The advertised price from Phoenix is $155 each way.  You bring the price down to $148 by using a Hawaiian affiliate code, such as the one below.

• Cost: $316 round trip (all-inclusive)
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Dates:  Travel through mid-December, then for about $10 more through March 2010.
• Advance purchase: None
• Hawaiian affiliate link. We have no affiliation.

• LA to Honolulu $194 Each Way
• LA/Honolulu $200 Ea Way And Dropping
• Seattle To Honolulu $140 Each Way

• Cost: $409 round trip (all-inclusive)
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Dates:  From Los Angeles:  11/13, 12/2-9. From Honolulu 11/7, 8, 10, 13, 17, 18, 12/6-13, 15.
• Advance purchase: None
• Hawaiian affiliate link. We have no affiliation.

• Phoenix to Honolulu $148 Each Way
• LA/Honolulu $200 Ea Way And Dropping
• Cleveland to Honolulu $240 Each Way

If this sounds familiar, that’s because Starwood is repeating an offer they first ran in June. Only this time, it’s valid 7 days a week (with some limitations) through April 25, 2010.

Kauai Westin is a property we wrote about soon after its opening. The Princeville location means that while it isn’t oceanfront, its a short walk to breathtaking Anini beach. I recommend it and personally love the kitchenettes.

The Kauai Sheraton is an older motel-like resort we also frequently mention, largely because of its spectacular Poipu beach-front address. While it’s definitely funky, I like the Sheraton too.

Reservations must be pre-paid, and are not changeable or refundable. Given that, you might want to consider purchasing trip insurance. If you’re flying Hawaiian, given the possibility of a labor dispute, that wouldn’t be a bad idea anyway.

• Coco Palms Revisted
• Galerie 103 Opens On Kauai
• LA to Honolulu $194 Each Way

• Cost: $556 round trip (all-inclusive)
• United Airlines
• Dates:  Travel through early June 2010
• Availability: Good except holidays
• Advance purchase: None
• Minimum/maximum days: 3/60
• Travel days: Monday through Thursday Trans-Pacific
• Stopovers: 1 permitted in each direction for $55 at CHI, PHX, DEN, PDX, LAS, SLC, SAN, LAX, SFO, OAK, SJC, ONT, SEA

• Seattle To Honolulu $140 Each Way
• LA/Honolulu $200 Ea Way And Dropping
• Houston to Honolulu $194 Each Way

When Kay shared this picture with me in September I didn’t know that her life would be ending in a few short weeks.  Her father died in August and Kay decided to carry on his tradition of playing the accordion.

After surgery Kay wrote, “These things, like it or not, do tend to come up.  I cannot help but think that all this rearrangement of my brain will turn me into a creative artistic genius.”

Kay and her husband, Peter, had been planning a trip to Maui in December and our hope was to see them.

Everything changed quickly.  Her death is a reminder to me to live each day fully.  We’ll be carrying her memory with us this week when we hike down to Kalaupapa where Saint Damien lived and worked.

Peace be with you Kay and your family.  Aloha

• Galerie 103 Opens On Kauai
• Westjet Fixes Aloha Air Problem
• Seattle To Honolulu $140 Each Way

Kayak took a giant leap into the big media league this weekend with their new commercials. Their $60 million campaign that also includes airport and taxi video displays and outdoor advertising promises to give competitor Expedia a run for its money. Will it be enough to entice you to click?

When checking Hawaii airfares (or any destination), Kayak is one of the sources I follow. It’s not perfect but gives me an idea for available dates on sale fares.

When you search fares on Kayak it costs the company up to a dollar each time. To save money and hook you in, they first show the most recent fare offered for your travel dates and destination. Once you click to confirm, that fare may or may not be the same.

Kayak’s business model is based on pay-per-click.  When a visitor clicks through to one of the booking sites (airline, car rental, hotel, Orbitz, etc.), Kayak gets paid a percentage.

Kayak was started in 2004 by kingpins from Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia.  It pulls together information from hundreds of sites to help consumers book flights, hotels, cruises, and rental cars. Kayak aggregates results from these sites then redirects visitors to one of multiple choices offered for making reservations.

As we wrote about recently, Kayak competitor Expedia, still finds conversion from TripAdvisor to hotel search an illusive game.

Bottom Line: Kayak is a good place to search fares but also check the airline and other websites too.

• Tripadvisor Reviews Waning; Search Biz Elusive
• Fairmont Orchid $199; Kea Lani $249
• LA/Honolulu $200 Ea Way And Dropping

Should these dates not work for you, don’t worry, as Seattle will likely continue to reign king of Hawaii deals throughout the winter.

• Cost: $301 round trip (all-inclusive)
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Dates:  Travel through mid-December
• Availability: Good
• Advance purchase: None
• Minimum/maximum days: None

• LA/Honolulu $200 Ea Way And Dropping
• Cleveland to Honolulu $240 Each Way
• Houston to Honolulu $194 Each Way

While this price is somewhat better, I still expect to see major fares sales cropping up in the next week or two.  Frankly, the situation for the airlines is either have a fare sale or fly the planes with very few passengers for the next month and a half.  We know the airlines won’t be doing that.

If you need to buy now, here’s the deal:

• Cost: $429-439 round trip (all-inclusive)
• Airlines:  Delta/Northwest and Hawaiian Airlines
• Dates:  Travel through mid-December
• Availability:  Good
• Advance purchase:  None
• Minimum/maximum days:  None

• Seattle To Honolulu $140 Each Way
• Cleveland to Honolulu $240 Each Way
• Phoenix to Honolulu $148 Each Way

Hawaiian Airlines announced a sale today on first-class travel to/from the mainland.

One way first class fares are priced from $477-$977 (plus tax) during the sale.  Price varies depending on departure/arrival city on the mainland.  Seattle and Portland are the lowest with Phoenix and Las Vegas being the highest.  If you’re interested, book by November 4 for travel through December 11 and January 11 through March 11.

Furthermore, I expect these dates to be on sale, in economy class, in the very near future.  Stay tuned for that development.

Here’s another way to fly Hawaiian’s first class (if you’re determined).

Consider joining Hawaiian Miles, and using Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points, where 20,000 points will convert to a 25,000 mile Hawaiian first class (saver) award.  (Fine print: a bonus 5,000 points is added with the transfer of 20,000 SPG points).

The question is, is it a good value?

In a word:  No.

Having flown Hawaii’s first class more than 50 times, in my opinion, it just isn’t worth it.  The 767’s first class is extremely cramped, the seats uncomfortable and the food mediocre (I suggest bringing your own).  The flight attendants are great, but seriously, the savings will likely pay for the rest of your trip.

If you’re flying Hawaiian after December 1, consider trip insurance.

As I indicated when last I wrote about the impending strike, if you’re flying Hawaiian you may well wish to have travel insurance that contains a clause which specifically covers labor disputes.

Hawaiian Pilots are preparing to strike; it could happen in as little as 30 days.

Following three years of failed negotiations, pilots have already asked the federal government to be released from mediation.  If that is approved and either party declines to enter binding arbitration (all of which I believe is likely), a pilot strike could be just 30 days away.

Hawaiian’s pilots have a long-standing, multi-year dispute with the company.  With Mokulele’s recent demise and without inter-island ferry service, timing could not be more perfect for pilots to put the screws on the company.  A strike at this time would give a significant leg up to competitor Go! at a pivotal time of re-shifting dominance in Hawaii’s inter-island transportation.

We’ll keep you posted.

• LA/Honolulu $200 Ea Way And Dropping
• Westjet Fixes Aloha Air Problem
• Seattle To Honolulu $140 Each Way

This legendary hotel provides luxury at the end of the road in Hana.

Even without air conditioning (their ceiling fans and trade winds provide natural cooling), television (who needs?), and alarm clocks (why keep track of time?), Hotel Hana Maui has achieved AAA’s 4-diamond status.  It’s currently rated the third best hotel in Hawaii by Travel and Leisure.

Normally out of most traveler’s price range, their $295 nightly special is a deal not to be missed.

Available now through December 23, 2009 on their Bay Cottage Junior Suite or the Ocean View Sea Ranch Cottage, this is a $200-$300 discount off their regular nightly rate.  You’ll receive a host of amenities with your room plus a private outdoor hot tub in the Sea Ranch Cottage.  There’s also a spa and fitness center which is complimentary for guest use plus complimentary parking.  If you need to stay somewhat connected, there’s free Internet service in their Club Room.

We’re tempted to island hop over to Maui for this special.

Neither of us have stayed at Hotel Hana Maui before and think this may be the best time to go.  If you’ve been a guest before or plan to take advantage of this deal, be sure to leave a comment.

• Fairmont Orchid $199; Kea Lani $249
• Grand Hyatt Kauai $179; Maui $148
• Kayak.com Comes To TV