For Immediate Release

WHAT'S NEW IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS - FEBRUARY 2012

Experience what's new with Hawaii's events and attractions, developments in the islands, accolades, and transportation updates.

EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS

• Keauhou Beach Resort on Hawaii Island invites music lovers and Hawaiian cultural enthusiasts to a weeklong Aloha Music Camp on July 1-7. Guests can enjoy classes in ukulele, slack key guitar, hula, oli (chant), lei making, and instrument crafting. Instructors include world-class musicians and performing artists like:
  
  
  • Alan Akaka, steel guitar
  • Kaliko Beamer-Trapp, Hawaiian language and ukulele
  • Dr. Samuel Gon III, oli (chant)
  • Uluwehi Guerrero, hula
  • Ozzie Kotani, slack key guitar
  • Dennis Lake, ukulele building
  • Herb Ohta, Jr., ukulele
  • Anakala Philipo Solatario, storytelling and kukakuka (discussion)
  
  For more information and registration, visit AlohaMusicCamp.com

• Visitors can enjoy an affordable Hawaii vacation full of convenience and value in Waikiki (Oahu) thanks to OHANA Hotels and Resort’s OHANA Waikiki Connection, a lineup of free amenities for hotel guests. The complimentary services include access to Waikiki Trolley’s Pink Line that provides transportation along Waikiki Beach Walk to Ala Moana Center, Wi-Fi internet and long distance phone calls up to 15 minutes, and more. OHANA Waikiki Connection is available for guests at OHANA Waikiki East, OHANA Waikiki West, and OHANA Waikiki Malia. For more information, visit OhanaHotels.com.

• Last month marked the 100th anniversary of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) on Hawaii Island. Volcano Art Center shares in the celebration by featuring an exhibition titled “Observation/ Inspiration” open now until February 19, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The show features artists who gather inspiration from the volcanic activity at Kilauea, including Catherine Robbins, Tim Freeman, Alan Fine and Kimberly Dark.
  For more information, visit VolcanoArtCenter.org.

• The Iolani Air Tour Company is ringing in the new year with two new lava specials: 1) Party of Two? Take advantage of the Deluxe Air Tour for two from Kona. Couples aboard can experience the entire Hawaii Island in the privacy and comfort of a brand new state-of-the-art Skyhawk. It is the only full circle island air tour exclusively for two people priced at $325 each. 2) $99 Air Tours from Hilo! See the Volcano and Rainbow Falls in its Airvan at a price that cannot be beat. For more information, visit IolaniAir.com.

• Looking for a new way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year? Renew your marriage vows at Outrigger Hotels and Resorts on the most romantic day of the year. A non-denominational kahu (priest/officiate) will conduct complimentary vow renewal ceremonies for hotel guests registered at any Outrigger Hotel in the Hawaiian Islands. Couples will receive a certificate and a photograph memento to commemorate the special day.
  For more information, visit Outrigger.com.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

• Guests can now enjoy a newly renovated Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach featuring $13 million of updated public spaces, restaurants, meeting rooms, lobby, and recreational amenities. Highlights of the renovation, which was completed in January, include a reconfigured pool, new jacuzzi, expanded fitness center, family game room, and an eLounge with the latest technology for guests to stay connected with friends and families while on the island. The ocean-view restaurant, Voyager Grill, is also offering new menus featuring Hawaii Regional Cuisine with fresh ingredients from local farms. For more information, visit Marriott.com.

• Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (Hawaii Island) recently made a big splash in its pool and beach area by enhancing the guest experience with five new cabanas and all-new beach umbrellas for its award-winning beach. The resort also added more beach activities with boogie boards and snorkel gear now available for rent at its beach shack.
  For more information, visit PrinceResortsHawaii.com.

• Lie out in the sand at Waikiki Beach (Oahu) and enjoy front row seats of the iconic view of Diamond Head. The City and County of Honolulu is undertaking a three-month long project to replenish the lost sand (due to erosion) at Waikiki Beach. In the meantime, Waikiki Beach Services is expanding their product offerings from beach umbrellas and chaise lounges to make the beach experience a more memorable one. Beach equipment can be rented either hourly or by the day for as low as $40 for a set of two chaise lounges and an umbrella. For more information, visit WaikikiBeachServices.com.

TRANSPORTATION

• On June 7, United Airlines will launch a new daily route between Washington DC’s Dulles International Airport and Honolulu International Airport (Oahu), providing the only nonstop service between the two points. United is currently the largest carrier servicing Hawaii from the mainland U.S. For more information, visit United.com.

• Hawaiian Airlines plans to create a hub at Kahului Airport (Maui) to improve connections between The Valley Isle and the neighboring Hawaiian Islands and the West Coast. The new hub will help to support an additional 23 to 25 flights between the neighbor islands, more than half of which will serve the Kahului Airport with one-third providing nonstop service between Maui and both Hawaii Island and Kauai. Hawaiian is also reintroducing nonstop service between Los Angeles (California) and Maui in June. For more information, visit HawaiianAirlines.com.

ACCOLADES

• Five Hawaii establishments have been awarded with the AAA Five Diamond Award and 28 others have earned the Four Diamond Award for 2012. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (Maui), Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu (Hawaii Island) earned the Five Diamond status in the lodging category while Oahu’s Chef Mavro and La Mer at the Halekulani both earned Five Diamond designations for the restaurant category. For more information and to see a complete list of the Five Diamond and Four Diamond winners, visit NewsRoom.AAA.com.

• TripAdvisor’s 2012 Traveler’s Choice Awards honors several Hawaii hotels in various categories voted on by the website’s readers. The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea led the pack, earning the most honors including No. 3 for Best Hotels in the US, No. 12 for Best Hotels for Service in the US, and No. 16 for Best Luxury Hotel in the US. Other highlights for Hawaii include:
  
  
  • St. Regis Princeville (Kauai): 6th for Best Luxury Hotels in the US
  • Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu (Hawaii Island): 16th for Best Hotels in the US
  • Koa Kea Hotel and Resort (Kauai): 23rd for Best Hotels in the US
  • The Kahala Hotel and Resort (Oahu): 25th for Best Luxury Hotels in the US
  • Travaasa Hana (Maui): 25th for Best Relaxation/Spa Hotels in the US.
  
  For more information, visit TripAdvisor.com.

• Hawaii Island has been selected by the editors of Lonely Planet as one of the “Top 10 US Travel Destinations for 2012.” The 2012 edition introduced Hawaii Island as a “magical place” with a variety of activities and attractions, including the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay, or hiking along the lava field at Hilina Pali. For more information, visit LonelyPlanet.com.

• CNNGo.com recently published a list of the World’s 50 Best Surf Spots that includes several Hawaii’s beaches. Avid surfer Jade Bremner and online surfing guide Surfing-Waves.com worked with professional surfers worldwide to compile this list. Topping the list at No. 1 is Pipeline on Oahu followed by Honolua Bay (Maui) at No. 10, Backdoor (Oahu) at No. 19, and Hanalei Bay (Kauai) at No. 25. For more information, visit CNNGo.com.

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau is contracted by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawaii’s tourism agency, for marketing management services in North America. The HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawaii tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawaii’s economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.