Hawaii roundup: Hotel occupancy hits new low; possible Waikiki Beach smoking ban; Maui Whale Festival in February

Have you put off your vacation plans to Hawaii this year? If so, you’re not the only one. The tourism industry in the state has been ailing due to, among other reasons, fewer visitor arrivals from our deeply recession-affected California.

For those who can spend on a Hawaii trip, this is a superb time to go, what with rampant deals on hotels and airfare. Keep reading for a couple of news tidbits as well as info on Maui’s festive salute to the whale:

Tourism | Hawaii’s hotel occupancy rate in December was, at nearly 61%, “the lowest level since just after the September 2001 terrorist attacks,” according to an Associated Press report on Forbes.com. That’s just one indication of a beleaguered tourism industry in the state, in the midst of a “slump” that may not start to recover until 2010. Read this Honolulu Star Bulletin article for more.

Waikiki news | It’s looking like Waikiki Beach, in Honolulu, is headed toward being a smoke-free stretch of sand. A bill that made progress in the state Legislature this week would prohibit lighting up cigarettes on the popular beach. Read “Bill to ban smoking on beach advances” in the Honolulu Advertiser.

Festival | Throughout February, the nonprofit Pacific Whale Foundation is hosting the Maui Whale Festival, a series of events in honor of a welcome visitor this season, the humpback whale. A few highlights: On Saturday, Feb. 21, the Parade of Whales will color the streets of Kihei in the morning, while the music-filled Whale Day Celebration running all day in Kihei’s Kalama Park will feature music, food, displays and kids’ activities. The Great Whale Count, on various shorelines in Maui, is planned for Saturday, Feb. 28.

- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Waikiki Beach by Toni Salama / Chicago Tribune]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 2:00 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under Festival, Hawaii, Hotels, Islands & Beaches, Maui, News, Tips & Advice, Oahu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.