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Hale Pohaku, Hotel & Car Rental Information

Accommodation and General Travel Information

Please note that the JAC Secretaries WILL NOT make vacation-related hotel bookings or vehicle rentals. They will make overnight bookings in Honolulu for observers ONLY if your flights require that you must stay overnight, or in transit to or from Hale Pohaku. Observers are responsible for making any additional hotel bookings on their own, or through a travel agent.

NOTE:  All hotel rates are subject to a 11.4% combined state and room tax, and are subject to change without notice.

New Item:

Smoking

As of 16 November 2006, the new Hawaii smoking law prohibits smoking in public workplaces, and within 20 feet of any entrance. This may apply to the hotel at which you will be staying. See

http://www.hawaii.gov/health/healthy-lifestyles/tobacco/Smoke-Free-Law.htm

for summaries and links to the law itself.

HOTELS ON OAHU

NOTE:  Most hotels will charge higher rates during peak seasons, such as Christmas/New Years holidays and the Honolulu Marathon.
  • Ohana Honolulu Airport Hotel                       $129-159 per night*  (newly renovated)  (2008 rate)
  • Best Western Plaza Hotel                           $119-149 per night*
* Both hotels are located near the Honolulu International Airport and provide free 24-hour shuttle service to/from the hotel/airport.
  • Ala Moana Hotel                                         Kona Tower Room
          410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu                       $129 per night

The Ala Moana Hotel is adjacent to Ala Moana Shopping Centre and is 7 miles from the airport.
  • Hokele Suites Waikiki                                 Studio
         412 Lewers Street                                        $85-115 per night

The Hokele Suites is located within a 20-minute walk to Waikiki Beach and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
  • Queen Kapiolani Hotel                                 Superior Room
    150 Kapahulu Avenue, Waikiki                     $76-96 per night
The Queen Kapiolani Hotel is located at the far end of Waikiki, one-half block from Waikiki Beach, the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium.
  • Ocean Resort Hotel                                     Moderate Ocean View Room
    175 Paoakalani Avenue, Waikiki                   $80-100 per night
The Ocean Resort Hotel is located at the far end of Waikiki, one block from Waikiki Beach, the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium.
  • Maile Sky Court                                           Standard Room
          2058 Kuhio Avenue, Waikiki                          $89 per night

The Maile Sky Court is located within a 20-minute walk to Waikiki Beach and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
  • Ohana Waikiki Malia                                    Standard Room
    2211 Kuhio Avenue, Waikiki                          $99 per night
The Ohana Waikiki Malia is located within a 15-minute walk to Waikiki Beach and a 10-minute walk to the DFS Galleria duty-free shopping, International Market Place, and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
  • Ohana Waikiki West                                    Standard Room
          2330 Kuhio Avenue                                      $109 per night

The Ohana Waikiki West  is a 10-minute walk to Waikiki Beach, the International Market Place and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
  • Aqua Honolulu Prince Hotel                          Standard Room
          415 Nahua Street, Waikiki                            $83 per night ($95+ during holiday and peak periods)

The Honolulu Prince is located in the middle of Waikiki, near the International Marketplace and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center; 10 miles from the Honolulu International Airport.

HOTELS IN HILO

Hilo Bay Hotel  (Uncle Billy's)                                  $69 per night (ground floor), $74 (upper floors)*

Hilo Hawaiian Hotel                                                 $95   (Internet access available in some guest rooms for additional charge; please specify when requesting reservation)*

* Both above hotels are located on Banyan Drive.

Hilo Seaside                                                          $84 per night (superior room)
(Located just off of Banyan Drive; location not as convenient as above two other hotels)

Note:  As of February 1, 2006, the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort (formerly Hawaii Naniloa Resort), is under new ownership.  We no longer have a corporate account with them and are thus unable to get discounted rates.  If you wish to make a reservation at this hotel, you must do so on your own.

*Please take note that the Merrie Monarch Festival takes place in Hilo the week after Easter, and it is not possible to secure a local hotel room during the period from 26 through 29 March 2008.

Distances between Hilo Airport, the hotels on Banyan Drive and the JAC:

Hilo Airport to Hotels  =  3 miles
Hotels to JAC            =  4 miles
JAC to Hilo Airport     =  5 miles


HOTELS IN KONA

(Only for those arriving to/departing from the Big Island via Kona)

Kona Bay Hotel  (Uncle Billy's)                             $74 per night  ($79 on Fridays and Saturdays)

Kona Seaside                                                     $74 per night ($84 superior room)

King Kamehameha Hotel                                      $90 per night  ($95 on Fridays and Saturdays)
(undergoing renovations starting Spring 2008)

ARRIVE VIA HILO OR KONA:

It is strongly recommended that you arrive/depart via Hilo.  If your flights require that you arrive/depart via Kona, you have three options to travel between Kona and Hilo:
1) Hire Car  - Cost and details explained below
2) Island Air -  Currently there is only one flight daily from Kona to Hilo and return.  The cost is approximately $20 each way.  You would have to make these arrangements yourself. Details can be found at the airline website:  http://www.islandair.com
3) Hele-On bus - There are two buses daily between Kona and Hilo which are currently free of charge. Please see the mass transit web page at http://www.hawaii-county.com/mass_transit/transit_main.htm. The buses stop close to the JAC in the UH Hilo campus.

HIRE CAR

(On the Big Island)                                              Automatic Compact Car w/Air Conditioning
AVIS Rent-a-Car                                                 $32.00 per day  ($36.00 for mid-size; $41.00 for full-size)  Unlimited Mileage

Renter must present a major credit card (not a debit card) and a valid driver's license at time of vehicle pick up. The above hire car rate (based on a 24-hour rental-period) is subject to a taxable $.60 Vehicle Licensing Fee per day, an 8.10% Hilo/Kona Airport Concession Fee, a 4.166% state excise tax, a $3 transportation tax per day, and optional Loss Damage Waiver insurance of ~ $22.95 per day. There is no "drop fee"  to pick the vehicle up in Kona and return in Hilo or vice-versa.


HALE POHAKU

Nightly rate  (effective March 1, 2008)                   $95

The HP rate includes all meals beginning with dinner the day you check in and ending with lunch the following day. Extra charges apply for additional meals. Please note that only those with reservations are allowed access to HP, and guests are not allowed.  Should you wish to pay your HP bill before departing Hilo, you may do so through the JAC Office Accounting Department on Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.  Forms of payment accepted include cash, travellers and/or personal checks (US Dollars) and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express). PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT MAKE VACATION-RELATED HOTEL BOOKINGS OR VEHICLE RENTALS
Contact: JAC webmasters. Updated: Fri May 16 12:19:32 HST 2008

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