WHAT S NEW IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS

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1 Page 1 August/September 2016 NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHAT S NEW IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS The new GoHawaii App, the state of Hawai i s first travel destination mobile app created by the Hawai i Tourism Authority (HTA), offers valuable travel tips for each of the six major Hawaiian Islands: Kaua i, O ahu, Maui, Moloka i, Lāna i, and the island of Hawai i. App users will discover useful information to help them enjoy Hawai i s wide variety of sites, activities, special events and cultural festivals statewide. A special app feature is a collection of Locomoji Hawai iinspired emojis that can be shared with family and friends. HawaiiTourismAuthority.org Hōkūala Kaua i, a Timbers Resort, has begun renovation work on its Ocean Course a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course as well as an expansion of its practice facility. Construction will begin this fall on a luxurious new clubhouse featuring an enhanced pro shop, lagoon-side restaurant and bar, and tennis garden. The rejuvenated Ocean Course (formerly known as the Kiele Course at Kauai Lagoons) is scheduled to reopen in November While renovation of its front nine holes is being completed, the Hōkūala Golf Club has introduced a new scorecard for the course s back nine holes, with alternate tee boxes for golfers looking to play a full 18-hole round while enjoying one of golf s most dramatic oceanfront settings. Hokualakauai.com Honeybees are "checking in" to the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii. The resort recently welcomed a few new additions to its ohana (family): two queen bees and approximately 15,000 honeybees. All are comfortably settling into two new Flow Hive "hotels," ideally located in close proximity to the delicious kiawe tree blossoms near the resort. Adding to Fairmont Orchid s existing sustainability initiatives, the resort plans to introduce the honey into its food, beverage and spa offerings. Fairmont.com/orchid-hawaii. A new Hyatt property will open in Waikīkī this fall in the former Waikiki Trade Center. The Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach will feature 230 guestrooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling window views, contemporary state-of-the-art amenities, spalike bathrooms, an outdoor swimming pool with private cabanas and an entertainment deck, a bar and restaurant, and a fitness facility. The new Hyatt hotel will anchor the renovated building, which will include a two-story, 34,000- square-foot Nordstrom Rack, Starbucks, Jamba Juice and branch of American Savings Bank. HyattCentricWaikikiBeach.com

2 Page 2 The revitalized International Market Place will debut on August 25, introducing a Waikīkī retail, dining and entertainment destination for O ahu residents and visitors alike. Encircling the former market place s iconic, century-old banyan tree, the new open-air shopping center will debut with 75 stores, including Hawai i s first Saks Fifth Avenue department store, and nine restaurants. Among the center s anticipated new eateries are Hakkasan Group s social dining concept Herringbone, and Japanese-inspired Baku, both opening their first Hawai i locations. James Beard Award-winning and Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina will also debut his StripSteak, and multi-concept gourmet social house, The Street. InternationalMarketPlace.com Pacific Beach Hotel has announced plans for a $115 million redevelopment that will completely transform the Waikīkī hotel. The hotel s exterior façade, 839 guestrooms and suites, and public areas (including its 280,000-gallon lobby aquarium) will be re-conceptualized, and a destination pool deck with two new pools will be added. Two new restaurants from celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto will be created exclusively for the hotel. PacificBeachHotel.com The Residence Inn Maui Wailea, the first Residence Inn hotel in Hawai i, opened in July Guests at the condominium-style hotel can take advantage of its state-of-the-art fitness center and fuel up with a complimentary fresh breakfast buffet. They can also spend time with family exploring the island on the hotel s local-area shuttle or at the property s outdoor pool, which features a fire pit, barbeque area and putting green. ResidenceInnWailea.com DINING BLT Steak s cooking classes offer a unique opportunity for budding chefs to learn tricks of the trade from restaurant Chef de Cuisine Guillaume Thivet. The series of classes at the Waikīkī restaurant will cover everything from curing and pickling, to exotic España cuisine. Offered monthly through the end of the year, classes include a 90-minute cooking demonstration by Chef Guillaume and a three-course lunch with two glasses of house wine and assorted beverages. e2hospitality.com/blt-steak-waikiki Fête is a new restaurant on the corner of Nu uanu Avenue and Hotel Street in downtown Honolulu founded by New Yorkers Robynne Maii and Chuck Bussler. The restaurant incorporates traditional American cuisine and Asian fusion in dishes such as its fried chicken over grits, foie gras gyoza and grilled kalbimarinated bavette pasta. Utilizing as much local and seasonal ingredients on its menus as possible, Fête supports local producers like Kula Country Farms, Ho Farms and Naked Cow Dairy Farm and Creamery. FeteHawaii.com With 100-plus beers set for its taps, including a large selection of local and Mainland beers, and local kegs, Growler USA recently opened in August in the former Hee Hing Restaurant space on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu, minutes

3 Page 3 from Waikīkī Beach. When the pub opens, beer fans are invited to step inside and enjoy a craft beer in taster s pours, pints or growler fills. GrowlerUSA.com Opening in Honolulu s up-and-coming SALT at Our Kaka ako development, Moku Kitchen will embrace Chef Peter Merriman s passion for Hawai i regional and sustainable cuisine with a fun, urban and artistic twist. The 7,000-plus-squarefoot establishment continues his Handcrafted Restaurants tradition of creating everything from scratch and embraces an Upcountry Downtown vibe. Moku Kitchen will have one of Hawai i s first keg wine systems, featuring 12 sustainable and biodynamic wines on tap. The restaurant will also entice guests with a visible kiawe wood-burning pizza oven, Expo rotisserie roaster, 36 craft beers on tap, and indoor-outdoor seating. Mokukitchen.com Piggy Smalls, the little brother branch of ever-popular Honolulu restaurant The Pig & the Lady is slated to open in Kaka ako s Ward Village in September. The new restaurant will offer all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner service seven days a week. Its menu will feature best-of items from The Pig & the Lady restaurant and an expanded breakfast menu to include housemade jams, soft-poached eggs, pastries, breakfast pho and an assortment of pickled items. WardVillage.com Located in Kahului, Tin Roof Maui is the new eatery from Chef Sheldon Simeon of Bravo TV s Top Chef fame. The name of the takeout restaurant was inspired by Sheldon s Hawai i Island hometown of Hilo, where tin roofs top many homes. His humble Kahului food hideout brings gourmet flare to traditional lunch plates with a menu of proteins and veggies served in rice bowls with add-ons, and salads, noodles and sandwiches. Tin Roof Maui works closely with local farmers, fishermen, ranchers and other purveyors to provide honest and ono (tasty) food to its community. TinRoofMaui.com ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Join Bike Volcano on a "fiery" summit-to-sea bicycle adventure to Kīlauea volcano's active lava flow. The journey begins in Hawai i Volcanoes National Park with a challenging oceanside bicycle ride. Bike Volcano s experienced guide next takes guests on a brief hike to see and feel the heat of Earth's newest land. Posthike, guests will visit the park's famous Nāhuku (aka Thurston) Lava Tube and witness Kīlauea volcano's erupting summit crater Halema uma u. BikeVolcano.com Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum s new multifaceted, original exhibit Journeys: Heritage of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands aims to unveil the rich legacy and natural wonder of the northernmost Hawaiian Islands. From Aug. 13, 2016, through Jan. 29, 2017, the Journeys exhibit will offer visitors an opportunity to marvel at the stark natural beauty, scientific treasures and cultural significance of our nation s most extensive marine national monument, Papahānaumokuākea. BishopMuseum.org

4 Page 4 Four Seasons Resort Maui invites guests to dream bigger with its highly customizable Unforgettable Experiences. The experiences are a collection of starter ideas for guests seeking out-of-the-box and over-the-top ways to experience Maui and even a bit of the island of Hawai i. Options include a Kona coffee helicopter tour, Maui photo adventure, serenity pool after hours experience, and (during Hawai i humpback whale season from December through May) whale watch photo excursion. FourSeasonsResortMaui.com In celebration of Hawai i Volcanoes National Park s 2016 Centennial, special events planned for park guests throughout the year include a monthly rangerguided Centennial After Dark in the Park and Hike series highlighting the park s vast natural and cultural resources. Also making the Centennial special? New lava flows from the Pu u Ō ō vent in Kīlauea volcano s remote east rift zone, which were recently moving over Pülama Pali (pali is the Hawaiian word for cliff ) and into the ocean on the Puna coastline. Although portions of the new flows are within the national park, the closest location to see them is the County of Hawai i s Kalapana lava-viewing area off Route 130, near the eastern border of Hawai i Volcanoes National Park. The viewing area is open daily from 3 to 9 p.m. NPS.gov/HawaiiVolcanoes Visitors seeking adventure and off-the-beaten-path experiences can trek to beautiful scenic lookouts, hike forested trails, and even walk along cliff summits with Kaua i Hiking Tours. The outdoor adventure company s mission of sharing Kaua i s beauty with aloha is integrated into each of its hiking tours, backpacking trips and driving tours, which are designed to appeal to all skill levels and age groups. Kaua i Hiking Tours expert guides offer guests local and historical knowledge, and an understanding of the sacred and fragile nature of the island s landscapes. KauaiHikingTours.com Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge on Kaua i recently reopened after four months of renovations. During the refuge s closure, the concrete trail for Kīlauea Point and the Daniel K. Inouye Kīlauea Point Lighthouse was stabilized and its pathway repaved. The refuge on Kaua i s rugged north coast is home to some of Hawai i s largest populations of nesting seabirds. On a visit to the refuge, visitors may see spinner dolphins off the coast and Hawaiian monk seals on the point s rocky shoreline, along with native Hawaiian coastal plants and nēnē geese, Hawai i s state bird. The refuge is open to visitors Tuesdays through Saturdays. KilaueaPoint.gov Outfitters Kauai s newest attraction, the Kahuna Zipline Trek, allows guests to soar above forest canopy, rivers, waterfalls and the famous Kipu Ranch sites where Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Descendants were filmed. Each of the Kahuna Zipline Trek s six lines is unique and thrilling. There are no beginner lines on the trek, which includes a 1,800-foot line boasting the longest airtime of any zipline on Kaua i. Outfitters Kauai also offers a variety of fun activities for adventurous visitors, including kayaking and standup paddle boarding on the Hulë ia River, ATV tours at Kipu Ranch, a water zip into a natural lava rock swimming pool, and more. OutfittersKauai.com

5 Page 5 FESTIVALS AND EVENTS Help ensure the next 100 years of the Hawaiian rainforest at the summit of Kïlauea volcano by volunteering for Stewardship at the Summit programs in Hawai i Volcanoes National Park, happening now through September Hawai ivolcanoesnationalpark.com Festivals of Aloha honors Native Hawaiian culture and traditions from generation to generation, sharing knowledge with visitors and community residents. Maui will jumpstart this year s annual Festivals of Aloha celebrations with a lively First Friday street festival on September 2 complete with live entertainment, hula, food, artisans, crafters and shopping in historic Wailuku town. FestivalsofAloha.com Enjoy a weekend of award-winning jazz and blues music on Maui at the 6 th annual Maui Jazz & Blues Festival, happening September 8-10 at the Royal Lahaina Resort. The fest will feature performances by blues guitarist and Blues Hall of Fame inductee Joe Louis Walker, jazz/rock guitarist and Godfather of Fusion Larry Coryell, and other musician guests. MauiJazzandBluesFestival.com The 4th annual Kapalua Wellness Weekend, this year themed E Mälama Kou Kino (Care for Your Body), at The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Maui is set for September Visitors and residents are invited to take part in the three-day experience aimed at helping balance mind, body and spirit through fitness workshops led by leading health and wellness practitioners. KapaluaWellness.com The 7 th annual Jazz & Wine Festival, happening September 17 at the Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, offers a musical evening under the stars, featuring select wines and island-inspired cuisine from Kaua i s top chefs. Relax and wine down as you listen to the soothing sounds of jazz musicians performing live. WestinPrinceville.com The inaugural Hawaii Island Birding Festival will celebrate the opening of the new Hawaii Island Coast-to-Coast Birding Trail on September 24 and 25. Festival attendees will have opportunities to get a birder s eye view of notable native Hawaiian bird species, such as the nēnē goose, amakihi (honey creeper), öma o (thrush), elepaio (flycatcher) and more. The fest will also feature family-friendly activities, guest speakers, land and sea birding tours, workshops, an art fair and more. HawaiiBirdingTrails.com Celebrating its sixth year in 2016, the Hawai i Food & Wine Festival will feature more than 100 master chefs, farmers, winemakers, mixologists and brewmasters from Hawai i, the mainland and around the world at dining events happening between October 14 and 30 on Maui, the island of Hawai i and O ahu. Cofounded by Hawai i-based James Beard Award-winning chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, the festival is a showcase of wine tastings, cooking

6 Page 6 demonstrations, one-of-a-kind excursions, and exclusive dining opportunities, with dishes highlighting Hawai i s bounty of fresh ingredients and value-added products sourced from local farmers, fishermen and food purveyors. HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com The annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates the legacy and cultural traditions embedded in the world-famous beans and brews of the island of Hawai i's Kona Coast coffee-growing region. Each November, festival (and coffee) fans gather in Kona for the 10-day heritage festival, which celebrates its 46th annual go-round this year. The festival schedule is filled with fun activities for all ages and interests, and, of course, lots of opportunities to taste Kona-grown coffee and experience the region's celebrated lifestyle. This year's Kona Coffee Cultural Festival happens November For a complete list of events and festival information, visit KonaCoffeeFest.com December 7 of this year will mark the 75 th anniversary of the 1941 attack on U.S. military installations at O ahu s Pearl Harbor. Commemoration of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day will take place at the museums and memorials of Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, which will host a series of special events from December 1-11, including movie nights on Waikīkī Beach, an AJA veteran s luncheon, the premiere of the documentary film Remember Pearl Harbor, and much more. PearlHarbor75thAnniversary.com TRANSPORTATION Hawaiian Airlines recently launched a permanent nonstop route between Los Angeles and Kaua i, offering three flights weekly. The new schedule marked the carrier s first offering of direct service from Los Angeles to Kaua i outside of a seasonal route. A bonus for travelers looking to fly soon? From now through September, Hawaiian Airlines is increasing its schedule on the Los Angeles- Kaua i route to daily flights. HawaiianAirlines.com Hawaiian Airlines recently welcomed its first Airbus A330 aircraft, which features full lie-flat seating in a premium cabin and modern island-inspired design. The aircraft s 18 lie-flat seats, whose curved shells evoke gentle ocean waves, fold out into 180-degree beds measuring 20.5 inches wide and 76 inches long, maximizing passenger space and providing options for both privacy and a shared flight experience. Aligned in a configuration, the seats are tailored to leisure guests (couples, families, honeymooners) while offering superior functionality to business travelers. The Airbus A330 s lie-flat seats feature intuitive seat controls and access to multiple power ports, including two USB connections and an AC outlet. HawaiianAirlines.com Island Air has added flights to Kona on the island of Hawai i and Kahului on Maui to its interisland schedule through the end of Labor Day weekend on September 5. Island Air has also added a round trip flight between Honolulu on O ahu and Kona on Fridays and Sundays, and three round trip flights between

7 Page 7 Honolulu and Kahului on Fridays and Sundays. Island Air offers 238 flights each week between O ahu, Maui, Kaua i and island of Hawai i. IslandAir.com ACCOLADES Wine Spectator magazine recently recognized several Hawai i restaurants with its 2016 Best of Award of Excellence. The magazine s annual restaurant awards highlight the best places to visit for a glass of wine, selecting winners from all 50 states and 72 countries around the world. According to Wine Spectator, recipients of the awards offer more extensive selections with significant vintage depth and excellent breadth across multiple regions Best of Award Excellence winners in Hawai i were: o Il Lupino, O ahu o La Mer, O ahu o Wolfgang s Steakhouse, O ahu o Lahaina Grill, Maui o Longhi s Lahaina and Longhi s Wailea, Maui o Merriman s Kapalua, Maui o Nick s Fishmarket, Maui Hawai i has been included once again in Travel + Leisure magazine s annual World s Best Awards. Each year, the magazine ask its readers to share their selections for the world s top cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines and more. Hawai i won multiple category honors in the magazine s 2016 World s Best Awards polling, including: World s Best Islands: o No. 9, Kaua i o No. 7, Maui World s Best Cities: o No. 11: Honolulu, O ahu World s Best Domestic Airlines: o No. 3: Hawaiian Airlines -pau- About HVCB The Hawai i Visitors and Convention Bureau is contracted by the Hawai i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawai i s tourism agency, for marketing management services in North America. The HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawai i tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawai i s economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs. For more information about the Hawaiian Islands, visit gohawaii.com or

8 Page 8 follow HVCB s GoHawaii social channels on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or YouTube. Special Note to Media The Hawai i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) recognizes the use of the okina [ ] or glottal stop, one of the eight consonants of the (modern) Hawaiian language; and the kahakö [ä] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai i such as Läna i). However, HVCB respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses. Media Contacts: Darlene Morikawa Lei-Ann Field Director, PR/Communications Sr. Account Supervisor Hawai i Visitors and Convention Bureau Anthology Marketing Group dmorikawa@hvcb.org Lei-Ann.Field@AnthologyGroup.com