Strong mainland interest boosts investments in Hawaii

Strong mainland interest boosts investments in Hawaii
- 2004-02-23 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Nina Wu

Several Hawaii real estate holdings captured the eye of mainland investment firms in 2003, setting record numbers in sales and transactions, according to the latest investment market overview from Colliers Monroe Friedlander.

Hawaii, which previously was considered a secondary market, is moving up.

"It's phenomenal," said Research Director Mike Hamasu. "What we're seeing is tremendous activity and it's all because of various factors -- low interest rates, mainland interest and a positive outlook on the future, which builds to investing in real estate."

Last year saw nearly double the number of transactions -- 138 compared to 71 -- for properties that sold for more than $1 million. The transaction volume, spread evenly among hotel, office and industrial properties, increased from $868 million to $2.1 billion, a 150 percent increase.

Among the factors leading to the jump in real estate investment, according to Hamasu, were a high demand for real estate due to stock market volatility, a limited supply of mainland properties and more attractive yields on Hawaii properties.

Hamasu said the new interest from the mainland has been a growing trend over the past two to three years.

"The primary drive is the lack of investment-grade commercial real estate on the mainland for sale," he said. "Here, job growth and the economy are predicted to be on an upswing. All of our drivers -- construction, tourism and military -- are pushing forward, with positive growth, and that makes real estate attractive."

The largest transactions for the year 2003 were the $480 million Damon Estate portfolio sale to HRPT Properties Trust, a Massachusetts-based firm, followed by Host Marriott's purchase of the Hyatt Regency Maui, and A&B Properties' purchase of the Shinwa Golf Portfolio.

Among the 22 bidders vying for the Damon Estate portfolio was The Shidler Group, a Hawaii-based investor that in other deals contributed a large part to the year's activity. The Shidler Group sold the Waikiki Galleria and bought the Davies Pacific Center and Pan Am Building, marking one of the largest office transactions of the year.

Market forecasts
Industrial -- The industrial market will remain tight due to a short supply of available properties and gentrification. Sellers in the urban core of Honolulu with fee-simple properties are likely to get top dollar from owner-users.
Retail -- Despite the closing of J.C. Penney and McInerny, which boosted the vacancy rates by three percentage points from 5.4 to 8.53 percent, a strong residential market and higher visitor numbers should bring a recovery. Colliers forecasts continued strong leasing activity resulting in a decline in vacancy rates for 2004, with rental rates stabilizing after six years of consecutive decline.
Office -- The office market, which was in the doldrums for the past three years, recently posted its first positive signs by registering nearly 200,000 square feet of positive absorption, most of which occurred during the second half of 2003. Vacancy rates fell to 11.84 percent from 13.62 percent a year ago.
Hotel -- Several large hotel transactions took place in 2003 and are expected to close this year, despite the impact on the tourism industry of the Iraqi War, severe acute respiratory syndrome and continued terrorism warnings.
The Shinwa Golf Group sold its three golf properties and 270 acres on Maui and Kauai to A&B Properties as well as the Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort to Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Starwood, in turn, is pursuing the purchase of the Sheraton Kauai from the Obayashi Corp. of Honolulu.

Host Marriott purchased its first Hawaii hotel, the 806-room Hyatt Regency Maui for $321 million.

Honolulu airport gets more than five inches of rain

KPUA.net - KPUA Hawaii News -
Honolulu airport gets more than five inches of rain
By Associated Press

(Honolulu-AP) -- As the rainfall continues, the National Weather Service has come out with some rainfall amounts.

It reports five-point-three inches of rain fell at Honolulu International Airport during the 24-hour period ending at 8 p-m.

During the same time period, two-point-nine inches fell at the Marine Corps station in Kaneohe and three-point-seven inches was recorded at Lihue Airport on Kauai.

Storm moves to Big Island as Oahu cleans up

Star-Bulletin Breaking News -
Storm moves to Big Island as Oahu cleans up
One death reported, Likelike Highway is closed
Associated Press

A storm that began moving over Kauai early yesterday moved down the island chain to the Big Island today, causing at least one death and closing Likelike Highway.
The 5-year-old daughter of a Pearl Harbor sailor was pronounced dead Saturday after being found submerged in a rainwater runoff basin near her home in Navy housing at Pearl City Peninsula.

The girl was found unconscious by neighbors and emergency personnel, Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis said.

Paramedics began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead at Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi, he said.

Heavy rains washed away a 20-foot-long section of Likelike Highway in upper Kalihi late last night. Police said the rain left a hole 10 feet wide and 12 feet deep in the Honolulu-bound lanes.

The Honolulu-bound lanes of Likelike Highway were closed from Kahekili Highway. Honolulu-bound motorists from Windward Oahu had to use the H-3 Freeway or the Pali Highway. State officials said they hope to have repairs completed and the road reopened by Monday morning.

Skies began to clear today except for the Big Island, but forecasters warned of possible showers on Sunday.

A flash flood warning for the Big Island was canceled, but it and the rest of the state remained under a less-threatening flash flood watch until 4 a.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

A high wind warning was in effect for the north, east and south areas of the Big Island and the summit of Haleakala on Maui. The weather service also has issued a winter storm warning for the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island.

Wonders of Hawaii provoke world thought

By Arnold Bornstein:
Wonders of Hawaii provoke world thought.

Where we live, you're familiar with the term snowbirds — people who reside here for the warm months and then head to Florida or other Sunbelt states for the winter. We just got back from a place some 6,000 miles from here where we saw a similarity.
They're called humpback whales, and you could call them snow-whales, as in snowbirds, because they inhabit the waters off Alaska or the Arctic during the warm months and then for the winter you'll find them enjoying the warmth of Hawaii, which is where we saw them.
A friend who visited Hawaii several years before us called it "as close as you get to heaven on this earth." We understand what she meant, for the main Hawaiian Islands are laden with volcanic-shaped mountains that are covered with dense green foliage and intertwined with streams and waterfalls and kinds of flowers and fruits that you have never seen before.
It seems like it's always 80 degrees and sunny on the innumerable beaches with a gentle breeze on your face and body, as you sit by your shorefront hotel's beach bar and sip a rum and fruit juice cocktail called a mai tai. You still have the memory of tropical birds nibbling on coconut leaves on swaying palm trees as the sunset shimmers shades of orange against an ocean's blueness that you have never seen before.
On your arrival at the Honolulu airport, you get a traditional aloha greeting with a lei of fresh flowers. Many people appear to think that the state's capital, Honolulu, is an island. It isn't though; it's a major city on the island of Oahu. Two famed areas of the city include Waikiki Beach and the naval base at Pearl Harbor.
High-rise hotels are lined up along the beachfront. The area's main street has some of the world's most fashionable and expensive shops, as well as a carnival atmosphere with mimes, street performers and hustlers. As tourists are walking by, a hustler will offer to place exotic, brightly colored birds on you and then ask if you want your picture taken with your camera, for a fee.
One early evening we took a sunset dinner cruise along the Waikiki shoreline near Diamond Head, the extinct volcano, and despite my navy sea duty many years ago, I got seasick and couldn't enjoy the dinner or mai tais, and I went on the outside deck for fresh air.
We took a short flight on Aloha Airlines for our next stop on the island of Kauai. It's where they filmed scenes of Bali Hai for the movie, "South Pacific." Steven Spielberg had stayed at the hotel where we had lunch, while filming his "Jurassic Park" movies. There are no roads cutting through the interior of the island, and sections evidently look just as they did thousands of years ago. It seemed like the ideal setting for Spielberg's movies about dinosaurs. A bus tour took us to the Waimea Canyon, called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific."
On a one-hour helicopter ride over the interior, we got a bird's eye view of some of this planet's most spectacular scenery, including Mount Waialeale, the wettest spot on earth.
Another short Aloha flight brought us to the island of Maui. By bus, we went to the lush Iao Valley and saw the Iao Needle, a narrow volcanic spire that rises some 2,700 feet The luau one evening was touristy, but we did enjoy the Polynesian dancing and music, including the hula and fire dancing. Of course, in an island-hopping, packing-and-unpacking tour with 35 other people, some moments become blurred, but you share the experience in camaraderie with people from North Dakota, New Mexico, California, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Canada and elsewhere.
By the way, the sugar cane fields of Hawaii have all but disappeared, and there are very view pineapple fields left because of worldwide competition. For me, the name Dole was synonymous with Hawaii, but when we got home and bought a Dole pineapple at our local supermarket, it was from Costa Rica.
We had broken up our trip both ways between Newark Airport and Hawaii with overnight stays in Los Angeles. My Brooklyn Dodgers T-shirt evoked seemingly favorable comments from four or five apparent Los Angeles Dodgers fans.
When you recall the overwhelming beauty of Hawaii, you also think of Japanese warplanes coming in over those beautiful Oahu mountains to attack Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. A very moving experience is visiting the USS Arizona Memorial, which is built over the sunken battleship, the final resting place for most of the ship's 1,177 crew members. A very small and very slow fuel oil leak still bubbles to the surface every now and then, as it has been doing since 1941 — and National Park Service officials expect it to continue for another 40 years or so.
You think about the countries at war you have seen, the countries recovering from war — including Nagasaki, Japan, seven years after the atomic bomb was dropped, countries where the poverty is almost unbelievable, countries where there isn't enough food, countries where medical and health care barely exist.
You contrast those memories with all of the beauty on earth that you have just seen in Hawaii. You think about that humpback whale cruise you took off the shores of Maui. These creatures grow up to 52 feet long, weigh from 30 to 50 tons, and have tails up to 12 feet wide. We saw them occasionally kick their tails and fins out of the water, and you periodically see them spouting sprays of up to 13 feet, which is part of their breathing.
Scientists tell us they sing amazing songs under the sea, which they can't explain as to why but which they have recorded. Near extinction several decades ago, the humpback whale population has increased because of international law protection. It makes you wonder about their fellow creatures, namely human beings, and how we are faring on this planet.
Our daughter is a teacher in the Manhasset School District in Long Island, N.Y. She works with a sixth-grade girl named Chrissy, who recently received as a homework assignment: "If you were granted 10 wishes, what would you wish for and why?"
Her journal entry included: "I would wish for no more world hunger...I would wish for no more animal abuse. I would also wish for everyone who is homeless to have houses and people to care for them...I would wish that everyone in the world gets one wish, but it must be good and not evil...I wish that there was no pollution or littering. The reason I did not wish for world peace is because I think that is a goal we must achieve with our hearts, not with magic."
Writer Lori Taylor once said: "Children are the dreams we send to a future we will never see. They are our hopes and dreams for the world."

Arnold Bornstein is a resident of Greenbriar at Whittingham.

Dog kills toddler

Kauai Garden Island News
Dog kills toddler

By TOM FINNEGAN - TGI Staff Writer
Posted: Tuesday, Feb 24, 2004 - 04:17:36 am HST
A neighbor's dog on a leash on the neighbor's property apparently attacked a 17-month-old boy who had wandered into the yard Saturday on Moloa'a Hui Road in Moloa'a.

The boy, identified as Truston Liddle of Moloa'a, sustained injuries to the head, neck and chest, and later died at Wilcox Memorial Hospital.
At 5:03 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, a family member called 911 dispatchers to report the child needed medical attention because he had severe injuries to the head, neck and chest area.

But, by then, Liddle's mother had left for the hospital in the family car. Names of the parents were not immediately available, and calls to one of the family homes in Moloa�a were not returned yesterday.

Kaua'i Fire Department responders and other medical personnel caught up to the mother and boy near Kula High & Intermediate School, at the corner of Kapuna Road and Kuhio Highway.

They brought the baby to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where he later died, said Cyndi Mei Ozaki, county public information officer.

Following standard procedure, the suspected animal was taken by a Kauai Humane Society animal control officer, and is at the KHS facility near Puhi while the incident is being investigated.

The case is currently being investigated as a dangerous-dog violation, Ozaki said.

The dog apparently was leashed on the owner's property, said Dr. Rebecca Rhoades, executive director of the Kauai Humane Society.

The dog is a mid-sized male, a 'poi dog,' a mixed breed, with no pit-bull blood, said Rhoades.

'It is extremely rare,' said Rhoades of the dog-attack fatality.

Mongoose Sighting Sparks Concern On Kauai

TheHawaiiChannel - KITV 4 News -
Mongoose Sighting Sparks Concern On Kauai
POSTED: 2:57 pm HST February 24, 2004

HONOLULU -- A mongoose was spotted on Kauai Monday, prompting the state to quickly set traps to catch it.
Kauai and Lanai are the only two islands without mongooses.
A resident spotted the mongoose in East Kauai. Wildlife officials want to prevent the mongoose from multiplying before it harms the island's seabird and waterbird populations.
Booming mongoose populations on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island have reshaped the way ecosystems function.
Officials asked that if residents see a mongoose on Kauai, to call the Kauai Invasive Species Committee at 246-0684. "


In Hawaii, mongooses imported from India have decimated populations of such seabirds as the dark-rumped petrel and Newell's shearwater.

International Surfing Hall of Fame to open on Kauai

International Surfing Hall of Fame to open on Kauai
- 2004-02-26 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
"LATEST NEWS
10:05 AM HST Thursday

The International Surfing Hall of Fame plans to open in a 3,600-square-foot space at the Anchor Cove Shopping Center on Kauai, making it the largest surfing museum in the United States. Its opening is slated for early May.

Expected to become an attraction for cruise ship passengers, the hall of fame projects up to 250,000 visitors per year.
The hall of fame, which has never had a physical location since its formation in 1966, received its lease after nine months of negotiations. The museum will highlight the history and artistry of surfing.
Given that Hawaii was the birthplace of surfing, the board and trustees wanted its home to be located in the Hawaiian Islands. Anchor Cove Shopping Center sits on the edge of Kauai's Kalapaki Bay.
Guests to the International Surfing Hall of Fame will be able to take a self-guided walking tour among thousands of surf memorabilia items, including historic surfboards, artifacts, still photography, film and artwork.
Anchor Cove and the International Surfing Hall of Fame will cross-promote and market this new Kauai visitor attraction. "

Macy's parent reports higher profits

Macy's parent reports higher profits
- 2004-02-24 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

It wasn't just Macy's former Liberty House stores in Hawaii that were busy in December. Parent company Federated Department Stores Inc. says its whole network of department stores did better than expected in the holiday season to produce one third higher fourth quarter profits than the year before.

That in turn reduced the decline in full year 2003 profits, though those still came in below $700 million, when they had been over $800 million in 2002. Profits for the year fell about 15 percent on revenues that were down only slightly.

Federated closed eight stores and opened a dozen new ones in 2003, and three of the new ones were in Hawaii, Macy's furniture stores on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island.

Fourth quarter at a glance:

Net income: $460 million. Year before: $341 million.
Per share: $2.50. Year before: $1.78.
Revenue: $5.05 billion. Year before: $5.02 billion.
Year 2003 at a glance:

Net income: $693 million. Year before: $818 million.
Per share: $3.71. Year before: $4.12.
Revenue: $15.26 billion. Year before: $15.44 billion.
Cincinnati-based Federated also reported Tuesday that January was surprisingly strong, in part because the mainland saw such cold weather that coat sales soared; the company also predicted that sales for this month will come in at least 7 percent above year-ago levels, or three times as good as their original minimum expectations.

"We entered 2003 strategically focused on four key priorities for improving our business over the longer term -- differentiating merchandise assortments, simplifying pricing, enriching the overall shopping experience and communicating better with our customers through more effective marketing," CEO Terry Lundgren said. "Our results for the year indicate that we are making progress on these strategies and the customer is responding, which we think bodes well for sales growth in the coming months."

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United Reinstates Nonstop Service Between Chicago and Honolulu

United Reinstates Nonstop Service Between Chicago and Honolulu
Monday February 23, 2:15 pm ET
With Addition, United to Offer Customers Nonstop Service to Hawaii From Four U.S. Hubs

CHICAGO, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Airlines (OTC Bulletin Board: UALAQ - News) today announced that it is reinstating its daily nonstop service between Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Honolulu (HNL), effective June 3, 2004. Flights will be available for booking on February 24, 2004.
"United is thrilled to once again offer our customers nonstop service from Chicago, our hometown and largest hub, to one of the nation's top vacation destinations," said John Tague, executive vice president - Customer, United Airlines. "This flight will answer the call from our customers in the Chicagoland area for daily, nonstop access to the beaches and sunshine of Hawaii. It will also give our customers in the eastern U.S. another option for convenient, one-stop service to the Islands."

United's announcement of this new service follows an announcement earlier this month that it would begin flying a second daily nonstop flight between Tokyo, Japan, and Honolulu in June 2004.

United will fly daily between Chicago and Honolulu with a Boeing 777 aircraft configured with 36 seats in first class and 312 seats in economy class. UA001 will leave ORD at 1015 and arrive at HNL at 1345. The return leg, UA002, will depart HNL at 1625 and arrive at ORD at 0515.

"This was a popular flight among many Hawaii residents and visitors, so we're very pleased travelers will once again have this option," said Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii. "The resumption of nonstop service between Honolulu and Chicago is good news for visitors from the Midwest and those connecting from the East Coast. As Hawaii's visitor market continues to strengthen, the addition of flights such as this will help meet demand."

The new Chicago service will complement United's existing service to Hawaii from its other hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver. With 24 daily, nonstop flights from three hub cities in the U.S. to four Hawaiian Islands -- Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai -- United offers the most flights between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii. United also offers daily, nonstop service between Honolulu and both Tokyo and Osaka.

United has been serving Hawaii since 1947.

United, United Express and Ted operate more than 3,400 flights a day on a route network that spans the globe. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's web site at www.united.com .

Hotel revenues up in 2003

The Maui News:
Hotel revenues up in 2003;
Maui leads in income per room

HONOLULU - Hotels in the islands took in $2.5 billion in 2003, the second-highest total ever, according to Hospitality Advisors' Hawaii Hotel Flash Report.

That was still $200 million short of the record year of 2000. The next year, 2001, was already slowing down even before terrorists attacked the United States in September.
Total revenue in 2001 slumped to $2.47 billion. The next year it fell to $2.37 billion.

Exactly half of state hotel revenue came in the luxury category, although the midprice category grew the fastest last year, 10.5 percent to a total of $415 million.

Budget hotels grew the least, just 1.3 percent to a total of $139 million.

Those trends were good for the Neighbor Islands and for the Valley Isle in particular. Maui has few budget rooms and a preponderance of luxury resorts.

Hospitality Advisors said the gains last year came from longer stays, higher rates and, especially, record business from Mainland states.

Those factors also favor Maui County over the rest of the state.

There are some minor negative factors for the county. Lanai has the shortest average length of stay, and Molokai has the highest percentage of budget rooms and the lowest room rates.

Hospitality Advisors does not report revenue totals by county or by island, but it reported that Maui island easily led in revenue per available room (RevPAR) at $139 last year. That was a healthy $10 gain over 2002.

Kauai did as well, raising its RevPAR from $107 to $116.

Oahu and the Big Island did relatively less well, though both improved. Oahu RevPAR rose from $80 to $85, and Hawaii RevPAR rose from $104 to $107.

Hawaii is second only to New York City among major travel destinations in rates, RevPAR and occupancy.

Last year, the average daily room rate was $169 in New York City, $144 in Hawaii and $117 in Boston.

RevPAR was $126 in New York, $105 in Hawaii and $77 in San Diego.

Oahu RevPAR drags down the state average, and Maui's figures are well above even New York averages. Maui's average daily rate was $187, up $6.

Maui also shines when it comes to occupancy. Its overall rate was 74.2 percent last year, up from 70.7 percent.

Kauai, with a bigger proportion of time-shares, did slightly better. Maui and Kauai were even in occupancy in 2002, but Kauai grew to 76.1 percent last year.

Of the five price categories used by Hospitality Advisors, the second highest, called upscale, was busiest on Maui.

Upscale resorts averaged 78.7 percent occupancy, while luxury resorts averaged 73.6 percent.

The price differential between the two was huge: the average room rate was $285 luxury, but only $156 upscale.

The difference in RevPAR was just as great: $210 vs. $123.

December was a good month for the state and for Maui.

The statewide occupancy rose from 66.2 percent in 2002 to 72.8 percent in December, and RevPAR rose from $101 to $114.

On Maui, the occupancy rate rose from 62.1 percent to 69.6 percent, and RevPAR jumped $20 to $146.

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Heavy surf keeps lifeguards

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News
Friday, February 20, 2004


FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
At Waimea Bay Beach Park, lifeguard Glenn Wachtel, left, advised people to stay out of the dangerous shorebreak yesterday as surf reached advisory levels.

Courtesy of a strong storm off
Japan, heavy surf keeps lifeguards
busy on Oahu's North Shore

By Mary Vorsino and Leila Fujimori
mvorsino@starbulletin.com lfujimori@starbulletin.com

The big surf that kept Oahu's North Shore lifeguards busy yesterday with at least 11 rescues should continue through the weekend, forecasters say.

The National Weather Service has posted a high-surf advisory effective through today for the north and west shores of Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Oahu.

Forecaster Henry Lau said residents can expect waves heights on Oahu's North Shore to peak today at about 23 feet, with most sets between 15 and 20 feet.


FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Nicole Foras moved to heed the warning.

Yesterday, Kauai officials closed beaches between Haena and Kee because of the big waves. Lifeguards on Oahu say they will decide whether to close beaches late this morning.

"It's not really giant," said city Ocean Safety Division dispatcher Rod Alderton, "(but) it's dangerous and there's long lulls, so the water's all blue and looks tranquil."

Alderton's office was flooded with calls for assistance yesterday, and North Shore lifeguards were working overtime until dusk to keep people out of the water.

Off Mokuleia yesterday, a man sustained head injuries while surfing in waves with 8- to 12-foot faces.

By the time the man was rescued, the surf had increased to 10- to 16-foot faces, according to Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Lt. John Hoogsteden.

The man was surfing about 300 to 400 yards offshore of Crozier Drive, Hoogsteden said. Fellow surfers rescued the man, who is in his late 30s or early 40s.

Fire Capt. Kenison Tejada said the surfers brought the man past the break, and lifeguards brought him to shore.

At a beach just north of Shark's Cove, another man standing on the beach was swept off his feet by the surf. Hoogsteden said bodyboarders helped the man, who was taken to Kahuku Hospital for evaluation.


FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Surf reached advisory levels yesterday, and only experts were allowed to enter the ocean at Waimea Bay Beach Park.

Ocean Safety also reported three rescues at Sunset Beach, three at Waimea Bay and one each at Waialua and Ke Iki. Alderton said one kayaker needed rescuing off Haleiwa.

Lau said the high surf was caused by a strong storm off the coast of Japan that passed north of the islands several days ago.

"There will be a series of storms for the next several days," which translates to a steady stream of high waves, he said.

Lifeguards from other parts of the island will be on North Shore beaches today to help out, Alderton said. But more lifeguards does not mean it is safe to go in the water, he stressed.

"People should never depend on us anyway for their safety," he said.

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Cruise visitors decline, but stay longer, spend more

LATEST NEWS
4:05 PM HST Thursday
Cruise visitors decline, but stay longer, spend more
Prabha Natarajan
Cruise visitors stayed longer and spent more but came in lesser numbers to Hawaii in 2003, according to a state report released Thursday.

A total of 230,495 visitors sailed in Hawaii cruises, down 2.5 percent from 2002. The decrease was attributed to only 47 ships and 125 trips during the year compared to 57 ships and 131 trips in 2002.

Cruise visitors account for 3.6 percent of the state's total visitor count.

"The cruise industry continues to remain strong for Hawaii, and we're particularly pleased that the benefits are spread throughout the state," said Marsha Wienert, state tourism liaison.

Nearly 90 percent of all cruise passengers visited the four main islands of Oahu, Maui, Big Island and Kauai.

In 2003, 5,654 locals went on cruises -- nearly 21 percent fewer than 2002. They spent an average of $51 per person per day during the 4.1 days of cruising.

Where they came from
U.S. East visitors on cruises increased during the year and accounted for 55 percent of all passengers. Visitors from U.S. West, Canada and Europe made up the rest of the numbers.

Nearly 58 percent of the visitors were repeat -- mostly from the U.S. West and Canada -- while most of the visitors from U.S. East and Europe were visiting the islands for the first time.

Where they stayed
Passengers spent an average of 4.5 days on board the cruise ship and 1.1 days on shore after the cruise. Also, visitors who flew in to get on board a cruise came in 1.6 days ahead of a cruise on average. Most visitors stayed longer, at 7.3 days on average for a trip. European visitors stayed longest at 8.23 days and U.S. East the least at 7.1 days.

What they spent
Visitors spent $101 per person (compared to $99 in 2002) on tours, souvenirs, entertainment and shopping. On average, U.S. East visitors spent the most -- $108, European visitors $104, Canadian visitors $98, and U.S. West visitors $87 per person.

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Hotel occupancy jumps above 87%

Hotel occupancy jumps above 87%
- 2004-02-20 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
LATEST NEWS
8:33 PM HST Thursday
Howard Dicus

Thanks to the Pro Bowl, the Cisco Systems annual convention, the Great Aloha Run and Valentine's Day, Hawaii hotel occupancy soared in the most recent reporting week to 87.3 percent, Hospitality Advisors LLC reports.

That statewide figure, covering Feb. 8-14, was 8.2 percentage points better than the same week last year, and it was way above the 75 percent occupancy of the previous week. Room rates were 4.7 percent higher than last year.

On Saturday, Feb. 14, which was Valentine's Day,. statewide occupancy peaked at an astonishing 93.2 percent.

Around the islands:

Oahu: 91.5 percent. Waikiki was almost 12 percentage points fuller than it was the same week last year, with room rates about 2 percent higher, to almost $130 a night. More than half the rooms in the state are here.
Maui: 85.6 percent. Hotels were 4.5 points fuller than last year on the Valley Isle and room rates were about 2 percent higher than last year, above $205 a night.
Kauai: 83.2 percent. The Garden Isle saw occupancy more than 15 full points better than last year with rates up nearly 7 percent to almost $192 a night, second only to Maui.
Big Island: 78.4 percent. This was 5.8 points above year-ago levels, but room rates were down 5.1 percent to about $151 a night on average.
The nationwide occupancy rate for the same period was 61.2 percent, Smith Travel Research LLC reported, while hotels were 79.7 percent full in Los Angeles and 75.9 percent full in Orlando.

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Retail vacancy rate 5.9%

CBRE Hawaii: Retail vacancy rate 5.9%
An improving market resulted in a retail vacancy rate of 5.9 percent, according to CB Richard Ellis Hawaii's retail market index brief for fourth quarter 2003.

Vacancy rates have declined in most markets with an overall drop of 1.3 percent from 7.2 percent at the beginning of 2003.

"The Hawaii real estate market is outpacing the national market," said Jeffrey Hall, director of research. "Nearly 1.2 million square feet of shopping center space has changed hands and experienced significant absorption in 2003, due to the enhanced vision of new ownership."

Retail absorption climbed to more than 180,000 square feet in CBRE Hawaii's 2003 survey. Most of it occurred on Oahu, although the largest proportional gains were on Kauai in the resort center category.

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Kaua‘i Food Bank kicks off food drive

Kauai Garden Island News
KAUAI News

Kaua‘i Food Bank kicks off food drive
By DENNIS FUJIMOTO - TGI Sports Editor

LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Food Bank is trying to surpass its 2003 goal during the 2004 Spring Fund and Food Drive which begins in early March.

Kaua‘i Food Bank Board President Paul Douglass announced the campaign start at a mahalo celebration held at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall Wednesday morning.

Douglass told the gathering that the 2003 year was a record-breaking year, while setting the goal for the 2004 Drive at $20,000.

Mickie Diamant, the food bank's community development officer, reminded people that for every dollar they contribute, the Kaua‘i Food Bank is able to distribute $16 worth of food to Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau people who might otherwise go hungry.

The gathering served not only as a kickoff for the Spring campaign, but also to recognize the efforts of community volunteers who put in a combined 13,000 volunteer hours in 2003.

Labeled the "cookie and cracker lady," Anthony Koerte, the Kaua‘i Food Bank's warehouse supervisor, presented Gladys Oshiro with a plaque for her 190 hours of volunteerism, most of that time spent stocking the cookie and cracker sections to the brim.

Linda Wong was recognized for her 211 hours of service to the Nawiliwili facility, and Charles Song was recognized as the Top Volunteer with 250 hours of service, Koerte asking the audience to do the math to realize the cost savings to the Kaua‘i Food Bank volunteerism serves.

David Kalahiki, the event host as well as representing Kaua‘i Fresh, the Kaua‘i Food Bank's produce section, recognized Rainbow Gardens for their contribution of over 13,000 pounds of fresh sprouts that went towards the food bank's goal of feeding Kaua‘i's hungry.

Also recognized were agencies that were responsible for distributing food to those who need it, Nana's House in Waimea receiving a third place plaque for their efforts which amounts to serving about 750 people a month with 37,000 pounds of food distributed in 2003.

St. Michael's Church was recognized with a second place plaque for their efforts which sees about 1,000 people fed monthly through the distribution of 49,000 pounds of food in 2003.

Aloha Church, whose Grace Galiza expressed her pride in being part of the team to help feed Kaua‘i's hungry, topped the agency recognition with over 1,000 people being served each month, and 76,000 pounds of food distributed last year.

Top Grocer Donor awards were announced by Kelvin Moniz who said Safeway was the largest donor followed by Big Save, Inc., and Foodland. Papaya's was the largest of the small business donors.

The Kaua‘i Food Bank 2004 Spring Healthy Food and Fund Drive sponsors include the County of Kaua‘i, The Garden Island newspaper, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, Aloha Furniture Warehouse, Kaua‘i Lumber Company and the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union.

The mahalo banquet was made possible through the efforts of the County of Kaua‘i, Lihue Court Town Homes, Kauai Nursery and Landscaping, and Diversified Awards and Engraving.

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Cane versus commercial development

Cane versus commercial development: value in A&B farmlands
- 2004-02-18 - Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
LATEST NEWS
6:58 AM HST Wednesday

A mainland stock analysis firm says Alexander & Baldwin has only just begun to tap the value of its massive land holdings in Hawaii. But the glowing report is based on the assumption that its Maui canefields will inevitably be developed for more profitable uses.

The analysis came this week from the Motley Fool, whose name hints at the breezy, cut to the chase style of its reports. It said Tuesday that A&B stock is undervalued relative to future earnings because of its land holdings in Hawaii.

A&B carries $120 million in property, much of it undeveloped land on Maui and Kauai. "And what, you may ask, is the average carrying cost per acre for this undeveloped land? Would you guess $5,000? $10,000? The answer is $150. Don't blink, you read it correctly," Motley Fool said. "The company owns around 90,000 acres in Hawaii, with an average cost per acre less than the price of an expensive dinner for two."

The report said A&B's real estate division "has barely begun to unlock the value of its historic landholdings -- yet the segment is already highly profitable." A&B Properties made a $61 million last year, up 17 percent, on $144 million in revenue.

The mainland analyst did note that 30,000 of A&B's Hawaiian land holdings are zoned for watershed or conservation. "However," it said, "that still leaves more than 60,000 acres of mostly agricultural land worth substantially more than the stated cost."

A&B grows sugar cane on its central Maui farmlands, and coffee on its Kauai holdings.

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Whale of a study

COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
The Hawaiian Islands, winter home to more than 6,000 humpback whales, will be part of a $5.8 million study of the species.


Whale of a study
Hawaii plays a key role in the largest-ever study of Pacific humpbacks
By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com
Over the next three years Hawaii will be part of the largest-ever study of endangered humpback whales in the North Pacific Ocean, isle scientists announced yesterday.

The $5.8 million international project likely is also the largest study of any whale species, said David Mattila, science and rescue coordinator for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

It will involve more than 100 researchers in the United States, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Canada, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Key portions of the research will be done in the Hawaiian Islands, which is the winter home of more than 6,000 humpbacks, a majority of the estimated population for the entire North Pacific. Winter studies also will be done off the coasts of Mexico, Central America and Japan.

In summer, when the whales move north, other researchers will take over the work at West Coast National Marine Sanctuaries and other feeding areas. In some cases Hawaii researchers will go to the Aleutian Islands off Alaska or the Commander Islands near Russia on research vessels, Mattila said.

The project links virtually every research group that studies humpback whales, many of which are Hawaii-based or travel regularly to Hawaii in winter, Mattila said.

The study's name is SPLASH, which stands for Structure of Populations, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpback Whales.

"This is unprecedented in the level of cooperation and geographic scope," Richard Spinrad, assistant administrator of the National Ocean Service, said yesterday at the Waikiki Aquarium.

Mattila said he is excited about the international cooperation and plans to widely share information gained through the study. Though some preliminary information may be released earlier, a full three years of data will be required to draw most conclusions, he said.

Among the questions researchers expect to answer are:


>> How many whales are in the North Pacific?
>> Are their numbers going up or down?
>> Are there toxins in whale feeding areas?
>> What effect do marine debris and fishing gear have on whales?

Another question will be where whales that winter in Hawaii spend their summers, said Chris Gabriele, a wildlife biologist at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.
Of the estimated 6,000 whales that winter in Hawaii, only about 900 are known to spend the summer in Southeast Alaska, where she works at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Gabriele said.

"Where are they all going?" Gabriele asked.

Each of the main Hawaiian Islands has a research team that will "tag" whales from December to April.

When they encounter a whale, a team will:


>> Take digital photographs of its tail, or fluke. The unique markings are used like a fingerprint to identify each individual.
>> Collect a small sample of whale tissue, which will be used to determine the animal's sex, plus show whether the whale is pregnant or has significant amounts of dangerous toxins in its blubber.
>> Take photos of scars on the animal that indicate entanglement in fishing line or injury from striking a boat.

The study will be similar to a study done in the North Atlantic in 1992-93, which cost about $3 million, including use of equipment and services from governmental agencies, said Mattila.
Technology has progressed since that study, Mattila said, so that more genetic information can be gathered about each whale from tissue samples.

The sample is collected with a specially designed crossbow that takes a pencil-eraser-sized chunk of blubber and skin from the whale.

A mature humpback can be up to 45 feet long and weigh 45 tons. The humpback whale was listed as an endangered species in 1973. Scientists estimate that the pre-whaling population of the animal in the North Pacific was about 15,000. The population was estimated to be about 7,000 in 1992, the most recent reliable estimate.

The SPLASH project is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Information about the study is available at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov

State finds true love in wedding industry

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Business -
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM

Donald and Nancy Smallwood marked their 44th wedding anniversary yesterday with a renewal of vows ceremony at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach.

State finds true love in wedding industry
Hawaii’s nuptial market is up 31 percent in the last five years

By Allison Schaefers
aschaefers@starbulletin.com
Hawaii's wedding industry is a niche market with a future that might just last longer than the average marriage.

An increasing number of wedding couples are saying, "I do," to the romance of the islands and the word is getting out, said Marsha Wienert, Gov. Linda Lingle's tourism liaison.

Hawaii was recently named America's top romantic destination in a poll conducted by Yahoo! Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazine. Maui and Honolulu also have been named top destinations by Hotels.com. And moviegoers who go to see the romantic comedy "50 First Dates," which opened yesterday, will be able to see actor Adam Sandler romance actress Drew Barrymore against the backdrop of Hawaii's natural beauty.

"Hawaii is the perfect place to celebrate romance," said John Monahan, president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Last year, visitor weddings grew 7.4 percent over 2002 to 18,131 ceremonies and comprised a third of all nuptials in the state. And despite a recent drop in international weddings due to SARS and the war with Iraq, overall the market has grown nearly 31 percent in the last five years, according to data from the state Department of Health.

The number of Japanese visitors coming to Hawaii to get married dropped in 2003, but the industry is healthy, said Hidetoshi Watabe, president of the Hawaii branch of the Watabe Wedding Corp., which handled a record 16,595 Japanese weddings in Hawaii in 2000.

Japanese wedding couples have a big impact on Hawaii's overall tourism industry, Watabe said. "Japanese wedding couples brought about an average of 7.7 guests, excluding the couple, to Hawaii in 2002," he said.

The industry is one Hawaii should romance because of its potential for high economic yields, Wienert said.

More than 20 percent of all adults who traveled last year -- roughly 42 million people -- took at least one trip in 2003 for a honeymoon, to celebrate an anniversary or to attend a wedding, according to data from the Travel Industry Association of America. Romance-related travel also is very popular with the Baby Boomer generation, which comprises 41 percent of travel in this niche market. Baby Boomers are attractive to the visitor industry because they typically have higher household incomes than other demographic segments.

"If there's a time in your life when you don't worry about expenses, it's a wedding or a honeymoon," Wienert said. "The destination weddings market impacts a wide range of businesses that aren't normally touched by tourism."

The International Institute of Weddings estimates the average cost of a U.S. wedding at more than $21,000, with money being spent on everything from food and lodging to clothing and flowers.

"The wedding market is huge," said Lori Naone, sales and events coordinator at Outrigger Hotels & Resorts. "It's definitely one of the more popular reasons for coming to Hawaii."

Trying to capitalize on the growing romance market, the Outrigger Reef on the Beach started offering a complementary vow renewal ceremony performed against the backdrop of Waikiki Beach.

Couples of every age, dressed in styles ranging from aloha casual to semiformal, have participated in the ceremony. Since October, 150 couples have renewed their vows at the weekly event, Naone said.

"So many people fantasize about getting married in Hawaii," Naone said. "I get e-mails everyday asking about the ceremony."

Although Oahu gets the lion's share of wedding and honeymoon visitors at more than 70 percent, wedding couples and honeymooners also are seeking out neighbor island views for their nuptials. Last year, Kauai drew the largest percentage of those who came to the state exclusively to get married or honeymoon, according to data from the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

The wedding of "Friends" star Matt LeBlanc last year and the paparazzi blitz concerning Jennifer Lopez's nuptial plans have pushed Kauai to the forefront of the romance destination market, said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau.

"Media coverage of celebrities has increased and there's a heightened awareness of Kauai," Kanoho said, adding press about the LeBlanc wedding netted the equivalent of $838,239 in free publicity for the island.

Wedding and honeymooner growth on Kauai has been so strong that the island is giving other destinations a run for their market share, said Silvia Gamma, president of the Kauai Wedding Professionals Association.

"We've had about a 30 percent increase in business over the last few years," Gamma said. "Even Maui, the No. 1 neighbor island market, is starting to worry."

Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau, denies the Valley Isle is worried.

"It's booming," Vencl said. "And it's continuing to grow. People are attracted to the ambiance of our island. The laid-back atmosphere tends to attract people who want to take time to be together away from the everyday hassles of life."

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Reactions to Kauai tax reform plan mixed

Reactions to Kauai tax reform plan mixed

By Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.com
LIHUE >> A Kauai County task force unveiled a sweeping property tax reform proposal to mixed reviews at Thursday's County Council meeting.

Council Chairman Kaipo Asing expressed doubts, saying he believes the proposals to limit property tax values while land prices are skyrocketing will fuel even more buying by land speculators who plan to leave the parcels vacant for years or decades while they increase in market value.

"If I had a lot of money, knowing the land values (for tax purposes) are not going to move much, I would buy a lot of land," Asing said.

In contrast, Council Finance Committee Chairman Joe Munechika endorsed the proposal: "I understand the concept and I like the concept. Part of my responsibility is to sell it to the other members."

The Council sent the matter to Mayor Bryan Baptiste with a request for a bill for them to act on. In a written statement, Baptiste thanked the task force for coming up with a proposal that "appears" to be better than the current law but still will be considerably amended.

Public testimony on the proposal was limited because the task force did not make copies of its recommendations public until only a few minutes before it was presented to the Council.

Appointed last spring by Baptiste and the Council in reaction to double-digit increases in property tax collections the past two years, the nine-member task force is recommending drastic changes to the way in which the county places a value on land.

But the proposal does not limit the Council's authority to set tax rates or place any cap on county spending.

The spreadsheets that accompanied the document were all "revenue neutral," meaning that the recommendation was designed so that it would not increase or decrease county property tax revenues in 2005, assuming the tax rates stay the same as in 2004.

Examples provided with the recommendation show that owners of expensive beachfront property will receive the biggest tax breaks. A beachfront home in fashionable Anini would receive a 74 percent tax cut; what was termed a "beachfront mansion," also in Anini, would see taxes reduced 62 percent; and a "luxury dwelling" in Poipu would be given a 99 percent tax cut.

"Why are we giving all these breaks to millionaires?" Asing asked.

The housing boom, which started on Kauai late in 1998 and hit property valuations in 2001, sent property values soaring 13 percent last year and 21 percent this year. The Council declined in both years to roll back tax rates, and county coffers are bulging.

The task force recommendation would set the 2005 value of every parcel on the island at a figure that equals the average of the same property's tax valuation from 1999 to 2003.

It then would limit annual increases or decreases to the Honolulu Consumer Price Index, which has been growing by 1 percent to 2 percent in recent years. The valuation for tax purposes would remain fixed even if the property is sold.

It also would reduce Kauai's eight tax classifications to two: residential and general. Long-term rentals would be classed as residential. Vacation rentals would be classified as general property and valued at double the amount of residential.

A competing proposal from citizens group Ohana Kauai might appear on the ballot this fall. That measure is limited to residential property. It would roll property valuations back to 1998 and limit increases in total tax bills to the annual cost-of-living increase. That would put tight reins on the Council's ability to change the tax rate.

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World surfing champion Andy Irons is Honored

Kauai Garden Island News:
World surfing champion Andy Irons is honored


World pro surfing champion Andy Irons, right, receives a proclamation from Mayor Bryan Baptiste on Friday afternoon at a celebration to mark the Hanalei surfer's second straight world title.


By TGI STAFF
KALAPAKI - For the second year in a row Association of Surfing Professionals world champion Andy Irons of Hanalei was honored by MayorBryan Baptiste and a restaurant full of well-wishers gathered at Duke's.

In December, Irons won his second consecutive world surfing title with a decisive win in the Pipeline Masters contest over six-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater.
Baptiste declared Friday as Irons' day on Kaua'i, and noted that he and Irons are alumni of Kapa'a High School.

Graham Stapleburg, a representative of Billabong surfwear, Irons' main sponsor, called his victory in December 'the greatest achievement' in the history of pro surfing."

Hula-la—handsome Hawaii airfares turn heads

MSNBC -
Hula-la—handsome Hawaii airfares turn heads
Great deals from the western US to Honolulu, Maui and more have sun-seekers scrambling for seats


Chanelle Kanani Kukona, 23, of Mililani, ends the day and week with a daily meditation at Queens Surf Beach near Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii
By Adrien Glover

Updated: 4:12 p.m. ET Feb. 14, 2004
We’ve been giving the Transatlantic airfare wars a lot of attention lately, but there also appears to be a battle brewing between carriers that specialize in flights to Hawaii. This is good news for those of you on the hunt for a good excuse to jet away from the winter doldrums to the lush mountainsides of Kona or the warm beaches of Waikiki, where surfing outshines just about every other beach activity.

Hawaii carriers duke it out, you get deals

Aloha and Hawaii airlines are often locked in a neck-and-neck race to deliver the cheapest airfares from cities in the western US and now is no exception; both carriers are offering superb roundtrip deals and there’s only a negligible difference in cost.

Here’s how the sales are shaping up: Aloha's online sale, which delivers a 10 percent discount for booking online, is good for flights from Burbank, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, Reno, Orange County or Sacramento to Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Hilo or Kona for $250 (this price tag factors in the online discount). This price does not include tax and is for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday departures only. And if you were thinking of taking off on the weekend or Mondays, flights are just $20 more. All good things must come to an end, and this adage also hold true for Aloha’s sale—all tickets must be purchased by Feb. 17 for travel through June 15. A three-day minimum stay is required, but we’re guessing that’s not a problem. To book a seat on one of Aloha’s eligible upcoming flights to Hawaii, go to: www.alohaairlines.com.

For less than $20 more than Aloha’s asking price, Hawaiian Airlines has round-trip airfares from Los Angeles, Ontario and San Francisco to Honolulu for just $269. Ten bucks more buys departures from San Diego and Sacramento to Honolulu. Of all Hawaiian Airline’s offers, these are the fares that come the closest to Aloha’s. Also, your hands are tied; you can only jet into the island of Honolulu and all travel must take place before Mar. 12, 2004. To ensure these low rates from Hawaii Airlines, the carrier also requests that you register for its frequent flyer program. You can do this and book your tickets online at: www.hawaiianair.com.

$99 each way from Oakland

OK, we’re narrowing the field here by only telling you about departures from Oakland, CA offered by charter Sun Trips). Take note, that this is just across the Bay from all you San Franciscans. The good news is that its $99 each-way airfares, at the moment, cannot be beat. (So, if you were thinking of going with Aloha's deal from Oakland, this choice will save you even more money.)

Also, will Sun Trips' deal you have your pick of flying into Oahu or Maui, and this special is good while supplies last. Ninety-nine percent of all charters have set departure and return dates, and Sun Trips is not deviating from the norm. Dates are as follows for each Hawaiian island:

Oakland to Honolulu
Depart: Feb 20, 22, 27, or 29
Return: Feb 29, March 5, or March 7

Oakland to Maui
Depart: Feb 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, or 29
Return: Feb 14, 28, 29; March 5, 6, or 7

To jump on this special, call Sun Trips (www.suntrips.com) immediately at 800/786-8747.

Hawaii from far away

We don’t mean to leave the rest of the country out in the cold when it comes to deals on Hawaii airfares. Those leaving from the central or eastern part of the United States surely have farther to go to dig their toes into Hawaii sand, which is why there’s typically a premium on distance. We randomly selected some dates in early March (Mar. 2-9) and plugged in a smattering of gateways. These are the best results for each city mentioned:

$598—Boston (Delta)
$529—Chicago (ATA)
$435—New York City (ATA)
$379—Seattle (ATA)
$557—New Orleans (Continental)
$522—Houston (Continental)
$576—Kansas City (Continental)

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Puu Poa Condos in Princeville

Gregory and Linda Sommer's beautiful 2 bedroom condo at Pu'u Poa in Princeville, Kauai is now available for vacation rentals. This elegant clifftop condo with breathtaking ocean views on Kauai's renowned North Shore offers you an unforgettable Hawaiian experience. There are 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a sleeper sofa to accomodate 6 people in comfortable luxury. Discover the aloha ambience of this premier condo complex, providing an elegant retreat and perfect setting to enjoy your tropical getaway

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Delta Air Lines Invites Customers to Exchange Hubbub

Delta Air Lines Invites Customers to Exchange Hubbub for the Hula with Low Fares to/from Hawaii
Wednesday February 11, 9:17 am ET
ATLANTA, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL - News) is inviting customers to exchange the hubbub of daily life for the relaxation of the hula with low sale fares to Hawaii. These low fares also are available for Hawaiian residents who want to travel to the mainland.
From now until Feb. 20, customers may purchase discounted fares for travel between most cities in the continental U.S. and Honolulu or Maui, Hawaii. All travel must be completed by April 30, 2004. Fares require a roundtrip, seven- day advance purchase and a Saturday night stay. Some blackout dates apply. See below for details and other important restrictions.
SAMPLE ONE-WAY SALE FARES
(BASED ON A ROUNDTRIP PURCHASE)
Between One-Way Sale Fare
(based on roundtrip purchase)
Atlanta and Honolulu $279
Atlanta and Maui $319
Boston and Honolulu $304
Cincinnati and Honolulu $304
Dallas and Honolulu $299
Honolulu and Los Angeles $194
Honolulu and New York City $324
Honolulu and Salt Lake City $214
Honolulu and San Francisco $194
Los Angeles and Maui $244
Additional taxes/fees/restrictions"

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Learning to Scuba Dive Opens up New Worlds

Learning to scuba dive opens up new worlds

Greg Shamus, SHAMU IN THE BLUE

PUBLISHED: February 11, 2004

Like Jules Verne once imagined when he penned "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,'' the ocean is as wondrous and mysterious as his words suggest.

My wife and I stumbled upon the beauty of the sea while scuba diving two years ago during our honeymoon on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

We stayed at a hotel that offered a crash course in the basics of diving, and then took participants on a shallow dive about 30 feet off the shore.

After a single dive, we were hooked.

Once I strapped on all the gear -- a buoyancy control vest, air tank, regulators for breathing, gauges to check air supply and depth, a weight belt, fins and goggles -- I felt as if I was schlepping the weight of the world across the sand and into the sea.

It wasn't easy.

But as soon as my body hit the water, all the weight seemingly disappeared, and I was floating weightless beneath the waves, breathing effortlessly through the regulator mouthpiece.

Fish in vibrant colors as varied as a box of Crayola crayons and creatures of every shape and size wiggled, squirmed and drifted by with the ocean's surge.

Then we saw them.

A group of massive sea turtles, gentle and calm, resting atop a bed of coral. Their faces seemed to say, "We're older than you, wiser than you. Now leave us alone.''

One by one, the turtles began to leave the resting place and swim toward the surface, brushing past us as they rose. They were nothing less than majestic.

When our fleeting encounter with the turtles and other sea creatures was over, we were eager to dive again.

But we knew that to truly get a glimpse at what's hidden under the rolling ocean waves, we'd have to get scuba certified. So back to Michigan we came.

Lincoln Park's Scuba Centers of Michigan gave us the chance to learn how to properly use dive equipment. Our instructor, Julie Huff, with her infinite patience, showed us how to communicate under water. She taught us what to do in case of emergency and how to safely ascend and descend.

We took our newfound skills back to Hawaii in December. This time, we visited Kauai, and got our certification through a company called Ocean Quest in the city of Koloa.

Our four certification dives -- done over two days -- were from the shore at Koloa Landing. We walked into the surf with all our gear, swimming out to a place where we could follow a line to the bottom of the ocean.

We demonstrated the skills required for certification on each of the four dives, then went to explore the marine life around us.

Swimming through schools of fish, we were startled at the sight of a sea turtle that had been injured by a boat propeller. There were starfish and crabs, an octopus and sea anemones.

We loved it so much, we signed up for a boat dive.

The boat captain took us out to Sheraton Caverns and Three Fingers, where we rolled off the side of the boat and followed the anchor line 75 feet to the bottom to explore. The visibility wasn't as good as we'd hoped, but we still got to practice our skills and see some of the creatures that live so deep below the ocean surface.

To my wife's relief, we didn't encounter any sharks on our dives, but most veteran divers say they're amazing creatures to see.

Maybe next time.

Greg Shamus is a freelance writer and photographer for The News-Herald.

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