Hawaiian Airlines is saying aloha to its 16th destination on the U.S. mainland.
13.11.2023 - 23:47 / forbes.com
The world watched – and mourned – as wildfires destroyed the town of Lahaina, Maui back on that fateful day of August 8. And many surrounding areas, including Kula. But thankfully, there are many areas of Maui that were completely untouched. If you’re considering going on vacation or planning a Christmas holiday in the next few months, make sure to consider Maui, with its inimitable beaches – and famous rainbows.
The upscale resort area of Wailea, for example, in south Maui, is one area that has continued to remain pristine and open for visitors. One of the area’s crown jewels is the Wailea Beach Resort. With warm aloha, it continues to welcome visitors to its doors – and especially so with the holiday season coming up. (More on that in a minute. Now, I’ve only done an informal survey – but three out of three wise men agree that a holiday trip to Maui would be just the ticket.)
We recently visited for a few days, after the wildfires.
Angela Vento, General Manager, told me: “We continue to offer extraordinary experiences and one-of-a-kind amenities delivered with the same aloha spirit and service excellence that Wailea Beach Resort is renowned for.”
The Wailea Beach Resort is the flagship luxury property that’s part of the Marriott Bonvoy family of brands in Hawaii. It’s one of the top Marriott Bonvoy redemption stays in the world among its members. Yet you don’t see any “Marriott” signage anywhere on property. That’s because this Maui property is very distinctive. This posh property is markedly different in that it offers you an upscale, authentic Maui experience – and one that inspires scores and scores of repeat guests, year after year. The resort prides itself on its credo of being surgically clean, having surroundings in like-new condition, and seeking excellence in all that it does. It really doesn’t matter if you’re on a honeymoon, just on vacation, celebrating an anniversary, or having fun with your family – “We have the place for you,” says Ms. Laurie Garzon, Director of Sales and Marketing.
To illustrate the wide variety of activities options and expansiveness of this property, there are six pools spread in four distinct locations on the resort’s 22 acres. The newest, most glamorous and pristine pool anywhere is the brand new Olakino pool (“Olakino” means “health and vitality”), an unparalleled adults-only wellness sanctuary featuring personalized service from Po'e Mālamas (translated as ‘one who takes care’) and elevated wellness and culinary offerings, all included in a private poolside setting.
The first white-glove experience of its kind in Maui, Olakino is framed by tropical greenery and centered around an infinity-edge saline pool that peers out to the Pacific with in-water chaise
Hawaiian Airlines is saying aloha to its 16th destination on the U.S. mainland.
Hawaii is looking for ways to help those displaced by the Lahaina wildfire in August, and Maui mayor Richard Bissen has proposed tax incentives to turn short-term rentals into long-term housing.
One way or another, you probably won’t be renting an Airbnb or VRBO on Maui anytime soon.
The top U.S. airlines and airports improved upon their Thanksgiving on-time performance this year compared to 2022.According to the latest analysis from leading global travel data provider OAG, the on-time performance of major U.S. airlines improved by one percentage point over last year's holiday, reaching 85.7 percent.OAG examined the on-time performance of all airports and airlines on Thanksgiving Eve (November 22), which is one of the busiest travel days of the year. In 2023, airlines and airports overcame not only crowds but weather disruptions to improve upon last year.According to OAG, nearly 18,400 flights arrived on time—within 15 minutes of the scheduled time—among the major U.S. carriers on November 22. Two airlines—Delta Air Lines (91.5 percent) and United Airlines (90.5 percent)—even achieved over 90 percent on-time performance across their domestic networks.Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines also saw improvements over last year, with on-time performance rates of 89.4 percent and 89.3 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, fifth-ranked Southwest Airlines reported a dip from 88.5 percent in 2022 to 86.9 percent in 2023.American Airlines (84.4 percent), Allegiant Air (84.2 percent), Frontier Airlines (76.2 percent) and Breeze Airways (62.3 percent) all improved upon last year while Sun Country Airlines (84.8 percent), JetBlue (64.8 percent), Spirit Airlines (61.7 percent) and Cape Air (33 percent) all lost ground compared to Thanksgiving Eve 2022.
Traveling during the holidays is stressful enough and every little obstacle along the way can feel amplified. While many factors can play a part in flight interruptions and delays, a new study by Upgraded Points takes a look back at nearly a decade of historical data spanning 2014 to 2022 to find out which airports tend to have the best and worst track records for punctuality during the holiday season.
With a design reflecting a voyaging canoe and honoring the Hawaiian culture, the state-of-the-art. Aloha Garden Pavilion is set to help meetings and events sail to success
Sometimes the best food critics are everyday diners and food enthusiasts. And OpenTable’s 2023 list of Top 100 Restaurants in America does just that.
Luxury and expedition cruise line, Seabourn, is offering a new World Cruise for 2026, a 129-day voyage onboard the Seabourn Sojourn that visits fourteen different countries, called the “Ring of Fire: Hidden Gems,” available for booking now.
Alaska Airlines has launched a pair of warm-weather getaways just as the winter weather approaches.
Safety is a top concern for many when choosing where to travel — a consideration that carries even more importance given the current landscape in the Middle East with the Israel-Hamas war and the U.S. State Department’s worldwide caution travel advisory. To help pinpoint safe countries for travel in 2024, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has published its “Safest Destinations” report for the ninth year in a row. The report ranks both the top safety countries and the top safest cities globally.
Not all islands are created equal. Some people may believe one speck of sand is the same in the Maldives as one in Indonesia or that the pitons in St. Lucia are close enough to Mount Otemanu in Bora Bora. Still others may assume all of Hawaii’s 137 islands, including the eight large ones, are alike. If there’s one thing my travel has proved, it’s that islands are vastly distinct. Among those in Hawaii, Kauai, the oldest of them all in the region, is the prize place.
Back in 1990, I had the privilege of attending the opening of the beautiful Grand Wailea Resort on Maui. I had dreamed, as a kid, of perhaps someday visiting Hawaii – and there I was, on my first trip, greeted by gorgeous grandeur, the likes of which I had never seen before. I was a Contributing Editor to The Robb Report magazine at the time, and the press trip was a “wow” every step of the way. The resort’s owner at the time had spent about a million dollars to bring in journalists just for a weekend. All invited travel journalists were given convertibles to drive, taken on snorkel sails to Molokini, trips to Haleakala, received spa treatments galore, and dined on ever-present – and perfect – food and beverage. My experience was, in a word, as spectacular as the resort itself.