Aloha HVCB Ohana,

The year 2005 is already well documented as the best in the history of Hawaii tourism. By every measure, from numbers of arrivals, to occupancy, average daily rate and spending per person, we surpassed our collective goals. Phew!

Congratulations are in order for all concerned. The success of Hawaii tourism is truly a collaborative effort, a complex symphony that requires tremendous coordination and precision by all elements of the orchestra.

Can we stay on top of the mountain in 2006?

We believe this will be another good year, though the rate of growth will not be as strong as 2005 given the following caveats:

• Limited growth in air capacity will make it increasingly difficult for potential visitors to find air  

  seats to Hawaii. A modest increase from U.S. West in the first quarter is offset by a double-

  digit decline in seats from U.S. East. The result is an overall 0.1 percent decline.

• Hawaii is being challenged to offer increasingly high standards of service and product in 

  keeping with efforts to attract higher spending visitors. A dilemma exists in that the more  

  business we have, the more wear and tear on employees, facilities and community, and the

  tougher it becomes to please every customer.

• Much will depend upon the federal government’s domestic and foreign policies and their impact

  on the economy. A recent Travel Industry Association (TIA) Traveler Sentiment Index

  highlighted consumer concerns about the affordability of travel.

The bottom line: The TIA Annual Travel Forecast predicts leisure travel by U.S. residents will slip from the 4 percent jump in 2005 to a modest 2 percent gain in 2006. That’s not terrible news. Hawaii tourism has a strong competitive nature. We’ll keep our focus on improving that position in the year ahead.

Mahalo,

John Monahan
President/CEO

Aloha HVCB Ohana,

We're now in the final stages of the Update 2006 project. Mahalo to those of you who completed and returned your Marketing Content Update forms in the last few weeks. Although the deadlines have passed, if you haven't had a chance to return yours yet, we'll gladly accept it.

When we've completed entering the information from the returned forms, we'll begin working on the 2006 HVCB Membership Directory. Keep an eye on future Kahe Wales for an announcement on when it will be ready for release.

Those of you who received Marketing Content Update packets in the mail might have noticed that we've made some changes to our Invite-A-Friend program. Participation is now as easy as distributing your personalized Gift of Aloha $50 new membership discount coupons to your friends and business colleagues. When someone you've invited decides to join the HVCB, and returns your coupon, you'll receive a credit of $25 good towards your membership dues, upgrades, or added value services*.

The personalized coupons were initially distributed along with the Marketing Content Update forms. If you've made recent updates via the Member Online Update, and thus did not receive a mailed packet, we hope to introduce an online tool in the next week or two allowing members to create their coupons automatically at any time.

Until then, if you know of someone considering becoming an HVCB member, contact the Membership Department at (808) 924-0232, and we can manually create a coupon for you.

There is no limit to the amount of credit that you can receive*, so share the Gift of Aloha far and wide!

Mahalo,

Gina Salvador
Director, Membership

*To view the full terms and conditions of this program please click here.

In July 2005, Old Lahaina Luau launched a new Cultural Tour called Hoomanao. Held in the mornings at the oceanfront home of the Old Lahaina Luau, this new venue celebrates the rich host culture of the Hawaiian Islands.

Experience a glimpse into the history and traditions of Kanaka Maoli or Native Hawaiian. Hoomanao (ho-oh-ma-na-o), meaning, “to remember”, is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of an ancient culture that thrived on the most isolated Islands on earth.

Guests are greeted by our friendly hosts with Kukui Nut Lei and a Lauhala Fan. A lavish Breakfast Buffet was created by Executive Chef Lyndon Honda and features delicious items, such as, Kalua Pork Hash topped with Lomi-Lomi Salmon. During Breakfast an Oli or Chant will welcome everyone to this special morning followed by a Hula performance.

Then with sound of the Pu or conch shell guests will experience a choice of visiting three Kulana or Hawaiian Villages set-up along the oceanfront; Hula, Hawaiian Warfare and the Ahupuaa (ancient land division). Within each Kulana, guests will discover the fascinating history of early Hawaii, and may participate in interactive demonstrations, such as playing a Hula implement, poi pounding, kapa making, learning the art of “throw-net” fishing, Hawaiian spear throwing and much more. Each Kulana session will be presented 3 times throughout the morning.

In closing, the Hula Kahiko, ancient Hawaiian Hula, will be preformed for all to enjoy in this cultural celebration!

Hoomanao is available every Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 am – 11:30 am.

Advanced reservations are highly recommended. To make your reservations please call
(808) 667-1998 or toll-free at (800) 248-5828.

Tickets are $69.00, children under 12 years of age $49.00, plus tax.

For more information on Hoomanao, please contact Jamie DeBrunner, Director of Sales at
(808) 442-6627 or email jamie@oldlahainaluau.com.

2006 Hawaii's Walk for Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. The mission of the organization is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

America's Walk for Diabetes is held to raise awareness and money for diabetes research and educational programs for people affected by diabetes. This year, the Walk is being held on Saturday, March 18, 2006 at Kapiolani Park. The Walk starts at 8:00 a.m. Individuals and teams who have registered will come together to walk the 2.3 mile course and enjoy free entertainment.

Participants are encouraged to take charge of their health and start walking for a better tomorrow. Join Honorary Chair, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and the more than 1,500 participants from all walks of life who are making a difference in ADA's ongoing education, prevention and research efforts. With every step you take and every sponsor you sign up, you'll get a great workout while helping keep up the pace to beat this devastating disease. Small Steps. Big Rewards.

To register for the 2006 Walk for Diabetes please click here. If you have questions or need more information please contact Paige Bauer at (808) 947-5979.

The Membership Department P.O. Box address:

P.O. Box 8527
Honolulu, HI 96830-9985

IS NOW CLOSED

Please send all membership renewal and added-value service payments to HVCB’s corporate office:

Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
Attn: Membership Department
2270 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 801
Honolulu, HI 96815

A business reply envelope with the current mailing address listed above is provided with your initial invoice.

If you have questions about remitting your Membership payment(s), please call the Membership Department at (808) 923-181for assistance.

Membership payments may also be sent via HVCB’s secure fax line at: (808) 924-0284.

Hawaii's Aloha Academy is Launched at WTM

HTE's online travel agent training program, Hawaii's Aloha Academy was launched last month at World Travel Market in cooperation with Travel Weekly, the UK's leading travel trade publication. The online training program, which will be managed by Travel Weekly, is open to travel agents and operator reservations staff enabling them to become certified Hawaii Specialists.

The training program, which will be marketed to more than 15,000 travel agents across the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe will require participants to complete eleven different modules each with an end of module exam. A league table will track each participant's performance with top agents being invited on a special fam trip to Hawaii upon completion. To see what the Academy is all about please log onto www.travelweekly.co.uk. HTE would like to thank all sponsors for Hawaii's Aloha Academy.

HTE Agent Fam Trip Scheduled for April 2006

HTE is planning to run a fam trip for the 10 top scorers of Hawaii's Aloha Academy during the week of April 24, 2006 (depending on flight availability). In order to showcase the variety of the islands, the trip will visit Oahu, Maui and Kauai. We are currently looking for assistance with accommodation, inter-island flights and activities for the group so if you would like to assist with this visit please contact Mirjam Peternek at 020 7202 6386 or email her at mirjampeternek@hillsbalfour.com.

HTO will once again be hosting ‘Aloha Down Under’, a travel agents roadshow that incorporates events in Auckland (NZ), Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The event will take place from
May 29 - June 2, and this year AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo) takes place directly afterward from June 6-7 in Melbourne.

This represents a perfect opportunity for you to highlight your product to BOTH the leisure and CMI markets. Expressions of interest for ‘Aloha Down Under’ should be directed to Gemma O’Brien at gobrien@hawaiitourism.com.au. For more information on participating in AIME please contact Adele Tasaka, HVCB Senior Director of Accounts, CMI at atasaka@hvcb.org.

We look forward to an increased presence at both events.

"Student Ambassadors of Aloha" Pilot Program Debuts at Kahului Airport
In an effort to assure a seamless departure experience for island visitors, the Maui Visitors Bureau (MVB) in conjunction with the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association (MHLA), recently introduced the "Student Ambassadors of Aloha" program at Kahului Airport. High school students from Maui's Academy of Hospitality and Tourism (AOHT) have been trained and employed to guide departing visitors to appropriate check-in areas as they leave the Magic Isle.

The students provide friendly assistance along with welcoming smiles first directing mainland-bound visitors to the oft-forgotten agricultural inspection area as well as check-in or self-check-in kiosks. They also assist in securing porter service as needed.

"This is excellent exposure for students interested in the hospitality industry," said Terryl Vencl, executive director of MVB. "We firmly believe this has the potential of 'coming full circle' in that these students may one day be employed full-time by the organizations they are coming in contact with."

Ululani Correa, executive director, MHLA, added, "'Student Ambassadors of Aloha' offers participants a clearer understanding of the business partnerships involved. Maui's success has always been the fact that our industry, community and government leaders consistently support productive, worthwhile initiatives."

The pilot program is made possible with funding from the County of Maui and the Hawaii Tourism Authority and represents a partnership between MVB, HTA, MHLA, AOHT, the State of Hawaii Airports and Agriculture divisions and various airline partners.

For more information, please call the Maui Visitors Bureau at (808) 244-3530.

KVB's Director of Sales & Marketing Edie Hafdahl, CMP, CTC started off 2006 by sharing her aloha with meeting planners from various sectors of the meetings market. Edie's first stop for 2006 was Philadelphia, host city for the 50th annual Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) conference. Association executives from the healthcare, science, education, and engineering fields learned about the latest updates from Edie on Kauai as a location to hold future meetings.

Next stop for Edie will be Charlotte, North Carolina for the annual Meeting Professionals International Professional Education Conference (MPI-PEC). Edie will join HVCB, its island chapters, and Hawaii suppliers to showcase Hawaii as a premier meetings destination to top corporate meeting planners.

As part of the Kauai County tourism planning process, SMS Hawaii, in conjunction with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the County of Kauai is inviting the community to share its insights and ideas to assist in developing the Kauai County Tourism Strategic Plan.

Input may be provided one of three ways:

1. E-mail: kauai.smshawaii.biz

2. Postal Mail:
    SMS Hawaii
    Attn: Jan Snyder
    1042 Fort Street Mall, Suite 200
    Honolulu, HI 96813

3. Phone:
    1(877) 535-5767
    Ask for Jan Snyder to share your ideas by phone.

Please provide input by January 31, 2006

For more information, you can access the Kauai Island Strategic Plan Community website at http://kauai.smshawaii.biz.

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