BEAT OF HAWAII AND BEYOND

Hawaii is the only state where the sun passes directly overhead in summer. Have fun under our tropical sun but be sure to exercise caution. Here are some tips and ideas to help you protect your skin.

A. Check out the Skin Deep database from EWG.

Find the sunscreen that’s best for you. You’ll be surprised by their best and worst recommendations. Consider one of their top 5 picks all of which are SPF 30:

1. California Baby Sunblock Stick No Fragrance
2. Badger Sunscreen
3. California Baby Sunblock Stick Everyday/Year-Round
4. Keys Soap Solar RX Therapeutic Sunblock
5. Trukid Sunny Days Facestick Mineral Sunscreen

B. Protect the coral.

If you’re going to be around coral, it’s important to use a physical barrier sunscreen which all of the above are. The UV blocking agents in chemical sunscreens can damage coral.

C. Our best practices.

• Zinc or titanium oxide based sunscreens are the best and safest.
• Use enough sunscreen and reapply every 2 hours.
• Reduce direct sun exposure from 10-4.
• Keiki (children) are even more at risk.
• Don’t forget protection for your lips and ears.
• Wear a hat. Protect your eyes with good sunglasses.
• Sunscreen older than 2 years should not be used.
• Drink lots of water daily, as you’ll be perspiring more. Experts suggest 1/2 your weight in pounds, converted to ounces (160 lbs=80 ounces).

If you have any other tips for staying safe under the sun, please add your comment.

While the press is working hard at putting a negative spin on visitor traffic to Hawaii, I’m going to do just the opposite.

Take a closer look at what’s happening and I think you’ll agree with me:

Hawaii is bucking the trend and remains strong

There are big changes ahead as far as who is coming to our island shores. You may be quite surprised.

Hawaii visitor traffic expected to exceed 7 million in 2008.

According to University of Hawaii and Bank of Hawaii analysts, this will be a drop of about 4% compared with 2007. In today’s market and economy, being flat is a remarkable achievement.

Visitor traffic increased 2.8% during the first three months of the year. April’s traffic, however, declined 7.6%.

Month by month comparisons often do not represent the whole picture. For example, I believe traffic dropped in April due primarily to the timing of the Aloha and ATA airline bankruptcies, and the reduction of NCL Hawaii-based cruise ships.

Canadian visitor traffic begins to offset decline from California and Japan.

Last month, California visitors declined by nearly 25% over 2007, while Japan posted a 15% decline. Even though shopping in Hawaii remains a deal to Japanese visitors, they have been hit by rapidly escalating airfares to Hawaii.

Meanwhile, our Canadian friends are coming to Hawaii in ever increasing numbers. This is attributed to good air fares, convenient service and the strong Canadian dollar.

Canada posted a visitor increase of 48%, from approximately 20,000 in April 2007 to 30,000 in April 2008.

More changes coming: Korea and China Visitors Ahead

• Korea. Last month an agreement was reached between Korea and the U.S., encouraged by Hawaii officials, to allow Korean citizens to visit the U.S. without requiring visas.
• China. Non-stop service, three times a week from Beijing to Honolulu, will begin in July. It is being offered by the Chinese charter airline Mega Global Airways. In October, the company plans to begin Hangzhou to Honolulu service as well. A recent agreement between the U.S. and China for the first time allows Chinese visitors to participate in group tours in the U.S.

HNL Airport renovation to keep up with travel demands.

Look for Honolulu International Airport to be on the upswing. It’s currently rated 18th of 21 medium-sized airports for customer satisfaction (J.D. Power and Associates’ 2008 North America survey).

HNL is in year two of a twelve year $2.3 Billion renovation. The initial plan is to improve service, efficiency and security in the terminals, ticket counters, and infrastructure. Longer-term projects will increase the airports’ capacity overall.

On April 25, I espoused my ideas for getting the best airfare deals to and from Hawaii.  While others were predicting a defeatist “buy now strategy”, my philosophy was and continues to be:

“Wait, watch like a hawk and pounce like a cat.”

So far it’s been working great if you’re flexible with dates and act fast.  In the last seven days we’ve reported incredible deals to Hawaii.  Yesterday we took advantage ourselves and bought round trip tickets from Kauai to New York City for $270 (tax included).

Yesterday’s deals are as old as yesterday’s news:  They’re gone.

Since last night, those fares we had just featured went up by 200-300%.  If you failed to act, you’ll need to wait until the next round.

This season has become the wildest outrigger canoe ride ever in Hawaii travel history.  Here’s a recap of what we’ve been talking about:

AAA started it off with their baffling estimate of Honolulu hotels and food averaging a whopping $792 per day.

In reality (especially after checking NYC hotels for our upcoming trip) we’re seeing Honolulu and Hawaii overall offering some of the best bargains ever this summer.  I still believe that AAA was trying to sensationalize a story to keep us all on a road trip to Dubuque.

Superferry came from the bottom of the pile to be this summer’s best inter-island deal.

We even surprised ourselves when we announced that at $49 per person, through September 30, this is unequivocally the way to go between Oahu and Maui.  This is another deal that is a loss leader and can’t last.  So get it while it’s hot.

Go!’s parent company Mesa issued its second bankruptcy warning just last week.

We noted a plethora of problems at Mesa.  As a result, the likelihood of their remaining in Hawaii is slim, despite the CEO’s assurances.  He’s the one who recently denied the bankruptcy likelihood too.

Hawaiian Air’s huge price increases will result in most of us paying at least $74 plus tax each way between the islands.

They’ve also tacked on fuel surcharge upon fuel surcharge, and are pricing themselves right out of the trans-Pacific market.  We’ve been loyal Hawaiian customers for years, and are choosing other carriers for the first time.  This doesn’t bode well for them, and their only hope is short-term acquisition by one of the big players.

UA/HA’s new codeshare deal allows MileagePlus customers to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on inter-island Hawaiian Airlines flights.

It is not reciprocal, however, and could be short-lived.  The best buy using a MileagePlus award is still on Island Air.  The Hawaiian Air award is 10,000 miles while the Island Air award is only 5,000 miles.

With jet fuel at over $4 a gallon, airline economics just isn’t workable.

We are about to see more bankruptcies. Those who make it must find a way to charge in relation to costs, whether it is by raising airfares or nickel and diming us to death, as in luggage fees. The other thing airlines are doing is trying to out wait each other, and see who can last longer.

Stay tuned for more details on this wild ride.

Some amazing deals on UA and CO this morning. But they are hot and will definitely not last. Act immediately so you won’t be disappointed.

I used Travelocity’s flexible date search to find availability.

Newark or Houston to Honolulu or Lihue (Kauai) $237-$257 RT

United’s deal:

• Valid from August 20, 2008 through April 15, 2009
• Advance purchase: 21 days
• Minimum stay: 3 nights
• Travel: Applies to specific weekdays in each direction

Los Angeles to Honolulu $261 or $308 RT

Continental’s deal:

• Valid from August 20, 2008 through April 15, 2009
• Advance purchase: 21 days
• Minimum stay: 3 nights
• Travel: Monday through Wednesday

PS: These fares have started somewhat of a skirmish between UA, CO and US. So you might want to just check all east coast cities that are of interest.

PPS: We just booked a trip to New York for two over Labor Day from Kauai for $545 RT (total)!

Ko’a Kea Hotel and Resort, opening on August 29, is the shining new star on the Poipu Beach scene.

General Manager, Chris Steuri, invited us behind the construction screen this week for an exclusive look at this exciting property.

Frequent guests to Kauai’s South Shore will remember Ko’a Kea as the former Poipu Beach Resort. It was destroyed by Hurricane Iniki.

In its new incarnation, Ko’a Kea promises luxury and an adult sophistication. With only 121 rooms, the distinctive hotel offers a Swiss hotelier’s promise of personal service.

Chris speaks from experience having been in hospitality for over 25 years. A native of Switzerland, Chris grew up in a hotel family and has managed luxury properties world wide.

Standing in what will be the lobby, I was immediately struck by its open design which creates a welcoming atmosphere. Chris wants each guest to feel comfortable from the moment of arrival.

The unstructured lobby interior will reflect a contemporary color palate. To provide a sense of the past, all outside railings and their metallic art have been restored.

One of the most stand out features is the hotel’s position to the ocean. Ko’a Kea’s three buildings form a U shape courtyard that face out to the beach. Their prized suites are oceanfront.

Ko’a Kea’s contemporary decor has been designed by Anita Brooks. The resort includes the new Red Salt restaurant and The Spa at Ko’a Kea.

Independently owned and operated, Ko’a Kea is part of Preferred Hotels and Resorts.

Opening Special: On our tour, Chris announced an opening rate of $299 with no minimum stay requirement. This rate is based on availability and applies to garden view rooms.

We will be returning to review the opening of Ko’a Kea in August.

Things are topsy turvy in the travel biz and it has hit us yet again this morning.  Just overnight, things have deteriorated significantly in the Hawaii airline market.

Yesterday we mentioned Go! as an alternative, given Hawaiian’s fare increases.  We had reason to believe that Go! would continue operating, especially given their equity in aircraft, at least in the near term.  This morning, however, Go!’s parent company Mesa, issued another warning that has caused us to retrench.

Mesa stated that they may file for bankruptcy if Delta cancels their contract valued at nearly a billion dollars. The matter will be heard in federal court starting next week. We first warned about this eventuality on April 9. 

The troubles at Mesa beyond the Delta contract:

• Sluggish economy mixed with exorbitant fuel costs.
• Highly speculative operations in Hawaii and China.
• Excess of inefficient 50-passenger aircraft.
• Low stock price (47 cents today) and an inability to raise cash.
• $52.5 million Hawaiian Airlines judgment.

What we suggest:

• If you are flying on Mesa, use a credit card, and consider purchasing appropriate travel insurance.
• Use alternatives.  In Hawaii, as of today that means Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air and Superferry.

Prognosticating:

If Go! ceases to operate, and with inter-island airfares soon to be at record highs, we will definitely have another major player joining the market.

The bad news:

Hawaiian Airlines announced tonight that effective Tuesday, May 27, they will implement the following:

1. Fuel Surcharge. An additional $35 on flights between the mainland and Hawaii, and $40-$55 between Hawaii and American Samoa, Australia, the Philippines and Tahiti.
2. Inter-Island Increase: Fares will increase $10, to a minimum of $64.  All but early morning and late night flights will be either $74 or $84.

The good news. Three tips on how you can still save money:

1. Buy tickets immediately, before the increases take effect.
2. Consider Go! and Island Air, which thus far have not matched the inter-island increases.
3. Use our earlier suggestion and try the Superferry for travel between Oahu and Maui.  At $49 (fare good through September 30), this is far and away the summer’s best inter-island deal.

Stay tuned:

We have a sense we haven’t heard the last of increases at Hawaiian.

The airline industry was not designed to work with oil at $130 a barrel and rising.  In order for the airlines to stay in business, they are adding fees, left and right, which of course none of us likes.  If any part of this isn’t clear, however, compare it with our recent experiences at the gas pump.  We’re all having to pay more.

Fixed or menu pricing. Bottom line, airfares must rise in relation to fuel.  With that in mind, would we still prefer to have everything related to air travel bundled together at a fixed price, or would we prefer to choose exactly which components we wish and pay for them separately?

Today’s prevalent model. What we as consumers have asked for and gotten is the menu option.  It gives us an impression at least, that we are getting a better deal.  We see it in virtually all consumer purchases we make.  Therefore, it seems inappropriate to say that American Airlines is somehow unfair in assessing today’s fee, no matter how much we dislike it.

The buzz on other websites. I found this fee discussed on many other websites, among them Chris Elliott, Cheapest Destinations, and Gadling.  Many seemed to put an oddly irate spin on these fees to create sympathy among readers.  As American pointed out, however, with the ever-rising price of oil, they do not otherwise have a sustainable business model.  With that I concur.

Conclusion. So the question that we the consumers, and the travel industry will have to decide, isn’t whether we want prices to move in relation to oil, but rather whether or not we want to have menu-driven pricing.

PS. As previously indicated in our luggage scale article, we predict that all carry-ons will be weighed in the near future.

Starting August 18, you can fly Continental from Los Angeles to Honolulu for $380 RT.  Hawaiian Airlines is still hoping against hope that you’ll pay a minimum of $540 for the same late summer flights.

Continental’s deal:

• Valid from August 18, 2008 through April 15, 2009
• Advance purchase:  7 days
• Minimum stay:  3 nights

While seats are limited, I had no difficulty finding them this morning.

Let us know how you fare.

Name a plant that has been a staple in Hawaii since the Polynesians brought it here by canoe. Hawaii produces 6 million pounds each year. If you guessed Taro you’re right. On July 1, Taro becomes the official state plant of Hawaii.

TARO is believed to have the greatest life force of all foods. It’s also called Kalo in Hawaiian which means, “everlasting breath.”

All parts of this sturdy plant are eaten. Just make sure to cook Taro first and never eat it raw. The leaves are cooked as greens and the tubers are cooked and mashed with water to make poi. In modern times it’s been added to pancakes and fried or baked into chips and bread.

In ancient Hawaii, poi brought people together in a ceremony of life that supported the relationship of ohana (family). There’s more to learn about this historical plant by reading Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawaii. If you’re ever on Maui during the month of April, consider going to the Taro Festival in Hana.

Next up is the mysterious and prehistoric HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL. On July 1 it joins our state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapuaa, as the new official state mammal. We hope this will create public awareness and critical funding to help save the Hawaiian Monk Seal from extinction. If you’re fortunate to see one, leave it alone as fines for disturbing a Hawaiian Monk Seal can reach as high as $25,000.

Finally, there’s a new controversy over STRAWBERRY GUAVA. Love it or hate it, you decide. They are plentiful when walking around the hills in Hawaii, and very delicious. We grow Strawberry Guava intentionally in our yard.

In the wild, however, they represent a threat to native species, and provide food for unwanted fruit flies and pigs. This summer, the U.S. Forest Service plans to release a scale insect from Brazil to attack strawberry guava and reduce its fruit production. Since they are cultivated as well as wild, all guava production will be hurt. Many feel that the plan is ill-advised.

Strawberry guavas have been present in Hawaii for 200 years, and are well liked for eating and in cooking.

If you’ve had experience with our “two plants and a mammal,” please be sure to comment.

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We love our Honu which is the Hawaiian green sea turtle. Three other Honu fans are the talented Claremont Trio who performed recently in Hawaii. While on Kauai, they filmed this wonderful video for their tour blog.

Last week’s Jaunted article on visiting Oman to observe sea turtles, inspired today’s post. If Oman is too far away for you, Hawaii offers three sea turtle species that you can see.

1. Green: Protected by the endangered species act, and weighing up to 500 pounds, their life-span is believed to be very long. Green turtles live close to the shores of our islands, feed primarily on seaweed and swim up to 35 mph. One of the most ancient species of the world, they existed prior to dinosaurs.

2. Hawksbill: The elusive, nearly extinct hawksbill, ‘ea’ in Hawaiian, is noted for its shiny shell. It is still hunted illegally due to its high value. There are only a few dozen hawksbills still found in Hawaii.

3. Leatherback: The largest of all living turtles (in fact all sea reptiles), this species has no shell and instead is covered by a black rubber-like skin and oily flesh. Leatherbacks dwell in deep water away from the island shores, and can weigh up to one ton.

You observe Hawaiian sea turtles on all the major islands: Best sites are on the Big Island’s Kona side. Likely beaches include Anaehoomalu Bay, Honaunau, Kahalu’u Beach, Kahuwai Bay, Kuki’o Beach, and Punaluu Black Sand Beach. Also, on Kauai at and around Poipu Beach Park and Brennecke’s Beach.

Observation guidelines: Turtles are generally not afraid of people. They are, however, protected by law and it’s illegal to touch them. Do not chase or scare turtles, hinder their movement, or swim within 20 feet.

If you’ve seen a Hawaiian Sea Turtle, please share your experiences.

We’re starting to think that VOG, volcanic smog, may be a part of Hawaii’s landscape for the foreseeable future. It eminates from Mt. Kilauea on the Big Island, 250 miles south of Kauai, and has all the look and feel of real smog. The volcano has been belching more acid-rich air pollution than the dirtiest U.S. power plants for the past quarter century.

VOG’s health effects. Since 2001, a team of researchers headed by University of Hawaii’s medical school have been studying the impact of Hawaii’s VOG.  VOG from every volcano is unique, and Kilauea is renowned for an almost pure sulfur dioxide output.  Studies to date remain inconclusive. More long-term research is needed to accurately determine the health risks associated with Kilauea’s VOG.

Increased output. Since late 2007, the emissions have increased more than 200%, much of which just occurred in mid-March, when a new vent appeared.

Conclusion. There’s good news.  Prevailing trade winds keep the VOG off the south shore of the Big Island and away from the rest of the state more than 80% of the time. Unlike seasonal weather patterns, however, wind direction changes are not predictable. Once a pattern is established, it can continue for a week or more.