HAWAIIAN Airlines will launch thrice-weekly
nonstop service between Honolulu and Las Vegas, starting Jan. 8.
The other four days of the week Hawaiian will serve Las Vegas with
one-stop service via Ontario, Calif. At the same time, the
carrier's existing one-stop daily service to Las Vegas via Los
Angeles will be converted to a nonstop between Honolulu and Los
Angeles only. The carrier also will begin nonstop service to Maui
from Portland, Ore., and San Diego. Beginning Feb. 1, Portland-Maui
nonstop service will operate three days per week through April,
then resume again in October. Starting June 1, San Diego-Maui
nonstop service will run four days a week.
ALOHA AIRLINES said it reached a tentative
agreement with its four employee unions that would enable the
airline to reduce labor costs by $37 million over three years --
with no layoffs. It said ratification by union employees is
expected by mid-December. The Air Transportation Stabilization
Board last month granted conditional approval for a $40.5 million
federal loan guarantee to the carrier.
LATE LAST WEEK, Aloha reported it returned to
profitability -- with third-quarter earnings of $693,000 -- for the
first time since its failed merger attempt with Hawaiian
Airlines.
ISLAND AIR added more service to Kapalua/West
Maui on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing Honolulu at
3:20 p.m. This will supplement the commuter carrier's current daily
schedule, which departs Honolulu for Kapalua at 7:25 a.m., 9:30
a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:40 p.m. Flying time between Honolulu
and Kapalua is about 30 minutes.
THE TOTAL NUMBER of visitor days in Hawaii
reached 4.7 million in October, a 31.2% surge vs. last year's
post-Sept. 11 levels and the third highest October on record,
according to the state Dept. of Business, Economic Development and
Tourism. Year-to-date, total visitor days have risen 0.4% vs. last
year and the longer stays have negated a 2.2% drop in visitor
arrivals, according to the DBEDT.
WORRY-FREE VACATIONS will pay 15% commissions
to travel agents who book Hawaii packages between Dec. 2 and Jan.
31, 2003 for travel any time. The Minnesota-based operator offers
value-priced vacations at more than 90 hotels and resorts through
the Islands. Agents also can earn $10 for every Northwest Airlines
WorldVacations reservation made on www.worldagentdirect.com. To learn more, visit www.worryfreevacationsagent.com.
BRAZILIAN GUITARIST Carlos Barbosa-Lima will
play at the Honolulu Academy of Arts on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets
are $18. The Academy also plans to host demonstrations of ikebana
flower arranging and a Japanese tea ceremony from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
on the first Sunday of every month beginning in January. The events
are free with museum admission. Call (808) 532-8700 or visit www.honoluluacademy.org.
IT'S TIME for the Grand Festival of Lights and
Luminarium at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Twenty light
sculptures will brighten the museum's great lawn through Dec. 28
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly. Visitors can hop aboard Santa's
Express and ride through light sculptures in the shape of palm
tress, volcanoes and Christmas trees. Kids will especially love
Snow Zone, where they can construct a snowman or toss snowballs.
Luminarium is an art and light exhibit measuring nearly 12,000
square feet. This will mark its first display in Hawaii. Visit www.bishopmuseum.org for more details.
LOOKING FOR THAT PERFECT Hawaii-themed gift for
your clients? Pillow Gifts Hawaii now has a Web site featuring the
Ohana Fun Pack with Kona blend coffee, macadamia nut popcorn crunch
and passion-guava juice. Group gifts include tropical jelly beans,
Kona coffee truffles, island pocket guides, tote bags and
personalized golf shirts. Visit www.pillowgiftshawaii.com.
CLARIFICATION: Maui's recent shark attack
victim was not staying at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, nor was she
swimming in the ocean directly in front of the property. The San
Diego woman is a triathlete, and was working out about 150 yards
off shore from the Kaanapali resort area.