Travel Weekly's Hawaii E-Letter: April 28, 2003

HAWAIIAN AIRLINES enhanced its Web site to the benefit of frequent flyers. By booking online, HawaiianMiles members will earn $20 discounts for transpacific flights, along with 2,000 frequent flyer bonus miles for all roundtrip travel completed by Dec. 31. Members booking interisland flights online receive 500 bonus miles. The "My HawaiianMiles" home page offers a one-step booking tool with key personal information automatically entered based on previous ticketing activity. The site can be tailored to offer discounts to HawaiianMiles members based on preferred destinations and timing of travel as well. Also new to the site are a variety of air-room-car vacation packages for Hawaii, the Mainland and neighbor islands. For details, click the "Vacation Packages" tab on www.HawaiianAir.com.

PENDING APPROVAL from Orange County officials, Aloha Airlines will add daily nonstop service between Orange County and Kona, beginning July 2. A special introductory rate of $399 roundtrip is available for travel between July 2 and July 31. The move to provide nonstop service to the Big Island was prompted by the carrier's success with its nonstop flights between Orange County's John Wayne Airport and Honolulu and Maui. Flights will depart Orange County daily at 8:05 a.m., arriving at Keahole Kona Airport at 10:42 a.m. Return flights leave Kona at 1:40 p.m., arriving in Orange County at 9:44 p.m.

BY SENDING CLIENTS to Maui's Kaanapali Beach Hotel between now and Dec. 15, agents will be entered to win the "Best of Maui" package for themselves! Each time agents book Kaanapali Beach Hotel and send clients with a VIP card, they generate a sweepstakes entry. All types of bookings are valid. The drawing will be held on Jan. 3; the grand prize includes roundtrip air for two from San Francisco or Los Angeles, five nights in partial oceanview accommodations, a rental car, daily buffet breakfast, admission to the Ulalena show at the Maui Theatre and dinner at Gerard's French Restaurant in Lahaina. The award is valid for one year, and is subject to availability. For more details, visit the travel agent section (password: makana) of www.kbhmaui.com.

THE ILIMA, a condominium-style hotel in Waikiki, added high-speed Internet access to its rooms, and offers the service free to guests. Each of the 99 units also features a full kitchen. Studios are 530 square feet, one-bedroom units are 650 square feet, and two-bedroom units are 770 square feet. The penthouse suite has three bedrooms. Business travelers also have complimentary use of the conference room that seats up to 15 people and features a 25-inch color television, video player, presentation board, easel and overhead projector. A little off the beaten path, the hotel is located two blocks from the beach, near the Ala Wai Canal. Rack rates range from $119 to $355 per night, and are fully commissionable. For information, call (800) 801-9366 or visit www.ilima.com.

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR arrival numbers still are suffering, but passengers arriving in Hawaii aboard domestic flights rose to 119% of 2002 levels for the seven-day period ending April 16, according to the latest report from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The average number of nonstop passengers from Japan remains about 70% of previous-year levels.

RATES & DATES
• Classic Custom Vacations and Outrigger Hotels & Resorts are offering packages around the islands for travel through July 30. At the Wailea Marriott, an Outrigger Resort on Maui, seven nights start at $1,303 per person, double; at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, an Outrigger Resort on the Big Island, from $968 per person, double; at Oahu's Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, from $723 per person, double, for travel before June 24. Rates are commissionable at varying rates. To book, call (800) 221-3949 or log onto www.classicvacations.com.
• The 783-room Renaissance Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki created three-night romance packages starting at $923 per couple for oceanview, one-bedroom suites. This includes an orchid lei greeting and tropical fruit in the room upon arrival, as well as a steak and eggs breakfast in bed with coffee and orange juice. Guests can enjoy dinner for two at Canoes restaurant, or redeem a $100 dinner coupon at any of property's three eateries. Couples also can book wedding and vow renewal packages; venues include the newly renovated chapel and a harbor-front gazebo for outdoor weddings. Plans are commissionable at 10%. For details on wedding packages and services, call (808) 944-6372. For reservations, contact (800) 468-3571 or visit www.IlikaiHotel.com.

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