Everyone is relieved to see Hawaii's climate back to normal following the extended bad weather that caused flooding, road closures, sewage spills and beach closures.

It's been a challenging time and our hearts go out to those families personally touched by the tragic events of these unusual conditions.

While there's no question our visitors would have preferred sunny skies to pouring rain, many experienced what we have often said…that there's a lot more to do in Hawaii beyond the beach.

Our hats go off to the hotels, airlines, and activities and attractions operators who performed wonderfully for our guests in very trying situations. It seems the absence of sunshine was amply filled by an abundance of aloha.

Kauai felt the worst of the storm that received national attention with the breaching of Ka Loko reservoir. The storm spread its punch to Oahu and media attention shifted from weeks of record rainfall to the Ala Wai sewage spill that closed Waikiki Beach.

Throughout this crisis, HVCB kept our future visitors informed of the situation through our call center and web site. In addition we maintained a continual dialog with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Governor's Tourism Liaison, wholesalers, travel agents, and travel and consumer news media.

The key question: At what point do we in marketing the destination feel comfortable in telling the world that the bad weather had passed and our beaches are safe? The well being of our visitors is of paramount concern and any premature announcement could have damaged Hawaii's integrity.

In mid-April, following several days of extended sunshine, and all major beaches declared open by the State Department of Health, HVCB began its program of communicating to the public that Hawaii had returned to normal.

As we look back on this experience, it's clear that activities and attractions operators lost business, especially on Kauai and Oahu. Fortunately, the destination did not experience widespread cancellations of airline and hotel bookings. In fact, when adjusted for Spring Break, March showed strong results and preliminary figures indicate April arrivals could be a record for the month.

The world has been quick to forgive us nature's stormy weather, but not so the shortcomings of wastewater systems that are susceptible to polluting our pristine waters. Business, government, community and environmental interests must join together to remediate these weaknesses in due haste, or risk greater consequences if this scenario were to be repeated.

Mahalo,

John Monahan
President/CEO

Domestic air seats are projected to increase 1.9 percent, while international air seats are forecasted to decline 9.3 percent between April and June, compared to the same period last year, according to a Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) analysis of OAG flight schedules:

• Scheduled non-stop air seats to Hawaii from the U.S. West are projected to reach nearly 1.6 million during the three-month rolling air service forecast, up 4.9 percent over prior-year levels. This increase is in large part due to the addition of America West service from Las Vegas (to Kahului) and Phoenix (toHonolulu, Kahului, Kona, and Lihue); and Delta service from Salt Lake City.

• Scheduled air seats from the U.S. East are projected to decrease 10.7 percent between April and June. Significant drops are expected to be seen from Houston (-33.0%) and Minneapolis (-40.1%), the MMA’s fourth and fifth largest gateways, respectively. The U.S. East’s largest
gateway, Chicago will experience a nominal decline in air seats (-0.5%), while the second
largest gateway, Atlanta, will see a 14.8 percent boost in air seat capacity as Delta started
new service to Kahului.

The forecast does not include new daily non-stop service between Oakland and Hilo, beginning April 27th on ATA Airlines.

Click here to view U.S. Domestic Air Seats Growth Trends (Actual vs. Projected)

Visit HVCB's official research website at www.hvcb.org/trends for the latest in HVCB market research and analysis or call (808) 923-1811 for the Market Trends Department.

We also work in partnership with local non-profit organizations to inspire our guests to become better corporate citizens and understand the benefits and rewards of giving back to the islands through our Community Enrichment programs. We have created uplifting and stimulating teambuilding experiences that allow guests to give back, not only with corporate donations, but also more importantly with personal contributions of time and effort from each participant. Our programs focus on restoration and preservation projects that protect the coastline, wetlands and our marine life, as well as Hawaiian culture and history and the people of our communities who are in need.

Our vision is to create a meaningful experience that is about people helping people, while working to preserve and care for these beautiful islands. We offer programs for any size group and provide guests with enriching, uplifting and unique experiences that they will remember and cherish forever.

For more information on Brilliant Voices please visit us online at www.brilliantvoices.com or call (808) 572-1089.

The University of Hawaii’s Pacific Asian Management Institute (PAMI) invites business leaders and members of the community to participate in its free Pacific Asian Lecture Series (PALS). These weekly lectures are open to the public nearly every Tuesday between May 30 – August 1 at the UH Manoa College of Business Administration.

PALS lectures feature experts on international business and cover a broad spectrum of current topics affecting the global business environment. This annual series allow students, faculty and members of the community to interact with experts in international business and entrepreneurship. Additional information and updated schedule is available at http://pami.hawaii.edu/lectures.

For those interested pursuing the study of international business, PAMI is also offering its popular certificate program in International Management and International Entrepreneurship. Courses for the summer certificate program have been carefully selected to meet changing global industry demands. In addition to its Asia-Pacific focus, this summer PAMI will offer courses in Sports & Entertainment Management, Legal Aspects of Sports & Entertainment Management, New Venture Management, International Operations Management, Services Principles and Management, and Creativity in Marketing. To earn the PAMI Certificate, students complete either three PAMI summer courses or two summer courses and one related area studies or language course. The course work for the certificate in International Management includes marketing, finance, accounting, business economics as well as courses in Asian languages or Asian studies. Students and business professionals of all backgrounds and disciplines are invited to the program, and the goal is to introduce students to the study of international business related to their current or potential careers. The International Entrepreneurship certificate focuses on venture capital, financing and business plan development. For additional program information and a complete course listing, visit http://pami.hawaii.edu/programs.

For 28 years, the Pacific Asian Management Institute (PAMI) has brought people together from countries around the world to study and exchange ideas on international business. Ideally situated at the crossroads between east and west, PAMI has gained worldwide recognition as one of the top international management and business education programs in the U.S.

For more information on the PAMI program call (808) 956-8041 or visit http://pami.hawaii.edu.

Island Chapter Update:
Maui Visitors Bureau

International Festival of Canoes Descends on Lahaina
Lahaina's cultural showcase, the "International Festival of Canoes," is slated for May 13 - 27. Founded in 1998, the festival has rapidly become internationally-acclaimed, honoring Polynesia and providing a link to indigenous peoples across the Pacific. Featuring an annual line-up of master carvers and artisans from Polynesia and the Pacific rim, this event brings together and honors cultures who share a symbiotic relationship to the Pacific Ocean. The two-week festival follows the development of canoe from tree to sea. But it also presents a unique opportunity to explore the arts, music, and dances of a variety of island cultures. For more information, call (808) 667-9175 or info@mauicanoefest.com

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

Island Chapter Update:
Kauai Visitors Bureau

Waimea Lauded as Distinctive Destination
Waimea, Kauai was honored with the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations 2006" award at a ceremony at Waimea Plantation Cottages on March 7, 2006. The national award has been presented to 12 communities each year since CY 2000 and Waimea, Kauai is the first community in Hawaii to be honored. Aletha Kaohi, Director of the West Kauai Visitor and Technology Center and a Hui O Laka trustee, accepted the national award with gratitude for community efforts to preserve Waimea's history.

Kauai Polynesian Festival
The Kamanawa Foundation presents its 6th annual Kauai Polynesian Festival on May 25-28, 2006. The Kauai Polynesian Festival begins with a Polynesian pageant and dinner on May 25 at
6 p.m. at the Sheraton Kauai Resort. Cost ranges from $50-$65 per person. Join us May 26-28 from 12 noon through the evening at the Vidinha Stadium soccer field (Lihue) for Polynesian entertainment, crafts, dance competitions, food, and more. Entrance fee is $15 for three days or $8/day. For information, contact Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza at (808) 335-6466 or www.kauaipolynesianfestival.org.

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

Molokai Celebrates 15th Annual Ka Hula Piko Festival
Join Molokai as to celebrate the 15th Annual Ka Hula Piko Festival at Papohaku Beach Park, Kaluakoi, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event celebrates Molokai as the "birthplace of hula" and admission is free. The celebration will feature a variety of local entertainment, Hawaiian and local foods and hand made crafts by the people of Molokai. A series of lectures will be presented by Kumu John Kaimikaua and Halau Hula O Kukunaokala beginning Thursday, May 18 and Friday May 19 at 7 p.m. For more information, please call the Molokai Visitors Association at
(808) 553-3876.

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

Aloha & Welcome New Members to the HVCB Ohana
ABC Hawaii Activities , Aloha Holidays , Ask a Librarian , Beachside Hostel Waikiki , Big Island ESL & Culture Center, LLC , Brilliant Voices , Contemporary Flavors, Inc , Denise's Gifts of the Islands , Endless Sunset House , Euro USA , Golf Villa at Kapalua Resort, Maui , Halawa Falls Cultural Hike , Hale Kealoha , Hawaii Meeting Builders , Hawaii Wedding Planners , HawaiiSpeakers.net: Hawaii's Speakers Bureau , Hilo Coffee Mill , Honu Kai Villas , Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii , Kapila Ginger Gardens "Little Hana" , Kauai North Shore Limousine & Tours , KMH LLP , Kuhio Shores Oceanfront Condominiums , Maui Coast Condo , Maui Photography , Maui'd Forever , Molokai Photo , My Hawaiian Holiday , Naniloa Volcanoes Resort , Natural Nails by Mimi , Pacific Islands Institute , South Pacific Tattoo Co. , Surfing Goat Dairy , The Friends of the Palace Theater , The Royal Mauian , V.I.P. Car Rental , Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii , WineandDineHawaii.com


Mahalo for your Continued Support & Participation
Members who renewed in March/April 2006.