Today’s Special:

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Celebrate food and drink at The Big Island’s 14th Annual Kona Brewers Festival, where more than 60 ales and lagers are served alongside island-style cuisine from some of Hawaii’s top restaurants. The sell-out event features craft beer, tantalizing food, music and entertainment on the shores of Kailua Bay. Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 2:30 - 6:30 pm. RAIN OR SHINE, WE DRINK & DINE!! NO REFUNDS ON TICKET PURCHASE. The Kona Brewers Festival is a benefit for outstanding local nonprofit organizations.
Valid 3/12 - 3/16/09	3 Nights
Keauhou Beach Resort	$369 pp
Package includes: 3 Days Budget Compact Rental Car 3 Nights Hotel Moderate Accommodations - Simple Saver Rate EXCLUSIVE Kona Brewing Package: Two (2) Brew Fest Tickets, 16 Tasting Coupons, $25 Dining Gift Certificate at Kona Brewing Co., Two (2) T-shirts, Commemorative Event Mug and Samplings of Gourmet Cuisine. Located at: 75-5660 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, HI (King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel) Must be 21 years of age or older.   Please bring a photo I.D. to the event.

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Airfare is NOT included. Competitive coach and first class airfare is available nationwide on Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest or United Airlines. Prices are per person double occupancy and include all taxes. Not combinable with any other special. Full payment will guarantee fare. Subject to change without notice. Certain conditions and restrictions may apply. Travel must be completed within time periods listed for rates shown. Prices are in U.S. dollars.

For more information contact your preferred travel agent: Tara at tara@hawaii-aloha.com

Today’s Special: October 31, 2008

Hawaii for the Holidays Specials valid for 2008 year end travel; ask for dates/details. Full payment will guarantee fare. Subject to change without notice. Certain conditions and restrictions may apply. Travel must be completed within time periods listed for rates shown. Prices are in U.S. dollars. For more information contact your preferred travel agent: Tara Barron at tara@hawaii-aloha.com hawaii, hawaii vacation, hawaii christmas, hawaii travel packages, maui vacation, maui christmas travel

• Halloween Spooktacular
  October 25, 2008, 11am-3pm - Join Hilton Waikoloa Village for a spooky Halloween celebration. Enter the costume contest and win great prizes or get a fright in the haunted house. There will be fun games with prizes, face painting, cookie decorating and more. Food and retail items will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Na Lima Hana, Hilton Waikoloa Village ’s community service committee. Open to the public. For more information call 808-886-2885.

• Waikoloa Beach Resort, Queen’s Marketplace 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, October 31 - Trick or Treat & Halloween Costume Contest.  Dress up the keiki or the entire family in your spookiest costumes, and join the freaky Halloween fun at Queens’ Marketplace. Pick up a Trick or Treat bag, courtesy of Kings’ Shops and Queens’ Marketplace, then “haunt” the different stores for candy, coloring books and surprises along the way. 

• HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY - JACKIE REY’S OHANA GRILL, KAILUA-KONA
  October 31, 2008, You’re invited to a Halloween Costume Party at Jackie Rey’s Ohana Grill in Pottery Terrace.  Dance the night away to salsa music with Dj TIger. $5 cover. Prizes! Time: 9:30pm to 12:30am. Cost:$5. For more information, call 990-0737, email TIgerjonesproductions@yahoo.com or visit www.djkonadance.com   

• Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde at the Palace Theater- The classic 1920 silent horror movie Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, staring John Barrymore, will be featured on Halloween Night, October 31, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic Hilo Palace Theater. A live music score will be performed on the Palace Theater’s pipe organ by Bob Alder. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Palace Pipe Organ Project and the restoration of the Palace Theater.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - UAL Corp’s United Airlines said on Monday it is doubling the fee to check a second bag on a domestic flight from $25 to $50 one-way.

United estimated the fee will apply to only one out of seven customers.

The fee will not apply to customers in the United First or United Business programs, those with Premier status with United or Star Alliance, or active duty military personnel traveling on orders.

United said the potential revenue from its merchandising efforts, including checked bag fees, will be $700 million in 2009.

On June 12, United introduced a $15 fee to check a single bag. Amid high fuel prices and a slowing U.S. economy, airlines have been introducing fees, raising fares, and cutting routes, capacity and jobs in order to survive.

(Reporting by Mark McSherry, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

LINK TO FULL ARTICLE HERE

Today’s Special: September 11, 2008

ALL - STAR PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL Sunday, February 8, 2009 • Fans Play Hard Too!! Valid 2/5 - 2/11/09 4 Nights Miramar At Waikiki $670 pp ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel $820 pp Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach $938 pp Embassy Suites Hotel - Waikiki Beach Walk $1,026 pp Hotel / Basic Game Package * Lei greeting & airport transfers * 4 nights hotel with daily breakfast * All-Star Game Tkts (20-30 yd. line) * Stadium transfers & game day escort • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Valid 2/5 - 2/11/09 4 Nights Miramar At Waikiki $765 pp ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel $915 pp Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach $1,033 pp Embassy Suites Hotel - Waikiki Beach Walk $1,121 pp Hotel / Upgrade Game Package * Lei greeting & airport transfers * 4 nights hotel with daily breakfast * All-Star Game Tkts (40-45 yd. line) * Stadium transfers & game day escort • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Valid 2/5 - 2/11/09 4 Nights Miramar At Waikiki $990 pp ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel $1,140 pp Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach $1,258 pp Embassy Suites Hotel - Waikiki Beach Walk $1,346 pp Hotel / Ticket & Tailgate Package * Lei greeting & airport transfers * 4 nights hotel with daily breakfast * All-Star Game Tkts (40-45 yd. line) * Stadium transfers & game day escort * Official NFL tailgate party • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • *** Individual Game Package: 20-30 yd line $289pp, 40-45 yd. line $384pp *** (includes transfers/escort) *** Official NFL Tailgate party: $225pp *** (includes entertainment, food & drinks - must purchase by Dec. 13, 2008) Game and Tailgate tickets are non-refundable. Airfare is NOT included. Competitive coach and first class airfare is available nationwide on Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest or United Airlines. Prices are per person double occupancy. Not combinable with any other special. Full payment will guarantee fare. Subject to change without notice. Certain conditions and restrictions may apply. Travel must be completed within time periods listed for rates shown. Prices are in U.S. dollars. For more information contact your preferred travel agent: Tara Barron at tara@hawaii-aloha.com

Think flying stinks? It may get worse

Despite recent slide in oil prices, profit-challenged airlines will likely have to keep raising fares, adding fees and cutting service.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Jet setters, get ready for more fare hikes and fewer flights.

Industry experts say that embattled airlines, despite a recent downturn in oil prices, are likely to keep raising ticket prices, adding fees and reducing service.

"Once a bell gets rung, it’s hard to un-ring it," said Rick Seaney, chief executive of the air travel information site Farecompare.com.

The airline industry is scrambling to offset the pain from sky-high fuel costs. The Air Transport Association, the industry trade group, expects fuel costs to soar nearly 50% this year to $61.2 billion, from $41.2 billion in 2007.

The continued upward climb of prices will come despite a recent plunge in oil prices of more than $30 a barrel after hitting a peak of $147.27 on July 11.

Some industry watchers believe that the airlines need double-digit fare increases to become profitable. Carriers are likely to also boost their revenue with new fees for once-free services and items, such as checked baggage and non-alcoholic drinks, or with cost-saving measures like laying off staff and eliminating the least fuel-efficient flights.

William Greene, airline analyst for Morgan Stanley, believes that the recent downturn in oil prices is the "tipping point" that will save the airline industry. He said a continued plunge in oil prices could return the industry to profitability by 2009.

"The recent oil price move, if sustained, is a game-changing event for the industry," said Greene, in an analyst note published on Aug. 11. On Friday, oil prices were trading below $113 a barrel.

Still, the hard-hit airline industry will have to continue to raise fares to offset the fuel costs. When asked how much fares are going to increase, estimates vary widely. In fact, analysts have different opinions as to how much they’ve already gone up.

The ATA says the price of a domestic ticket increased 7% in the first half of 2008, compared to the same period last year. David Castelveter, spokesman for the industry group, would not discuss possible future fare hikes.

Michael Derchin, an airline analyst with FTN Midwest Securities, agrees with the ATA number and believes that airfares will increase by another 8.5% to 9.5% after Labor Day. He said airlines will cut back on the number of lower-cost tickets.

"I don’t see it as raising the fares," said Derchin. "I see it as the airlines restricting the availability of the lowest fares, and forcing people to pay the higher fares that are already in place."

In this way, the analyst expects the average airfare to go up by another 8% in 2009.

Derchin said airlines have to charge more "for this industry to make money," but added that’s it too late for most of the carriers to make a profit this year. "It’s not easy to increase [fares] by double-digit levels in a weak economy," he said.

But other analysts say that air fares have increased much more dramatically this year and will continue to do so.

Seaney of Farecompare.com said the ATA’s numbers are misleading. When comparing the cheapest air fares available, he said that during the 12-month span ending this summer, fares increased year-to-date by 20% between major cities, by 30% between mid-size cities and by 40% between smaller cities.

Seaney said he expects airlines to raise fares even more this year, by between 8% and 30%.

"I believe there will be between 4 and 10 successful airfare hikes the rest of this year, depending on the price of oil," said Seaney, noting that each hike would drive up the fares by 2% or 3%.

Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration in Boston, said airlines have increased fares by 20% to 25% year-to-date and need to raise them by another 20% "in order to be profitable."

Ray Neidl, airline analyst for Calyon Securities, said that airlines need to achieve the "20-20 rule" in order to be profitable. That means carriers will need to increase fares by 20% while cutting capacity by 20%.

"They are almost there now," said Neidl, meaning that most of the "20-20 rule" has already been applied.

But that won’t stop airlines from continuing to ramp up fares, said Neidl, who estimates another industrywide hike of 10% to 15% by the end of the year. 

 

Link to full article here

Today’s Special: August 15, 2008

THREE for FREE Upgrade Promotion: 1. 5th Night FREE 2. Pineapple Plantation Tour 3. $100 Activity Credit PLUS FREE Category Upgrade The Kapalua resort is 1,650 acres of peaceful seclusion and refined pleasures along three miles of shoreline on the northwestern tip of the Hawaiian island of Maui. It is surrounded by natural boundaries of ocean and mountains, all on 23,000 acres of land owned by Kapalua’s parent company, Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. The resort is 10 miles north of historic Lahaina Town on the scenic northwest coast of Maui.   Valid 8/20 - 12/15/08*   5 Nights 1 Bedroom Gold Fairway View   $841 pp 1 Bedroom Gold Partial Ocean   $981 pp 1 Bedroom Gold Ocean View   $1,083 pp   PACKAGE includes: 5 Days Budget Convertible Car, 1 Bedroom Gold Villa Accommodations, 5th Night FREE, $100 Activity Credit (per room), FREE Pineapple Plantation Tour for Two PLUS FREE category upgrade (Fairway to Partial Ocean, Partial Ocean to Ocean View & Ocean View to Ocean Front). Prices do NOT include an $18 daily resort fee. Gold Villa Accommodations include: Nightly Turn Down Service, VIP Check-In Service, Special VIP Amenity, Robe & Slippers, In-Room Safe and USA Today Newspaper Delivery. *Last Day to Book is 10/31/08. Airfare is NOT included. Competitive coach and first class airfare is available nationwide on Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest or United Airlines. Prices are per person double occupancy and include all taxes. Not combinable with any other special. Full payment will guarantee fare. Subject to change without notice. Certain conditions and restrictions may apply. Travel must be completed within time periods listed for rates shown. Prices are in U.S. dollars. For more information contact your preferred travel agent: Tara Barron at tara@hawaii-aloha.com

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Read the full article here.

Government regulators cite the airline for maintenance issues and problems with its drug- and alcohol-testing programs.

What will this mean for travelers?  Aside from the initial safety fears, there is also the  financial aspect to think about.  They’ll have to recoup their losses somehow.  I’m thinking —- expect fare increases and perhaps more bogus fees for things that used to be free. 

(Don’t touch that in-flight magazine in your seat back pocket. And bring a roll of quarters for the bathroom)

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Today’s Special: July 25, 2008

The beauty of Hawaii’s Big Island is reflected within the contemporary elegance of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Located beachfront along the Big Island’s sunny Kohala Coast, the resort features redesigned guestrooms, Mandara Spa, heated Infinity pool, two Keiki (children) pools, Ocean View dining, private lanai’s, championship golf, ocean activities, spectacular sunsets and within walking distance to numerous shopping and dining options.     SUPER SAVER SPECIAL 5 Nights   August 16 - September 5, 2008 $705 pp September 6 - December 17, 2008 $605 pp     HAWAIIAN SAND DOLLARS PLUS 5 Nights   August 16 - December 17, 2008 $772 pp     Package includes: 5 Days Budget Compact Rental Car Free space-available upgrade to Intermediate 9/3-11/21 & 12/1- 12/17/08 5 Nights Garden / Mountain accommodations Free night, daily breakfast & upgrade (with Sand Dollars Plus package only) Special package discount A $20/nt Resort Fee is not included * Increased commission paid on room only (excluding tax), book by 8/29/08 Airfare is NOT included. Competitive coach and first class airfare is available nationwide on Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest or United Airlines. Prices are per person double occupancy and include all taxes. Not combinable with any other special. Full payment will guarantee fare. Subject to change without notice. Certain conditions and restrictions may apply. Travel must be completed within time periods listed for rates shown. Prices are in U.S. dollars. For more information contact your preferred travel agent: Tara Barron at tara@hawaii-aloha.com 1-800-843-8771 ext. 36 hawaii, kona, big island, hawaii packages, hawaii travel, hawaii vacation packages

Today’s Special: July 9, 2008

Kauai Summer Sale - 75% off at Princeville Must Book by 7/18/08 This elegant hotel features 252 rooms and suites, four gourmet restaurants, and a living room lounge for evening entertainment and magical sunsets. Panoramic views of Hanalei Bay create an incredible environment for all day relaxation. Guests appreciate the exclusive location on the North Shore with an infrastructure that includes horseback riding, zipline & kayaking tours, 45 holes of golf including the Prince Course rates #1 in Hawaii by Golf Digest. An Unbeatable Offer for Peak Season Travel         Valid 7/9 - 9/6 & 9/14 - 9/17/08 WAS NOW SAVINGS Ocean View $975 /nt $222 /nt $750   Airfare is NOT included. Competitive coach and first class airfare is available nationwide on Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, Northwest or United Airlines. Prices are per room per night based on single or double occupancy. Savings are per room per night. Valid for NEW BOOKINGS only. No minimum stay required for nightly rates. Not combinable with any other special. Full payment will guarantee fare. Subject to change without notice. Certain conditions and restrictions may apply. Travel must be completed within time periods listed for rates shown. Prices are in U.S. dollars. For more information contact your preferred travel agent: Tara Barron at tara@hawaii-aloha.com