Beat of Hawaii and Beyond: Travel Tips, Deals, Events, Culture

Our favorite swimming beach, Hanalei Bay, had flat water for the first time this season. It’s a 75 minute drive each way from our home. We jumped in the car eager to swim a mile at one of the best beaches in the USA. Apparently, we were not the only ones excited to swim. As we approached the beach this sign greeted us:

What would you do?

a) Ignore the sign and jump in with the shark

b) Change plans and go for a walk instead

We actually did both and took moderate caution. Instead of swimming from the pier, we walked down to the first lifeguard station to get the full story. The Tiger Shark had been spotted at 4pm Saturday swimming in shallow water and under the pier. As it had been almost 24 hours since the sighting, we decided to swim laps close to the lifeguard station in case there was a problem.

Why was the shark around? It appears that a fishing boat cleaned their nets in the Bay which attracted the shark.

Hanalei remains our favorite beach for long distance swimming between April and October. We go there twice a week in season. If you’re there, be sure to look for us.

In Hawaii the 26^th of March is a state holiday to celebrate Prince Kuhio’s birthday.

Prince Kuhio was born on Kauai in 1871. The great grandson of Kauai’s last ruling chief, Prince Kuhio was in line to become King when the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.

Today we were at his birthplace to observe the protocol of honoring Prince Kuhio through giving ho’okupu (offerings). The commemorative ceremony was conducted by the Royal Order of Kamehameha.

Here are some interesting facts about Prince Kuhio:

• Imprisoned for treason by the U.S. government for attempting to return to sovereign rule.

• First Hawaiian representative elected to Congress.

• Prince Kuhio won a $27 million appropriation which included dredging and construction of Pearl Harbor and creating the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

• Established county governments with elected officials, the Hawaiian Homes Commission to provide lands to native Hawaiians for homesteading, the Order of Kamehameha, the Chiefs of Hawaii and the Hawaiian Civic Club.

Details: You can visit Prince Kuhio Park and Monument on Kauai’s South Shore. It’s located on Lawai Road near Po’ipu. Established in 1928, the park includes Ho’ai Heiau.

We’re updating our earlier post on Aloha Airlines recent bankruptcy announcement.

The latest:

• State lawmakers are looking at ways to help which include a loan guarantee for investors and waiver of airport landing fees.

• Aloha has indicated that they do not have adequate cash on hand to continue flying for more than two weeks.

• No investors have stepped forward as far as we are aware. Given what Aloha has to offer, a significant investor is highly unlikely.

• Hawaiian Airlines has a plan in place (we’re told) to increase inter-island flight schedules to accommodate additional passengers.

What you should do:

• If you have already purchased a ticket on Aloha using a credit card, that investment is secure. You will be able to obtain a refund from your credit card company in the event Aloha does not honor that ticket.

• If you haven’t purchased a ticket yet for an upcoming trip, use Hawaiian, IslandAir or Go!.

• If you have AlohaPass miles, consider redeeming them immediately for non-Aloha awards (such as United or IslandAir). If Aloha stops operating, it is unlikely that the AlohaPass program will continue.

The saddest part of this story is that Aloha is one of our state’s largest employers and their demise would mean thousands of lost jobs.

Stay tuned.

You might be wondering whether this is a good time to visit Hawaii, given the economic slowdown. The answer is a definite and resounding, YES. Here’s why:

1. Capitalize on fewer advance bookings. Economic woes are causing people to plan and book trips with less lead time. We’re seeing this as a great opportunity to find better deals by thinking ahead of the crowd and making your plans early, while bookings are softer than usual for summer or after Labor Day.

2. Consistent value. Hawaii prices are quite reasonable when compared with international alternatives. Foreign currencies, including those of Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia for example, have become more and more expensive (when bought with U.S. dollars). On our recent trip to French Polynesia, we saw costs jump 20%+ from trip planning to our actual travel. Coming to Hawaii, you can be assured of value without regard to the dollar’s strength.

3. Competitive air fares. Even with Aloha’s bankruptcy this week, there is a great deal of competition in the U.S. Mainland to Hawaii air corridor. While prices may not be the cheapest we’ve ever seen, they will likely remain reasonably low, especially when you take advantage of seasonal fluctuations. Until early June, and following Labor Day, are excellent times to find good prices. During the summer, try shopping for different days of the week, using a tool such as Travelocity’s flexible date search. Prices from one day (or week) to the next can vary by hundreds of dollars.

4. Negotiate hotel deals. Watch for hotel deals, in much the same way as for air fares. In addition, consider booking a reservation and then just prior to the non-refundable cancellation period, look again to see if you can find a better deal directly from the hotel (try website and phone), the online agencies, last minute specialists like wotif.com, or on bidding sites, with help from the biddingfortravel.com forums.

5. Car rental options. Same advice I suggested for hotels applies here.

Once the economy starts to sense a bottom, Hawaii will be on an up-tick in terms of pricing. I suggest you get over here as soon as you can to take advantage in the interim.

Honolulu news station KITV revealed late today that Aloha Airlines has filed bankruptcy for the second time in three years. While Aloha indicated that the reason for filing is due to unfair competition by Go! Airlines and sky-high oil prices, there are I believe other factors that were not mentioned.

• Aloha lacks a modern inter-island fleet and has been flying old, fuel-inefficient and more maintenance intensive 737-200.
• The question of whether primary investor, billionaire Ron Burkle, has finally tired of pouring money into Aloha.
• Aloha’s lack of of appropriate long-range aircraft and lucrative Transpacific mainland and international routes (that have helped competitor Hawaiian Airlines weather difficult times).
• Aloha’s poor customer service track record and lack of overall sales appeal necessary to attract customers.

Can Aloha reorganize once again and come out flying? Due to the overwhelming number of negative factors, I personally don’t think so.

There are indeed serious difficulties facing Hawaii inter-island travel. Stay tuned for more.

Delta Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines have made the much-anticipated announcement of their frequent flier partnership, providing both carriers members more choices in mileage earning and redemption. Delta members will earn base miles on Hawaiian flights and can earn and redeem miles on all Hawaiian services. Hawaiian members can earn and redeem miles on all Delta services.

Delta is also commencing non-stop service from Los Angeles to Kona and Lihue starting in June.

This announcement continues Hawaiian’s positioning with mainland carriers (Continental and now Delta) for possible future acquisition.

My paternal ancestors are among the first foreign settlers in Hawaii (but that’s another story).

It’s an interesting coincidence that my maternal great grandmother, who never stepped foot in the Hawaiian Islands, would be the one to gift me with her Hawaiian Quilt.

Hawaii was close in heart to my great grandmother.

The year is 1925 and the setting is a rural community in Eastern Washington.

A young couple from Hawaii, the Kanekoa’s, has moved into town to work on the railroad. Their next door neighbors are my great grandparents, John and Sarah Eaton.

A friendship develops and the two women share a passion for quilting. Mrs. Kanekoa gifts my great grandmother her Hawaiian quilt pattern.

What happens next is an example of how Mrs. Kanekoa’s Aloha, and my great grandmother’s ingenuity, has been passed down through the generations.

My great grandmother made many braided rugs and quilts during her life. She fell in love, however, with the Hawaiian quilt.

During the Depression my Great-Grandma started making Hawaiian quilts and then raffled them off to put food on the table.

In the early 1950’s, Great-Grandma made her last Hawaiian quilt. The purpose of this quilt was to be a gift to her family. I’m now the proud recipient.

When Great-Grandma was making this quilt, I’m sure she never imagined that it would someday be in Hawaii and in her Great Grandson’s home.

Every time I see and touch Great Grandma’s Hawaiian quilt, it connects me to her and to my past. I see her expert quilting and craftsmanship. The quilt is a reminder of the friendship between these two women and their gift of Aloha.

Do you own a Hawaiian quilt? If so, I’d enjoy hearing your story.

Where’s Kainaliu? 10 miles south of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.

Will an Angel touch you if you go there? Not exactly but you’ll feel better after.

Kainaliu is home to the Aloha Massage Academy and Aloha Angel Café.

The Aloha Massage Academy offers a one hour massage for $30! I couldn’t believe the price so I decided to check it out for myself. Undercover work has its advantages.

I didn’t have high expectations since the massage would be given by an advanced student. I was wrong. My massage was worthy of the expensive ones offered at the major hotels.

The studio ambience is relaxing and professional. My masseuse used a variety of techniques including hot stones and reiki. I was so relaxed I could hardly get off the table when it was over.

Feeling stress free for only $30 left a nice feeling of Aloha on my body and wallet.

Afterwards I floated across the highway to Aloha Angel Café where I’ve eaten before. Lunch for two was $21. The food was above average for what you’d expect at a coffee shop and service prompt. You’ll dine outside on a verandah that wraps around an old theatre.

I felt touched by an angel and I think you will too.

Details:

Aloha Massage Academy, located on the highway in Kainaliu. Appointments recommended. We made ours two days in advance. Call 808/937-6019.

Aloha Angel Café, on the highway in Kainaliu. No reservations needed for breakfast or lunch. Call 808/322-3383.

My incident with Trip Advisor started me thinking about the wide-spread changes in the travel industry and how they affect all of us when we plan our trips.

Travel Industry Consolidation

Here are three examples that the industry would prefer that consumers not be aware of:

Continue Reading »

Beloved Polihale State Park was reopened this week. It had been closed for much needed road and plumbing repairs. The infamous potholes have been (at least temporarily) filled with rocks. Roadwork and other renovation and beautication by the state in concert with local groups will be ongoing for several more weeks.

Polihale is the not-to-be-missed spectaclar beach on the far west side of Kauai. It features a broad sandy beach tucked under the foothills of the Na Pali coast, and is perfect for sunset.

It’s reached by driving west past Kekaha. Here are specific driving instructions.

Suggestions:

1. At almost all times it is very dangerous and unadvisable to swim at Polihale (even for locals).
2. The extremely bumpy dirt (and rock) road is about 5 slow miles long, starting at the highway.
3. Keep your rental car clean, since you will be charged for excessive red dirt.