Hawaii Tourism Study

Which Hawaii Businesses Are Hardest Hit By Japan Tsunami Tourism Fallout?

Growth in Hawaii Tourism Expected Despite Japan Catastrophe

During the first months of 2011, Hawaii tourism was on pace to surpass the peak year of 2007 when 7.63 million Hawaii visitors spent $12.8 billion in the state. Then the earthquake and tsunami disasters struck Japan in March of 2011 delivering another setback to Hawaii tourism.

A recent First Hawaiian Bank Business Activity Report stated that spending in Hawaii was up in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same time in 2010 and noted improvements in fourteen of the sixteen sectors that are measured. This included an 18% increase in spending on travel activities and 15% more revenue in hotels. Continue reading "Lingering Effects of Japan Tsunami" »

The best way to find great deals on Hawaii car rentals, if you book beforehand, is to do your research for local companies. The island businesses have guaranteed discounts that are pre-negotiated and a bit similar to Priceline, if you are willing to be flexible about the exact details of the make and model, you’ll find the best rates searching among these businesses. Many people say that renting a car in Hawaii is crucial.

The public transportation on the outer islands definitely leaves something to be desired. It is not so bad if you are staying in a resort or larger hotel, they will usually have shuttle and tours buses to help you get around. But if you are staying, for example, in one of many Kauai condo rentals, you  can be pretty isolated and have a hard time getting to public transportation. Continue reading "Renting A Car In Hawaii" »

Hawaii Family Resorts

Hawaii offers many Hawaii activities for families, including beach fun, nifty swimming pools, natural beauty, gardens, the Waikiki Aquarium, Dole Plantation, Honolulu Zoo, and Hawaii helicopter tours to name a few. Hawaii has long been considered a romantic destination, but it has long been that and more. Any type of traveler, whether solo, group, senior, couple, or family, will find excellent itinerary options, including places to stay.

In Hawaiian, the word for child or children is keiki (kay-key). Look for keiki programs and Hawaii family discounts when planning your itinerary.

Maui Resorts

The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa

Popular with families, this resort offers its own mini day camp for kids. Movies, games, activities, night swims and much more create a specialized island vacation for the kids, plus a safe and luxurious place for the entire family to stay. Continue reading "Hawaii Places To Stay For Families" »

A big draw to the islands are weddings. Many engaged couples want to get married in paradise and often choose Hawaii as a place to announce their vows. As a tourist trade, the marriage marketplace has blown up in the past decade. Of course there are many options when it comes to getting married in Hawaii, but the biggest concern to most is location. So here we have outlined a few of the top spots that visitors and locals alike choose to get married.

Makena Cove
Remote and rich with scenery, Makena Cove tops the list for sunset weddings. A sheltered area with craggy rocks and tall palms with swaying leaves, the backdrop for photos is a bride’s wish and dream. The foamy water laps upon the shore with a myriad of blues to drink in while watching the ceremony. Kaholoowe and Molokini dot the horizon and the sunset provides the dramatic landscape to match the romantic occasion. It’s a joy for all visiting, with a few caveats. The site has limited parking and no restroom facilities. Also, multiple weddings are usually taking place, but most of the time, all are intimate groups each focused on their own wedding.

If you are looking for accommodations for your wedding party, or a place to stay on your scouting mission, check out Luana Kai – Kihei Maui Condos. Make your reservation now to enjoy the private and peaceful luxury of your own 1, 2 or 3 bedroom condo at Luana Kai Resort. Warm, inviting and friendly… It’s Always a Great Day at Luana Kai. Continue reading "Best Places To Get Married On Maui" »

The vacation rental marketplace in Hawaii has proven to be a very profitable business when done right. Most vacationers are doing their vacation planning and booking online. So to have a strong online presence is essential in succeeding. Another key element is inventory. It is crucial to have a wide selection of rentals to choose from and also to have high quality listings.

The island of Maui is one of Hawaii’s most exciting visitor destinations with great beaches and lots of fun activities. For those going on a Valley Isle vacation, here are some examples of excellent beachfront condominium rentals available from Hawaiianbeachrentals.com. They are a leader in the vacation rental market.

Check out Maui Vacations Hawaii for more Maui info. Or if you are interested in making Hawaii home, look at these Maui homes for sale.

Maalaea Ocean Front is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom Asian themed condominium in Maalaea with ocean views, hot tub, and pool. Located on the third floor, the condo features a private elevator that brings you to this first-class condo with expansive bay views though 30 feet of continuous windows. This 1,550 square foot condo also has an expansive lanai. Continue reading "Maui Beachfront Condo Rentals" »

The best Maui music venues have excellent atmosphere, food and drinks and of course, great live music. Most of the chain restaurants offer live music and location is certainly a plus, as many are on the beach; however, visiting a local spot will heighten the experience. If you are interested in more than just the nightlife in Maui check out Maui Vacations Hawaii for more island info, otherwise, read on.

Mulligan’s on the Blue in Wailea is an Irish pub serving an eclectic mix of pupu and dinner items and Hawaiian live music. This spot is fascinating, as it manages to meld Irish, Hawaiian and comfort food favorites into the menu. The music is Hawaiian, Irish, Jazz and more so check their website for music and dinner specials. Both indoors and outside overlooking the beach, Mulligan’s is a lovely spot for couples.

For great places to stay near the action, check out these Wailea vacation rentals. Continue reading "Maui Nightlife and Music" »

Everybody associates sugarcane with Hawaiian agriculture, but there has been a huge shift in recent decades. Kona coffee and other coffee crops are surging in Hawaii while sugarcane has all but died out. Sugarcane was part of the Hawaiian landscape early (approximately 600 A.D.) and it became a cash crop gradually. Sugar plantations played a key role in all the islands’ economy and much Continue reading "From Cane to Coffee: Hawaiian cash crops" »

Trilogy’s Maui snorkeling tours seek to offer an unforgettable experience: Maui’s warm waters, tropical fish and incredible marine habitats. Beyond the basic expectations, Trilogy makes sure to take guests to the best spots, including Black Rock in Kaanapali. Black Rock is excellent for beginning snorkelers. Fish you’ll find include butterfly fish, parrot fish, damsel fish, surgeon fish, tang, wrasse, box fish, cardinal fish, perch, chub, trigger fish, the former Hawaii State Fish Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, goat fish, snapper, porcupine fish, hawk fish, jacks, mackerel, cornet fish, needle fish, turtles, crustaceans, and invertebrates. Continue reading "Trilogy – Maui Snorkeling Tours" »

I know I generally write about Internet business with a Hawaii theme, but I’ve been wanting to move to Diamond Head, and I came across this fabulous beach home that I wish I could afford!

America’s Coolest Beach Homes

Of course I thought this one was the best because it’s in a place I actually want to live.

I’ve been to Poipu, Kauai and it’s an amazing Hawaii vacation destination. So I can see why The Parrish Collection (TPC)  is banking on the several Poipu resorts in the area. TPC manages vacation homes and condos in popular locations like Poipu Kai and Nihi Kai Villas. From what I know about the business, property managers are paid roughly 20% (only) when an accommodation is booked. The property manager is then responsible for marketing, providing customer service and cleaning the vacation rentals.

• Selling Services – Property management marketed through their Kauai vacation rental website.

The site itself is easy to navigate and there is great information about the properties including detailed descriptions and very nice photos. The problem with the site is its booking system which was not only slow and clunky, but a bit confusing to use. It was manageable, however, by improving this system they could up their conversion rate and therefore bookings. I’m guessing their current booking engine creates a lot of phone orders as well. So an improvement with this part of the site would reduce staff costs also.

The one thing that makes this site successful are the photos, floor plans and virtual tours. The photos are amazing and make me want to stay in their properties. If you don’t believe me, check out these pictures of their Donohugh home! The floor plans are a nice touch and something that most other vacation rentals sites don’t offer. Continue reading "The Parrish Collection Banks On Poipu Resorts" »