What's New

Smoke-Free

Hawaii has gone smoke-free with one of the toughest smoking laws in the country: It's against the law to smoke in public buildings, including airports, shopping malls, grocery stores, retail shops, buses, movie theaters, banks, convention facilities, and all government buildings and facilities. There is no smoking in restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. You cannot smoke in parking garages; public lobbies (anywhere where there are employees is considered public); or on lanais, patios, covered walkways, or bus stops that have a roof or have two sides enclosed. The fine is $50.

Most bed-and-breakfasts prohibit smoking indoors; more and more hotels and resorts are becoming nonsmoking even in public areas. Also, there is no smoking within 20 feet of a doorway, window, or ventilation intake (no hanging around outside a bar to smoke; you must go 20 ft. away).

Where can you smoke? Curbside along the street (but not within 20 ft. of a door or window), in your car, or in a tobacco shop. Even some beaches have no smoking policies (and at those that allow smoking, you'd better pick up your butts and not use the sand as your own private ashtray -- or face stiff fines). Breathing fresh, clear air is "in" and smoking in Hawaii is "out."

Getting Around in the Islands

Joining Hawaiian Airlines and Aloha Air as interisland air carriers is go! (tel. 888/IFLYGO2; www.iflygo.com), owned by Mesa Air Group (which has more than 1,000 flights to 166 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico). The new airline began service with 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ 200 jets from Kauai to Maui, and both Hilo and Kona on the Big Island. The folks at go! offer the cheapest interisland fares in Hawaii.

On the horizon is the proposed Hawaii Superferry (tel. 877/HI-FERRY; www.hawaiisuperferry.com), a 350-foot vessel that could carry 866 passengers and 282 cars and trucks between Honolulu and Kauai, Maui and the Big Island at speeds up to 35 knots. The state of Hawaii has committed some $40 million for harbor improvements to accommodate the new ferry service. Hawaii briefly had a ferry service (Super Flite) in the 1970s, but the high winds and waves took its toll on the hydrofoil boat -- it only lasted a few years. Proposed fares for the Superferry range from $44 to $62 for passengers and $59 to $69 for cars.

However, environmentalist and Hawaiian groups have been fighting the Superferry since 2005, when the ferry was announced and the state of Hawaii waved the requirement for an environmental impact statement. Environmentalist and Hawaiian cultural groups filed suit, which was finally heard in 2007. The Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled that since public funds were used to make harbor improvements, the company had to do an environmental assessment. The fight then turned to: Should the ferry be allowed to run while the environmental report is being written? The company continued service, and a major protest cropped up on Kauai (with protesters putting their bodies in the water at the entry to the harbor to keep the Superferry out). Many issues remain to be settled. At this point I cannot recommend that you book an interisland trip on the Superferry, until several things are settled. (Who wants to spend a part of their vacation in the middle of an environmental-cultural-political dispute?) Stay tuned . . .

Ocean Safety

Sharks may make the headlines, but drownings actually claim far more lives. To educate people about ocean safety and how that beautiful blue ocean may look calm but has numerous dangers under the waves, Hawaii has undertaken several websites, including www.kauaiexplorer.com, a partnership between the Kauai Visitors Bureau, the County of Kauai Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau, and the nonprofit organization Surfrider Foundation, which warns beachgoers on ocean conditions at Kauai's beaches -- if they are safe for swimming or not. The website is updated daily from lifeguards around Kauai on the beach conditions.

Hawaiian Airlines airs a brief water safety video on all flights from the Mainland explaining what those warning signs posted at beaches in Hawaii mean.

Hotels

Big, big construction is currently underway in the Poipu Resort area. If you are headed that way, be warned that the number of condominium and hotel rooms currently under construction (not counting the ones still in the planning process) will increase the capacity of visitor accommodations in Poipu by 25%.

The good news is that Kauai County has very strict guidelines for noise and dust abatement, which is vigorously enforced. Just be aware that you will be facing traffic delays, construction noise, and the general problems with a lot of construction work in a small area.

Currently there are 121 new luxury oceanfront hotel rooms now under construction, which should be completed by spring 2008. Plus another 655 condominium units in three different projects have broken ground, with completion dates ranging from 2008 into 2009. And the county is planning a "roundabout" to replace the intersections of Poipu and Lawai roads to help facilitate the traffic.

In the permit process, with no definite construction timetable yet, are plans for another 280 condominium units, a 64-room luxury hotel, 128 timeshare or vacation rental units, and an 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness center.

Projects currently under construction in Poipu are:

Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort at Poipu Beach, 2251 Poipu Rd., 121 units, opening spring 2008

Royal Palm, Poipu Road, next to Poipu Shopping Village, 166 condominium units with 120 units opening May 2008, 46 units opening May 2009

Pili Mai at Poipu, next door to Kiahua Golf Course, 191 condominium units, opening phase 1 August 2008

Koloa Landing, Poipu and Kapili roads, 300 condominium units, no completion date set

Poipu Road Roundabout, intersection of Poipu and Lawai roads, to enhance traffic flow, scheduled for completion late 2007

Projects still in the county planning and permit process are:

Poipu Spa and Fitness Center, Poipu Road, fronting the Kiahuna Tennis and Swim Club, 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness center

Kiahuna Poipu Golf Resort, adjacent to Kiahuna Golf Course, 280 condominium units

Kukuiulu Development, between Poipu and Lawai Valley, a master-planned resort community on 1,010 acres, including a boutique hotel with 31 cottages units, a resort spa, a 75,000-square-foot commercial village, 18-hole golf course, and condominiums and homes. Roadways are currently under construction, scheduled to be finished in 2008.

For more information, contact the Poipu Beach Resort Association (tel. 888/744-0888; www.poipubeach.org). If you plan to stay in Poipu, be sure to contact your accommodations and ask how the construction will impact you (how close is construction, will you hear the noise, is there dirt in the air, and so on).

On the Coconut Coast, the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa (tel. 800/OUTRIGGER; www.outrigger.com), a $200-million luxury condominium project on 13 acres between the historic towns of Wailua and Kapaa, opened recently with high-end one-and two-bedroom units. There's a long list of amenities from a 4,000-square-foot Aveda spa to a 300,000-gallon heated fantasy pool, with flowing river, garden, dual serpentine waterslides, sand-bottom children's pool, and three sand-bottom whirlpool tubs.

Hilton renovated and re-branded the old Radisson Kauai, opening as the Hilton Kauai Beach Hotel Resort (tel. 800/HILTONS; www.hiltonkauairesort.com), one of the few hotels on Kauai offering complimentary airport shuttle service.

Restaurants

In the culinary world, Mediterranean Gourmet (tel. 808/826-9875), located next door to the Hanalei Colony Resort, was awarded "Best New Restaurant" on Kauai with Chef/owner Imad Beydoun's Middle Eastern dishes, which he embellishes with an island twist.

Also on the North Shore, successful San Francisco restaurant owner Jim Moffat (The Slow Club and 42°), opened Bar Acuda, 5-5161 Kuhio Hwy., Hanalei (tel. 808/826-7081; www.restaurantbaracuda.com), a sleek, romantic restaurant specializing in his favorite tapas dishes from the southern European regions along the 42° latitude (Southern France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal).

Across the island, another new arrival, in the Poipu Resort Golf Course is Yum Cha, 1571 Poipu Rd., Poipu (tel. 808/742-1515), which means "drink tea," and offers families a range of Asian dishes at fairly reasonable prices.