New
Stamps Show Life on a Pacific Reef
WAIKIKI, Jan. - More than 30 sea creatures are shown on a
panoramic sheet of stamps released today by the U.S. Postal Service
at a ceremony at Honolulu's Waikiki Aquarium. Postmaster General
John E. Potter introduced the new Pacific Coral Reef pane of 10
stamps to an enthusiastic audience. The stamps are available at
Honolulu Post Offices today and at Post Offices in other areas of
the country beginning tomorrow....
Hawaiian
Airlines To Add
Second
Daily Seattle Flight, March 1
HONOLULU, Jan. 20 -- It will be twice as easy for
Seattle-area residents to get to
Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines starting March 1, when Hawaiiıs largest
airline increases its nonstop flights between Seattle and Honolulu
to twice daily.
Hawaiianıs new Flight 23 will depart Seattle daily at 11:05
a.m. and arrive in Honolulu at 3:20 p.m. Return Flight 24 will
depart Honolulu at 4:00 p.m. and arrive in Seattle at 11:30 p.m.
Outrigger
Waikiki Nears Completion
of
Milestone Renovation
WAIKIKI, Jan. 20
- The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, fronting a prized stretch of
Waikiki beach, has reached a significant milestone in its $18
million renovation by completing the last remaining 105 guest rooms
and its expansive lobby.
Now, the hotel's entire 530-room inventory has been renovated
with a contemporary design decor of tropical elegance. Nearly $15
million was spent on room renovations, which included all 500
guestrooms, 30 oceanfront suites and all public corridors throughout
the 15-floor beachfront hotel.
In addition to the work done in the guestrooms, the hotel's
upper lobby also received a $3 million facelift. The 18,000 square
foot lobby now features an expansive exhibit showcase for
museum-quality artifacts to complement the existing Herb Kane wall
mural, Polynesian voyaging chart and century-old Kaukahi koa canoe
that already serve as focal points in the lobby.
New levels of service are being introduced with the unveiling
of the renovations. Arriving guests are now treated to
Waikiki
's only sit-down check-in, a relaxing change for travel-weary guests.
Beginning in March, a full-time Aloha Ambassador will roam the lobby
to offer assistance and answer questions. All rooms now include two
phone lines.
The renovations, which began in September 2002, included
replacing carpeting, wall coverings, fabrics, and furnishings with
rich dark wood, natural textures and deep tropical colors and
patterns throughout the property. Nostalgic Hawaiian images,
tropical-themed custom artwork and historical photos of
Waikiki
are
used throughout the hotel to recapture the heritage of the land
where this property is located.
Fifteen special oceanfront rooms were specially outfitted
with oversized "oceanview" bathtubs located just off the
bedroom. Dark tropical wood furnishings are accented with shutters
and woven insets. The dark hardwoods, blended with rich green
taro-leaf patterns, reflect the colors of nearby
Manoa
Valley
, the water source that irrigated
Waikiki
's
former taro fields. To this day, the Apuakehau Stream runs under the
hotel into the waters of
Waikiki
.
The third phase of the renovation is expected to be completed
by April 2004, with the refurbishment of the hotel's three existing
meeting rooms as well as the addition of a new 800-square-foot
meeting room and a new 700-square-foot business center fully
equipped with computers, printers and copy machines. A new oceanview
restaurant, expected to open by July 1, will cap the Outrigger
Waikiki's multi-million dollar renovation.
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