The Hawaii Tourism Authority's December 2023 hotel performance report included full-year statistics. Despite struggles to maintain occupancy rates last year, average Hawaii hotel rates increased in 2023 when compared to 2022 and remain well above 2019 figures. … [Read more...] about Average Hawaii Hotel Rates Increased in 2023
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Kilauea Summit Revitalization Project Kicks Off
Six years ago (!!) Kilauea's destructive 2018 Lower Puna Eruption drastically changed Halema'uma'u Crater and, in doing so, irreparably damaged facilities and infrastructure in the area. However, after much planning, a Kilauea summit revitalization project is getting underway to finally remove unsalvagable structures and make general improvements. … [Read more...] about Kilauea Summit Revitalization Project Kicks Off
Large-Scale Disruptions at Kona Airport
Cracks in the sole runway are causing large-scale disruptions at Kona Airport. At this stage, little information is known, but as of this writing - 7:30 pm HST - the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport remains closed until further notice. … [Read more...] about Large-Scale Disruptions at Kona Airport
Outstanding! Kusano Sushi
Hilo is home to some surprising food options. Na'au Hilo and Moon & Turtle are two of the most visible (in my opinion), but other options exist as well. One of these is Kusano Sushi, which is a takeout-only sushi concept that requires preordering in advance. Sound familiar? It should. Kusano Sushi operates very similarly to the former FoodxJitsu, though both have very … [Read more...] about Outstanding! Kusano Sushi
Revisit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The title of this series is Big Island Bird-Watching. Well, the best way to do that was for me to revisit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as its native ecosystems are the most accessible places to see some of Hawaii's last remaining honeycreepers. … [Read more...] about Revisit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Alaska is Considering Molokai and Lanai Service, But…
Hawaii News Now reports that, during the Hawaiian acquisition presser, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci mentioned that Alaska is considering Molokai and Lanai service. However, he tempered expectations by stating that they'd need to study the feasibility of the routes. … [Read more...] about Alaska is Considering Molokai and Lanai Service, But…
Get Rapid Rewards Points for Giving
The holiday season is all about giving. But, typically, during this time of year, we often think solely of giving to friends of family. However, non-profits still need our help, too. But this year, you can get Rapid Rewards points for giving to participating Hawaii-based charities, including some of my favorites. … [Read more...] about Get Rapid Rewards Points for Giving
Na’au Hilo Round 2
My very first standalone dining experience with Na'au Hilo was in September 2022. But eight months later, the stars aligned, and they had another dinner during my impromptu hop over to the island. So, in May 2023, I had a Na'au Hilo round 2 dinner. And it was fantastic! … [Read more...] about Na’au Hilo Round 2
Review: Grand Naniloa Hotel – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
For our most recent trip to the Big Island, we stayed in Hilo. That means we had only three hotels to choose from, and only one of them is associated with a large chain. As such, I decided to give the Grand Naniloa Hotel a try. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be returning, which means I now have only one other option in the area. … [Read more...] about Review: Grand Naniloa Hotel – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
Hawaii Proposes a Japanese Pre-Clearance Facility
There's no doubt that Japanese tourism to Hawaii hasn't recovered to pre-pandemic levels. As such, a delegation from Hawaii traveled to the Land of the Rising Sun to discuss Hawaii and Japan's important relationship. While there Hawaii proposes a Japanese pre-clearance facility to provide visitors with better convenience. … [Read more...] about Hawaii Proposes a Japanese Pre-Clearance Facility