forecasters yesterday said high summits on the Big Island could pack as much as a foot of snow through Friday.

The service issued a winter storm warning, saying there will be significant snowfall on the Big Island summits.

The storm is originating from a cold low pressure northwest of the state and a stream of deep atmospheric moisture, according to the weather service. It will bring a mix of rain and snow to higher elevations across the islands.

On Monday, the summit of Haleakala National Park on Maui experienced sustained 70 mph gusts, hail and ice. The wind chill at the 10,000-foot summit reached minus-2 degrees.

The weather service said the new storm should bring snow to Haleakala.

The winter storm warning will be in effect until 6 a.m. tomorrow.

Make your island travel plans at Travel-Hawaii.com.

THE KAPALUA LAND CO. announced that golf course designer Tom Fazio will create a members-only course at the Kapalua Resort in West Maui. The new 18-hole course will take the place of the current Village Course, which will close by February 2007.

Make your tarvel plans with us at Travel-Hawaii.

Mesa Air Group to 'Go!' to Hawaii beginning June 9.

Mesa Air Group unveiled the name, launch date and introductory fares for the low-fare inter-island service it plans to offer in Hawaii, and began taking reservations.

“We chose the name ‘Go!’ because that’s exactly what we think people want: a reliable, quick, no-hassle way to get from point to point across the state,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Mesa Air Group’s chairman and CEO.

Hawaiian Airlines, however, still is trying to make “Go!” stop. Hawaiian recently filed a lawsuit alleging Mesa is launching inter-island service based on propriety business information it obtained from Hawaiian when the airline was in bankruptcy.

Hawaiian is asking the court for an injunction that would prevent Mesa from launching the service for at least two years.

THE REGENCY ON BEACHWALK, Big Island investor Brian Anderson’s latest condo-hotel property, has begun accepting reservations. Scheduled for completion in June 2006, the former 48-room Marc Waikiki Royal Suites is being marketed as an “urban chic” boutique hotel. One- and two-bedroom units will sell for $400,000 to $700,000; nightly room rates have yet to be determined. Anderson recently converted the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort as well as the Royal Sea Cliff on the Big Island.

THE RITZ-CARLTON, KAPALUA is getting ready for some sprucing up. Following its acquisition by a partnership consisting of the Gencom Group, Highgate Holdings and Whitehall Street Global Real Estate, the 548-room hotel on Maui is set for a $40 million renovation that will include renovations to all guest rooms, an expansion of the 7,000-square-foot spa and a revamping of common areas. The property, which will continue to be managed by Ritz-Carlton, will stay under the Ritz-Carlton flag. In other news, the property has launched a weekly concert series every Wednesday evenin to celebrate the Grammy winning Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 1 CD, which was recorded live at the hotel. Host George Kahumoku Jr., who accepted the Grammy, features a different artist each week. Tickets are $40 per person; call (888) 669-3858.

The parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings Inc., said Wednesday it had rearranged its loans to get $91 million more in refinancing.

Hawaiian Airlines (Amex: HA) now holds a $62.5 million Term A loan, a $72.5 million Term B loan and $25 million in revolving credit.

The money will help pay for four Boeing 767s, retrofitting of the aircraft, redemption of its convertible notes due 2010, and acquisition of more assets.

The airline expects to pay about $30 million for the aircraft it bought.

It will redeem outstanding notes worth $52 million later this month or in April using $54.6 million from the pot.

This, the airline says, would prevent the issuance of 12 million shares to holders of these notes and the resulting dilution of its stock.

The remainder of the $91 million would go toward asset acquisition, and if that doesn't come through in 120 days will be returned to the lenders, thus reducing the airline's principal borrowing.

Make your Hawaiian vacation plans at Travel-Hawaii.

USO HAWAII will host “A Salute to Our Troops,” a parade and outdoor concert in Waikiki on May 6. The event will honor active-duty military personnel in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves. Approximately 10,000 marchers are expected.

Visit our beautiful islands. Arrange your travel plans at Travel-Hawaii.

The Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii in Honolulu shortened its name to the Kahala this month, when owners Kahala Hotel Investors turned over the keys to it's new management company, Landmark Hotels.

The Kahala -- a luxury, 364-room hotel -- opened in 1964 as a Hilton hotel, a member of Leading Hotels of the World and one of four AAA Five Diamond resorts in Hawaii. The property will now undergo a program of changes and enhancements, according to Kahala Hotel Investors’ parent company, Trinity Investments.

The Mandarin Oriental Group had managed the Kahala since 1994. Landmark, mostly active in Mexico, managed the Kea Lani Resort, Villas and Spa (now a Fairmont property) on Maui from 1992 to 2001.

Make you vacation arrangements at Travel-Hawaii.

By Andrew Compart

Hawaiian Airlines has gone to court to try to prevent Mesa Air Group from launching a low-fare, interisland service this April that would compete against Hawaiian, Aloha and Island Air.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Hawaii, alleges Mesa is launching interisland service based on propriety business information it obtained from Hawaiian when Hawaiian was in bankruptcy.

Hawaiian said Mesa, which gained access to the information as a potential investor, signed a confidentiality agreement in which it pledged not to use the information against Hawaiian for two years after being given access to it.

Hawaiian is asking the court for an injunction that would prevent Mesa from launching interisland service for at least two years and for “an award of damages, in an amount to be proven at trial.”

THE HAWAIIAN INTERNATIONAL BILLFISH TOURNAMENT will take place in Kona July 24 to 28, where fishermen from around the world compete to catch the largest marlin, swordfish and tuna. Go to www.hibtfishing.com for more information.

Make your Big Island land and air arrangements at Travel-Hawaii.com.

Aloha Tower has not one, not two, but three ships docked at its pier, including the Queen Mary II, the world's largest ocean liner.

She arrived into Honolulu Harbor Wednesday morning.This is the cruise liner's first Pacific voyage to the islands. The Queen Mary II is 21 stories tall and can carry more than 2,600 guests. She also features her own casino and health spa.

The Queen Mary II will continue on to Lahaina and Kona during her stay here in the islands.

Make you cruise arrangements at Travel-Hawaii.

Held at Pipeline surf break, Ehukai Beach Park on the North Shore. The best Pipeline Women Surfers from around the world will be at Pipeline for the Challenge. The best Women surfers and bodyboarders will kick off their world tour season at the most famous spot in the world. Sponsored by Banzai Productions. Due to the enormous support and interest from last year's inaugural contest, this year's T&C Surf Women's Pipeline Pro has been upgraded and officially recognized as a one-star ASP event. Showcasing also an official Women's Bodyboarding World Tour and Longboard.

NCL Corp. Ltd., which lost money in 2004, has posted a 2005 profit of more than $19 million in part because of soaring Hawaii business.

Miami-based NCL, owned by Singapore-based Star Cruises, is part of the third largest cruise conglomerate in the world after Carnival and Royal Caribbean. It owns NCL Hawaii, operator of the Pride of Aloha and Pride of America.

Annual revenues rose 20.8 percent, the result of almost 13 percent more capacity days and almost 7 percent higher net yields due to higher ticket prices and more on-board spending for other things.

Plan your cruise at Travel-Hawaii.