Shortage of Rental Cars in Hawaii

Shortage of Rental Cars in Hawaii
By Doug Porter

An interesting thing happened this week. Hawaii car rental companies like Avis, Budget, Thrifty and all the others actually ran out of cars. Visitors to Hawaii are up and shortages exist on all islands.

For 8 or 9 months now, rental companies have been reducing the number of cars in their inventory to cut costs. Fleets have been reduced by more than 1500 cars, but the bump in visitors from President’s weekend and Mid-winter break caught rental companies by surprise. Either things aren’t as bad as they expected, or perhaps – dare I say it – we’ve rounded a corner?

Of course it’s too early to say, but the increase in visitors to the islands is a good sign. Not just for car rental companies, but for airlines, restaurants, hotels, vacation rentals and just about everyone else in Hawaii. And, if it’s the beginning of a national trend it could start to spread to other sectors. Rental car companies will start increasing fleets and helping automakers, etc.

I may be grasping at straws here, but I’ll take any good news I can get.

Special Deals On Last Minute Vacations to Hawaii

With tourism stalling in Hawaii and most of the rest of the United States, owners of vacation rental condos and homes are looking to woo vacationers back to the islands with great deals and special rates on their properties. SummitPacific is advertising those deals on a special announcement board called Hawaii Vacation Discounts which is helping to get the word out about the deals and special rates owners are now offering.

“We’re a vacation rentals by owner website; meaning most of the properties advertised on our website are managed by their owners” said Doug Porter, owner of SummitPacific . Our advertisers now have a way to post discounts directly to a large audience of people looking to rent their condos and homes.” "It's sort of like a Blue Light Special, and deals of up to 50% off have been posted on the discount page."

Getting to Hawaii is cheaper now too with carriers such as Delta and United offering one way fares as low as $174-$289 from select cities. Check This Link for Limited-Time Airfare Deals at Delta.com

Getting around the islands is less expensive too with car rentals offering lower rates on cars. The best way to rent a car is through an online company that specializes in Hawaii car rentals. These online companies can negotiate lower rates because of the large volume they generate and the savings are passed along to you. They also allow you to quickly compare the best rates of some of the biggest rent-a-car companies all in one place.

With prices this low you just might be able to afford a last minute vacation to Hawaii for Christmas or New Years.

Killer whale dies on Kauai's south shore

By Duane Shimogawa

POIPU (KHNL) - Witnesses describe seeing a rare sighting at Brennecke's Beach on Kauai's south shore Wednesday as a painful to watch.

An ailing 20-foot killer whale was discovered around midnight Wednesday. Crews were forced to put it to sleep. But before they could do that, the whale died.

Nathalie Gilchrist and some friends got up early to take a walk on this beach. But it turned out to be a walk they'll never forget.

"We came out here, a group of ladies and there was a killer whale, about 20-feet long, kept flipping over," she said.

Crews prepared to remove the whale after veterinarians found its condition to be very poor.

"It was emaciated, you can see the ribs and you can see the neck of the whale," NOAA Marine Mammal Response Coordinator David Schofield said. "The decision was made that if the animal didn't perish on its own, that it would have to be put to sleep humanely."

Crews pulled it out of the water and hauled it to private lands near the Old Koloa Sugar Mill.

"We expect to see a sick whale, obviously killer whales are very social species and to have a lone, single animal in this body condition on the beach, points to an animal that's in big trouble," Schofield said.

Still, some felt the young female whale should've been let go.

"Lot of people asked us why not push it out to sea, thinking free willy and all that but that's really the wrong thing to do, an animal that's sick like this comes ashore because it's dying and it's having trouble breathing," Schofield said.

Gilchrist and others hope to never see this sight again.

"It was sad to see the whale laying there trying to survive, it was very sad, it kept blowing and pulling in air and but she would roll over and be upside down, that was very sad," she said.

There were also several shark sightings in the area. Kauai County officials have closed Brennecke's Beach. It's not known when they'll re-open it. The last stranded orca in Hawaii was off the coast of Lanai in 2004.

Beached Orca Whale Euthanized in Kauai

POIPU, Hawaii — Federal wildlife officials euthanized a sick killer whale after it washed ashore at the popular Brennecke's Beach on the island of Kauai.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Wende Goo says the 18-foot-long female orca was emaciated and had shark bites, as well as whale lice. She says they are signs the orca had been sick for some time.

Goo says a Hawaiian cultural practitioner conducted rites Wednesday for the animal before it was killed.

A necropsy is to be performed to determine what was ailing the whale.

The animal washed ashore early Wednesday, attracting about 500 people. Killer whales are rarely seen in Hawaiian waters.

John Boulay is a manager at Brennecke's Beach Broiler. He says people tried to push the whale back into the ocean, but it kept washing back.

Brennecke's Beach is next to Poipu Beach on the south shore of the island.

More Hawaii News

For information and news events happening around Hawaii please visit Maui News & Information, and Hawaii News & Information.

Canada Based Airline Expanding Routes to Hawaii

Canada Based Airline Expanding Routes to Hawaii
By Gina Mangieri

In an otherwise weak tourism outlook for Hawaii, the trend from Canada is on the upswing, and about to get better.

A Canada-based airline expanding its winter routes to Hawaii, bringing thousands of visitors from the north our way each week. They may partner with upstart interisland airline Mokulele, and Hawaiian responds.


Westjet is boosting hawaii capacity about 20 percent this winter as demand from canadian tourists booms -- 23 flights will bring 3,500 guests weekly.

Which can't be said about Hawaii's U.S. mainland market. Hawaii is seeing solid growth from Canada . They stay the longest, and they're shopping.

Westjet flies from Vancouver to Honolulu, Maui and Kona. they're eying Kauai, and they're exploring a partnership with Mokulele airlines to pre-sell interisland packages.

Hawaiian Airlines President, Mark Dunkerley says, "If Westjet wants to give us a call we'd always be happy to talk to them, if they decide to go with somebody else we will be there competing as we always do."

Mokulele last week announced its own expansion, citing a price and capacity void left by aloha. Hawaiian says the interisland pie is actually shrinking and that price is up in the air until Mokulele, GO and Hawaiian are actually battling it out as of next month.

"The marketplace has its own dynamic, we don't set the fares, we don't tell everybody what the fares should be. It's unlikely they would be setting the fares and telling everybody what it would be."

Hawaiian, meanwhile, remains committed to its 4 billion dollar airbus fleet purchase -- what they say is the largest private sector investment in hawaii history. It makes possible nonstop routes as far away as the asian continent and europe. No word yet if Canada is on their list. But they welcome the added visitors Westjet will bring for now.

Westjet says they're meeting with Governor Linda Lingle tomorrow about state marketing partnerships.

Early Voting Begins in Hawaii

Early voting began today in 15 locations around the State of Hawaii. Residents of Kauai can vote early in this year’s election at the Historic County Annex - 4386 Rice Street, Lihue (next to the Historic County Building) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The State Office of Elections is reminding Hawaii residents to bring picture identification with them. Registered voters can cast ballots in the presidential, congressional, state, and county elections. Early voting ends Nov. 1, three days before the general election.

For additional early voting locations across the state visit this link.

Waipouli Beach Resort

Waipouli Beach

One of Kauai’s newest and finest destinations is Waipouli Beach Resort in Kapa’a. Located on beautiful Waipouli beach, this resort has been rated by Expedia voters as the number one resort in Hawaii and number 7 in the United States.

It’s easy to understand the resort’s popularity. Just a few minutes from Lihue Airport, visitors can arrive on the island, get their luggage and Kauai car rental and drive up the coast. A few minutes later they can step out of their condo and find themselves in Waipouli’s fabulous golden sand, sunshine and warm Pacific surf.

But that’s not all. The resort boasts a 2 acre fantasy pool with lazy river, water slides, spa, and a kiddy beach for the kids. A beach side cabana serving lunch and dinner and a full Aveda Lifestyle Spa & Fitness Center are also on property. Ocean views are available from elegantly furnished 1 and 2 bedroom condos complete with granite counter tops in the fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms.

Waipouli’s location in Kapa`a makes it easy to walk to nearby Kauai restaurants, shopping and golf. Plus Kapa`a is considered a central location for exploring the rest of the island of Kauai. Go north a few miles and you’re in Princeville. South is Poipu Beach.

See Waipouli Beach Resort and dozens of other condos on Kauai that are available by owners on the Summit Pacific website and consider your winter escape.


Moonrise over Waipouli Beach Resort
Picture taken from Unit D406