Travelers Advantage....

HAWAII WELCOMES SAVVY TRAVELERS

Aloha means much more than hello when it comes to visiting Hawaii. Thanks to a wide variety of island destinations, accommodations options, activities, dining, and so much more, Hawaii has a warm welcome for smart travelers!

Last year, Hawaii was named “Best Overall Destination” by Travel Weekly, the influential travel agent magazine. Well-traveled travel agents should know--and they obviously love sending their clients to the Islands of Aloha. Convenient flights to and between the islands continue to be added, including new or additional direct service from Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Anchorage, and more.

With Honolulu and so much more, the island of Oahu continues to offer a wide range of options to Hawaii visitors. With Waikiki still an historic draw to beach lovers and more, the Waikiki Improvement Association is continuing their years-long revitalization project. Landscape enhancements, widening of sidewalks, and more are making Waikiki better than ever!

Further afield, the island offers a number of new attractions, including: the Pure Golf Academy; new cooking series at the popular Kahala Culinary Academy; the Hawaiian Fire Surf School (run by off-duty firefighters); Saturday twilight tours at the Honolulu Zoo; and a new Science Learning Center at the Bishop Museum, which is scheduled to open this fall.

Over on the Big Island, the dining and cultural offerings are as big as ever. Several new restaurants, like Kaikodo in historic Hilo, have made the island big on flavor and atmosphere for “foodie” visitors. On the cultural front, the recently-opened Isaacs Art Center Museum and Gallery houses a large collection of paintings, furniture, rare books, and Hawaiiana--and is located in Waimea’s first public schoolhouse (built in 1915). In addition, the Donkey Mill Art Center is a must-see in Kona, where visitors experience the arts culture that has shaped the small Kona coffee-oriented community.

Maui is becoming known as a year-round destination for dozens of festivals and events. Many spring and summer possibilities (not all list below) include: Maui Classical Music Festival (May 9-21); International Festival of Canoes (May 14-29); Molokai Ka Hula Piko Hula Festival (May 21); Kapalua Wine and Food Festival (July 7-10); 6th Annual Maui Film Festival (June 15-19); World Conference on Hula (July 24-30); and the fun Maui Onion Festival in August. Maui is also known for it’s nightlife year-round, with several popular luaus and much more (the Old Lahaina Luau, ‘Ulalena, and Kupanaha are all perennial favorites). It’s obvious that anytime is a great time to be on Maui.

Kauai continues to offer a wide range of active pursuits. For example, two companies (Kauai Backcountry Adventures and Outfitters Kauai) have started exhilarating “Zipline Tours’ though Kauai’s forested canopy, high above rivers and waterfalls.

Kauai-bound golfers will love to learn that Kiahuna Golf Club received $4 million worth of improvements under new ownership, while Kauai Lagoons will undergo a major facelift--plus new activities and real estate offerings--also with new owners. Finally, the Koloa Heritage Trail, which identifies historical and cultural sites along Kauai’s stunning south shore, saw the addition of a 14th marker.  Using a map and brochure, all 14 sites can be explored by foot, bicycle, or car.

Along with taking a short flight or two between islands, another great way to see several Hawaiian Islands is to take a cruise. Many lines offer cruise to and around the Hawaiian Islands, with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) leading the way.

NCL has successfully made Hawaii a specialty, thanks to several Hawaiian-themed ships and some great itineraries. Their Pride of Aloha, which debuted last July 4th, features seven-day Hawaiian Islands cruises that offer more port time than any other ship’s itinerary. The same will generally be true for NCL’s new Pride of America, which debuts in July. In addition, Norwegian Wind offers 10- and 11-day round-trip cruises from Honolulu, including four Hawaiian port calls and a cruise out to Fanning Island.

Other lines with Hawaii offerings include: Holland America; Princess Cruises; Celebrity Cruises; Carnival Cruise Lines; and Royal Caribbean. Their choices typically leave from the west coast of North America, however, rather than cruising directly out of Honolulu as NCL’s itineraries do.

CALENDER OF EVENTS (MAY-AUGUST 2005)

ALL ISLANDS
2005 Hawaii Arts Season: The end of 12 weeks of hundreds of art events and cultural attractions. *May 1
25th Annual Hawaii Visitor Industry Charity Walk: Hawaii’s largest single-day fundraiser. *June 5
Aloha Festivals: A month-long extravaganza celebrating Hawaiian culture (www.alohafestivals.com)

OAHU
78th Annual Lei Day Celebration: The City and County of Honolulu present this annual celebration in Queen Kapiolani Park, with many cultural presentations. *May 9-21
14th Annual Taste of Honolulu: Hawaii’s largest outdoor food, wine and entertainment festival. *July 7-10
10th Annual Made in Hawaii Festival: A showcase of unique and varied products of Hawaii. *August-September

MAUI
Maui Classical Music Festival: Music directors Yizhak Schotten and Katherine Collier continue their 23-year tradition of bringing world-renowned musicians to Maui. *May 14
24th Annual Kapalua Wine and Food Festival: Four days of wine tasting, seminars and wine-featured dinners. *August 19-21

KAUAI
17th Annual Taste of Hawaii: Hawaii’s “Ultimate Sunday Brunch” at Smith’s Tropical Gardens. *June 23-26

HAWAII'S BIG ISLAND
Dolphin Days: This four-day extravaganza includes a charity golf tournament and the Great Waikoloa Food, Wine and Music Festival. *June 24-26