Hawaii

Hot Tips & travel news for your real travel adventures

Ala Moana Center Debuts New Annual “Shop a Le`a” Event

Honolulu’s first-of-its-kind Spring Fashion and Shopping Festival happens March 3 - 9, 2008

Honolulu – Ala Moana Center, the world’s largest outdoor shopping center and Hawaii’s largest shopping

destination, announced today that it will host Honolulu’s first major week-long spring fashion and

shopping festival March 3 - 9, 2008. The event, named “Shop a Le`a – Seven Blissful Days of

Shopping Euphoria,” will become Ala Moana Center’s new annual signature fashion event celebrating

the very best in global brands and merchandise.

Shop a Le`a will present shopping enthusiasts from all over Hawaii and the Pacific with a myriad

experiences in fashion, beauty, active lifestyle, home entertaining, family, travel and cuisine. Included as

part of the event’s line-up are high-profile fashion shows, trunk shows, exclusive receptions and events,

lifestyle seminars and events at Centerstage, Hawaii Regional Cuisine demonstrations, center-wide giftwith-

purchase incentives, mall-wide shopping and dining offers, a grand prize euphoric shopping vacation

for two to New York City, and much more!

The highlight of the 2008 inaugural event will be the grand-opening of Ala Moana Center’s new multimillion

dollar expansion project on Friday, March 7, 2008. More than 300,000 sq. ft of new retail space

Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event

will be unveiled including Hawaii’s first full-line Nordstrom department store and 30 new stores as part of

a brand new two-level retail concourse connecting the new anchor to the existing mall.

“Shop a Le`a is an opportunity for Ala Moana Center to showcase its expanding selection of great stores

and restaurants, while demonstrating to visitors that Hawaii offers more than just beautiful beaches, balmy

weather, and great waves,” said General Growth Properties Regional Vice President of Marketing, Sharon

James. “We invite both visitors and residents to share in this new shopping experience celebrating spring

and fashion.”

For neighbor island shopping enthusiasts and fashionistas from all points in the Pacific who wish to attend

the Shop a Le`a festivities, Ala Moana Center will also be launching a variety of Shop a Le`a hotel

packages with three Oahu hotel partners including the Ala Moana Hotel, ResortQuest Waikiki Beach

Tower and ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset. Package information can be found online at ShopaLea.com.

The event’s name, Shop a Le`a, combines “shop” with the Hawaiian word “le`a,” which means “to delight

or take pleasure in.” The event’s name is artistically translated to mean “The Joy of Shopping.”

More than 100 different Shop a Le`a events and sales promotions are planned to take place at participating

stores and select venues center-wide.

Major Shop a Le`a events include:

Weeklong Events Kicking Off Monday, March 3, 2008

Shop a Le`a Euphoric Events & Blissful Offers

Shop a Le`a kicks off seven blissful days of shopping euphoria with week-long discounts (ranging from 10

percent to 50 percent off regular price and clearance merchandise) and special offers throughout the mall.

Participating retailers will also present in-store events, trunk shows, special celebrity guest appearances and

more! Visit ShopaLea.com for details.

Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event

January 17, 2008

Page 3 of 7

Shop a Le`a Limited-Edition Gift-with-Purchase Offer

Ala Moana Center’s exclusive Shop a Le`a gift-with-purchase promotion officially kicks-off on Monday,

March 3 rewarding customers with a choice of two outstanding commemorative Shop a Le`a gifts.

Customers can receive a Shop a Le`a Mini-Tote with the redemption of $75 in store receipts and a Shop a

Le`a Cosmetic Bag, complete with variety of beauty samples, with the redemption of $300 in store

receipts. Receipts can be redeemed at Ala Moana Center’s Customer Service Center. The offer is limited

to one item per person, per redemption level and available while supplies last through Sunday, March 9.

Shop a Le`a’s Euphoric Shopping Trip to New York City

Shoppers can enter to win a euphoric shopping trip for two to New York City – one of the world’s top

fashion and shopping destinations – valued at $10,000! This grand prize giveaway includes coach

roundtrip air for two persons from any major U.S. gateway city to New York, eight days and seven nights

deluxe hotel accommodations at Times Square, and airport limousine service. This euphoric New York

experience also includes a $1,500 American Express gift card, $1,000 shopping spree and style consultation

at Diesel New York, an evening of haute-cuisine at a stylish New York restaurant, two evenings of

Broadway shows, and a hair and make-up trend update for two – to prepare for a night on the town -- at

the Aveda Lifestyle Salon in New York!

Shop a Le`a at Centerstage

Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage is transformed into chic style venue that embodies the heart of the Shop a

Le`a experience with 35 lifestyle seminars highlighting the best in fashion, beauty, active lifestyle, home

entertaining, family, travel and cuisine. Events run daily from March 3 – 9 between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and

are free and open to the public. Major events include:

• Macy’s at Shop a Le`a – 12 p.m. daily featuring five different fashion shows, haute cuisine

demonstrations and beauty seminars throughout the entire week. Macy’s at Shop a Le`a highlights

include:

.. Monday, March 3 – What's Hot & What's New in Cosmetics seminar and product

demonstration

.. Tuesday, March 4 – Cooking Demonstration with Pastry Chef Mark Okumura

Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event

January 17, 2008

Page 4 of 7

.. Wednesday, March 5 – Woman's Wear Fashion Show featuring clothing by Fresh

Produce

.. Thursday, March 6 – Men's Wear Fashion Show featuring clothing by Kahala

.. Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 – Woman’s Wear Fashion Shows clothing lines

to be announced

.. Sunday, March 9 – Macy’s and the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Award with

Sassy/G Magazine and Juniors & Young Men’s Fashion Show

• Morning Yoga with Lululemon Athletica – 10 a.m. daily (except March 8)

• Lululemon Athletica Function Show – 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8

• Steve Kemble, “America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru” and US Weekly television personality,

makes a celebrity appearance on Wednesday, March 5 at 2 p.m. featuring home entertaining tips

and Friday, March 7 at 2 p.m. featuring three transforming style makeovers.

• Aveda Salon & Spa – Beauty and rejuvenation seminars on Thursday, March 6 at 2 p.m. and

Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m.

• Wolford Fashion Show – Friday, March 7 at 4 p.m. featuring the store’s top swimwear, lingerie

and ready-to-wear lines

• Spring Fashion Showcase at Shop a Le`a – Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m.

featuring a ten-store runway show celebrating spring fashion.

• Oscar Blandi Presented by Sephora – Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m.

• Mac Cosmetics Presentation – Saturday, March 8 at 6 p.m.

See official program for details or visit ShopaLea.com for the event’s online program guide. Events will be

added and updated daily. The Centerstage event schedule is subject to change without prior notice.

Tuesday, March 4

Celebration of Luxury

Ala Moana Center presents its Celebration of Luxury event with more than two dozen of the mall’s luxury

boutiques participating in an all-day open house. Participating retailers will feature special in-store events,

trunk shows, demonstrations, and drawings to win select luxury merchandise. One grand prize winner will

win Ala Moana Center’s Celebration of Luxury Giveaway with an extravagant $5,000 shopping spree at

Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event

January 17, 2008

Page 5 of 7

any of the center’s 30-plus luxury boutiques, lunch at Mariposa Restaurant, and complimentary limousine

service to port home your couture shopping finds! Entry forms will be available at participating luxury

boutiques with a winner chosen that same evening.

Wednesday, March 5

Nordstrom Grand Opening Gala

Nordstrom presents it’s highly anticipated Grand Opening Gala starting at 7 p.m. with a fashionable f?te

to benefit three local Hawaii charities including the Bishop Museum, Hawaii Theatre Center and HUGS

(Help, Understanding & Group Support).

The chic evening will include lavish pupus, cocktails and buffets, live entertainment and the opportunity to

partake in a little “sneak preview” shopping. Featured will be culinary selections from Chef Chai

Chaowasaree, Chef Loperfido Donato and Chef Philippe Padovani. The highlight of the evening will be a

tented, full-scale runway fashion show featuring American and European designer collections, including

Tory Burch, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Roberto Cavalli – to name a few. Tickets are $150 per person. For more

information please call (808) 723-1879.

Thursday, March 6

Ala Moana Center’s Preview Shopping Night & Fundraiser

HONOLULU Magazine is proud to host Ala Moana Center’s Preview Shopping Night & Fundraiser. Be

one of 500 shoppers to preview Ala Moana Center’s brand-new retail expansion wing featuring 30-plus

stores at this private reception. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. with two hours of shopping at participating

Preview Shopping Night retailers, entertainment, cocktails and desserts by Hale ’Aina award-winning

chefs. Event-goers will also receive a commemorative Shop a Le`a gift sponsored by Ala Moana Center.

The $40 per person ticket cost benefits Hawaii Habitat for Humanity. Tickets go on sale starting February

15 at Ala Moana Center’s Customer Service Center. Pre-sale ticket reservations are available by calling

(808) 955-9517

Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event

January 17, 2008

Page 6 of 7

Friday, March 7

Nordstrom Cosmetic Tailgate Party

Join Nordstrom at its early morning Cosmetics Tailgate Party with consultations and demonstrations by a

myriad of the store’s beauty experts. Special gift-with-purchase items will be available at the event. The

Cosmetic Tailgate Party begins at 7:30 a.m., with the store’s public grand opening at 9:30 a.m. The event is

free and open to the public. If you have any questions about the Cosmetic Tailgate Party, please call (866)

667-3911.

Ala Moana Center Retail Expansion Opens with 30 New Stores!

Partake in the festivities as Ala Moana Center presents 30 new stores as part of its new two-level retail

expansion wing that connects Nordstrom to the mall. Most of the new stores will open to the public on

March 7 at 9:30 a.m. with grand-opening specials and festivities!

• New Stores Opening on March 7, 2008 – Ann Taylor (relocation), Bare Escentuals, Blue Hawaii

Lifestyle, Chico’s, Design Within Reach, J. Crew-on-the-Island, Janie & Jack, LeGrand Marqet,

Lululemon Athletica, Max & Co. (relocation), Ponte Vecchio, Sunglass Icon, Vera Bradley, White

House/Black Market (relocation), Williams-Sonoma (relocation) and Wolford.

• New Stores Opening Soon – Anteprima Plastiq, Ash & Diamonds, Brighton Collectibles, Club

Monaco, Kahala, Metropark, Miki House, Philip Rickard Factory Showroom, The Kiss, and True

Religion Jeans.

• Four additional retailer names to be released soon upon lease finalization.

Most of the Shop a Le`a events are free and open to the public with the exception of select functions that

require either a special invitation or a paid ticket fee benefiting charity. Event information is subject to

change without notice. For a complete listing of Shop a Le`a events, customers can visit

www.ShopaLea.com.

ABOUT ALA MOANA CENTER

Ala Moana Center is the world’s largest outdoor shopping center and Hawaii’s premier shopping, entertainment, and

dining destination with 290 stores, including nearly 70 dining options. Ala Moana Center features a diverse

collection of stores including locally owned boutiques and national retailers. Visit www.AlaMoanaCenter.com for

more information.

PURE MAUI ANNOUNCES LUXURY SPA RETREATS

FOR THE DISCERNING TRAVELER

MAUI, HI - Think brilliant sunsets, island healers, private chefs and multi-million dollar estates that become your home away from home. This, essentially, is Pure Maui, the newly launched customized luxury spa vacation company based in Wailea, Maui.

Following in the footsteps of its highly successful sister program, Pure Kauai, Pure Maui's spa program is geared to challenge its guests with daily activities such as private yoga and Pilates classes, personal training sessions, guided hikes and beach runs and, of course, surf lessons. All yoga and Pilates and spa treatments are done in the comfort of the guests' villa, virtually a "private hotel," lending a secluded and serene ambiance in which they can truly unwind and become physically, emotionally and spiritually centered.

Known as one of the world's spiritual epicenters, the Hawaiian Islands are said to bring inner peace, clarity and spiritual healing to those who visit. Pure Maui has enlisted the assistance of an array of Maui's most talented island healers who have mastered the art of massage and body / facial treatments. Through their skilled movements and by utilizing local, fresh ingredients such as mango, ginger, coconut and Hawaiian sea salt, Pure Maui's gifted therapists nurture guests daily to ensure they leave the island relaxed, healed and rejuvenated.

Pure Maui's most innovative therapy, created and performed by massage therapist Rebecca Goff, is the AquaCranial Therapy.

Rebecca, who is a marine naturalist, developed this therapy by studying the behavior and movement of marine mammals and combined it with John Upledger's craniosacral manipulation technique, which uses precise and gentle touches to improve the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The treatment, which is done in water, utilizes gentle pressure to the bones of the scull and along the length of the spine which allows the body's natural healing process. The movement of the waves and currents accentuates the therapist's cranial sacral strokes.

During whale watching season, Rebecca, who is an active member of the Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit conservation program to protect Hawaii's marine life, will bring her Pure Maui clients out in to the ocean to perform the therapy close by to whales. It is said that the underwater vibrations made by the whales is very healing for humans and can further enhance the benefits of AquaCranial Therapy.

When it comes to dining, Pure Maui's spa guests will indulge in only the healthiest, fresh cuisine prepared in the comfort of their "private hotel" by one of Pure Maui's personal chefs. Guests can create their own menus or let the chefs surprise them each day with their creative delicacies. Gourmet picnics and snacks are also prepared for guests daily to take along and enjoy on their outdoor adventures.

Packages such as the Adventure Boot Camp, a hard core retreat geared to jump start weight loss and fitness regimens, are available or guests can have Pure Maui customize a more gentle and soothing program incorporating light daily exercise and multiple spa treatments.

For additional information on Pure Maui's spa retreats and to review a full listing of its private homes, activities, packages and services, please visit www.puremaui.com or call toll free 866-787-6284.

-HONUA KAI ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR RESIDENTIAL SPA AT RENOWNED KA'ANAPALI BEACH, MAUI

News of Intrawest Spa Debut Excites Luxury Seekers Exploring Second Home Purchase Options on Maui

Ka`anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Authentic and extraordinary define an exciting collection of international spas being introduced by Intrawest, a world leader in destination resorts and adventure travel. One of the first American spas in its collection is planned for Honua Kai; a new whole ownership beachfront property being offered to upscale vacation home buyers on Maui's fabled Ka'anapali Beach - the first such offer in more than twenty years.

Drawn by the irreplaceable beachfront location and exceptional services - including the full-service residential spa -- influential realtors and discerning clients gathered this past week in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Huntington Beach and Beverly Hills to discover details and place reservations for the ultimate luxury condominium at Honua Kai. Important because it represents one of the last chances to own on the famous Ka'anapali Beach, Honua Kai is a luxury, full-ownership condominium now accepting priority purchase reservations for the final condominium offering.

Four-star amenities - the spa, room-service, pools and water features, culturally inspired activities and events catered to families and couples who appreciate the best of Hawaiian culture - paired with the new, luxurious beachfront setting are calling cards for mainland buyers eagerly anticipating their Honua Kai purchase.

The spa will crown Konea, the final condominium tower at Honua Kai. Fittingly, Konea translates as restored to health. Last year, Hokulani, the first tower at Honua Kai, achieved sell out success in a mere eight hours. Promising Honua Kai residents and guests unforgettable Maui experiences - from surfing and horseback riding, golf to dining at Duke's new restaurant at Honua Kai - a high point of every visit will surely be time at the spa.

The intimate sanctuary, overlooking the grand lawn and tropical native healing gardens, will comprise serene private treatment pavilions, locally inspired products and therapeutic rituals. The ultimate complement to time spent at Honua Kai will be a visit to its intimate spa. Owners and guests will be pampered with their choice of therapeutic, restorative or invigorating treatments inspired by this beautiful land and its people. Professional services and products offered at the Honua Kai spa will focus on physical and spiritual care augmented by design elements inspired by the marriage of people and place. Immersion into a complete, holistic environment means a Honua Kai spa visit will be anything but cookie-cutter.

Offering luxury studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums with open floorplans, Konea suites and residences feature exquisite interior appointments such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and frameless glass shower enclosures. Living rooms open to spacious lanais, taking advantage of Hawaii's gentle climate while providing commanding ocean and mountain views. Honua Kai amenities include expansive pools, beguiling waterfalls, a beachfront boardwalk, the spa and the recently announced Duke's Maui beachside restaurant. Off-resort parks, championship golf courses, shopping, dining, and sporting attractions abound. Completion is scheduled for late 2009. Playground Destination Properties Inc., an Intrawest company, is the licensed broker managing the sales and marketing campaign for Honua Kai. For more information about Honua Kai, please call 1-866-678-1310 or visit www.honuakai.com.

Honua Kai is a whole-ownership condominium resort along Ka`anapali Beach on Maui's western shore. Developed by Intrawest, the resort will reflect meticulous masterplanning with deference to the land and its Hawaiian people. Upon completion, the approximately 40-acre beachfront resort will feature 700 luxury tower residential condominiums and townhome units with ocean and mountain views, lush gardens, water-rich landscaping, several recreational pools, a luxurious spa and fitness center, a beachside restaurant and one of the island's best snorkeling and dive beaches. For more information, visit www.honuakai.com.

Playground

Playground Destination Properties Inc. is one of the Playground group of real estate sales and marketing companies. The Playground companies are the premier provider of real estate sales and marketing services for destinations world-wide. With offices spanning the globe in Vancouver, Montreal, Orlando, Reno, Denver, and Lausanne, Playground is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of "connecting people with the ultimate places to play". Playground provides a unique breadth of offerings from beach and mountain destinations, to golf and urban locations. Playground is currently offering ownership opportunities in world-renowned Whistler Blackcomb-North America's most popular mountain resort; Honua Kai; and Florida's Sandestin - 2,400 acres including white sand beaches and world-class golf. Playground Destination Properties Inc. is proud to be the licensed broker for the Westin's properties in Orlando and Napa Valley, and for the Hard Rock Condo Hotel in San Diego - the hottest new urban location destination. To learn more about the Playground companies, please visit www.playground.com.

HAWAII INCONVENIENCED BUT EMERGES VIRTUALLY

UNSCATHED FROM OCTOBER 15 EARTHQUAKE

HONOLULU – One day after being rocked by an earthquake Hawaii is letting the world know that it is open and ready for business.

“We continue to welcome visitors to our state,” said Marsha Wienert, tourism liaison for the Governor’s office. “The quake caused quite a bit of apprehension yesterday but this morning Hawaii is largely back to business as usual. There is no widespread damage and no loss of life or serious injury. We have made a speedy return to normalcy.”

The 7:07 a.m. Sunday morning quake measured 6.7-magnitude. It was centered under the ocean off the northwest coast of Hawaii’s Big Island and was felt on all the major islands. A 5.8 magnitude quake followed seven minutes later and numerous smaller aftershocks were registered over the next few hours.

The first quake immediately triggered power failures that lasted most of the day on the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu.

The loss of electrical power caused disruptions at airports that resulted in flight delays and cancellations of some transpacific flights into and out of the Islands. Electrical power was restored to most airports by early afternoon. Honolulu International Airport, which saw the most delays in service, was online again by 5:45 p.m. All affected communities throughout the islands had electrical service restored by midnight Sunday.

“All visitor accommodations are open for business statewide and airlines are telling us that transpacific flights and flights around the islands are generally back to normal,” said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. “There may be some minor delays as airlines adjust for yesterday’s interruptions and we advise passengers to reconfirm their departure times prior to going to the airport,” he said.

“Despite the inconveniences caused by the power outage, visitors to the state were generally in high spirits yesterday as residents and visitor industry employees jumped in to make their day as good as possible,” said Monahan. “Hawaii’s spirit of aloha shines especially bright in these circumstances,” he said.

Damage assessments were still being made Monday morning, but the effects of the quake continue to appear minimal. All major highways statewide are open. Hotels and other accommodations that were closest to the quake on the Big Island remain open for business, although some have reported light damage.

The quake generated a small seismic wave of three inches in height at Kawaihae Harbor on the Big Island according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center on Oahu.

More information is available on the following toll-free numbers (in North America) or websites:

Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau

1-800-GOHAWAII, GoHawaii.com

Kauai Visitors Bureau

1-800-262-1400, KauaiDiscovery.com

Oahu Visitors Bureau

1-877-525-OAHU, Visit-Oahu.com

Maui Visitors Bureau

1-800-525-MAUI, VisitMaui.com

Big Island Visitors Bureau

1-800-648-2441, BigIsland.org

FALL FOR THE NATURE OF HAWAII

New Land is Born, Old Tales are Told in Hawaii’s National Parks

HONOLULU – The best advice for a fall visit to the Hawaiian Islands? Park it! Not sit on the beach and watch the waves “park it.” Not a wander the great green gardens kind of “park it.” This kind of “park it” is an invitation to visit the eight, count them - eight - national parks in the State of Hawaii.

To offer a bit of historical perspective, Washington D.C. was declared a national historic site in 1790. Yellowstone became a national park in 1872. The African Burial Ground was named a National Monument in New York in 2006. Over the years, the National Park System has honored, set aside and named hundreds of amazing places; battlefields, islands, lake and seashores, rivers, home sites, monuments, trails and preserves across the country and the Pacific. Hawaii’s first national park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was founded in 1916.

Fall is the perfect time for a Hawaii park adventure. The days are cooler and the trails less crowded than the busy summer family vacation months. Parks can be reached by air, rental car and mule rides. In Hawaii, the National Park Service has named some of its most unique, accessible parks, honoring pre-recorded-to-modern history.

Hawaii has the only national park with a twenty-plus year continuous molten lava flow. Hawaii’s park sites date to a time long before a voyager named Captain Cook took word of the islands to his western world. Hawaii’s national parks, trails and preserves celebrate the temples, cities and fishponds of ancient peoples. They are adorned with the earliest recorded Pacific history, petroglyphs. They top a 10,000-foot mountain with a crater large enough to hold Manhattan. They honor the human history and inhuman treatment of a people suffering a dreaded disease and celebrate the brave warriors who protected America.

BEGIN ON THE BIG ISLAND

Hawaii’s Big Island has four of the state’s national parks and one National Historic Trail. The parks on this island are drive up and drive in, with easy walking trails, museums, and spectacular sites to see.

Three major parks are located on the Kona side of the Big Island. Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, a place of refuge, is protected by the “great wall” 1,000 feet long, 10 feet high and 17 feet thick, constructed entirely without mortar. Warriors or commoners who arrived there were protected. Trails here are easy to walk. Cultural specialists share legends. Green sea turtles nibble the limu (seaweed) along the rocky shore. They are protected but often “pose” for photos.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park is the site of Hawaiian settlements. The park’s massive fishponds, built before the arrival of European explorers, are an amazing example of successful aquaculture. The goal of the park restoration is to rehabilitate and restore the fishponds so they will again function, providing fish harvest for the community. Centuries of storm damage have caused movement of stones in the original walls. Richard Boston, manager and archaeologist at the site says, “we have reached a milestone in restoration at this park, even using divers to move and replace underwater stones in their original wall locations.” Petroglyphs at this site include a carving of Captain Cook’s ship.

The Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site is a sacred stone heiau (place of worship) known as the Temple of the Hill of the Whale, built over 200 years ago by Kamehameha the Great. The sacred temple measures 224 feet long by 100 feet wide. It is 16 to 20 feet high on the landward side. Workers lived on the surrounding hills for years as they gathered and fitted the massive stone structure.

The Big Island’s Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175-mile preservation corridor filled with cultural significance, including hundreds of early Hawaiian settlement sites.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has America’s only active, continuously erupting, volcano. The park features ancient petroglyphs, tree-fern forests, miles of hiking trails and extraordinary museums. According to Dr. Dieter Mueller-Dombois, one of the foremost botanists in the Pacific, “this park is the only ecosystem on the planet where just a few steps from the road visitors can stand atop a live volcano, at the edge of a 200 year-old lava flow, and see a new-growth forest sprouting from soil blown into the crevices.” Equally amazing is that the site is only a 30-minute drive down the mountain to the place were fresh lava pours into the ocean. Mueller-Dombois’ book, “Life From the Ashes,” soon will be published by Mutual Publishing, tells a Stephen Spielberg-worthy tale from 1959 of the 36-day eruption of Kilauea Iki, the 400-foot deep lava lake that devastated the rainforest and of the new growth forest returning in only 50 years.

In the park, Crater Rim Drive runs in every direction, leading to steam vents and sulfur banks that feel like a sauna for the face. Deep in the vent, wild orchids thrive surrounded by silver lava mounds. A walk through the 450-foot long Thurston Lava Tube is a truly Jurassic experience. Well-marked trails are everywhere. The Jaggar Museum is a technophile’s delight, filled with seismometers, computers, videos and how-to-be-a-volcanologist displays.

According to the volcanologists at the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory, great fountains of lava have and may again shoot skyward in the ultimate fireworks show. The Kilauea Visitors Center offers a visual “master’s degree” in volcanoes. At the Volcano Art Center, island artists show and sell international quality works of art, inspired by Pele, goddess of the volcano. On the way down Chain of Craters Road, to view the moving lava show, the trail leads to thousands of petroglyphs, carved in the ancient lava fields.

Kilauea appears to be a “civilized” volcano, sending lava through tunnels and tubes from deep in the heart of the mountain, creating hundreds of acres of new land as it flows into the sea. At the bottom of the Chain of Craters Road, a well-marked trail leads hardy hikers to a view of the ocean-side lava action. Safety signs and warnings must be observed, but on a clear day the photo op beats any other vacation snapshot.

Volcano House, originally built in 1846, is the park’s hotel, perched on the edge of Kilauea Caldera. The flames in the lobby fireplace are said to carry the image of Pele. The “new” hotel was completed in 1941. Lobby windows look directly into the caldera. Photos taken here tend to look like the moon.

MANHATTAN ON MAUI

No rumbling can be felt on the island of Maui, but it was a short two centuries ago that the volcano that formed East Maui erupted. At 10,000 feet, Haleakala National Park, the House of the Sun, is the entire top of a dormant volcano. That’s dormant, not extinct, meaning it could become active again. The crater at the top, 3,000 feet deep, 21-miles around, could easily hold Manhattan. Thousand-foot high cinder cones rise from the bottom of the crater. Some life forms here are among the rarest on earth, including the strange silversword plant that grows for 20 years, shoots up a 9-foot high bloom and dies. Here the nene (Hawaiian goose) runs wild, rescued from near extinction.

The most spectacular moment in a day on Haleakala is watching the light of the rising sun spill into the crater. Standing at the observatory railing, it is easy to imagine the demi-god, Maui, throwing a giant rope around the sun to slow it and make Maui days last longer. Across the summit, visitors can watch as the shadow of a 10,023-foot mountain recedes, bringing dawn to the West Maui mountains. The experience is equally as impressive at dusk as the sun goes down.

There are 36 miles of hiking trails in the crater. One- to three- day hikes are advised for strong hikers only. The high altitude requires moving slow. The “sliding sands” trail, much like the surface of the moon, was used for training by U.S. astronauts. Areas of the park are dry forest zones with 10 inches of rain per year. The other side of the mountain is lush rainforest with 400 or more inches of rain. The park stretches down the mountainside to the ocean.

MOLOKAI MEMORIAL

The Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokai contains the site of the Hansen’s Disease settlement where Father Damien de Veuster dedicated his life, ministering to the sufferers of leprosy. More than 8,000 persons in Hawaii were taken away from family and delivered to this remote point of land, separated from the world by thousands of feet of steep cliffs. Damien’s grave and his church, St. Philomena, are the most visited sites. A cure for the disease was found in 1946, but the residents of the colony still live in the tiny community at the base of the world’s tallest sea cliffs.

The settlement was once home to Hawaiian royalty. Deep valleys allowed abundant game hunting. Fish were plentiful. The park now easily claims the most unusual mode of arrival and departure travel, a mule ride down the 2,000- to 3,000-foot steep switchback trail. For the non-riders, tour planes can land at the tiny airport. No roads connect this hauntingly beautiful location to the rest of the island of Molokai.

OAHU HONORS

It’s a fact, Elvis Presley and Hawaii are connected far beyond his famous movie, “Blue Hawaii.” Funds were needed to construct a gracefully arched memorial over the USS Arizona, the final resting place for 1,177 United States military crewmen who lost their lives in the World Ward II attack on December 7, 1941. Elvis volunteered a fund-raising concert. The USS Arizona Memorial, built by private contributions, is owned by the U.S. Navy and administered by the National Park Service. It is free, and open to the public, every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days.

Visitors can tour the museum, view a 20-minute documentary on the Pearl Harbor attack and board a Navy shuttle out to the Memorial. Inside, a solemn roster of names carved in marble stretches skyward. Everyday for the past 55 years, tiny oil droplets have risen to the surface, reinforcing the reality of this monument to our country’s brave warriors.

For information on park visits, camping, days and hours of operations, and park regulations, visit the National Park Service website at NPS.gov/Hawaii.

For information about planning your next vacation to Hawaii – The Islands of Aloha – visit HVCB’s website at GoHawaii.com or call toll-free 1-800-GOHAWAII.

WHAT‘S NEW IN THE ISLANDS OF ALOHA

ACCOLADES

Maui’s D. T. Fleming Beach Park took the number one spot in the recent

unveiling of the 16th annual Top 10 Beaches rankings by Dr. Stephen P.

Leatherman a.k.a. Dr. Beach. Two other beaches in Hawai‘i made the list:

Hanalei Beach, Kaua‘i and H?moa Beach, Maui. For more information, visit

DrBeach.org.

According to a recent travel survey conducted by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown

& Russell, Orlando, and Yankelovich, Inc., the Hawaiian Neighbor Islands and

Honolulu are among the top five specific destinations of greatest interest to

Americans. Among U.S. states, Hawai‘i ranked third as the destination most

interested in visiting. For more information, visit YPBR.com.

? Mobil Travel Guide’s 2006 edition awarded four stars to the following Hawai‘i

spas: Hualalai Sports Club and Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic

Ka‘upulehu, Hawai‘i’s Big Island; Spa Grande at Grand Wailea Resort, Maui; Spa

Suites at The Kahala Hotel and Resort, O‘ahu; SpaHalekulani at Halekulani,

O‘ahu; and The Spa, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. For more information,

visit MobilTravelGuide.com.

? Hamura’s Saimin Stand on Kaua‘i was recently honored as one of America’s

Classics, according to The James Beard Foundation. The local eatery was selected

for its excellence in preserving America’s culinary heritage and diversity. For

more information, visit www.JamesBeard.org.

What’s New in the Islands of Aloha

O‘ahu’s mayor Mufi Hannemann and John Nau, chairman of the White House

Advisory Council on Historical Preservation, announced that Honolulu’s

Chinatown has been designated as a Preserve America Community

Neighborhood. The distinction recognizes exceptional efforts to use cultural and

natural resources to promote tourism, revitalize the community, create jobs, and

educate the public. For more information, visit PreserveAmerica.gov.

? Town, a new addition to Honolulu’s culinary scene, made the Hot Tables List in

Cond? Nast Traveler’s 10th annual May “Hot List” issue. The guide focuses on

the newest, hottest, sexiest hotels, restaurants, spas, and nightclubs that opened

all over the world in the past year. For more information, visit CNTraveler.com.

AIR LIFT UPDATES

? Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. is launching go! as its new Hawai‘i

interisland airline on June 9. go! will feature service between Honolulu and

Kona, L?hu‘e and Kahului with 32 flights per day. The number of daily flights

will increase to 62 as service is added to Hilo from Honolulu on June 30. For

more information, visit www.IFlyGo.com.

? This fall, Hawaiian Airlines will be adding four Boeing 767-300 jets to its fleet.

Along with the fleet expansion, the carrier is also increasing its service to Hawai‘i

from San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento and Los Angeles.

w Starting September 6, Hawaiian is expanding its daily nonstop San Diego-

Maui service to be year-round.

w On October 13, Hawaiian is increasing both its nonstop Seattle-Maui and

Portland-Maui flights to daily service.

w Beginning November 19, Hawaiian is adding four weekly flights to its

nonstop Sacramento-Honolulu daily service and expanding its Seattle-

Honolulu service with three additional flights per week.

For interisland travel, Hawaiian has added extra evening flights to its schedule.

For more information, visit HawaiianAir.com.

What’s New in the Islands of Aloha

Real Travel Adventures International Magazine

Thanks for visiting us!

Subscribers:So that your free subscription is not mistaken for spam,

Please copy & paste our E-mail address into your address book: mail@realtraveladventures.com

It's that simple!

Real Travel Adventures International Magazine

Adventure Travels in your Free Ezine

Free Monthly Subscriptions

Home Next Page Previous Page

Peace for Everyone

If any links don't work

PLEASE NOTIFY US

EXCITING NEWS!

CLICK HERE TO HEAR US LIVE

on Destination Worldview

11:30 A.M. (NY time) some Wednesdays

EVERY Wednesday get Latest Travel Tips and views while you work on your computer

Streaming Internet broadcast on WWW.TTRN.COM "Talking Travel with Roy Lowey and Friends"

Every Wednesday 11 A.M. (New York Time)

Thanks for visiting us!

Real Travel Adventures International Magazine

Real and Armchair Travelers: Enjoy best trip reviews, travel features, and excellent travel photos in RealTravelAdventures.com, your FREE on-line international magazine. Send your funny or outrageous travel experiences & photos and get published!

Visit or dream of fascintating places with Real Travel Adventures e-zine! This site offers travel humor, photos, stories, helpful guidebooks, and more. Visit for fun or to seek tips for your next travel adventure...and then share your own stories with us here at

realtraveladventures.com, your free online travel magazine, where you'll find great book reviews, international travel adventures magazine, airline tickets, real travel adventures, camping, RV travel, RV's, Cruises, restaurant reviews, RVing, FamilyTrips, traveling with kids and children, Nature and eco trips, ecology, international travel, Ski Trips, Spas, Spiritual Retreats, interviews with Special People, Travel Humor, Travel News, Unbelievable, WeddingTrips, restaurant reviews and advisor, traveling adventures, adventure travels, travel, virtual and armchair travel, Back Roads, off the beaten path, where to go Camping and enjoy RV trips, where to Dine and Sleep, fun Family Trips, our Favorite Finds, Arts and Crafts, cruises and cruise vacations, romantic trips, traveling tips, travel stories, audio book reviews for your travels, books reviews, good books for a trip, wedding trip planner, wedding Trips, Honeymoons, Unbelievable adventures, Travel News, humorous travel stories, spas and retreats, spiritual retreats, meditation retreats, ski trips, week-end trips Near You, nature's Best places, ecology trips, travel guide books, traveling with children, e-zines, FREE Ezines, Free travel magazines, magazine, free online magazines, internet magazines, free magazine subscriptions, web magazines, true stories, humorous articles, funny features, human interest features, nature photos, environment photographs, photos, adventurous stories, real true stories, true adventrues, camping gear, vacation, holidays, safaris, Caribbean vacations, cheap hotels, great places to go, nature hikes, nature photography, family vacations, family holidays, trip planner, great trips, scenic photos, holiday vacations, holidays, holiday stories, foreign destinations, International travel trips. And you can Get published here too! Send us your travel stories and pictures.

If you wish to use our features or photos you must first contact us

International Magazine TRAVEL NEWS General Interest Travel Products INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TIPS Africa Asia Australia Canada Caribbean Central America Cruises Europe India Mexico Middle East South America USA TRAVEL TIPS Alaska California Florida Hawaii MidWest NorthEast NorthWest RV & Camping South SouthEast SouthWest Texas _________ Books&Audio ContactUs January 2007 Article List Click Below For Previous Articles: 2006 2005 2004 2003 2001 - 2002 Arts&Crafts BackRoads CampVentures Cruises Dine&Sleep FamilyTrips FavoriteFinds KidsOnTheGo Nature'sBest NearYou OurWorld SkiTrips Spas/Retreats SpecialPeople TravelHumor TravelNews Unbelievable WeddingTrips Archives Archives2003 Travel Adventures Adventure Travels, Stories & Photos Subscribe Free Advertise	Latest Travel News To Plan U.S. Travel Adventures Hawaii	Real Travel Adventures International Magazine Subscribe Free Advertise International Travel Adventures Stories & Photos Advertise Subscribe Your FREE online travel magazine e-zine of exciting travel adventures, travel reviews, travel photos from all ages and lifestyles of real travel in US and the world. International travel adventure - travel adventure magazine - travel reviews - trip planner - road trip planner - travel news - Real Travel Adventures Ezine with Book Review and Travel Guides for good reads and good listens on your trips and international travel adventures. Sharing Travel Adventures & Adventure Travel Discover Great get-aways, budget stays, and luxury travel to Dream About .Choose from Hundreds of Travel Reviews and and book reviews Outdoor and Nature Photos Get Your Travel Review Published here! INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE © 2007 Bonita Productions Inc. Click Here to Earn Money By Surfing
	Hot Tips & travel news for your real travel adventures Ala Moana Center Debuts New Annual “Shop a Le`a” Event Honolulu’s first-of-its-kind Spring Fashion and Shopping Festival happens March 3 - 9, 2008 Honolulu – Ala Moana Center, the world’s largest outdoor shopping center and Hawaii’s largest shopping destination, announced today that it will host Honolulu’s first major week-long spring fashion and shopping festival March 3 - 9, 2008. The event, named “Shop a Le`a – Seven Blissful Days of Shopping Euphoria,” will become Ala Moana Center’s new annual signature fashion event celebrating the very best in global brands and merchandise. Shop a Le`a will present shopping enthusiasts from all over Hawaii and the Pacific with a myriad experiences in fashion, beauty, active lifestyle, home entertaining, family, travel and cuisine. Included as part of the event’s line-up are high-profile fashion shows, trunk shows, exclusive receptions and events, lifestyle seminars and events at Centerstage, Hawaii Regional Cuisine demonstrations, center-wide giftwith- purchase incentives, mall-wide shopping and dining offers, a grand prize euphoric shopping vacation for two to New York City, and much more! The highlight of the 2008 inaugural event will be the grand-opening of Ala Moana Center’s new multimillion dollar expansion project on Friday, March 7, 2008. More than 300,000 sq. ft of new retail space Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event will be unveiled including Hawaii’s first full-line Nordstrom department store and 30 new stores as part of a brand new two-level retail concourse connecting the new anchor to the existing mall. “Shop a Le`a is an opportunity for Ala Moana Center to showcase its expanding selection of great stores and restaurants, while demonstrating to visitors that Hawaii offers more than just beautiful beaches, balmy weather, and great waves,” said General Growth Properties Regional Vice President of Marketing, Sharon James. “We invite both visitors and residents to share in this new shopping experience celebrating spring and fashion.” For neighbor island shopping enthusiasts and fashionistas from all points in the Pacific who wish to attend the Shop a Le`a festivities, Ala Moana Center will also be launching a variety of Shop a Le`a hotel packages with three Oahu hotel partners including the Ala Moana Hotel, ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Tower and ResortQuest Waikiki Sunset. Package information can be found online at ShopaLea.com. The event’s name, Shop a Le`a, combines “shop” with the Hawaiian word “le`a,” which means “to delight or take pleasure in.” The event’s name is artistically translated to mean “The Joy of Shopping.” More than 100 different Shop a Le`a events and sales promotions are planned to take place at participating stores and select venues center-wide. Major Shop a Le`a events include: Weeklong Events Kicking Off Monday, March 3, 2008 Shop a Le`a Euphoric Events & Blissful Offers Shop a Le`a kicks off seven blissful days of shopping euphoria with week-long discounts (ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent off regular price and clearance merchandise) and special offers throughout the mall. Participating retailers will also present in-store events, trunk shows, special celebrity guest appearances and more! Visit ShopaLea.com for details. Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event January 17, 2008 Page 3 of 7 Shop a Le`a Limited-Edition Gift-with-Purchase Offer Ala Moana Center’s exclusive Shop a Le`a gift-with-purchase promotion officially kicks-off on Monday, March 3 rewarding customers with a choice of two outstanding commemorative Shop a Le`a gifts. Customers can receive a Shop a Le`a Mini-Tote with the redemption of $75 in store receipts and a Shop a Le`a Cosmetic Bag, complete with variety of beauty samples, with the redemption of $300 in store receipts. Receipts can be redeemed at Ala Moana Center’s Customer Service Center. The offer is limited to one item per person, per redemption level and available while supplies last through Sunday, March 9. Shop a Le`a’s Euphoric Shopping Trip to New York City Shoppers can enter to win a euphoric shopping trip for two to New York City – one of the world’s top fashion and shopping destinations – valued at $10,000! This grand prize giveaway includes coach roundtrip air for two persons from any major U.S. gateway city to New York, eight days and seven nights deluxe hotel accommodations at Times Square, and airport limousine service. This euphoric New York experience also includes a $1,500 American Express gift card, $1,000 shopping spree and style consultation at Diesel New York, an evening of haute-cuisine at a stylish New York restaurant, two evenings of Broadway shows, and a hair and make-up trend update for two – to prepare for a night on the town -- at the Aveda Lifestyle Salon in New York! Shop a Le`a at Centerstage Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage is transformed into chic style venue that embodies the heart of the Shop a Le`a experience with 35 lifestyle seminars highlighting the best in fashion, beauty, active lifestyle, home entertaining, family, travel and cuisine. Events run daily from March 3 – 9 between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Major events include: • Macy’s at Shop a Le`a – 12 p.m. daily featuring five different fashion shows, haute cuisine demonstrations and beauty seminars throughout the entire week. Macy’s at Shop a Le`a highlights include: .. Monday, March 3 – What's Hot & What's New in Cosmetics seminar and product demonstration .. Tuesday, March 4 – Cooking Demonstration with Pastry Chef Mark Okumura Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event January 17, 2008 Page 4 of 7 .. Wednesday, March 5 – Woman's Wear Fashion Show featuring clothing by Fresh Produce .. Thursday, March 6 – Men's Wear Fashion Show featuring clothing by Kahala .. Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 – Woman’s Wear Fashion Shows clothing lines to be announced .. Sunday, March 9 – Macy’s and the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year Award with Sassy/G Magazine and Juniors & Young Men’s Fashion Show • Morning Yoga with Lululemon Athletica – 10 a.m. daily (except March 8) • Lululemon Athletica Function Show – 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 8 • Steve Kemble, “America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru” and US Weekly television personality, makes a celebrity appearance on Wednesday, March 5 at 2 p.m. featuring home entertaining tips and Friday, March 7 at 2 p.m. featuring three transforming style makeovers. • Aveda Salon & Spa – Beauty and rejuvenation seminars on Thursday, March 6 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. • Wolford Fashion Show – Friday, March 7 at 4 p.m. featuring the store’s top swimwear, lingerie and ready-to-wear lines • Spring Fashion Showcase at Shop a Le`a – Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m. featuring a ten-store runway show celebrating spring fashion. • Oscar Blandi Presented by Sephora – Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m. • Mac Cosmetics Presentation – Saturday, March 8 at 6 p.m. See official program for details or visit ShopaLea.com for the event’s online program guide. Events will be added and updated daily. The Centerstage event schedule is subject to change without prior notice. Tuesday, March 4 Celebration of Luxury Ala Moana Center presents its Celebration of Luxury event with more than two dozen of the mall’s luxury boutiques participating in an all-day open house. Participating retailers will feature special in-store events, trunk shows, demonstrations, and drawings to win select luxury merchandise. One grand prize winner will win Ala Moana Center’s Celebration of Luxury Giveaway with an extravagant $5,000 shopping spree at Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event January 17, 2008 Page 5 of 7 any of the center’s 30-plus luxury boutiques, lunch at Mariposa Restaurant, and complimentary limousine service to port home your couture shopping finds! Entry forms will be available at participating luxury boutiques with a winner chosen that same evening. Wednesday, March 5 Nordstrom Grand Opening Gala Nordstrom presents it’s highly anticipated Grand Opening Gala starting at 7 p.m. with a fashionable f?te to benefit three local Hawaii charities including the Bishop Museum, Hawaii Theatre Center and HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support). The chic evening will include lavish pupus, cocktails and buffets, live entertainment and the opportunity to partake in a little “sneak preview” shopping. Featured will be culinary selections from Chef Chai Chaowasaree, Chef Loperfido Donato and Chef Philippe Padovani. The highlight of the evening will be a tented, full-scale runway fashion show featuring American and European designer collections, including Tory Burch, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Roberto Cavalli – to name a few. Tickets are $150 per person. For more information please call (808) 723-1879. Thursday, March 6 Ala Moana Center’s Preview Shopping Night & Fundraiser HONOLULU Magazine is proud to host Ala Moana Center’s Preview Shopping Night & Fundraiser. Be one of 500 shoppers to preview Ala Moana Center’s brand-new retail expansion wing featuring 30-plus stores at this private reception. The event kicks off at 7 p.m. with two hours of shopping at participating Preview Shopping Night retailers, entertainment, cocktails and desserts by Hale ’Aina award-winning chefs. Event-goers will also receive a commemorative Shop a Le`a gift sponsored by Ala Moana Center. The $40 per person ticket cost benefits Hawaii Habitat for Humanity. Tickets go on sale starting February 15 at Ala Moana Center’s Customer Service Center. Pre-sale ticket reservations are available by calling (808) 955-9517 Ala Moana Center debuts new annual “Shop a Le`a” event January 17, 2008 Page 6 of 7 Friday, March 7 Nordstrom Cosmetic Tailgate Party Join Nordstrom at its early morning Cosmetics Tailgate Party with consultations and demonstrations by a myriad of the store’s beauty experts. Special gift-with-purchase items will be available at the event. The Cosmetic Tailgate Party begins at 7:30 a.m., with the store’s public grand opening at 9:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public. If you have any questions about the Cosmetic Tailgate Party, please call (866) 667-3911. Ala Moana Center Retail Expansion Opens with 30 New Stores! Partake in the festivities as Ala Moana Center presents 30 new stores as part of its new two-level retail expansion wing that connects Nordstrom to the mall. Most of the new stores will open to the public on March 7 at 9:30 a.m. with grand-opening specials and festivities! • New Stores Opening on March 7, 2008 – Ann Taylor (relocation), Bare Escentuals, Blue Hawaii Lifestyle, Chico’s, Design Within Reach, J. Crew-on-the-Island, Janie & Jack, LeGrand Marqet, Lululemon Athletica, Max & Co. (relocation), Ponte Vecchio, Sunglass Icon, Vera Bradley, White House/Black Market (relocation), Williams-Sonoma (relocation) and Wolford. • New Stores Opening Soon – Anteprima Plastiq, Ash & Diamonds, Brighton Collectibles, Club Monaco, Kahala, Metropark, Miki House, Philip Rickard Factory Showroom, The Kiss, and True Religion Jeans. • Four additional retailer names to be released soon upon lease finalization. Most of the Shop a Le`a events are free and open to the public with the exception of select functions that require either a special invitation or a paid ticket fee benefiting charity. Event information is subject to change without notice. For a complete listing of Shop a Le`a events, customers can visit www.ShopaLea.com. ABOUT ALA MOANA CENTER Ala Moana Center is the world’s largest outdoor shopping center and Hawaii’s premier shopping, entertainment, and dining destination with 290 stores, including nearly 70 dining options. Ala Moana Center features a diverse collection of stores including locally owned boutiques and national retailers. Visit www.AlaMoanaCenter.com for more information. PURE MAUI ANNOUNCES LUXURY SPA RETREATS FOR THE DISCERNING TRAVELER MAUI, HI - Think brilliant sunsets, island healers, private chefs and multi-million dollar estates that become your home away from home. This, essentially, is Pure Maui, the newly launched customized luxury spa vacation company based in Wailea, Maui. Following in the footsteps of its highly successful sister program, Pure Kauai, Pure Maui's spa program is geared to challenge its guests with daily activities such as private yoga and Pilates classes, personal training sessions, guided hikes and beach runs and, of course, surf lessons. All yoga and Pilates and spa treatments are done in the comfort of the guests' villa, virtually a "private hotel," lending a secluded and serene ambiance in which they can truly unwind and become physically, emotionally and spiritually centered. Known as one of the world's spiritual epicenters, the Hawaiian Islands are said to bring inner peace, clarity and spiritual healing to those who visit. Pure Maui has enlisted the assistance of an array of Maui's most talented island healers who have mastered the art of massage and body / facial treatments. Through their skilled movements and by utilizing local, fresh ingredients such as mango, ginger, coconut and Hawaiian sea salt, Pure Maui's gifted therapists nurture guests daily to ensure they leave the island relaxed, healed and rejuvenated. Pure Maui's most innovative therapy, created and performed by massage therapist Rebecca Goff, is the AquaCranial Therapy. Rebecca, who is a marine naturalist, developed this therapy by studying the behavior and movement of marine mammals and combined it with John Upledger's craniosacral manipulation technique, which uses precise and gentle touches to improve the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The treatment, which is done in water, utilizes gentle pressure to the bones of the scull and along the length of the spine which allows the body's natural healing process. The movement of the waves and currents accentuates the therapist's cranial sacral strokes. During whale watching season, Rebecca, who is an active member of the Pacific Whale Foundation, a non-profit conservation program to protect Hawaii's marine life, will bring her Pure Maui clients out in to the ocean to perform the therapy close by to whales. It is said that the underwater vibrations made by the whales is very healing for humans and can further enhance the benefits of AquaCranial Therapy. When it comes to dining, Pure Maui's spa guests will indulge in only the healthiest, fresh cuisine prepared in the comfort of their "private hotel" by one of Pure Maui's personal chefs. Guests can create their own menus or let the chefs surprise them each day with their creative delicacies. Gourmet picnics and snacks are also prepared for guests daily to take along and enjoy on their outdoor adventures. Packages such as the Adventure Boot Camp, a hard core retreat geared to jump start weight loss and fitness regimens, are available or guests can have Pure Maui customize a more gentle and soothing program incorporating light daily exercise and multiple spa treatments. For additional information on Pure Maui's spa retreats and to review a full listing of its private homes, activities, packages and services, please visit www.puremaui.com or call toll free 866-787-6284. -HONUA KAI ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR RESIDENTIAL SPA AT RENOWNED KA'ANAPALI BEACH, MAUI News of Intrawest Spa Debut Excites Luxury Seekers Exploring Second Home Purchase Options on Maui Ka`anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Authentic and extraordinary define an exciting collection of international spas being introduced by Intrawest, a world leader in destination resorts and adventure travel. One of the first American spas in its collection is planned for Honua Kai; a new whole ownership beachfront property being offered to upscale vacation home buyers on Maui's fabled Ka'anapali Beach - the first such offer in more than twenty years. Drawn by the irreplaceable beachfront location and exceptional services - including the full-service residential spa -- influential realtors and discerning clients gathered this past week in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Huntington Beach and Beverly Hills to discover details and place reservations for the ultimate luxury condominium at Honua Kai. Important because it represents one of the last chances to own on the famous Ka'anapali Beach, Honua Kai is a luxury, full-ownership condominium now accepting priority purchase reservations for the final condominium offering. Four-star amenities - the spa, room-service, pools and water features, culturally inspired activities and events catered to families and couples who appreciate the best of Hawaiian culture - paired with the new, luxurious beachfront setting are calling cards for mainland buyers eagerly anticipating their Honua Kai purchase. The spa will crown Konea, the final condominium tower at Honua Kai. Fittingly, Konea translates as restored to health. Last year, Hokulani, the first tower at Honua Kai, achieved sell out success in a mere eight hours. Promising Honua Kai residents and guests unforgettable Maui experiences - from surfing and horseback riding, golf to dining at Duke's new restaurant at Honua Kai - a high point of every visit will surely be time at the spa. The intimate sanctuary, overlooking the grand lawn and tropical native healing gardens, will comprise serene private treatment pavilions, locally inspired products and therapeutic rituals. The ultimate complement to time spent at Honua Kai will be a visit to its intimate spa. Owners and guests will be pampered with their choice of therapeutic, restorative or invigorating treatments inspired by this beautiful land and its people. Professional services and products offered at the Honua Kai spa will focus on physical and spiritual care augmented by design elements inspired by the marriage of people and place. Immersion into a complete, holistic environment means a Honua Kai spa visit will be anything but cookie-cutter. Offering luxury studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums with open floorplans, Konea suites and residences feature exquisite interior appointments such as granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and frameless glass shower enclosures. Living rooms open to spacious lanais, taking advantage of Hawaii's gentle climate while providing commanding ocean and mountain views. Honua Kai amenities include expansive pools, beguiling waterfalls, a beachfront boardwalk, the spa and the recently announced Duke's Maui beachside restaurant. Off-resort parks, championship golf courses, shopping, dining, and sporting attractions abound. Completion is scheduled for late 2009. Playground Destination Properties Inc., an Intrawest company, is the licensed broker managing the sales and marketing campaign for Honua Kai. For more information about Honua Kai, please call 1-866-678-1310 or visit www.honuakai.com. Honua Kai is a whole-ownership condominium resort along Ka`anapali Beach on Maui's western shore. Developed by Intrawest, the resort will reflect meticulous masterplanning with deference to the land and its Hawaiian people. Upon completion, the approximately 40-acre beachfront resort will feature 700 luxury tower residential condominiums and townhome units with ocean and mountain views, lush gardens, water-rich landscaping, several recreational pools, a luxurious spa and fitness center, a beachside restaurant and one of the island's best snorkeling and dive beaches. For more information, visit www.honuakai.com. Playground Playground Destination Properties Inc. is one of the Playground group of real estate sales and marketing companies. The Playground companies are the premier provider of real estate sales and marketing services for destinations world-wide. With offices spanning the globe in Vancouver, Montreal, Orlando, Reno, Denver, and Lausanne, Playground is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of "connecting people with the ultimate places to play". Playground provides a unique breadth of offerings from beach and mountain destinations, to golf and urban locations. Playground is currently offering ownership opportunities in world-renowned Whistler Blackcomb-North America's most popular mountain resort; Honua Kai; and Florida's Sandestin - 2,400 acres including white sand beaches and world-class golf. Playground Destination Properties Inc. is proud to be the licensed broker for the Westin's properties in Orlando and Napa Valley, and for the Hard Rock Condo Hotel in San Diego - the hottest new urban location destination. To learn more about the Playground companies, please visit www.playground.com. HAWAII INCONVENIENCED BUT EMERGES VIRTUALLY UNSCATHED FROM OCTOBER 15 EARTHQUAKE HONOLULU – One day after being rocked by an earthquake Hawaii is letting the world know that it is open and ready for business. “We continue to welcome visitors to our state,” said Marsha Wienert, tourism liaison for the Governor’s office. “The quake caused quite a bit of apprehension yesterday but this morning Hawaii is largely back to business as usual. There is no widespread damage and no loss of life or serious injury. We have made a speedy return to normalcy.” The 7:07 a.m. Sunday morning quake measured 6.7-magnitude. It was centered under the ocean off the northwest coast of Hawaii’s Big Island and was felt on all the major islands. A 5.8 magnitude quake followed seven minutes later and numerous smaller aftershocks were registered over the next few hours. The first quake immediately triggered power failures that lasted most of the day on the Big Island, Maui, and Oahu. The loss of electrical power caused disruptions at airports that resulted in flight delays and cancellations of some transpacific flights into and out of the Islands. Electrical power was restored to most airports by early afternoon. Honolulu International Airport, which saw the most delays in service, was online again by 5:45 p.m. All affected communities throughout the islands had electrical service restored by midnight Sunday. “All visitor accommodations are open for business statewide and airlines are telling us that transpacific flights and flights around the islands are generally back to normal,” said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. “There may be some minor delays as airlines adjust for yesterday’s interruptions and we advise passengers to reconfirm their departure times prior to going to the airport,” he said. “Despite the inconveniences caused by the power outage, visitors to the state were generally in high spirits yesterday as residents and visitor industry employees jumped in to make their day as good as possible,” said Monahan. “Hawaii’s spirit of aloha shines especially bright in these circumstances,” he said. Damage assessments were still being made Monday morning, but the effects of the quake continue to appear minimal. All major highways statewide are open. Hotels and other accommodations that were closest to the quake on the Big Island remain open for business, although some have reported light damage. The quake generated a small seismic wave of three inches in height at Kawaihae Harbor on the Big Island according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center on Oahu. More information is available on the following toll-free numbers (in North America) or websites: Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau 1-800-GOHAWAII, GoHawaii.com Kauai Visitors Bureau 1-800-262-1400, KauaiDiscovery.com Oahu Visitors Bureau 1-877-525-OAHU, Visit-Oahu.com Maui Visitors Bureau 1-800-525-MAUI, VisitMaui.com Big Island Visitors Bureau 1-800-648-2441, BigIsland.org FALL FOR THE NATURE OF HAWAII New Land is Born, Old Tales are Told in Hawaii’s National Parks HONOLULU – The best advice for a fall visit to the Hawaiian Islands? Park it! Not sit on the beach and watch the waves “park it.” Not a wander the great green gardens kind of “park it.” This kind of “park it” is an invitation to visit the eight, count them - eight - national parks in the State of Hawaii. To offer a bit of historical perspective, Washington D.C. was declared a national historic site in 1790. Yellowstone became a national park in 1872. The African Burial Ground was named a National Monument in New York in 2006. Over the years, the National Park System has honored, set aside and named hundreds of amazing places; battlefields, islands, lake and seashores, rivers, home sites, monuments, trails and preserves across the country and the Pacific. Hawaii’s first national park, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was founded in 1916. Fall is the perfect time for a Hawaii park adventure. The days are cooler and the trails less crowded than the busy summer family vacation months. Parks can be reached by air, rental car and mule rides. In Hawaii, the National Park Service has named some of its most unique, accessible parks, honoring pre-recorded-to-modern history. Hawaii has the only national park with a twenty-plus year continuous molten lava flow. Hawaii’s park sites date to a time long before a voyager named Captain Cook took word of the islands to his western world. Hawaii’s national parks, trails and preserves celebrate the temples, cities and fishponds of ancient peoples. They are adorned with the earliest recorded Pacific history, petroglyphs. They top a 10,000-foot mountain with a crater large enough to hold Manhattan. They honor the human history and inhuman treatment of a people suffering a dreaded disease and celebrate the brave warriors who protected America. BEGIN ON THE BIG ISLAND Hawaii’s Big Island has four of the state’s national parks and one National Historic Trail. The parks on this island are drive up and drive in, with easy walking trails, museums, and spectacular sites to see. Three major parks are located on the Kona side of the Big Island. Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, a place of refuge, is protected by the “great wall” 1,000 feet long, 10 feet high and 17 feet thick, constructed entirely without mortar. Warriors or commoners who arrived there were protected. Trails here are easy to walk. Cultural specialists share legends. Green sea turtles nibble the limu (seaweed) along the rocky shore. They are protected but often “pose” for photos. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park is the site of Hawaiian settlements. The park’s massive fishponds, built before the arrival of European explorers, are an amazing example of successful aquaculture. The goal of the park restoration is to rehabilitate and restore the fishponds so they will again function, providing fish harvest for the community. Centuries of storm damage have caused movement of stones in the original walls. Richard Boston, manager and archaeologist at the site says, “we have reached a milestone in restoration at this park, even using divers to move and replace underwater stones in their original wall locations.” Petroglyphs at this site include a carving of Captain Cook’s ship. The Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site is a sacred stone heiau (place of worship) known as the Temple of the Hill of the Whale, built over 200 years ago by Kamehameha the Great. The sacred temple measures 224 feet long by 100 feet wide. It is 16 to 20 feet high on the landward side. Workers lived on the surrounding hills for years as they gathered and fitted the massive stone structure. The Big Island’s Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail is a 175-mile preservation corridor filled with cultural significance, including hundreds of early Hawaiian settlement sites. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has America’s only active, continuously erupting, volcano. The park features ancient petroglyphs, tree-fern forests, miles of hiking trails and extraordinary museums. According to Dr. Dieter Mueller-Dombois, one of the foremost botanists in the Pacific, “this park is the only ecosystem on the planet where just a few steps from the road visitors can stand atop a live volcano, at the edge of a 200 year-old lava flow, and see a new-growth forest sprouting from soil blown into the crevices.” Equally amazing is that the site is only a 30-minute drive down the mountain to the place were fresh lava pours into the ocean. Mueller-Dombois’ book, “Life From the Ashes,” soon will be published by Mutual Publishing, tells a Stephen Spielberg-worthy tale from 1959 of the 36-day eruption of Kilauea Iki, the 400-foot deep lava lake that devastated the rainforest and of the new growth forest returning in only 50 years. In the park, Crater Rim Drive runs in every direction, leading to steam vents and sulfur banks that feel like a sauna for the face. Deep in the vent, wild orchids thrive surrounded by silver lava mounds. A walk through the 450-foot long Thurston Lava Tube is a truly Jurassic experience. Well-marked trails are everywhere. The Jaggar Museum is a technophile’s delight, filled with seismometers, computers, videos and how-to-be-a-volcanologist displays. According to the volcanologists at the Hawaii Volcanoes Observatory, great fountains of lava have and may again shoot skyward in the ultimate fireworks show. The Kilauea Visitors Center offers a visual “master’s degree” in volcanoes. At the Volcano Art Center, island artists show and sell international quality works of art, inspired by Pele, goddess of the volcano. On the way down Chain of Craters Road, to view the moving lava show, the trail leads to thousands of petroglyphs, carved in the ancient lava fields. Kilauea appears to be a “civilized” volcano, sending lava through tunnels and tubes from deep in the heart of the mountain, creating hundreds of acres of new land as it flows into the sea. At the bottom of the Chain of Craters Road, a well-marked trail leads hardy hikers to a view of the ocean-side lava action. Safety signs and warnings must be observed, but on a clear day the photo op beats any other vacation snapshot. Volcano House, originally built in 1846, is the park’s hotel, perched on the edge of Kilauea Caldera. The flames in the lobby fireplace are said to carry the image of Pele. The “new” hotel was completed in 1941. Lobby windows look directly into the caldera. Photos taken here tend to look like the moon. MANHATTAN ON MAUI No rumbling can be felt on the island of Maui, but it was a short two centuries ago that the volcano that formed East Maui erupted. At 10,000 feet, Haleakala National Park, the House of the Sun, is the entire top of a dormant volcano. That’s dormant, not extinct, meaning it could become active again. The crater at the top, 3,000 feet deep, 21-miles around, could easily hold Manhattan. Thousand-foot high cinder cones rise from the bottom of the crater. Some life forms here are among the rarest on earth, including the strange silversword plant that grows for 20 years, shoots up a 9-foot high bloom and dies. Here the nene (Hawaiian goose) runs wild, rescued from near extinction. The most spectacular moment in a day on Haleakala is watching the light of the rising sun spill into the crater. Standing at the observatory railing, it is easy to imagine the demi-god, Maui, throwing a giant rope around the sun to slow it and make Maui days last longer. Across the summit, visitors can watch as the shadow of a 10,023-foot mountain recedes, bringing dawn to the West Maui mountains. The experience is equally as impressive at dusk as the sun goes down. There are 36 miles of hiking trails in the crater. One- to three- day hikes are advised for strong hikers only. The high altitude requires moving slow. The “sliding sands” trail, much like the surface of the moon, was used for training by U.S. astronauts. Areas of the park are dry forest zones with 10 inches of rain per year. The other side of the mountain is lush rainforest with 400 or more inches of rain. The park stretches down the mountainside to the ocean. MOLOKAI MEMORIAL The Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokai contains the site of the Hansen’s Disease settlement where Father Damien de Veuster dedicated his life, ministering to the sufferers of leprosy. More than 8,000 persons in Hawaii were taken away from family and delivered to this remote point of land, separated from the world by thousands of feet of steep cliffs. Damien’s grave and his church, St. Philomena, are the most visited sites. A cure for the disease was found in 1946, but the residents of the colony still live in the tiny community at the base of the world’s tallest sea cliffs. The settlement was once home to Hawaiian royalty. Deep valleys allowed abundant game hunting. Fish were plentiful. The park now easily claims the most unusual mode of arrival and departure travel, a mule ride down the 2,000- to 3,000-foot steep switchback trail. For the non-riders, tour planes can land at the tiny airport. No roads connect this hauntingly beautiful location to the rest of the island of Molokai. OAHU HONORS It’s a fact, Elvis Presley and Hawaii are connected far beyond his famous movie, “Blue Hawaii.” Funds were needed to construct a gracefully arched memorial over the USS Arizona, the final resting place for 1,177 United States military crewmen who lost their lives in the World Ward II attack on December 7, 1941. Elvis volunteered a fund-raising concert. The USS Arizona Memorial, built by private contributions, is owned by the U.S. Navy and administered by the National Park Service. It is free, and open to the public, every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. Visitors can tour the museum, view a 20-minute documentary on the Pearl Harbor attack and board a Navy shuttle out to the Memorial. Inside, a solemn roster of names carved in marble stretches skyward. Everyday for the past 55 years, tiny oil droplets have risen to the surface, reinforcing the reality of this monument to our country’s brave warriors. For information on park visits, camping, days and hours of operations, and park regulations, visit the National Park Service website at NPS.gov/Hawaii. For information about planning your next vacation to Hawaii – The Islands of Aloha – visit HVCB’s website at GoHawaii.com or call toll-free 1-800-GOHAWAII. WHAT‘S NEW IN THE ISLANDS OF ALOHA ACCOLADES Maui’s D. T. Fleming Beach Park took the number one spot in the recent unveiling of the 16th annual Top 10 Beaches rankings by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman a.k.a. Dr. Beach. Two other beaches in Hawai‘i made the list: Hanalei Beach, Kaua‘i and H?moa Beach, Maui. For more information, visit DrBeach.org. According to a recent travel survey conducted by Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell, Orlando, and Yankelovich, Inc., the Hawaiian Neighbor Islands and Honolulu are among the top five specific destinations of greatest interest to Americans. Among U.S. states, Hawai‘i ranked third as the destination most interested in visiting. For more information, visit YPBR.com. ? Mobil Travel Guide’s 2006 edition awarded four stars to the following Hawai‘i spas: Hualalai Sports Club and Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka‘upulehu, Hawai‘i’s Big Island; Spa Grande at Grand Wailea Resort, Maui; Spa Suites at The Kahala Hotel and Resort, O‘ahu; SpaHalekulani at Halekulani, O‘ahu; and The Spa, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. For more information, visit MobilTravelGuide.com. ? Hamura’s Saimin Stand on Kaua‘i was recently honored as one of America’s Classics, according to The James Beard Foundation. The local eatery was selected for its excellence in preserving America’s culinary heritage and diversity. For more information, visit www.JamesBeard.org. What’s New in the Islands of Aloha O‘ahu’s mayor Mufi Hannemann and John Nau, chairman of the White House Advisory Council on Historical Preservation, announced that Honolulu’s Chinatown has been designated as a Preserve America Community Neighborhood. The distinction recognizes exceptional efforts to use cultural and natural resources to promote tourism, revitalize the community, create jobs, and educate the public. For more information, visit PreserveAmerica.gov. ? Town, a new addition to Honolulu’s culinary scene, made the Hot Tables List in Cond? Nast Traveler’s 10th annual May “Hot List” issue. The guide focuses on the newest, hottest, sexiest hotels, restaurants, spas, and nightclubs that opened all over the world in the past year. For more information, visit CNTraveler.com. AIR LIFT UPDATES ? Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc. is launching go! as its new Hawai‘i interisland airline on June 9. go! will feature service between Honolulu and Kona, L?hu‘e and Kahului with 32 flights per day. The number of daily flights will increase to 62 as service is added to Hilo from Honolulu on June 30. For more information, visit www.IFlyGo.com. ? This fall, Hawaiian Airlines will be adding four Boeing 767-300 jets to its fleet. Along with the fleet expansion, the carrier is also increasing its service to Hawai‘i from San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento and Los Angeles. w Starting September 6, Hawaiian is expanding its daily nonstop San Diego- Maui service to be year-round. w On October 13, Hawaiian is increasing both its nonstop Seattle-Maui and Portland-Maui flights to daily service. w Beginning November 19, Hawaiian is adding four weekly flights to its nonstop Sacramento-Honolulu daily service and expanding its Seattle- Honolulu service with three additional flights per week. For interisland travel, Hawaiian has added extra evening flights to its schedule. For more information, visit HawaiianAir.com. What’s New in the Islands of Aloha Real Travel Adventures International Magazine Thanks for visiting us! Subscribers:So that your free subscription is not mistaken for spam, Please copy & paste our E-mail address into your address book: mail@realtraveladventures.com It's that simple! Real Travel Adventures International Magazine Adventure Travels in your Free Ezine Free Monthly Subscriptions Home Next Page Previous Page Peace for Everyone If any links don't work PLEASE NOTIFY US EXCITING NEWS! CLICK HERE TO HEAR US LIVE on Destination Worldview 11:30 A.M. (NY time) some Wednesdays EVERY Wednesday get Latest Travel Tips and views while you work on your computer Streaming Internet broadcast on WWW.TTRN.COM "Talking Travel with Roy Lowey and Friends" Every Wednesday 11 A.M. (New York Time) Thanks for visiting us! Real Travel Adventures International Magazine Real and Armchair Travelers: Enjoy best trip reviews, travel features, and excellent travel photos in RealTravelAdventures.com, your FREE on-line international magazine. Send your funny or outrageous travel experiences & photos and get published! Visit or dream of fascintating places with Real Travel Adventures e-zine! This site offers travel humor, photos, stories, helpful guidebooks, and more. Visit for fun or to seek tips for your next travel adventure...and then share your own stories with us here at realtraveladventures.com, your free online travel magazine, where you'll find great book reviews, international travel adventures magazine, airline tickets, real travel adventures, camping, RV travel, RV's, Cruises, restaurant reviews, RVing, FamilyTrips, traveling with kids and children, Nature and eco trips, ecology, international travel, Ski Trips, Spas, Spiritual Retreats, interviews with Special People, Travel Humor, Travel News, Unbelievable, WeddingTrips, restaurant reviews and advisor, traveling adventures, adventure travels, travel, virtual and armchair travel, Back Roads, off the beaten path, where to go Camping and enjoy RV trips, where to Dine and Sleep, fun Family Trips, our Favorite Finds, Arts and Crafts, cruises and cruise vacations, romantic trips, traveling tips, travel stories, audio book reviews for your travels, books reviews, good books for a trip, wedding trip planner, wedding Trips, Honeymoons, Unbelievable adventures, Travel News, humorous travel stories, spas and retreats, spiritual retreats, meditation retreats, ski trips, week-end trips Near You, nature's Best places, ecology trips, travel guide books, traveling with children, e-zines, FREE Ezines, Free travel magazines, magazine, free online magazines, internet magazines, free magazine subscriptions, web magazines, true stories, humorous articles, funny features, human interest features, nature photos, environment photographs, photos, adventurous stories, real true stories, true adventrues, camping gear, vacation, holidays, safaris, Caribbean vacations, cheap hotels, great places to go, nature hikes, nature photography, family vacations, family holidays, trip planner, great trips, scenic photos, holiday vacations, holidays, holiday stories, foreign destinations, International travel trips. And you can Get published here too! Send us your travel stories and pictures. © 2007 Bonita Productions Inc. If you wish to use our features or photos you must first contact us