Kauai News & Information

Celebrity Resort Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:04:00 +0000

March 09, 2010

By Sara K. Clarke, Orlando Sentinel

Celebrity Resorts LLC and its affiliates have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing tens of millions in estimated liabilities.

The Orlando-based time-share company listed just two unsecured creditors, International Escrow Services of Atlanta and Resort Condominiums International of Carmel, Ind. But about three dozen other filings, including Celebrity Resorts of Orlando LLC and Celebrity Resorts of Lake Buena Vista LLC, listed pages of additional creditors.

In the bankruptcy filings, the company's chief executive officer, Jared Myers, said he is owed $680,812 in unpaid compensation. A lawyer for the company could not be immediately reached for comment.

Celebrity Resorts began showing signs of distress as early as July 2008, when it announced it was cutting an unspecified number of jobs and eliminating an area of its marketing business that was unprofitable.

According to the time-share company's Web site, Celebrity Resorts has properties in 13 locations across the U.S. The company was formerly known as Resort World, a family-owned business that started selling time shares in the Caribbean in the 1970s and then in the Orlando area in the 1980s

Visit Kauai or Kona for Less Before May 20th

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:42:00 +0000

If you’ve been thinking about escaping winter, now is the time to go to Hawaii because fares and rates are low.

Airfare:
Travelzoo just announced special airfares to Hawaii from 11 US cities including, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, Des Moines, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, Asheville, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. starting as low as $291. Many of these flights normally start at $800 roundtrip or more. Your travel just has to be completed between now and May 20. Go to this link for more information and to book your flight: http://www.united.com/page/article/1,,50078,00.html

Accommodations:
SummitPacific is running a list of owner rented Kauai vacation rental homes and condos that are being offered at up to 40% off the regular low rates. To get these rates visit this link Hawaii Vacation Deals. Although there is only a limited number of properties listed on the above page. You can see more options for great Kauai vacation rentals.

Car Rentals:
And finally, to rent a car on any of the islands at up to 50% off all islands, be sure to check out SummitPacific’s Hawaii Car Rental deals. Summit has negotiated special rates from Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Alamo, and Enterprise. These rates are so low that they aren’t allowed to even mention the company’s name in their advertising, but when you send in your request, you’ll hear back from the car rental company with the lowest rate.

What could be better? Or easier?

Vacation Homes on Kauai

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:34:00 +0000

SummitPacific has recently added several new homes to its collection of vacation rental homes on Kauai. Vacation homes offered by owers on Kauai are available for your next visit to the islands.

Hale Emmalani in Princeville is a 3 bedroom home that can accommodate up to 10 guests and it even has its own private lap pool.

Hale Kepuhi Beachfront Home is a beach lover’s dream home. Located near the end of the road in Haena, guests can enjoy a gorgeous stretch of beach in front of the home, nearby Tunnels Beach, or they can sit on watch the ocean right from this spectacular home’s large private lanais.

The Dolphin Estate is a 5 bedroom beachfront home perfectly located on Hanalei Bay. This is the ultimate getaway for those that can afford the best.

Kainalu Hanalei is just short walk to the beach and also convenient to the town of Hanalei.

SummitPacific has a growing number of fine vacation rental homes on Kauai available for weekly and monthly rentals. Beach homes and Kauai cottages offer a great value over hotels and resorts, and a large variety of choices is available. SummitPacific has options from Haena, Hanalei, Princeville, Anahola, and Poipu and lots of places in between. You’ll find a wide range of prices to fit your budget.

Vacation homes offer a good value when compared to staying in a hotel. Especially for families or those traveling in groups or with other couples. When you compare the amount of private living space with a hotel room you'll see the difference. Plus, vacation homes don't have all the extra charges that you'll incur in a hotel. Many homes come with extras like entertainment centers, wide screen TVs and DVDs. Free parking and even garages are available, plus many homes have a closet full of beach toys, coolers and beach chairs waiting for you.

Privacy is also a plus with vacation homes. You can come and go as you please without walking through crowed hotel lobbys. Vacation homes are more like staying at, well... like staying at home.

Of course hotels do offer some advantages that are hard to beat. Things like in-house restaurants, bell service, concierge desks, and other services are nice. But you should consider what type of vacation you are expecting and what is important to you. Remember, it's your vacation.

Tsunami Warning Lifted

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:08:00 +0000

Honolulu, Hawaii (CNN) -- The tsunami warning is canceled for the state of Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

"There was no assessment of any damage in any county, which is quite remarkable," said Gov. Linda Lingle, who said witnesses had reported seeing "dramatic surges going on in the ocean."

An official with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the island chain had "dodged a bullet" after smaller-than-expected waves were reported as a result of a massive earthquake that struck Chile early Saturday.

The first waves of the tsunami were recorded on The Big Island around noon (5 p.m. ET), 16 hours after the Chilean temblor.

Gauges showed water levels rising 3 feet in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii and remaining at that level.

"It's almost the best sort of tsunami you can possibly have, one that's big enough that everyone sees that something happened, but not big enough to cause any damage," said Gerald Fryer, a geophysicist with the warning center.

The arrival of the tsunami waves was preceded by receding water that exposed reefs and churned up silt.

Earlier, Hawaiian residents scrambled to stock up on water, gas and food as sirens pierced the early morning quiet across the islands ahead of the tsunami.

Roads to beaches and other low-lying areas were closed and seaside hotels were moving guests to higher ground.

At Honolulu's Hilton Waikoloa Hotel, guests with cars headed inland and buses moved hundreds of others to a nearby evacuation center.

At supermarkets, residents stocked up on essentials like water and toilet paper in anticipation of the high waters. One sign at a local store limited families to two cases of Spam.

Beaches that would normally be crowded with sunbathers at midday on a Saturday were deserted. Commercial and recreational vessels seeking safe waters lined up a mile off the coast.

County sirens were sounding hourly "to alert residents and visitors to evacuate coastal areas," Hawaii's Civil Defense Division said in a statement.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning, the highest level of a tsunami alert, for the entire Pacific region, including countries as far away as Russia, Japan and Australia.

At the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center in Melbourne, Australia, co-director Chris Ryan said tsunami waves were beginning to strike parts of Tasmania "and we expect to begin to see more measurements along the Victoria and New South Wales coasts."

He predicted waves would reach a height of about half a meter (1.6 feet) above normal tide levels, but predicted they would cause little damage.

California and Alaska are under a tsunami advisory.

Tsunami waves came ashore along the Chilean coast shortly after the earthquake, U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Victor Sardina told CNN.

He said the largest was 9 feet near the quake's epicenter. Another wave, 7.7 feet, hit the Chilean town of Talcahuano, according to Eric Lau of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

Video from the town showed one car sitting in a large expanse of water and boats littering the docks.

A large wave on the island of Juan Fernandez -- 400 miles (643 km) off Chile's coast -- killed three people, Provincial Governor Ivan De La Maza said. Ten people were missing.

Navigational buoys in Ventura County, California, sustained minor damage as a result of a 2-foot surge and waves, according to the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center. The Ventura County Fire Department had one report of damage to a resident's dock from the surge.

Speaking Saturday afternoon in Washington, President Obama urged people in Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa, also under a tsunami warning, to prepare.

"We can't control nature, but we can and must be prepared for disaster when it strikes," he said in a brief statement at the White House.

The 13th Air Force, in Hawaii, launched planes carrying loudspeakers to alert people in coastal areas not near sirens to evacuate.

Before the tsunami struck, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle said she had already declared a state of emergency.

In 1960, a tsunami triggered by an earthquake on South America's west coast destroyed much of downtown Hilo and killed 61 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake had a magnitude between 8.25 and 8.5, the USGS said, and the waves in Hilo Bay reached 35 feet, but only 3 to 17 elsewhere.

CNN's Thelma Gutierrez, Mike Ahlers and Carey Bodenheimer contributed to this report.

Tsunami Warning

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:15:00 +0000

Hawaiians braced for an expected tsunami from a giant earthquake off the coast of Chile, as officials in the state evacuated thousands of residents and tourists to higher ground.

The "Big Island" of Hawaii may face the biggest threat of wave damage, officials on the islands said.

"Residents right on the coast should be concerned and evacuate the coast," especially in places like Hilo Bay on the island of Hawaii, said Barry Hirshorn, a geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

The tsunami-warning center's models, based on readings from sensors, are predicting "very rough waves" from six to 10 feet high by the time the tsunami hits Hawaii at about 11:00 a.m. local time, Mr. Hirshorn [cq] said. Any major tsunami waves could be damaging, he said, because "the don't crash on the beach. They streamroll in and they streamroll out."

Evacuations were taking place on low-lying areas throughout the state, including the islands of Maui, Kauai and the most populated island, Oahu, where Honolulu lies.

The last time statewide evacuations were ordered for a tsunami was in 1994, but large waves failed to materialize then.

Some of the most intense preparations were taking place in the greater Hilo area, said Bill Hanson, administrative officer with the Hawaii County Civil Defense on the Big Island. The city of Hilo is situated on the southeastern side of the Big Island, facing the direction from which a tsunami wave as high as 14 feet was projected to hit, Mr. Hanson said.

The city is preparing for major damage if the waves are big. "It's not a matter of if, but when it will happen," Mr. Hanson said.

Federal officials closed the Hilo International Airport at 5:30 a.m. Saturday so the estimated 5,000 residents of coastal subdivisions lying next to it could evacuate more quickly across the tarmac, Mr. Hanson said.

Hotels were also emptying guests out of resorts. At the beachfront Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, officials said they had begun evacuating guests from the 286-room resort before tsunami sirens were scheduled to sound across Hawaii at about 6 a.m. They didn't have an estimate on evacuees, but said the hotel was 75% full.

Hotel staff, meanwhile, said they planned to follow suit afterwards. Desk clerk Marian Somalinog said she planned to evacuate at 9:30 a.m. -- almost two hours ahead of when the wave was expected to hit -- but added that she wasn't overly concerned. "If it's my time to go it's my time to go," Ms. Somalinog said.

The warnings were being taken seriously in Hawaii because the state -- especially around Hilo -- has been hit by giant tsunami waves before. At least three big ones have struck Hilo since World War II, including one in 1946 that killed 163 people and another in 1960 that killed 61, said Mr. Hanson.

The most recent loss of life from a tsunami on the island occurred in 1975 when a big wave killed three campers at a beachfront park, he said.

Authorities were hoping loss of life would be minimized this time, in part because tsunami drills are commonplace on the Big Island and throughout Hawaii. Evacuations were also being ordered on other parts of the island, including the affluent Kohala Kona coast where many large resorts are situated.

Waves there were expected to rise as much as seven feet. Other parts of Hawaii, including Maui and Oahu, were not considered in as great a threat because the Big Island lies in the path of the projected tsunami wave and would take the brunt of its force, Mr. Hanson said.

In Hilo, most of the area's 50,000 residents live on ground high enough to escape much damage from a tsunami. The area of greatest concern is a coastal plain around Hilo Bay where the Keaukaha subdivision by the international airport is located, as well as downtown Hilo.

Elsewhere, the tsunami was disrupting air routes to and from Hawaii. At San Francisco International Airport, delays in flights to airports in Hawaii were being reported as a result of the tsunami preparations.

People should stay away from coastlines for six to 12 hours after the wave to be safe, said Mr. Hirshorn, because the first waves aren't necessarily the biggest

The Happy Talk Lounge is Closed - Again

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:54:00 +0000

I’m sorry to report that the Happy Talk Lounge at Hanalei Bay Resort is closed - again. I realize that some of you reading this will assume it’s an old post because the lounge as been on again off again several times over the past couple of years since being purchased by Celebrity Resorts. But sadly it's true.
"Reg Marvin, with Celebrity, is on site and packing the booze up and everything is shut down," said a Joan Bettencourt, a homeowner at Hanalei Bay Resort.

For reasons that this writer doesn’t understand, Celebrity just doesn’t seem capable of running a restaurant and bar. Not that it and easy business, but with the location, view, and setting of this restaurant/bar it would seem that someone with even a little bit of restaurant know-how could make it work; and work well.

The Happy Talk, once one of the hottest spots on Kauai’s north shore was a great place to hang out, eat a burger, watch a game and listen to some of the best musicians on the island. It was hard to get a table. But for whatever reason, Celebrity hasn’t been able to make it work over the past couple of years. Yes, this is a bad economy. Yes, visitor occupancy at Hanalei Bay Resort (like the rest of Hawaii) is down, but still… people still need to unwind and listen to music right? I thought alcohol was recession proof?

Celebrity Resorts is looking to sell both the Happy Talk Lounge and the Bali Hai Restaurant. Let’s hope they do it soon. Anyone interested in owning a restaurant in paradise?

New Radar Laboratory at Navy Base

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:42:00 +0000

LIHU‘E — Construction has begun at the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands near Kekaha on an Advanced Radar Detection Laboratory facility, according to a news release.

The ARDEL project will test and evaluate a new radar system planned for the next generation of surface combatant vessels, designed to strengthen the Navy’s ability to detect, track, and provide information required to engage ballistic missiles at greater distances than current systems in use, as well as more elusive long-range air threats, the release states.

The advanced technologies of the new radar incorporate various aspects of ballistic missile defense, air defense and surface warfare.

According to the Department of the Navy’s environmental assessment of the project, the purpose of the ARDEL facility is to test advanced radar technologies including the Air and Missile Defense Radar.

According to AMDR Major Program Manager Capt. Larry Creevy, AMDR is a next-generation radar system designed to address the BMD, AD, and SuW capability gaps identified in the Maritime Air and Missile Defense of Joint Forces Initial Capabilities Document.

AMDR is envisioned to counter current and emergent ballistic missile, air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile threats.

“This advanced radar project will not only further the Navy’s ability to protect and serve our nation and our allies, but also strengthen PMRF’s status as a diverse and important training and test and evaluation resource for our country,” said Capt. Aaron Cudnohufsky, PMRF commanding officer.

The Department of the Navy chose PMRF for the new ARDEL facility due to Barking Sands’ ability to provide integrated range services in a modern, multi-threat, multi-dimensional environment, from space to the ocean floor, that ensures the safe conduct and evaluation of training and test and evaluation missions.

PMRF was the only potential build location that met the required test and evaluation criteria that could completely support the proposed development of a land-based testing site while providing targets that are representative of the threats Navy vessels may encounter in their operational environment, the release states.

Test and evaluation of the new radar technologies would include the use of targets of opportunity on the PMRF range.

“PMRF has been working closely with the ARDEL project for some time, and breaking ground on the construction of this facility will put us a step closer to actually realizing a new capability here,” said Cudnohufsky.

The two-story ARDEL facility will consist of a radar tower, mechanical and electrical rooms, radar chiller room, control rooms, equipment storage and loading areas, data processing room and other supporting spaces.

The facility will be built with a silver designation of the Navy’s Leadership Energy and Environmental Design building standards.

Developed in the 1990s by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a certification system for environmentally friendly construction, indicating the project meets or exceeds government mandates as well as industry standards.

Buildings can achieve certified, silver, gold or platinum designation of LEED compliance. The Navy requires all construction and major renovation projects to be compliant to LEED silver standards or better, the release states.

The traditional image of a radar antenna is the rotating, parabolic antenna as seen on top of airport control towers and aircraft carriers.

In contrast, the two radars of the ARDEL facility are similar to the radars of the Theater High Altitude Area Defense radar system, currently operating at PMRF, and to the AEGIS system in use on Navy vessels.

“This facility will be the birthplace for the most advanced radar the world has ever seen in the most capable Navy the world has ever seen. It will fulfill missile-defense requirements recently identified by President Obama,” said Creevy.

The ARDEL facility will have six permanent staff that could be augmented to the projected peak number of 40 persons during radar testing.

The facility would be manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific awarded the $18.5 million contract to Tomco Corp. of Honolulu for design and construction of the ARDEL facility. The facility is expected to be completed by August 2011.

Hurricane Iniki Remembered

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:01:00 +0000

A REUNION TO REMEMBER
At Risk Again

By Minnie Pitts Champ

In 1949 a small Texas high school held graduation for a class of 21 people. When, in 1992 we began to consider a class reunion, I offered to put one together as a Tour of Hawaii. I worked for a resort on the Island of Kauai and knew how to make all the necessary arrangements and negotiations. For six months, we communicated via conference calls, etc. and arranged a 9-day, four-island tour. As their Tour Guide, I included "tourist" events and several special activities. Goody bags were collected for each person plus couple of dozen special prizes to be awarded: a helicopter tour for two, a subscription to the Kauai newspaper, special dinners.

I flew from Kauai to Honolulu the morning of their arrival in Honolulu to greet them when they got off the plane and escort them to Kauai. No problem, I thought. While I waited for them in the Delta Crown Room I worked on final tour details. Little did I know what the group had gone through before they left the Dallas/Fort Worth airport.

When they arrived, everyone was so excited. I thought it was their anticipation for the upcoming nine days. It took little time for them to tell me about their harrowing story of being held captive in the plane on the D/FW runway in a blowing thunderstorm with the plane being pitched back and forth. They really were looking forward to a relaxing vacation and "kicking back" and "hangin' loose."

By the time we arrived at Hanalei Bay Resort in Princeville, it was 10 pm. They were exhausted. Only three of the eighteen people from this tiny Texas town had ever been to the islands. They were overwhelmed with the Resort and ambience and overwhelmed by the lei greeting. During this excitement, a staff member asked me if I had heard the news. What I was told changed our whole 9-day, 4-island tour.

As fate would have it, the date was September 10, 1992 and Hurricane Iniki had that night chosen the Island of Kauai for its target the next day.

The group had no idea, nor did I, what we were to encounter the next 24 hours. We had a lovely late-night dinner in the Bali Hai Restaurant and went to our rooms to rest. I did not sleep for I had heard about what happened to Kauai in 1982 when Hurricane Iwa hit the island. It was not a pretty story.

About 5 am the next morning (September 11th), the island tsunami sirens sounded and my phone began to ring. We gathered in my room for a meeting. After considering racing for the airport, knowing that 40,000 other tourists would be doing the same thing, the group chose to stay and see it through. Because I was a staff member, I reported to the General Manager and staff and guests started the hurricane preparation.
Breakfast was served to the 300-plus guests who were given clear directions of how to prepare for the events to come. Very few guests chose to leave. Staff members went to work packing all restaurant and bar glassware, taping the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, stacking and securing the furniture at the two pools and all the other emergency preparations. The National Weather Service had projected an early afternoon arrival of Hurricane Iniki.

Lunch was served, buffet style, at 11:30 am on paper plates & cups. By 12:30 pm the winds came up and we were told that Hurricane Iniki was about to hit. About 150 people crowded into the lower level of the restaurant building where many people had survived the 1982 hurricane. Three of my tour group and I rode out the storm in the three rooms at that location; the others went to their rooms. We had no idea how long we were going to be there and how close to the others in the shelter we would become.

There were other staff members in the group and because we were under the restaurant, we were kept supplied with food and drinks during the ordeal. The winds built higher and higher and it was impossible to keep the exterior doors closed. We watched out the doorway as the trees were laid over and debris flew through the air. One gust of wind caused the ceiling to fall down on us. Although no one was injured, we were all shaken up.

Sheets of roofing iron, a pallet, broken plants and other debris fly through the air at the height of Hurricane Iniki in Lihue, Kauai

(Photo by Bruce Asato, courtesy of the Honolulu Advertiser).

As the hours dragged along, we were surprised how long it was before the expected calm of the eye, which only meant that there was probably the same amount of storm still to occur. As it turned out, the storm which arrived in Princeville on the North Shore of Kauai about 12:30 pm blew off shore about 6 pm. Those hours filled us with dread and fear, a feeling that would never be forgotten.

During the entire ordeal, the General Manager and a few staff members had been out, at their own peril, checking property and guests. At one point, guests in rooms on the third floor of buildings were told to evacuate to the lower floors, as it was evident that roofs were being torn off by Iniki. Two couples in one of their rooms told us afterwards that the guys held the door to keep it from being blown open. Little did they know that if Iniki’s winds had hit the door, they would have been whipped right out of the room with the door. The only serious injury by any guest was a lady who was hit by a door that had been torn off its hinges.

It was dark and wet when we realized that Iniki had left us. We were instructed to remain where we were until the GM located rooms that were dry enough to be used. The grounds were totally covered with downed trees and uprooted shrubs as well as broken pieces of the buildings that were destroyed. It was dangerous to walk outside at all. As rooms were found, people would be taken from the emergency shelter to rooms. As staff members, we were the last to be placed and that was after ten that night.

When I woke up about 3 am and looked outside it was as bright as day for the full moon was hanging just above the mountain called Bali Hai. The reflection in Hanalei Bay made some beautiful photos.
The day was sunny and the weather clear, such a contrast to what we witnessed the last 24 hours. We gathered that morning for breakfast and had no idea what we were going to do next. As it turned out, the chef and kitchen staff were already in the restaurant preparing food for everyone. Since there was no electricity, Chef knew that all the valuable food in the freezers would be ruined so they planned to serve the 300+ guests two sumptuous meals a day until all the guests were able to get off the island.

Having lobster and steak with our eggs somehow cheered us and after breakfast almost everyone pitched in to assist the staff with the resort cleanup. The taped sliding glass doors surrounding the restaurant were shattered and ripped from their moldings. Glass was everywhere. Everything was wet and ruined. It was a sight to behold. People just wandered around the grounds in a daze looking at the destruction to buildings as well as to the trees and plants.

One of our four rented vehicles was destroyed on the parking lot as well as my personal car. Some of us took two of the vans to my residence to see how my house had fared. Just driving down the streets was so shattering to our emotions as we saw the homes and lives that were ravaged. The roads were covered with debris but we were able to get to my home. It was a scary sight.

Several of my friends had come the day before to help me pack up my apartment. There was only one room, a large walk-in closet, that had no windows. We put everything into the closet except the furniture. When we drove up after-Iniki, we could see that one of the eight giant Norfolk island pine trees had broken and fallen onto the house, right into the closet. So, nothing was spared from the rain. The apartment was totally destroyed with all the window glass shattered all over the carpet, the frig laying on its side and one wall in the bedroom blown in and laying on my bed. However, we took my clothes and other items to my room at the resort, hanging the wet clothes out on the lanai and balcony to dry.

Our class members spent a lot of time with each other reflecting on what had happened to us. Of course, we recognized how good God had been to protect us. It took four days before we were allowed to go to the airport and leave the island to pick up the tour to other islands. We had not driven outside of the Princeville & Hanalei area. We were shocked by the total devastation to forests, businesses & homes driving to the airport. Upon arrival, I learned that their Delta flight had been delayed, having spent hours on the tarmac in a blowing thunderstorm in Dallas.through the countryside toward the airport in Lihue, we were shocked by the devastation to the trees as well as the buildings and homes. By that time, the only road from the North Shore had been cleared enough for people to navigate the one lane road leading to the airport. We could see that Hurricane Iniki had totally ripped apart the island and left the entire population to start over again.

At the airport, which also had suffered damage, we were amazed at the line of people snaking around the parking lot still waiting to get cleared to get on planes. Because we had our rental vehicles, we were required to drop off everyone to stand in line, and the four drivers drove the rental vehicles to the football field where all rentals were being returned. We were shocked when we got there to see thousands of people in line after line waiting for the buses to carry them to the terminal. We stood in line there for hours before we finally were loaded on buses to join the balance of our group.

We were about to have another experience we would never forget--our flight from Lihue to Honolulu aboard a military the C-5A Galaxy, the largest and heaviest aircraft in the world. We took pictures before we boarded, as we boarded and inside. No one had ever been in one of these before and we found it only added one more memorable event for our group. We were flown from Lihue Airport to Tinker Air Force Base in Honolulu from which we were bused to the Honolulu Airport.

We were planning to pick up the remaining five days of our 9-day tour to the three other islands not damaged by Hurricane Iniki, for the group got to see nothing of the beauty and splendor of Kauai. The days were packed with wonderful relief from the trauma of the previous days with memory-making activities and places: Waikiki Beach where, as ‘Iniki refugees’ we were housed at the Outrigger Resort at $50 per person. Next day on to the Big Island of Hawaii, four to Maui and all ending back up on Oahu where we spent time at the Turtle Bay Hilton from which we toured the special activities there like Pearl Harbor, sunset cruise off Waikiki Beach and the Polynesian Cultural Center.

The members of the group were very worried about my returning to Kauai and Hanalei Bay Resort. They tried to convince me to leave with them and return to the Mainland. However, they understood my need to have closure on Kauai. At our last meal, the group revealed their true compassion when they presented me with an envelope filed with money to help finance my new start. What a lovely thing to do.
Although our tour had not been what had been so carefully planned, we had bonded and that continues today as we gather frequently in Texas, now that I'm back home in Texas.

The weird thing was that these class members had spent another stormy afternoon together under their desks in 1948 as juniors when a tornado ripped across our hometown in Texas. They may feel they are at risk as a group.

Minnie Pitts Champ worked at Hanalei Bay Resort when Hurricane Iniki struck the island. She was admin to the General Manager. Travel has been a passion and she started visiting Hawaii in the 1960s. The trip she made in 2009 was her 19th trip to the Islands. After returning to Texas, she took over her mother's publishing company which she now operates.

Prince Kuhio 113

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:48:00 +0000

SummitPacific added a new condo to its Kauai vacation rental database of one bedroom condos on Kauai. Prince Kuhio 113 is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the ocean on Kauai’s beautiful south shore near Poipu Beach. Managed by Juliana Cherry of Ala Muku Vacation Rentals, unit 113 is spacious and comfortable and conveniently located on the first floor. It has a king size bed, fully equipped kitchen and a free hi-speed internet connection. There is a queen sofa sleeper in the living room.

Prince Kuhio, next to Prince Kuhio Park and across the street from Kuhio Shores, is a hidden gem and a delight. It’s quaint and quiet and close to restaurants, shopping and one of the island’s best snorkeling spots, Prince Kuhio is quite affordable with prices starting at just over $160/night plus taxes and fees.

The resort features a swimming pool, beautiful grounds and an outdoor barbeque area.

Kauai Weather

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Hawaii’s Climate is just about Perfect.

I grew up in the high desert regions of the west in Idaho, Utah, and Arizona with a four season’s lifestyle that included mild summers, beautiful fall colors, and very cold winters with lots of snow. (Because the word “cold” is subjective; let me just say that in Idaho, I remember mornings when it was 30 to 40 degrees below zero…Fahrenheit) As I grew up, it seemed that spring came later and later every year. March and April often were just sort of mud months. Things would start to warm up and bam - another snow storm would hit and send us back into winter. Luckily I did a lot of skiing and thought I could never give up my winters. I was pretty sure that I needed four seasons.

Then I got into bike and triathlon racing. In order to have a great racing season, it was necessary to have a long summer with lots of time on the bike. I started to spend my winters in Arizona so that I could train outdoors all winter. I soon realized it was pretty easy to go without snow. I didn’t miss it at all. Spending December in shorts and t-shirts was pretty nice. But let me tell you, summers in Arizona are brutal and worse than winters in Idaho. When people try to tell you that 120 degrees in the shade is okay because it’s a "dry heat" don’t listen to them. 120 degrees with or without humidity isn’t fun.

During the last 30 years or so, I’ve spend weeks and months at a time in Hawaii. Hawaii has an ideal climate year round. From the moment you step off the plane, the first thing that you notice it the moisture in the air; that and the fact that much of the airport in Honolulu is open air. Why have walls when the temperature outside is perfect?

The humidity is only a problem until you learn to dress down and relax. Ditch your shoes and socks and put on some sandals. Put on some shorts and a short sleeve Aloha shirt – after all you’re on vacation. Everybody in Hawaii is on vacation. Even if they don't know it, they're on vacation. Once you acclimatize, you’ll start to notice that your body actually likes moisture in the air. Your skin will feel better, your hair will look and feel better, and your sinuses will improve. Why wouldn't they, you’re breathing clean moist air that has just blown 3000 miles across the Pacific Ocean. When I fly home to the high desert plains of Utah, the first thing I notice is that my nose dries out and my sinuses starts to bleed, my hands and fingers develop painful cracks, and my hair gets all full of static and becomes brittle. My skin dries out and I get itchy. I long for moisture again.

Hawaii’s temperature stays nice all year round. The average temperature in Maui ranges from highs of about 80 to 88 Fahrenheit through the year and lows down to about 65 in January. Water temperatures range from about 75 in the winter to 73 in the summer. Kauai weather is a little cooler with temperatures averaging about 2 or 3 degrees below what you can expect on Maui.

Think of that the next time you’re out shoveling your driveway. I do.

Timeshare Owners at Hanalei Bay Resort Can List Resales for Free

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Timeshare Owners at Hanalei Bay Resort Can List Resales for Free

Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii - November 24, 2009 -- SummitPacific.com, already a leader in marketing Kauai vacation rentals, is now letting owners of timeshare units a free way to advertise timeshare resales at Hanalei Bay Resort.

Hanalei Bay Resort, a beautiful 22 acre destination resort on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai is located next door to the new St. Regis Princeville Hotel. The resort has both timeshare ownership and also full unit ownerships. SummitPacific has long provided a way for owners to advertise full owner condos for rent in the popular vacation rentals market, but now for the first time, SummitPacific is also allowing those that have purchased timeshares at Hanalei Bay Resort a way to resale their interval ownerships.

Advertising Timeshare Resales at Hanalei Bay Resort is Free on Summit Pacific.

“What we’re trying to do is offer those that purchased timeshare ownerships at the resort a way to resale those units without incurring a lot of expenses.” said Doug Porter, president of Summit Pacific, Inc (and also a condo owner at the resort). “Creating an aftermarket for timeshares is healthy for the market and takes a lot of uncertainty and fear out of decision to buy a timeshare because people know when they buy they will also have a way to resale it later if they need to.”

Of course the timeshare resale market is great place to pick up deals on vacation rental ownership; especially right now when many people are struggling with financial problems caused by the poor economy. “We’re seeing people offering their weeks for unbelievably low prices – sometimes as low as 10 cents on the dollar.” “This is primarily a short term result of the bad economy and also by the frustration people have had in not having a good way until now to re-sale their units.” “Once these deals are gone, we expect the market to stabilize.”

Summit Pacific is not affiliated with Hanalei Bay Resort or the primary resellers of timeshares at the resort. “We feel we’re more affiliated with the individual condo and timeshare owners at the resort than we have been with the resort operators,” says Porter.

Hawaii Vacation Rental Discounts Are Available on Kauai.

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:19:00 +0000

Because of last minute cancelations and a sluggish economy, owners of vacation rental homes and condos are finding themselves with a lot of nights that often go unrented. Most owners are happy to discount these nights in order to try to fill their calendars and keep their properties rented.

Many deals and discounts are available around the internet. Summit Pacific has a way for owners to advertise these deals on its Hawaii Vacation Discounts page. If you’re able to fly to Hawaii on short notice (usually within the next 30-60 days) you can find incredible savings; often up to 40% off the normal price.

Spectacular ocean view condos at Waipouli Beach Resort that normally rent for around $350/night are often available for $199. Some units at Hanalei Bay Resort are available now for $89/night.

Because the discounts offered on Summit’s Pages fluctuate from day to day, you need to move fast on these discounts.

Hanalei Bay Resort owners reach agreement with management

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:58:00 +0000

Hanalei Bay Resort owners reach agreement with management

By Coco Zickos - The Garden Island
Published: Friday, October 9, 2009 2:11 AM HST
HANALEI — An agreement has been reached between Hanalei Bay Resort owners and Florida-based management company Celebrity Resorts, according to a letter sent this week to members of the Vacation Owners Association and the Association of Apartment Owners.

Several allegations were made in recent months by timeshare and full-time condo owners regarding Celebrity Resorts’ involvement with the 30-year-old property. Since then, members of the VOA and AOAO Board of Directors, along with their legal counsel, had a “very busy summer” involving “confidential discussions with Celebrity Resorts,” the letter states.

California-based Trading Places International will assume management duties at the North Shore vacation destination, but Celebrity Resorts will continue to own Bali Hai restaurant and Happy Talk Lounge, the letter says.

TPI was one of the six management companies board representatives contacted when they sought “alternative management.”

“Their references are outstanding,” the letter says.

Celebrity Resorts will continue to have “exclusive rights to market timeshare sales at HBR and to rent unused timeshare weeks under an agreement with the VOA.”

“... We look forward to working with them in a harmonious relationship,” the letter states.

It was previously reported in a July 4 article titled “Hanalei Bay Resort owners battle management” that one reason owners sought to terminate Celebrity Resort’s contract was its inability to recognize board members of the VOA elected prior to management transitions.

However, there will be “a reconciliation and redefinition of association operational control in favor of the owners and the installation and empowering of a member-only board of directors,” according to the letter.

Dick Schweickert, VOA president, said he was “happy” with the outcome, but declined to make further comment due to “confidentiality.”

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” timeshare owner Lynn Kettleson said Wednesday. “It looks like a good resolution, but we’ll see how the details work out.”

Though he couldn’t speak for other owners, he said the boards should be “commended for doing a wonderful job of resolving this issue.”

A transition will occur where an auditor will “review all income, expenses and advances made by Celebrity for both of the association’s financials to generate a final monetary settlement.”

HBR employees will become TPI employees and it is TPI’s plan to retain “most” of them, according to the letter.

Vice President of TPI Resort Management Douglas Wilcox said they are “very excited,” but was unable to provide further comment at press time.

Attempts to reach Celebrity Resorts for comment were unsuccessful.

Hanalei Bay Resort Board of Directors Reach Settlement with Celebrity Resorts

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:16:00 +0000

Press Release from Hanalei Bay Resort Board of Directors

Settlement Agreement with Celebrity:
We have reached an agreement between Celebrity Resorts and the VOA and the AOAO, which settles the various legal issues between them. As you know, Celebrity purchased Quintus Vacation Management last year which included the VOA and AOAO management contracts along with certain Developer Rights. They also purchased Apartment 16-A - the Happy Talk Lounge and the Bali Hai Restaurant.
The Settlement Agreement enables the buyout of the two management contacts from Celebrity and restores the member elected VOA Board installed last year. The AOAO will have a right of first refusal on a future sale of Apartment 16-A, and some rights to lease or subsidize operations of the Happy Talk Lounge in the event Celebrity feels it is not a profitable operatio n and wishes to close it. The re-opening of the Bali Hai Restaurant is an economic decision that will be made by Celebrity as the restaurant owner—it is currently open on a limited basis.
The result is a cessation of excessive legal expenses, a reconciliation and redefinition of Association operational control in favor of the owners, the installation and empowering of a member only board of directors, the hiring of a new professional management company and the onset of a bright and exciting future for Hanalei Bay Resort and you, the members.

New Management Company - Trading Places International (TPI)
The VOA and the AOAO Boards have executed agreements with TPI, a resort management company based in Laguna Niguel, California. TPI manages three resorts in Hawaii plus another 19 in the US and Mexico. TPI was one of six management companies the Boards contacted when we sought alternative management, and their references are outstanding. The agreement with TPI will initially be for a three year term, renewable, but entirely under the control of the two respective Boards. TPI will begin the transition of management of the resort as soon as all legal documents have been cleared which will occur early in October—Started Today!

Transition Period Planned / Employees Retained / Board Meeting Planned:
There will be a transition period during which an independent auditor will review all income, expenses and advances made by Celebrity for both of the Association's financials to generate a final monetary settlement. We are also trying to resolve the lack of accounting records from Quintus when Celebrity acquired the contracts. This has been a problem in completing our 2008 audit.
The resort employees will become employees of TPI. We have compared benefits and salaries to insure that employees do not lose in their transition to TPI. It is TPI's plan to retain most of our employees. An AOAO and a VOA Board meeting is planned for October 17, 2009 at the resort to review the transition, prepare the 2010 budget and complete some long term planning.

Celebrity Resort's Continued Presence at HBR:
Celebrity continues to own the restaurants and we look forward to working with them in a harmonious relationship. Their success will benefit each of our owners and guests. As part of the Developer Rights (which Celebrity owns), they will have exclusive rights to market timeshare sales at HBR and to rent unused timeshare weeks under an agreement with the VOA. The AOAO will lease a portion of the Aikane Room (now exclusively the timeshare marketing office) and the Food and Beverage Office on the lower level to Celebrity. The Concierge desks in the lobby will be operated by TPI under a lease with the AOAO, with timeshare marketing leads referred to Celebrity.

2009 Regular Dues Payments:
TPI will be providing the VOA interval owners with continued service for the payment of annual fees. They will also be providing the AOAO owners with regular monthly statements so the AOAO owners can complete their regular payments on time. In the meantime AOAO owners should pay their monthly dues to the AOAO account in Princeville. If you are a VOA owner and you are delinquent in the payment of your fees, we would ask and highly recommend that you pay curren t. The Board is securing our future and it is bright and your timeshare will have great value for excellent vacation experiences you bargained to own.

Resort Update:
Operations at the resort are generally positive except for the spa. The resort has incurred numerous maintenance challenges with the gas fired heater and pumps this summer. Through the leadership and experience of AOAO Board member Dave Blank, who is a resort manager himself in Colorado, the AOAO board has approved rebuilding and replacement of the heater and pumps. There is a great need to build the AOAO and VOA reserves to the legally mandated levels, and to make major improvements in the VOA units and the boards will be taking on these challenges immediately. There will be a need for an owner assessment, the amount of which is currently being determined. You will be receiving more detail on the assessment along with other information in the next week or so.

Successful Negotiating Team:
Many thanks to the Board appointed negotiating team for the Settlement discussions. They have put in numerous hours and great personal effort. Thanks to Bill Kraft and Kent Oehm representing the AOAO; and Dick Schweickert and David Nicholl representing the VOA; and Bill Byrns and Ralph O'Neill our legal counsel.
We extend to you our deepest appreciation for your support and patience during this difficult process. We understand that you have been worried and upset over the recent circumstances surrounding your ownership. We thank you for your participation and recommendations and we know that you will be pleased that we have been able to work so well with Celebrity Resorts and arrive at a reasonable reconciliation and secure control of our beautiful resort and our future.

Sincerely,
The VOA and AOAO Board of Directors:

Bali Hai Restaurant to Open?

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:02:00 +0000

The front desk at Hanalei Bay Resort has been telling guests that the Bali Hai Restaurant will be opening starting today on a limited bases.

The Bali Hai Restaurant was closed nearly two years ago by the resort’s former operator Quintus Resorts, presumably for financial reasons although the official explanation was that the restaurant was being remodeled. Much to the chagrin of north shore patrons, resort guests and condo owners, the popular restaurant has remained closed even though it was purchased by Celebrity Resorts way back in August of 2008.

Although no official word has ever been given as to when the restaurant might officially open, the front desk has been telling condo owners and guests to spread the word that the restaurant will open on a “limited basis” on September 21st.

The Happy Talk Lounge re-opened in July.

St. Regis Princeville Resort To Open in Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:04:00 +0000

by Doug Porter

Nearing completion of a $40 million renovation, the former Princeville Hotel will open this month under the ultra-luxury St. Regis brand. A soft opening is scheduled for September 26th with the long awaited official grand opening set for October 1st.
Soon to become Hawaii's first and only St. Regis, this high-end luxury resort will certainly stir things up in Princeville on the north shore of Kauai which has been hit hard by the recent recession.

Over the past year many restaurants and shops on the island have been forced to close, adversely affected by the drop in tourist dollars. But Hawaii is starting to notice an uptick in visitor arrivals. Just as things are starting to turn around and visitors are coming back to Hawaii, the new resort will open with 252 guest rooms and 51 suites, four restaurants, several boutiques and shops, and a 10,000-square foot Spa and fitness center.

Although it might seem like bold move to open in this economy but the timing of the renovation was planned way before the economy took a nose dive. They had their plans and financing already in place and were able to do their construction and get the place built while tourism was down. Now they’ll open just as tourism on Hawaii is starting to show some signs of life. Things will probably be pretty soft until Christmas and hopefully a recovery will be underway going into 2010.

To celebrate the opening, the St. Regis is offering packaged specials which include free rounds of golf and other outdoor adventures, or free package deals at their spa and restaurant. But they are clearly marketing to the higher end guest with room rates starting at $465 dollars a night and going up to nearly $6,000 per night. It remains to be seen if those rates will hold up. They’re obviously going to be marketing to the rich and famous.

Those not willing to shell out the big bucks for a vacation at the St. Regis have other options. There are several other Kauai vacation rentals available in Princeville.

After waiting for over a year and putting up with the construction, owners of neighboring condos and rental homes are excited that the hotel is finally going to open. They’re expecting the St. Regis to help promote the island of Kauai and boost tourism on the island. They also expect that after seeing the rates that the hotel is planning to charge, (starting at about $500/night and going up to nearly $6,000/night) many guests will like what they can get next door at Hanalei Bay Resort and other condos in Princeville for a lot less money.

One condo owner at Puu Poa said he is excited to see the construction finally finished so that guests can stay in his condo and walk next door to the hotel to eat. “We’re planning to be there for the Grand Opening and we wish them well, but we won’t be spending the night.” “We’ll hang out on the beach with the celebrities but be able to come back to our own condo for some reality.”

Shortage of Rental Cars in Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:54:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:48:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 00:39:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:34:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:55:00 +0000

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

Canada Based Airline Expanding Routes to Hawaii

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:36:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 05:14:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 21:02:00 +0000

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

Kauai Visitor Count Down by 25%

noreply@blogger.com (DP) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 23:55:00 +0000

The Good and the Bad News... by Doug Porter

Visitor arrivals to Hawaii were down nearly 17 percent in August and Kauai's visitor arrivals were down 25 percent from last year. Visitor spending throughout the state and in Kauai is down similar percentages. The downward trend started earlier this year by rising airline ticket prices due to higher fuel costs and also the closing down of Aloha Airlines. These factors, combined with the more recent tailspin of the economy are taking their toll on the state. State tourism liaison, Marsha Winert said, “Hawaii’s visitor industry is feeling the effects of the continued softness in the national economy.”

"Softness" ...have you looked at your 401K lately Marsha?

The good news is that if you're coming to Kauai, there are some great deals to be had. Many hotels, resorts and other accommodations are slashing their prices. There are plenty of deals on privately owned Hawaii Vaction Rentals with owners trying to fill their calendars. There are deals on Hawaii car rentals too, especially if you go through companies that have negotiated special rates with the bigger national rental car companies. Nearly all sectors of the island economy are offering bargains as they try to hang on to market share. These discounts are helping. Certainly they help to offset the higher prices you pay to get here.

This fall we've even seen the airlines finally cutting their fares. There are some good deals if you look for mid-week travel. The bottom line is this, now is a good time to visit Hawaii. You'll find the beaches and highways less crowded, better rates at hotels and some great deals on Kauai condos, plus everyone's going to be glad to see you get off the plane.