Did you know that HVCB has a Visitor Information Center? The HVCB Visitor Information Center which is located in our Waikiki corporate office has everything from vacation planners and island maps, to activity and dining brochures.

Walk-in visitors pass through HVCB's Visitor Information Center on a daily basis and would love to learn more about your company! So it's never too late to send in your brochures.

If you wouldl like to submit brochures for your organization please mail up to (50) brochures to:

Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
Attn: Membership Department
2270 Kalakaua Ave. Suite 801
Honolulu, HI 96815

*Only brochures from registered Hibiscus - Business Level members will be accepted. If you would like to know more about your membership with the Bureau and how you can get involved, please e-mail membership@hvcb.org.

Mahalo,

Gina Salvador
Director, Membership

• Hawaii's top market, Los Angeles, was the source of nearly 812,000 visitors in 2005, up eight percent from 2004 levels.

• Rounding out the top five markets are the San Francisco Bay Area (582,000 arrivals, up 6%);

Seattle (229,000, up 7%); New York City (176,000, up 3%); and San Diego (174,000, up 10%).

• Double-digit increases were experienced in seven of the top 20 markets, including the MSAs with new non-stop service to Hawaii -- Phoenix (+19%); Salt Lake City (+18%); Atlanta (+12%); and Las Vegas (+10%).

Click here to view the Preliminary Arrivals to Hawaii from Top 20 U.S. MSA Markets 2005

Additional statistics on Hawaii’s top MSA markets are posted on HVCB’s Market Trends Online website: http://www.hvcb.org/trends.

The 2006 Hawaii Arts Season, themed “Celebrating the Pacific,” kicked off last month and continues through May 14th. This years art season is packed with wonderful experiences.

The 2006 Hawaii Arts Season, themed “Celebrating the Pacific,” kicked off last month and continues through May 14th. This years art season is packed with wonderful experices with a infinite amount of choices. Hundreds of events are free and advanced ticket purchase is recommended for the larger events.

Upcoming Events:

April 1, 2006

April 1, 2006

April 1-2, 2006

April 2, 2006

April 7 and 9, 2006

HONOLULU SYMPHONY: AN HOMAGE TO MOZART

April 14-16, 2006

14th ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS

April 16-22, 2006

April 19, 2006

IONA CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATRE’S ELECTRIC BLUE

For a complete calendar of Hawaii Arts Season events please visit www.gohawaii.com/arts.

Based on feedback from members, we’ve now enhanced the program to enable you to tailor your presence in the E Komo Mai Welcome Guidebook to your slow and busy periods by submitting up to four non-overlapping offers at once.

As we announced in last month’s Kahe Wale, the brand new
E Komo Mai Welcome Guidebook will be launched soon. The Guidebook will replace the existing pre-arrival welcome packets mailed to visitors who purchased their vacations through certified HVCB Hawaii Destination Specialist travel agents.

Included in the Guidebook will be a customized collection of special savings, discounts or exclusive offers, tailored to the dates the visitor will be here, and to the islands they will be visiting. Participation is free, and is open to Hibiscus level members and above in our golf, activities, attractions, shopping, and dining categories. Simply log in to your account in the Member Online Update and submit your offer and the dates, which it is valid.

Based on feedback from members, we’ve now enhanced the program to enable you to enter up to four non-overlapping offers at once. This will allow you to tailor your offers to the time of year, yet have all of them available right now, to be included in the customized Guidebooks created based on the dates of the visit.

To have your special offers included, simply log in to the Member Online Update and complete the information requested in the E Komo Mai Welcome Guidebook section. You will be asked for the text of your special offers as well as the dates that the offers are valid.

If you're not sure about your username and password for the Online Update, you can use the "Forgot Password" feature to have the system remind you. The username is the email address of the contact at your company designated to make changes online. The associated password will be emailed directly to that account.

The program is set to go live very soon, so don’t miss this opportunity to have your message displayed to this exclusive market. Log in and give us your offer today!

Check out this month's featured members:

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens Fourth Annual Earth Day Celebration

Join Maui Nui Botanical Gardens for the fourth annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 22nd, 2006 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. In keeping with our goal of conserving Hawaiian plants and cultural heritage there will be conservation booths focused on native Hawaiian species from the mountains to the sea. Come participate in Hawaiian cultural activities like making kapa from wauke fiber, cordage from hau fiber, lei making and nose flutes, too!

Play konane (Hawaiian checkers), ulu maika (lawn bowling) and try your hand at ihe (spear throwing). See demonstrations of poi pounding and a sham battle by Na Koa Kau I Ka Meheu O Na Kupuna. There will be ono food booths and live entertainment by Uncle Richard Hoopii, George Kahumoku, Jr., Anthony Natividad, Ola Hou, and hula with Gordean Bailey and Wehiwehi O Leilehua! There will also be a native plant sale and a silent auction as fundraisers for the Gardens. It's FUN, it's FREE, and it's a great FAMILY activity.

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens is located across from the War Memorial Sports Complex in Kahului.
Free admission, free parking.

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens
150 Kanaloa Ave.
Kahului, Hi 96732

For more information please call (808) 249-2798 or visit our website at http://www.mnbg.org.


This Week Magazines

This Week Magazines Celebrates 40 Years in Hawaii

It was 1966 and 675,000 visitors were expected to arrive in Hawaii. The goal of the magazine was simply to, “... make your trip both happier and easier.” Now, This Week Magazine is the largest glossy magazine in the state, celebrating their 40th year of fine publishing.

This Week Magazines has grown a bit since their first issue hit the stands on January 6, 1966. A staff of 40 dedicated professionals on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii’s Big Island work hard to put over five million magazines into the hands of visitors each year. In 1966, This Week published its first issue. Now they publish nine major magazines on four islands.

While visitors always find useful and up-to-date information on dining, shopping, entertainment and activities, businesses can rest assured their advertising messages are reaching the visitor market in a powerful way. In fact, over 800 businesses advertise in This Week Magazines.

The essence of that first simple goal still stands today, and This Week Magazines is proud to celebrate 40 years of publishing success in Hawaii. Mahalo!

For more information, please call This Week Magazines at (808) 843-6000, or visit us at www.thisweek.com. This Week publishes the four This Week Magazines, Pleasant Hawaii Magazine, Ward Centers Magazine, Whalers Village Magazine, Pearlridge Magazine, the Aloha Festivals offical magazine and multiple map publications.


Would you like your business featured in the next Kahe Wale? Click here for more information!

The Hawaii Community Foundation has established a Kauai Island Fund to assist individuals affected by the flooding on the island of Kauai, particularly those individuals and families impacted by the overflow of the Kaloko Reservoir dam in Kilauea.

Donations should be made payable to The Kauai Island Fund and sent to:

Hawaii Community Foundation
1164 Bishop Street, Suite 800
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-2817.

Contributions to the Kauai Island Fund are tax deductible as allowable by law.
HCF's tax ID# is 99-0261283.

For more information or questions, contact HCF’s Communications Officer Kim Vierra at
(808) 566-5527 or via email at kvierra@hcf-hawaii.org.

America's Running Routes Database Announced:

Runners are always looking for places to run when they are traveling. Until now they were in the dark about where to run when visiting a new city. Now, they can simply check into their hotel, log on to America’s Running Routes and find routes to run from their hotel, a nearby park, or school.

USA Track & Field, the governing body for road running, track & field, and race walking has developed a free, web-based service for the running community called America’s Running Routes.

America's Running Routes allows you to map and measure running routes from central points (e.g., hotels, parks, schools, trailheads) in your city and then save them to the largest searchable database of running routes in the country. America’s Running Routes currently has over 15,000 routes in the database to choose from.

If you would like to add your running route log on today!
If you are a hotel and would like to add your running route, click here.

HVCB Membership Resources:

Tourism Industry Update (TIU) Archive

2006 Industry Jargon

2006 Travel Trade Calendar

2006 CMI Trade Show Calendar

HVCB Membership Opportunities:

Kauai Japanese Link

Additional Link Opportunity
Kauai Visitors Bureau Japanese Link

Aloha HVCB Ohana on Kauai,

The Kauai Visitors Bureau Japanese website, jp.kauaidiscovery.com has welcomed over 29,000 Japanese speaking visitors wanting to learn more about Kauai. To date, the site has assisted Japanese visitors looking for information on Things to Do, Where to Eat, Shop, Golf, Places to Stay and More!

Produced by PacRim Marketing, links to the site can be found on the KVB English site www.kauaidiscovery.com as well as on www.hawaii-arukikata.com, the #1 Japanese website about Hawaii.

Member listings include:
· Company Name
· Address
· Phone and Fax Number
· Photo
· Company URL (English or Japanese - if available)
· Having Japanese text on your site is helpful, but not required

Program only available to Hibiscus (Standard Business) level members and above.

Please click here to download the Kauai Japanese Additional Link Application

If you wish to target the Japanese market and are not currently participating in the program, please consider this added-value service for $100 annually.

If you have any questions, please contact Gina Salvador at (808) 924-0231or via email at gsalvador@hvcb.org.

Maui Added Value Link

Additional Link Opportunity
Maui Honeymoon Accommodations & Family Activities

Aloha HVCB Ohana on Maui,

As an added-value member service, we are pleased to announce a newly created additional category link available to our business-level (Hibiscus and above) members. We are working in conjunction with the Maui Visitors Bureau to assist in the following categories:

• Honeymoon Accommodations

• Family Activities

Each link will be $100 annually and will enable you to craft a new description pertaining to the link opportunity you select for the www.visitmaui.com site.

Please click here to download the Maui Additional Link Application

We are delighted to offer our members an enhanced partnership program inclusive of e-marketing opportunities with the Maui Visitors Bureau.

If you have any questions, please contact Gina Salvador at (808) 924-0231or via email at gsalvador@hvcb.org.

HTA Marketing Contractors Update:

Hawaii Tourism Oceania

Visit USA Shows - A Huge Success

Hawaii Tourism Oceania, in conjunction with Hawaiian Airlines attended the Visit USA seminars in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in February and presented to
over 600 travel agents. The theme for this years events was 'Baseball' and everyone got into the spirit of the theme. We decided to take our own take on this theme
and while still aware that Baseball doesn't have cheerleaders, decided to bring some cheering to the event. Many agents visited the Hawaii stand in all cities and were encouraged to pick up one of the letters making up the word HAWAII. The HTO presentation consisted of a cheer using these letters, each representing something at the destination and all the agents joined in the cheer.

Scott Cammell from Hawaiian Air congratulates the winner of the Hawaii Aloha Home Run prize in Sydney

Thanks very much to Mike Story from HTA for organizing the cheer leading outfits which we added our own bit of ALOHA to. Thanks also to our partners Prince Resorts Hawaii, Ilima Hotel, ResortQuest Hawaii and Alamo Car Rental for donating prizes at the event.

Aloha Down Under 2006
Time is running out to register for our roadshow 'Aloha Down Under', taking place from the May 29 - June 2. We'd love to have as many Hawaiian suppliers as possible join us at the event. If you are unable to come down personally, please speak to Gemma O'Brien about being represented through the brochure racking option at all events. Gemma can be contacted at gobrien@hawaiitourism.com.au.

Hawaii Contractors Meeting:
HTO joined representatives from the other Hawaii Tourism Offices in Hawaii on Tuesday, March 21st at the Hawaii Convention Center. An update was presented on the Hawaii Oceania market as well as mention of future activites and opportunites. If you are interested in becoming more involved in the Hawaii Oceania market (New Zealand & Australia) please contact us.

For more information on Hawaii Toursim Europe please contact Gemma O'Brien at gobrien@hawaiitourism.com.au.

Hawaii Tourism Europe

Pan-European Sales Mission in summer 2006

Hawaii Tourism Europe will organize a Pan European Sales Mission. The Mission will start on Monday, July 10th in Frankfurt and will travel to Zurich, Paris, London and will finish on July 14th in Manchester. This Pan-European Hawaii Sales Mission will enable participants to meet key representatives from tour operators and wholesalers and to train Hawaii reservation staff in five cities within Europe's core markets.

In the course of just five fruitful days, you will have the chance to showcase your product Europe-wide - there's no more effective way to conquer the market! And the best of all is there will be no cost attached to participating in the Mission other than your travel costs.

For further information please contact Silvia Bisle at s.bisle@mangum.de or Louise Cole at Louisecole@hillsbalfour.com.

International Sales Division Hosts Europeans
During February, MVB's International Sales Division, headed by Director Tom Risko, welcomed travel agents and tour operators from Europe to the Magic Isle. Organized by Hawaii Tourism Europe in conjunction with Norwegian Cruise Line, the sales mission targeted Maui's four major resort communities including Kaanapali, Kapalua, Makena and Wailea. Attendees also shopped in Kihei and Lahaina and caught an evening performance of Maui's popular 'Ulalena at Maui Theatre. In an effort to further promote Maui Nui (Maui, Molokai and Lanai) internationally, MVB also participated in the ITB convention in Germany from March 8-12. In May 2006, MVB International Sales will also attend the Travel Industry Association's International Pow Wow in Orlando, Florida.

Annual California Media Blitz to Share "Malama Maui"
Heading a team of Maui Nui representatives, Director of Public Relations and Promotions Kelii Brown will share "Malama Maui -- Preserving Maui's Agricultural & Cultural Resources" during MVB's annual media blitz to Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco. The program, launched last year, focuses on three themes -- Hawaiian culture, agriculture and ecology of Maui Nui. The pr team will also share the latest news in romance, golf, outdoor recreation, the arts and family travel.

Celebration of the Arts Celebrates 14th Year
One of Hawaii's premiere cultural events, "Celebration of the Arts," welcomes its 14th anniversary April 14 - 16 at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. This year's theme, " Kukulu i Hooilina" or "Establish a Legacy" will pose a positive challenge to Na Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians), non-Hawaiian island residents and and our malihini (visitors) to contemplate their contributions toward a more positive future for the benefit of generations to come. Along with hands-on craft making and demonstrations, discussions will focus on the many challenges facing Hawaii's host culture including issues in the legal and political arena to topics ranging from health to spirituality. For more information, please call (800) 262-8440 or (808) 669-6200.

For more information on the Maui Visitors Bureau please visit www.gohawaii.com/maui or call
(808) 244-3530.

Oahu Celebrates the Arts & Culture in Hawaii
The 2006 Hawaii Arts Season has begun and OVB is working closely with the members of Arts with Aloha (AWA) to make sure that this year is a memorable one. Through e-mail promotions, enhancement of the OVB website to promote the arts & culture of Hawaii, advertorials in key publications from their first quarter plan, and media blitzes in cities such as Atlanta and Birmingham, OVB is working to bring awareness to the diverse art attractions in Hawaii.

OVB and the Arts with Aloha have also collaborated on the 2006 brochure on the arts & cultural venues on Oahu. This brochure is currently being distributed by various AWA members and with the help of AWA, more marketing is planned to help facilitate interest in the “hot happenings” of Oahu.

Media Get LOST on Oahu
Oahu plays host to an influx of media as OVB organizes press trips from North America and Japan. The “Get LOST on Oahu” press trip, from March 2-7, hosted eight media from North America that explored various little known parts of Oahu. From April 13-17, seven high-end Japanese publications will send editors on OVB’s “Arts & Culture” press trip to learn more about Oahu’s cultural character. These press trips will provide product knowledge, story angles and help educate the media on Oahu’s diversity.

This Just in… Updated Brochures and Maps
To encourage the prospective visitors decision to visit Oahu and to increase their appreciate of Oahu’s diversity, OVB has produced its 2006 Oahu Travel Planner and is in production of its Oahu Pocket Map - both will be distributed worldwide during OVB marketing activities. These collateral pieces join an Oahu arts & cultural brochure that was cooperatively produced with Arts With Aloha in December and an Oahu Golf Guide which was produced in collaboration with HVCB’s all-island Golf Guide.

Team Oahu Hits the Road Again in April
After a successful road trip in February, Team Oahu heads to the East Coast from April 3-7 on a whirlwind tour through Newark, Arlington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Sponsored by Apple Vacations, these seminars will provide the Oahu Destination Specialists with enhanced knowledge on how to recommend local favorites to their clients, along with an in-depth look at the “New Waikiki”, and finally educate them on the great things to do on Oahu.

For more information on the Oahu Visitor Bureau's please call (808) 524-0722, or visit them
online at www.gohawaii.com/oahu.

KVB and many of its members are receiving inquiries, especially from visitors planning trips here, about Kauai’s current state and how it affects their travel plans. To help with your responses, listed below are some of the most commonly asked questions and suggested answers to use as a guideline for your response.

Similar information will be posted on our website, KauaiDiscovery.com, and also distributed to the travel trade.

Question: I’m scheduled to visit Kauai in the next few weeks – should I still plan to go?
Answer: Absolutely, Kauai is open for business and expect to have a great time!

Question: Is Lihue Airport open and still have regular flights?
Answer: Yes. There has been no interruption of service at Lihue Airport. All incoming and
outgoing flights are operating normally.

Question: Are all the hotels on Kauai open for business?
Answer: Yes! All accommodations are open and welcome your business.

Question: Can I swim in the water when I come to Kauai?
Answer: As a general rule, the Department of Health advises people to stay out of the water
immediately after a storm due to health and safety concerns. It’s best to
check with your hotel concierge, outfitter or rental company before going in.

Question: Is this a normal amount of rain for March?
Answer: No! The heavy rainfall that Kauai has experienced this month is an extremely rare and
unusual occurrence.

Question: I heard the island was completely flooded – is that true?
Answer: No. In the Kilauea area of the north shore, there was a breach in the Ka Loko earthen
dam that caused isolated heavy flooding in this one area. The rest of the island is unaffected.

Question: Is there a chance this reservoir or other reservoirs could break?
Answer: State and county officials have assessed the reservoirs and deemed them safe. In addiiton, all reservoirs are being monitored on a continual basis.

Question: Where can I get more information about the weather on Kauai?
Answer: An excellent online source for up-to-date weather information is www.noaa.gov. Or
you can call the National Weather Service for regularly updated messages at 808-245-6001.

Question: Is there a phone number I can call anytime for visitor information?
Answer: Yes. Call 1-800-262-1400, the toll-free number for the Kauai Visitors Bureau.

Question: Is there a website where I can receive more information about Kauai?
Answer: Yes. Visit the Kauai Visitors Bureau’s website at: www.kauaidiscovery.com.

Mahalo,

Sue Kanoho
Executive Director
Kauai Visitors Bureau

For more information on the Kauai Visitors Bureau please visit: www.gohawaii.com/kauai or call (808) 245-3971.

International Sales Division Hosts Europeans
During February, MVB's International Sales Division, headed by Director Tom Risko, welcomed travel agents and tour operators from Europe to the Magic Isle. Organized by Hawaii Tourism Europe in conjunction with Norwegian Cruise Line, the sales mission targeted Maui's four major resort communities including Kaanapali, Kapalua, Makena and Wailea. Attendees also shopped in Kihei and Lahaina and caught an evening performance of Maui's popular 'Ulalena at Maui Theatre. In an effort to further promote Maui Nui (Maui, Molokai and Lanai) internationally, MVB also participated in the ITB convention in Germany from March 8-12. In May 2006, MVB International Sales will also attend the Travel Industry Association's International Pow Wow in Orlando, Florida.

Annual California Media Blitz to Share "Malama Maui"
Heading a team of Maui Nui representatives, Director of Public Relations and Promotions Kelii Brown will share "Malama Maui -- Preserving Maui's Agricultural & Cultural Resources" during MVB's annual media blitz to Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco. The program, launched last year, focuses on three themes -- Hawaiian culture, agriculture and ecology of Maui Nui. The pr team will also share the latest news in romance, golf, outdoor recreation, the arts and family travel.

For more information on the Molokai Visitors Association please visit www.gohawaii.com/molokai or call (808) 553-3876.

Aloha,

Please accept our invitation to a Big Island Visitors Bureau membership event that is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12, 2006 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Ballroom. This FREE event is open to all BIVB members and non-members interested in learning more!

There’s a lot happening on Hawaii’s Island of Adventure! This meeting is your opportunity to hear the latest news on BIVB’s 2006 marketing initiatives that can support your business. The BIVB directors, NEW public relations, advertising and website teams have some exciting cooperative opportunities to share, including advertising, direct mail, public relations, CMI and travel trade initiatives. Network with other BIVB members during the member tradeshow.

The Big Island Visitors Bureau is YOUR bureau and this is your chance to offer input on future plans, leverage your programs and get involved!

Please feel free to call Karen at (808) 961-5797, should you have any questions. We hope you will join us and thank you for your participation!

Mahalo,

George Applegate
Executive Director

Please click here to print out the RSVP form to register.

International Sales Division Hosts Europeans
During February, MVB's International Sales Division, headed by Director Tom Risko, welcomed travel agents and tour operators from Europe to the Magic Isle. Organized by Hawaii Tourism Europe in conjunction with Norwegian Cruise Line, the sales mission targeted Maui's four major resort communities including Kaanapali, Kapalua, Makena and Wailea. Attendees also shopped in Kihei and Lahaina and caught an evening performance of Maui's popular 'Ulalena at Maui Theatre. In an effort to further promote Maui Nui (Maui, Molokai and Lanai) internationally, MVB also participated in the ITB convention in Germany from March 8-12. In May 2006, MVB International Sales will also attend the Travel Industry Association's International Pow Wow in Orlando, Florida.

Annual California Media Blitz to Share "Malama Maui"
Heading a team of Maui Nui representatives, Director of Public Relations and Promotions Kelii Brown will share "Malama Maui -- Preserving Maui's Agricultural & Cultural Resources" during MVB's annual media blitz to Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco. The program, launched last year, focuses on three themes -- Hawaiian culture, agriculture and ecology of Maui Nui. The pr team will also share the latest news in romance, golf, outdoor recreation, the arts and family travel.

For more information on the Lanai Visitors Bureau please visit www.gohawaii.com/lanai or call
(808) 565-7600.

A Perfect Paradise Wedding , Ann Cecil Photography , BEN's Merchandise , Claude Onizuka , Hale Lanui – Maui , Hawaii Pacific Entertainment & Destination Management , Hawaiian Discount Car Rentals , Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Adventures , Island Divers Hawaii , Island Mopeds Rentals Inc. , Kaimana's Beach Hale , Loco Boyz Company Ltd. , Molokai Meli LLC , Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation , Nanea O Hale , Star Theme Partys, Inc. , Steve Slater Photography , X-Treme Parasail

We welcome your suggestions or comments on how to improve this communication vehicle, please contact Jerry Ishibashi .

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Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau - 2270 Kalakaua Avenue, 8th Floor, Honolulu, HI 96815