Here’s what’s interesting today:
- Prince Resorts Hawaii just announced their new winter promotion that includes daily $50 resort credit along with some good rates.
- Hawaiian Airlines is offering a $100 e-certificate to Hawaiian Miles Members who book a flight between the Mainland U.S. and Hawaii before December 12, 2008 and travel by June 4, 2009. Here’s more about this offer.
- When I mentioned the announcement of Mokulele Airlines expanding their fleet and interisland operations, I speculated that there might be an airfare war on the horizon. Lo and behold there is an interisland airfare war for the holiday season with one-way fares as low at $45. So, far Mokulele and go! are both offering $45 one way, while Island Air is offering $99 round-trip. I wonder if Hawaiian will soon join in the fray. These low fares can make island hopping more affordable. If you need island hopping ideas, see my suggestions for what to see and do with one day on each of the Hawaiian Islands.
- From this Star Bulletin article, there are two interesting tidbits. First the revival of CBS’s Hawaii Five-O is pending at the moment. (Oh please, oh please, CBS, bring it back!) The other good nugget from that article, is that there’s a new Elvis store at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Elvis spent quite a bit of time in Laie and the Polynesian Cultural Center, so it’s fitting that they have a store to celebrate him.
Here’s a great YouTube video provided by OutriggerHawaii.com that describes a few aspects that make Hawaii so unique. Beware, though, if you watch it, you’ll most likely be missing Hawaii.
As Thanksgiving approaches, it seems like we have a cornucopia of Hawaii deals and news today.
- United Airlines has an airfare sale to Hawaii with fares as low as $192 one-way. The sale is valid for travel before March 11, 2009 and several terms apply. It’s worth a peek.
- Continental Airlines Vacations has a deal you might want to consider, if you’re booking a flight/hotel package up to $2,399, you can save an additional $75. For packages between $2,400 and $3,999 you can save $150. With all higher packages, you can save $250. From my review, it looks like deals to Honolulu/Waikiki are best with some freebies, like hotel transfers, lei greeting, and a breakfast thrown in. You need to use promotion code CV8702.
- Hawaiian Airlines also has an airfare sale with round-trip fares as low as $319.
- For Southwest Airlines fans, the company says it’s in talks with other carriers for a code share for flights to Hawaii. As you may recall, they previously had a code share with ATA Airlines which shut down this past Spring.
- Orbitz revealed the top 10 destinations for Christmas 2008. Honolulu (Oahu) and Lahaina (Maui) are both top 10 Christmas destinations this year. Honolulu moved from being the 13th most popular destination in 2007 to the fourth position this year. Lahaina wasn’t even in the top 20 rankings last year, but is the ninth most popular destination this Christmas. Let me be the first to say that many more people are going to have a Maui Christmas this year.
- A new luxury resort, Honua Kai Resort & Spa, is due to open in January 2009 on Kaanapali’s North Beach in West Maui. They’re not advertising rates on their Web site yet, but I’d imagine they will be on the high end of the scale. I like that fact that each room has a gourmet kitchen. Having a kitchen is not only convenient, but can save you a bundle.
- If you’d selected Air Kauai for your helicopter tour of the Garden Isle, you might want to have a backup plan. The company stopped flying last week after their two helicopters were repossessed. They’re in the process of filing for bankruptcy protection which would allow them to get the helicopters back while the case is being reviewed. (Source)
- KGMB has a nice video summary of yesterday’s Veterans Day ceremonies across Oahu.
On this Veterans Day, I’d like say thank you to our veterans!
(The photo above is from our personal collection and one of our favorites. We took this photo in front of the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor on Oahu.)
Today’s weather forecast for Honolulu is sunny and warm with a high of 83°F and a low of 71°F. Nice! So, what’s the the weather going to be like where you are today? Not quite as warm, eh? Well, hopefully these rays of Hawaii deals and news will warm you up.
- Ohana Waikiki East Resort has an excellent offer that includes a free compact rental car and complimentary parking for each night booked at the property. I estimate that this special offer will save you about $50 or more per night. This “free park and ride” deal is available through December 21, 2009 (not just through 2008!) with some exceptions. Rates start at $139 per night.
- The Hawaii State commemorative quarter will be released today. (See the photo on the right.) The back of the quarter features King Kamehameha, the eight Hawaiian Islands, and the Hawaii state motto.
- Work has started for the new Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum. KGMB has an article with a video that gives a glimpse into the new $58-million visitor center that’s due to open in two years.
- Poipu Bay Golf Course is offering a reduced same-day replay at a rate of $25. See this article for more information.
- If you’ve not yet explored the island of Molokai, you’ll probably enjoy this article about this lesser visited Hawaiian Island. (Mahalo, to reader Joanne for the link.)
Many thanks to Angie at True Aloha and Evelyn at Homespun Honolulu for listing Go Visit Hawaii as blog they like with a “I love your blog award.” Now it’s time to spread the aloha to other blogs and list some blogs that I like.
- The Right Blue is written by Bobbie and Jerry on Hawaii’s Big Island. I’m too chicken to scuba dive, but through their blog I get to virtually dive.
- Another blog written from a Big Island blogger is Cheryl’s Double Brush Blog where she writes about gifts that are made and/or grown in Hawaii. She also regularly lists Hawaii vacation sweepstakes and contests.
- The Kam Family Blog is written by Nathan Kam who shares tidbits Hawaii family life.
- I like Robin Graf’s Drop in to the Wyland Waikiki blog. I really admire how conversational it is, particularly since you could classify it as a corporate type blog. He’s always sharing tips and tricks for Waikiki Tourists.
- There are two Maui blogs I read regularly, they are Maui Online Guide and Kaanapali Dreamin. Both blog authors have a true love for the Magic Isle!
- There are two travel blogs which always inspires me to want to explore more destinations. They are Travel Blissful and Fun Things You Should Do.
I actually subscribe to over 100 blogs in total and I could probably list them all! If you’d like to play along with this meme, feel free, but please do not feel any pressure to do so! Here’s how to play along if you’d like:
* Display your award.
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
* Put links to those blogs on yours.
* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.
* Enjoy your award!
I took this photo of Hawaii’s motto at the gates of the Iolani Palace in Honolulu. It says, “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono” which literally translates to “the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” This motto was further explained to me to mean “to do what is right in your life and for the land.” That’s a great motto, isn’t it?
I have a new favorite rental car company in Hawaii and it’s Avis. Recently, we rented cars from Avis on Oahu and Kauai. Both cars were very clean and best of all, they were roach-free.
Some of you may recall that I had a less than pleasant experience with Dollar Rent a Car in March. We had the complete opposite experience with Avis cars. We had requested low mileage cars in the hopes that maybe the cars would be cleaner and pest-free. So, we were nervous when the lowest mileage cars available had over 20,000 miles. Being experience Hawaii rental car connoisseurs, we knew how to look for bugs and we did search thoroughly. We found no bugs! 
When we returned our last car at Avis, I mentioned to the agent that we were glad that the car didn’t have any roaches. She told me that they have a proactive approach to preventing roach infested cars. They treat the cars when the first arrive and watch and listen for the need to retreat them. Kudos to Avis!
Note: I should probably make sure you know that I am not affiliated with Avis in any way. I am not compensated in any form for this post.
We all need some nice Hawaii news on this election eve, don’t we? If you’re tired of the nasty TV political ads, you’ll be pleased to know that Go Visit Hawaii is political ad-free each and every day!
- Here’s a nice deal at the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa for $199/night for an ocean view room. That rate is $150 off the normal rates. One of my Maui blogging pals over at Kaanapali Dreamin is a fan of this resort.
- The Wheel of Fortune shows that were set in Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island begin airing this week. I believe the shows actually begin airing on the 5th, per the show guide and will continue for the next three weeks. Note to TV executives: set a show in Hawaii and I will watch it.
- For those thinking about getting hitched in Hawaii, Maui’s Kaanapali Beach Hotel has launched some new all inclusive wedding packages that start at $950 plus tax.
- I found myself nodding in agreement several times as I read John DiScala’s air travel etiquette tips on Tripso. I hope that the lady sat in the window seat next to me between Dallas and Raleigh reads these. Apparently she doesn’t know that “and [when] some poor soul gets stuck in the middle seat, it’s common knowledge that they get both armrests. So don’t try to elbow them for space.”
What does a person do when they return back to the mainland from Hawaii? Well, after they’ve unpacked the next natural step is to look for deals that will help them get back to Hawaii. Tis true! Hawaii is highly addictive, you know. Let’s take a look at the latest Hawaii travel deals and news.
- Most of the major airlines are offering some great round trip airfares to Hawaii. For example, the LA Times reports fares as low as $243 round trip including taxes! I’m finding fares from the East Coast as low as $447 round trip. The great thing about these deals is that the offers are valid for travel through March 11, 2009. Use a fare search engine tool like Kayak or FareCompare to find the best rates and travel dates from your city.
- If you are interested in combining hotel and airfare, Orbitz has a Hawaii sale. Use promotion code 5HAWAII250 to save $250. For details, see this link.
- For several weeks, Kayak and American Airlines were in a tiff and had parted ways. I’m happy to report that the two have kissed and made up so you’ll now find American Airlines flights back in Kayak and Sidestep search results. Yay!
- The Canadian airline, WestJet will increase winter fights from Vancouver to Honolulu, Kona, and Maui beginning November 1st. (Source)
- If Shakespeare could set one of his plays on Hawaii, which islands do you think he’d visit? The likely answer is the islands of Lanai and Hawaii. Well, at least that’s where the “The Tempest” is being filmed this November. (Source)
- The Royal Hawaiian (that historic pink Waikiki hotel) is set to reopen early next year. As I reported in June, the resort closed for a $110 million renovation. Take a look at the special reopening offers that include $19.27 rate in honor of their original opening year of 1927.
