o   “Second Annual Halekulani Masters Chef Gala Series: Chefs Who Have Cooked For Presidents and Royalty” at the Halekulani – September 7

o   “From Farm to Table: A Makahiki Festival” at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort and Spa – September 8

o   “Cuisines of the Stars: A Magical Journey of Food & Culture” at Ko Olina Resort – September 9

• Planning a trip to the USS Arizona Memorial on O‘ahu is now easier with the introduction of a new advance online reservations system. For $1.50 each, tickets can be purchased up to three months in advance for as many as 65 people in a group via Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Complimentary tickets are still available for same day walk-in guests at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Another new ticket option is the Passport to Pearl Harbor, a one stop deal for visitors looking to get the entire Pearl Harbor experience for one low price. The ‘Passport’ provides access to all primary Pearl Harbor historic sites for $55 per adult and $30 per child. For just $10 more, the Passport holders can upgrade to a Two Day Pass that allows them to return to Pearl Harbor within seven days of their initial visit.
• Kōloa Rum Company located at the Historic Kilohana Plantation in Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i offers authentic premium rum made from the molasses of high-quality Kaua‘i sugarcane. The Kōloa Rum Company was once again awarded a Gold Medal for its Kaua‘i Dark Rum in the Rum Renaissance Festival held in Miami, Florida in which some 100 rums from around the world competed.
• Princeville Ranch Adventures, a zipline, horseback, kayak and hiking outfitter on Kaua‘i, now offers a new private horseback riding tour with yoga called “The Lokahi (harmony) Ride” on a pristine private ranch! The Certified Yoga instructor is the guide on this unique private ride, designed to enhance the rider-horse connection. Using breath and balance will foster awareness and increase confidence – for both rider and horse.
• In collaboration with the original creators, Roberts Hawai‘i will re-launch Hawai‘i Movie Tours as a narrated six-hour excursion around Kaua‘i, including exclusive entry to Coco Palms – where numerous movies and televisions shows were filmed – and lunch at the rustic Tahiti Nui where George Clooney’s latest movie, The Descendants, was staged.
• Prince Golf Course on Kaua‘i opened for play on March 1, 2012 following a multi-million dollar restoration by Heritage Links and renowned golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones, Jr.  Restoration work to the course included the complete reconstruction, re-shaping and re-grassing of all greens to meet modern USGA specifications; remodeling of bunkers; widening of fairways; and the addition of new tees for extended challenge and variety.  The Prince Course is consistently ranked as one of America’s Top 100 Golf Courses by Golf Digest.
• Kaua‘i Waterski & Surf Company offers water ski, wakeboard, kneeboard or hydrofoil on Hawai‘i’s only navigable river, the Wailua River with their Malibu boat. They teach all levels from the beginners who’ve never skied before through advanced individuals who want to work on their technique.
• The Battleship Missouri Memorial will unveil its new “Battleship Movie Behind the Scenes Tour” in May. This new tour takes guests on an interactive adventure through areas of the Battleship Missouri featured in Universal Studio’s summer blockbuster, Battleship, due out this May.
• Legends in Concert Waikiki debuted its “Rock-a-Hula” show at the Royal Hawaiian Center in December 2011. The show features performances by tribute artists like Elvis Presley, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga. Legends in Concert Waikiki is open year-round with show performances six nights a week (dark Mondays) and offers cocktail and dinner packages.
• Cruise the winding scenic roads of Makena, Maui in style or take these classic bikes beachside along the flagstone roads of the historic King's Trail. Either way, you'll get a sense of a bygone era and lose yourself in the serene environment that is Makena while enjoying a cardio workout on Schwinn bikes compliments of the Makena Beach & Golf Resort. Bikes are complimentary to guests and come complete with helmets, locks, and beverage holders.
• Maui Gold® and Haliimaile Pineapple Company offer a pineapple plantation tour that is the only one of its kind in the entire nation. This 1.5 - 2 hour tour is led by pineapple workers whose colorful commentary weaves history, facts and trivia into an authentic pineapple plantation experience.
• Visitors can now take advantage of ten of the Hawai‘i island’s best-known culture, history, and science centers – at a discount!  For $8, the Big Island Museum Pass provides up to a net $54 in savings on entry fees for two adults to Hawai'i's top educational attractions. Participating museums: Lyman Museum & Mission House, ‘Imiloa Astonomy Center, Pacific Tsunami Museum, Laupahoehoe Train Museum, Anna Ranch Heritage Center, Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, Hulihe‘e Palace, Kona Historical Society’s Greenwell Store and Kona Coffee Living Farm History, and Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens.
• Blue Sea Cruises now offers two ways to experience manta rays - wet or dry! The only Dry Manta Watch is aboard its 70' Spirit of Kona. High intensity lights illuminate the underwater scene as giant graceful manta rays feed on the plankton forming near the lights of glass bottom wells.  Join the Wet Manta Snorkel aboard the M/V Makai for a cushy, comfortable cruise along the Kona coastline of Hawai‘i Island at night.  Large Kona manta rays will swim within inches of your viewing.
• ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo, Hawai‘i has translated its signature planetarium show, Maunakea, Between Earth and Sky into Japanese and Chinese.  The show is featured in Japanese language during its 11:00 A.M. showing and will be available to Chinese tour groups for special presentations.
• The newly-launched Kona Golf Trail offers low package rates at terrific golf courses and deluxe partner hotels.  The Kona Golf Trail is comprised of three courses that are located along the historic Māmalahoa Highway in the Kona District.  They include Kona Country Club, Makalei Country Club and Big Island Country Club.  Packages are offered with the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, the Keauhou Beach Resort, the Royal Kona Resort, and the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS

• Hawai‘i’s newest south shore Kaua‘i resort is now open – Kōloa Landing at Po‘ipū Beach, a Wyndham Grand Resort.  The Wyndham Grand offers residential style accommodations with expansive villas and gracious service.  The resort includes 85 guest villas, Tiki torch lit pathways, two swimming pools, a stunning Holo Holo Lobby Lounge, and Po‘ipū Beach Resort Gourmet Marketplace.
• The Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort’s resort transformation is almost complete. Resort renovations include the main lobby, porte-cochère, courtyard lounge, newly designed pool with cabanas, Lavas poolside dining, Link Café and ocean courtyard. The long awaited signature ocean front dining experience, RUM FIRE is also open.  The final stage is the ocean front function room, Luana Kai.
• The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel on O‘ahu kicked-off the New Year with the second phase of a two million-dollar complete overhaul of its oceanview rooms. The first phase of a 1.5 million dollar renovation was completed in June 2010. With the collaboration of local architect Pacific Asia Design Group and Japan designer Studio M, the guest rooms will be stylishly transformed to an upscale, urban, chic, interior design. The hotel is also implementing eco friendly initiatives, such as LED recessed lighting and energy-efficient sliding lanai doors.
• In celebration of the civil unions bill that took effect on Jan. 1, 2012, Aqua Hotels and Resorts created the “C U at Aqua” package, perfect for LGBT travelers. This package is available at 12 participating Aqua hotels in Waikīkī, O‘ahu. In addition to this new package, eight participating properties also offer the “Out and Proud in Waikiki” package.
• Wailea Resort on Maui welcomed a new brand to their collection of luxury properties in the 1,500-acre master planned resort, Andaz. The former Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort property began much anticipated site work in November and is slated to open in March 2013 as the Andaz Wailea Resort & Residences. The 15-acre property located oceanfront on pristine and sunny Mokapu Beach will host 297 guestrooms, 19 residential villas, cascading outdoor pools, spa, fitness center, meeting space and restaurants.
• Disney’s West O‘ahu resort, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, opened its first phase on Aug. 29, 2011. Along with appearances by Disney’s favorite lovable characters, the 21-acre resort set on the Wai‘anae Coast features 360 guestrooms, 481 Disney Vacation Club Villas, pools, hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, a river, meeting rooms, wedding facilities, an 18,000-square-foot spa, and two restaurants.
• Maui’s Makena Beach and Golf Resort recently completed a multi-million dollar beautification of its 310 rooms and suites. Already spacious and large, the guest rooms have been upgraded with new wall-to-wall carpeting, granite countertops in the bathroom areas, and refinished cherry wood furnishings.
• Four Seasons Resort Maui announced its collaboration with Missoni, the internationally acclaimed Italian fashion designer and is featuring two Missoni-inspired cabanas at its internationally recognized Serenity Pool. In addition, a Missoni lounge has been staged outside the resort's 22 Knots boutique.  Seaside Luxe's exclusive boutique, 22 Knots, at Four Seasons Resort Maui carries the entire Missoni Lifestyle Collection: Home & Fashion. The bright, colorful ocean facing Missoni Cabanas can be rented daily.
• The Four Seasons Resorts Lanai’s new License to Wed specialist allows couples to say ‘I Do’ without all the stressful ‘to-dos.’ Four Seasons takes graceful planning and execution to a new level with complimentary in-house services. The specialist is licensed by the State of Hawai‘i to authorize marriage and civil union licenses, providing a personalized one-stop bridal boutique for couples in the comforts of their room, poolside or anywhere of choice.
• Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel on Hawai‘i Island has completed a half million-dollar renewal to upgrade the look and feel of 96 of its luxury suites and oceanfront guest rooms. Renowned interior design firm Philpotts & Associates drew inspiration from the rich history of Kohala for colors, artwork, and fabrics. Walls are adorned in traditional kapa prints accented by Polynesian-inspired fabrics on pillows, new chair furnishings, and tailored linen bed skirts alongside modern bedside, floor, and table lighting.

ACCOLADES

• The editors of Lonely Planet picked Hawai‘i, the Big Island as one of the Top 10 U.S. Travel Destinations for 2012. Destinations were chosen for their new, interesting, and up-and-coming or undiscovered qualities. Rounding out the top 10 were the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hudson River Valley (New York), Cincinnati (Ohio), Four Corners Region (Southwest USA), Culebra (Puerto Rico), California Gold Country, Boulder (Colorado), Chicago (Illinois), and Yellowstone National Park.
• TripAdvisor’s 2012 Travelers’ Choice Awards awarded two Kaua‘i hotels as the Best Hotels for Romance. Koa Kea Hotel and Resort was voted No. 1 on the list for Top 10 Hotels for Romance in the United States and No. 8 for Top 10 Hotels for Romance in the World. St. Regis Princexhale4321eville earned the No. 5 spot on the United States list.

TRANSPORTATION

•  Alaska Airlines is launching new daily, non-stop service from Oakland and San Jose, California to Honolulu, starting April 10. This complements Alaska Airlines’ existing daily Honolulu flights from Anchorage, Alasaka; Bellingham and Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and San Diego, California.
• Beginning June 4, Hawaiian Airlines will add daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Hawaiian Flight 50 will depart Honolulu at 3:05 p.m. and arrive in New York City at 6:55 a.m. the following morning; Flight 51 will depart JFK at 10 a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 3 p.m. The route will add 107,000 new air seats annually.
• United Airlines will offer non-stop service from Honolulu to Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport starting in June. The new daily route will provide an estimated $135 million in visitor spending and $14 million in tax revenue to Hawai‘i’s economy annually.
• Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air will enter the Hawai‘i market in June 2012 servicing Fresno, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The initial cities Allegiant Air will service directly to Hawai‘i are from the U.S. West market, the largest market to Hawai‘i’s tourism economy, which is projected to draw more than 3.1 million visitors in 2012. The addition of these flights will help to provide additional direct flight access to the Hawaiian Islands and is estimated to provide $29.8 million in visitor expenditures and $3.25 million in tax revenue.
• Roberts Hawai‘i now offers a new mobile site that lets customers book their airport shuttle using mobile devices like smartphones and iPads. The service is available for booking reservations on the Roberts Hawaii Express Shuttle, for ground transportation between Honolulu International Airport and Waikīkī.
• SpeediShuttle is the only statewide airport shuttle and private car service that has been selected by the Hawai‘i State Department of Transportation to operate the exclusive concession to provide on-demand shuttle service for passengers arriving at Honolulu International Airport since October 1, 2011.

For images, film and video, please visit Hawai‘i’s image library at http://kb.hvcb.org/ImageLibrary

Established in 1998, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the state’s tourism agency, is responsible for strategically managing tourism to optimize benefits for Hawai‘i that integrates the interest of visitors, the community and visitor industry. Tourism is our state’s leading economic driver and largest employer and the HTA continually works to ensure its sustainability well into the future. For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@HawaiiHTA).