October 12, 2004 -- In the only one of 50 US states that can honestly call its whole area a paradise, there are plenty of activities for visitors, from wellness festivals to surfing, from chasing cultural opportunities to hiking or biking -- you name it, they've got it.
United Vacations, in conjunction with The Kohala Center, is offering a new "responsible travel" program for visitors, in a program called "Born of Fire." This program, to start in December 2004, will teach visitors in a four-day educational program to help them understand Hawaiian science and culture and to work with local experts from a non-profit organization to preserve and enhance the natural environments. You'll work alongside people from an "ethnobotanical garden," a "marine mammal consortium" and the T.R.E.E. Center, among others.
Land-only vacations begin at $1,339 and include six nights in the Ohana Keauhou Beach resort in a partial ocean view room (the fifth night free), the four-day program, hotel taxes, Big Kahuna Vacation Values, daily breakfast for two, and a free room upgrade. Travel is between December 1 and 21, 2004. You can purchase airfare from United, of course. For reservations, contact United at 800/328-6877 or visit www.unitedvacations.com/kohala. More about the program can be seen at www.kohalacenter.org.
Ohana Hotels and its affiliate, the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, have some interesting deals this fall and winter. The "Ohana SimpleSaver Rates" are some of the lowest the company has, starting at just $69 per room per night in Waikiki. Also, the "Outrigger Best Available Rates" means savings from 25% to 35% on rooms throughout their chain of resorts in Hawaii, they say. Finally, you can add a free "Wave Catcher" promotion to your stay of five nights or more at any Outrigger or Ohana property in Waikiki, and get a choice of one free two-hour surfboard rental and lesson, an outrigger canoe ride for two, or a 90-minute catamaran sail for one. The value of each is said to be worth up to $30. You can contact them at 800/688-7444 (for Outrigger) or 800/462-6262 (for Ohana). The websites are www.outrigger.com or www.ohanahotels.com.
Finally, Aloha Airlines (800/367-5250; www.alohaairlines.com) has extended its purchasing deadline for sale fares to October 26, 2004. Non-stop fares between Los Angeles (out of Burbank), Las Vegas and Oakland start from $298 before taxes for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday departures good for travel all the way through June 15, 2005. Oakland, Orange County and Sacramento to Maui also begin from $298 roundtrip.
Beginning on December 15, Aloha will begin new non-stop flights out of San Diego and Burbank to Maui for the same $298.