THE RENAISSANCE WAILEA Beach Resort Hotel and
several golf courses will be sold as a result of a loan
restructuring agreement between the Kyoto, Japan-based Shinwa Golf
Group and Japan's Resolution and Collection Corp. Shinwa has been
forced to sell its Hawaii assets, which in addition to the hotel
include three courses at the Wailea Golf Club on Maui, two courses
at the Kauai Lagoons Golf Club in Lihue, and about 250 acres of
undeveloped land on Maui. Shinwa will continue to operate and
manage the properties until the sale is completed next year,
according to Karl Uesugi, president of Shinwa Golf Hawaii. No word
on any buyers yet.
MAUI MONEY: Visitors to Maui continue to spend
the most on a daily basis at $154 per person, according to a
third-quarter state survey of visitor spending. A total of 10,220
questionnaires were collected from visitors to all islands. A total
of 57.4% of those surveyed arrived from the U.S. West, 24.3% from
the U.S. East. Complete survey data are available on line at www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/latest.html.
PLEASANT HOLIDAYS will reinstate two weekly
nonstop flights to Kauai in spring in response to Kauai's growing
demand as a vacation destination. The flights will travel from Los
Angeles and San Francisco beginning April 12. The San Francisco
schedule runs through Aug. 30; Los Angeles will continue through
Oct. 25. Departures and arrivals are on Saturdays. Airline seat
capacity to Kauai has risen from 5,600 in September 1998 to more
than 17,000 in September 2002, exemplifying the increase in service
to the neighbor islands.
IT MAY BE MONTHS, years or even decades away,
but residents on the Big Island of Hawaii are preparing now for the
inevitable eruption of Mauna Loa, the world's largest volcano.
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists are holding community
meetings to educate the public about how fast molten lava will flow
(approximately 5 mph) and what to expect when the first eruption
since 1984 occurs. Scientists have recorded 33 eruptions on Mauna
Loa since 1843. In the last 18 years, property worth more than $2
billion has been built on the mountain, which comprises more than
2,000 square miles -- or about half the island.
A SAN DIEGO WOMAN survived a shark attack about
150 yards off the beach at the Kaanapali Hotel on Maui last week.
She was swimming alone in somewhat murky water when she and the
shark bumped into each other. She sustained injuries to her right
shoulder, arm and wrist. Though Hawaii averages three to four shark
incidents annually, this was the sixth confirmed case of the
year.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, SunTrips will pay 14%
commission on all 2003 packages and group bookings, and 10% for
air-only bookings. Call (800) 786-7253 or visit www.suntrips.com for
more info.
MEANWHILE, SunTrips' Hawaii program from
Oakland as of Jan. 9 will feature Boeing 757-200 aircraft, allowing
nonstop service to Maui and Honolulu. The flights will be operated
by North American Airlines. Eight-day packages include roundtrip
airfare from Oakland to Hawaii, Alamo rental car and accommodations
starting at $479 per person, double. Call (800) 786-8747.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES launched a fare sale for
roundtrip travel between Hawaii and any of the carrier's nine
western U.S. gateway cities during the first half of 2003. The
fares are valid for travel originating in Hawaii or the U.S.
mainland, but tickets must be purchased by Dec. 2.
THE KAHALA MANDARIN ORIENTAL reclaimed its Five
Diamond status in AAA's annual list of best properties. Last
November, the Mandarin and the Halekulani were downgraded, leaving
Oahu without a Five Diamond hotel. On the neighbor islands, the
Four Seasons Resort & Spa Hualalai, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
and the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea also earned Five Diamond
ranking.
PACKAGES
• A Sweet Dreams package at Aston's Waikiki Joy Hotel offers
amenities such as champagne and chocolates upon arrival, rose
petals at turndown on the first night, in-room Jacuzzi with
Hawaiian bath crystals and one hour of karaoke in GS Studios. The
offer runs through Dec. 23 at the 94-room boutique hotel, which is
located near the DFS Galleria arcade. Aston Resorts & Hotels
Hawaii pays 10% on all of its properties. For more information,
call (800) 922-7866 or go to www.aston-hotels.com.
• Delta Vacations is offering special Hawaii packages that can earn
guests free nights and agents up to 15% commission. Participating
hotels are located on Oahu and Maui, with the Hyatt Regency Maui
Resort & Spa offering fifth night free, plus a $100 activity
credit. Call (800) 221-6666 or click www.deltavacations.com.
• The Outrigger Wailea Resort on Maui and the Outrigger Waikoloa
Beach on the Big Island are now offering an inclusive group/meeting
package to help plan, budget and manage programs. The four-night,
five-day package is based on a minimum of 50 rooms and 100
participants. The goods: oceanview rooms, one suite upgrade and two
complimentary travel staff rooms, porterage fees, free local calls,
daily breakfast and lunch, welcome and farewell receptions, a
leisure dinner or luau, a theme party, farewell banquet and a
hospitality room with open bar and unlimited refreshments. Visit www.outrigger.com.
DESTINATION MAUI travel agent seminars have
been scheduled for 2003 across the U.S. Call (800) 525-MAUI or
e-mail [email protected] for specific locations and dates.
THE FIVE-YEAR, $32 million renovation of the
Kapalua Bay Hotel and Ocean Villas is complete. Upgraded areas
include the lobby, pool meeting facilities, guest rooms, fitness
center and other public areas.