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Don't Miss New Year's Eve Fireworks
If you will be on Kauai December 31st, don't miss this annual tradition. Fireworks can be seen at Poipu Beach Park beginning at 10pm. The event is free and open to the public. Limited parking is available. Hoone Road, which is the road that runs along the beach in front of Brennecke's, will be closed between 9pm and 11pm.
Volunteer for the Sanctuary Ocean Count 2008
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is now registering volunteers for the shore based census and monitoring of humpback whale behavior at 15 designated sites around Kauai.
The project provides a relative approximation of numbers and location distribution patterns over the years. Training is required for all new volunteers; optional for returning volunteers.
Ocean Count dates are January 26th, February 23rd and March 29th. Training dates are January 12th and 19th, February 16th and March 22nd. Please call 808-246-2860
for detailed information on training and count times and locations.
Aloha Airlines Announces New Gift Ticket
This holiday season you can purchase a round-trip gift ticket using a new concept in travel-- The Aloha Airlines Gift Ticket. Purchase one or more gift tickets online and they will send you an e-ticket confirming your order and naming the passenger you choose.
You can forward that e-mail with the attached e-ticket. The person named on the ticket then calls Aloha Reservations directly to book travel from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.
Choose from a $500 round trip coach ticket or $1700 first class ticket for travel between any Aloha Airlines destination on the Mainland and Hawaii. Also available are interisland tickets for $120 good for round trip travel between any two Aloha destinations in Hawaii. Visit alohaairlines.com for details and online purchase.
Leave a Lei, Return to Kauai
The Grand Hyatt recently placed a pohaku (stone) near Tidepool's Restaurant
between the beach and the lagoon. This is a spot where guests can leave their lei before returning home, in hopes they will one day return to Kauai. The suggestion was made by Les Nagashima, a long-time employee of Tidepool's. The tradition that returning a lei to Hawaii ensures a visitors return to the islands, was taught to him by his father.
Kauai Hotel Occupancy Still on the Rise
For the week ending November 17, occupancy rates on Kauai were up 16.3 percentage points from the same time last year, giving Kauai a 76.4 percent occupancy rate year to date.
Statewide hotel occupancy was down 2.7 percentage points, while room rates on all islands went up 10% to $196 per hotel room night. Kauai hotel room rates were up 8% to $202 per night. This information was obtained by Hospitality Advisors and Smith Travel Research.
Poipu Roundabout Construction
In an earlier issue of FYI, we passed along the convention wisdom regarding the new bypass road and roundabout in Poipu. The statement was "Roadway work for the first phase of the Poipu Road improvements near the Koloa Fire Station will begin on April 16th and continue for about 5 months." Well, it should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the islands, that we are now seven months into the project and are at least another month to completion. Judging from the landscaping that has been completed, it looks like the final result will be first class. | 
