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Amenities from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in conjunction with Travel Pink Travel Oahu. // (C) 2009 Hilton Family Hawaii |
In autumn, as the leaves change colors on the mainland, Oahu sports a decidedly pinkish hue. For that, credit goes to the Oahu Visitors Bureau’s (OVB) annual Travel Pink, Travel Oahu campaign, when agents and industry members join forces to support the fight against breast cancer, while encouraging clients to do the same.
The centerpiece of the Travel Pink, Travel Oahu festivities is the Susan G. Komen Hawaii Race for the Cure, celebrating its 15th anniversary on Oct. 18.
“The race celebrates survivorship, honors those who have lost their battle with this disease, and raises money for research, screening and treatment,” said Komen Hawaii race chair Nina Rappeline.
Approximately 75 percent of proceeds from the race go to breast cancer programs in Hawaii. This year’s Honolulu race is estimated to attract more than 6,000 participants, including a team consisting mostly of Oahu Destination Specialists. At press time, the Travel Pink Travel Oahu team included Genny Arietta and Kim Taber (El Dorado Hills Travel, El Dorado Hills., Calif.), Tony Azpeitia (M’sieur Travel, La Puente, Calif.), Chuck and Connie Brook (Express Travel, Medford, Ore.), Joseph Burke (Chesterton Travel, Chesterton, Ind.), Marilyn Clark (Lighthouse Travel, Huntington Beach, Calif.), Linda Dancer (Honeymoons, Inc., Conover, N.C.), Leslie Darga (Universal Travel, Rochester Hills, Mich.), Theresa Field (Ships and Trips Travel, Turlock, Calif.) and Mary Gillingham (Central Travel, Sylvania, Ohio).
Additional team members are Paula Hobble and Bob Koeber (Focus On Travel, Beaverton, Ore.), Donna Johnson (Beatty Group, Hillsboro, Ore.), Penny Kane (Penny’s Personal Travel, Waterford, Mich.), Rosie Katz (Yankee Clipper Travel, San Francisco), Jo Keita (Nubian Tours, Culver City, Calif.), Lu Maggiora (Vacation Discounters, San Ramon, Calif.), Louise Mitchell (What A Trip Travel, Missouri City, Texas), Rhonda Shumway (TerraMar Travel, Hemet, Calif.), Jackie Vedovato (Elite Travel Authority, Albuquerque, N.M.), Christine Whitaker (Discover Your World Travel, Tumwater, Wash.) and Teri Young (Dream Catcher Vacations, Sacramento, Calif.).
Clients can do their part for the cause by booking Oahu hotel packages designed in concert with the campaign. With each package sold, the hotels are making donations to the Hawaii Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
For instance, the Hyatt Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa has designed a Travel Pink package including a massage and wellness amenity. Aqua Hotels & Resorts’ Pamper Me Pink package provides a massage, wellness bag and yoga mat. At the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, the Pinknic Package comes with a tote bag, water bottle, beach towel and discount coupons. Halekulani’s Travel Pink Getaway package features pink welcome cocktails, facials or a body scrub, and a spa amenity. The Waikiki Parc Hotel is taking part with its Parc Sunrise package with daily breakfast for two, parking and the fourth night free.
Clients who visit Oahu now through mid-October can take part in special activities surrounding the Travel Pink campaign. Honolulu’s Ward Centers — a shopping emporium — will feature a variety of events benefitting the cause. On Oct. 3, clients can take part in a charity tennis tournament at the Patsy Mink Central Oahu Regional Park Tennis Complex.
“Travel Pink, Travel Oahu gives clients an opportunity to experience a fantastic Hawaiian vacation while simultaneously supporting an important cause locally,” said OVB sales and marketing senior director Noelani Schilling-Wheeler.
www.visit-oahu.com/travelpink
