By Marty Wentzel The opening of Halekulani’s new spa, an updated
Outrigger Web site, family programs and a new hula exhibit
highlight what’s new on the Islands this week: Called
SpaHalekulani, the facility incorporates healing traditions of
Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga and Tahiti. A full range of massages, body and
facial therapies, and hair and nail care services are available.
Its three signature experiences are called Elegant Passage
(massage, steam shower and facial for $390), Grand Voyage (massage,
facial, manicure and pedicure for $490) and Heavenly Journey
(deluxe body treatment, massage and facial for $640). Halekulani is
promoting a four-night spa package through Dec. 25 that comes with
two spa experiences, spa amenities and daily breakfast. Rates range
from $1,975 (ocean view) to $2,300 (Diamond Head ocean front).
Other refurbishments at Halekulani include upgrades to guest rooms
and an expanded business center, hospitality suite, fitness room
and ballroom. 800-367-2343 or www. halekulani.com. Outrigger Hotels
& Resorts and its sister chain, Ohana Hotels & Resorts,
have launched new Web sites addressing all aspects of planning a
vacation to Hawaii. Highlights of the new sites include a search
feature allowing visitors to save rates and property information in
a personal vacation folder for later viewing. A new map offers the
user macro views of island destinations and micro views of streets
and property locations. Site users can chat on-line with an
Outrigger reservation agent to get immediate help with property or
rate information, and meeting and incentives planners can check on
room layouts, catering menus and group venues. Consumers can search
for and contact an Outrigger Specialist travel agent in their
neighborhood on the site; and an entire section is devoted to
providing agents with information and tools to help sell Outrigger
and Ohana properties. 800-688-7444; www.out rigger.com,
www.ohanahotels .com. Guests get laser-tag passes, a welcome
amenity and use of a rental car when they book a family package at
the 783-room Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel. The package provides
accommodations featuring an in-room kitchen with stove, microwave,
refrigerator, sink and coffee maker. Families are greeted with a
basket of soft drinks, bananas, eggs, a loaf of bread, sandwich
condiments, coffee, tea and dishwashing liquid. Families also get
four passes to the hotel’s Ultrazone, a 4,000-square-foot arena for
laser tag games located on the lobby level. Games usually cost $10
per person. Rates for family packages start at $770 for three
nights. 800-245-4524 or www. ilikaihotel.com. Bishop Museum’s
newest exhibit focuses on the ancient art form of hula by
presenting rare artifacts, documents, films, recordings and images.
Running through June 1, the exhibit, called Hula, Dance of Poetry,
honors legendary hula masters, and it shows how hula corresponds to
island nature, religion and relationshi