Tourism

Photo by Norman Shapiro of CBS

Battleship Missouri Screens Special ‘Five-0’ Episode

Hawaii Star Wire Comment
Starting this Saturday, December 7 through December 13, visitors to the Battleship Missouri Memorial will enjoy a special sneak preview of the ‘Hawaii Five-0’ episode that will later air nationwide on Friday, December 13, 9PM ET/PT, on the CBS Television Network. Titled ‘Ho‘onani Makuakane’ (‘Honor Thy Father’), the episode focuses on the attempted murder of a Pearl Harbor veteran that leads ‘Five-0’ to use decades old evidence to investigate a deadly crime committed within the internment camps holding Americans of Japanese ancestry on Oahu during World War II. A remembrance ceremony using actual World War II veterans was filmed at the Battleship Missouri Memorial. The ‘Hawaii Five-0’ episode in its entirety will be projected onto a large video screen in the Missouri’s educational classroom, which is air-conditioned and located one deck below the main deck next to the Mess Hall. [...]

Polynesian Cultural Center marks 50th year

Hawaii Star Wire 1
Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) opened and began a new venture highlighting the peoples and cultures of Polynesia through entertainment, arts, education, and personal interaction. It was October 14, 1963, when the PCC welcomed its first guests. Today, more than 37 million guests later, the PCC continues to thrive on Oahu’s North Shore as the only cultural tourist attraction of its kind in the world. [...]

Battleship Missouri expands access during shutdown

Hawaii Star Wire Comment
Starting Friday, October 4, the Battleship Missouri Memorial will begin offering special tour access in response to the federal government shutdown and subsequent closure of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, including a free interpretative tour experience from its pier of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. “We want to ensure continued access for our guests to see the Mighty Mo, while also supporting the expectations of visitors who came here to see the USS Arizona Memorial,” said Michael A. Carr, President and COO of the Battleship Missouri Memorial. “Our pier offers the best possible vantage point from land and our tour guides will provide a very informative presentation about the USS Arizona Memorial and its place in our nation’s history.” [...]
Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines upgrades in-flight meals, hospitality

Hawaii Star Wire 1
In the first comprehensive redesign of its domestic onboard service product in more than a decade, Hawaiian Airlines has cemented its signature ‘Mea Ho‘okipa Service’ as the gold standard in domestic air travel and the only authentic Hawaii experience in air travel. Hawaiian’s ‘Mea Ho‘okipa’ (translation: I am host) inflight service philosophy has long been embraced by travelers for its celebration of the culture, people and Aloha Spirit of Hawaii. Reintroduced August 1 on all flights between Hawaii and its 11 gateway cities in North America, Hawaiian has taken its acclaimed inflight service and made it even more enjoyable with enticing new made-in-Hawaii products, Island-style complimentary meals and improved service offerings. The new program was inspired by customer feedback, solicited by Hawaiian to further align its service with the things that customers value most in onboard service and amenities. [...]
Photo from EditionHotels.com

Waikiki Edition Hotel owner sues Marriott

Hawaii Star Wire 1
The owner of the Waikiki Edition Hotel in Honolulu has filed a lawsuit against Marriott International Inc. and boutique hotelier Ian Schrager, claiming that the hotel has been a failure due to gross mismanagement and Marriott’s inability to successfully launch the Edition brand. The lawsuit seeks tens of millions of dollars in damages and the right to terminate the agreement with Marriott, the operator of the 353-room hotel. [...]
Queen Kapiolani Hotel | CC Photo by Wally Gobetz

Aqua relaunches Queen Kapiolani Hotel

Hawaii Star Wire 1
Aqua Hotels & Resorts, a full-service Hawaii hotel management company, announced the addition of the 312-room Queen Kapiolani Hotel to its Waikiki portfolio. “Aqua’s Hawaii-based roots and leadership role in marketing unique hotels to visitors is an excellent fit for what we have been seeking to re-establish the Queen Kapiolani,” said Wayne Williams of YHB Hospitality Group. [...]