First opened in 1955 as the Hawaiian Village hotel, the Hilton Hawaiian Village (HHV) is a Waikiki icon. It is the largest hotel in Hawaii, in Hilton's portfolio, and one of the largest hotels in the world. But it owners don't appear to be content with the property's current size. No, the HHV has been in a constant state of evolution as fas as I can remember. And that … [Read more...] about Hilton Hawaiian Village Expansion
Honolulu
Alaska Airlines HNL-SEA
As I said in my previous post, Mrs. Island Miler and I headed to the Big Apple earlier this month. To get there we flew Alaska Airlines using the Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature companion certificate, which gets you a companion fare for $99 + tax when purchasing a regular price economy class ticket. All-in, I spent just around $1,000 for our roundtrip tickets, … [Read more...] about Alaska Airlines HNL-SEA
Modern Honolulu Names its New Restaurant
A few weeks ago I reported that the Modern Honolulu would be ending its licensing agreement with Chef Masaharu Morimoto, better known as the Iron Chef Japanese. The property, however, had stated that the restaurant would remain open and retain all of its staff, even through its planned close date of December 8. What wasn't clear, however, was what exactly the restaurant space … [Read more...] about Modern Honolulu Names its New Restaurant
New Waikiki Hotel Rooms on the Cheap!
Hotel rates in Hawaii are pretty high at the moment. Rooms are largely full, and unfortunately, the number of available rooms have been in decline. But, there is an opportunity right now to take advantage of some good deals. Currently you can get some new Waikiki hotel rooms on the cheap. The resort fee is even waived under this deal! Incredible right? When was the last … [Read more...] about New Waikiki Hotel Rooms on the Cheap!
Oahu Dining Hidden Gems
Hawaii, like many tourist destinations, has a lot of great places to eat, but also a lot of bad ones. Knowing where to go, however, is only half the battle. With Hawaii's isolation, price also plays a major factor. So when you find somewhere that's great, it's awesome. But when you find a great place and doesn't cost a lot... Score! Of course the best resource for finding … [Read more...] about Oahu Dining Hidden Gems
Restaurant Review: Piggy Smalls
The Pig and The Lady is one of the hottest restaurants in the state. Heck, it's one of my favorite restaurants in the world. Period. They're known for their take on modern Vietnamese cuisine, as well as their outstanding dessert program. So when it was announced that the P&L team would be opening a new restaurant, it sent ripples through the local restaurant scene. That … [Read more...] about Restaurant Review: Piggy Smalls
Waikiki Celebrity Chef Restaurant Shakeup!
There's a Waikiki celebrity chef restaurant shakeup happening right now! With the opening of the new International Market Place, Waikiki got yet another celebrity chef restaurant: Michael Mina's Strip Steak. Roy Yamaguchi even opened his second Waikiki location at the International Market Place, Eating House 1849. But, it isn't all good news in Waikiki, especially if you're … [Read more...] about Waikiki Celebrity Chef Restaurant Shakeup!
Hyatt Centric Waikiki is Opening on December 8
The Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, as previously reported, is the first Hyatt Centric property in Hawaii. The property's page initially listed the opening date as "Winter 2016." Reservations then opened up for March 15, 2017, and beyond last month. Now we've learned that the Hyatt Centric Waikiki is Opening on December 8, 2016. The new opening date was reported in an … [Read more...] about Hyatt Centric Waikiki is Opening on December 8
All Nippon Airways A380 Design Contest
In January 2015, Skymark Airline, a Japanese low-cost carrier filed for bankruptcy. Skymark had four Airbus A380s on order at the time, two of which were already completely assembled. The airline received a number of sponsor plans, the leading of which were from Delta and All Nippon Airways (ANA). Many thought that Delta would win, as they have a cosy relationship with … [Read more...] about All Nippon Airways A380 Design Contest
Waikiki Select-Service Hotel Comparison
Select-service hotels, such as Courtyard & Hyatt Place are quickly spreading around the world. They're supposed to be a cheaper alternative to full-service properties like Hyatt Regency, Sheraton, etc. And as the category name suggests, these hotels typically offer just basic services. You definitely will not find room service or concierges' at these properties, for … [Read more...] about Waikiki Select-Service Hotel Comparison