Maui

Five flights redirected from Maui

2008-12-28T00:14:00.000-08:00

USA Today - Dec 26, 2008

KAHULUI, Hawaii (AP) — Five passenger flights from the U.S. mainland were unable to land at Maui's Kahului Airport when runway lights failed to turn on Wednesday.

The flights were diverted to the island of Oahu, where they landed at Honolulu International Airport, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.

At least one other flight was unable to take off from Maui on Wednesday before night fell, Gregor said.

The problem was caused by an electrical shortage at 3 p.m. local time Wednesday, and the lights weren't repaired until about 11 p.m. that night, said Tammy Mori, spokeswoman for the Hawaii Department of Transportation.

"The airport authority fixed the system late last night, so everything is fine now," Gregor said.
The five diverted flights returned to Maui after the lights were fixed, either overnight or during the day Thursday, Mori said.

The Maui Fire Department confirmed that both runways were operating Thursday.

Gregor couldn't estimate how many passengers were affected, but he said only the airport's longer runway was blacked out. Planes that use the long runway are at least as large as Boeing 757s, which hold between 186 and 279 passengers.

Delta Air Lines passenger Larry Hemley of Boston said he, his wife and two children were stranded for hours as their family tried to get to Los Angeles for Christmas.

"They were completely blacked out of information," Hemley said. "All it was was that the lights were out on the runway, and they have no clue what's wrong with them. So, they're sitting there telling everybody, 'Well, we'll get back to you."'

Airport personnel eventually helped passengers find hotel accommodations and make flight plans for Christmas Day, Hemley said.

Hawaiian courses lure pro tours -- and you can play them, too

2008-12-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

CBSSports.com - Dec. 26, 2008

Just after the holidays every year -- when we've all had enough cold, snow and rich food to last until April -- the PGA Tour does the smart thing: it heads to Hawaii.

There, in the warmth of a tropical breeze and the sweet scent of plumeria blossoms, the 2009 season begins. For those gentlemen whose 2008 tournament season included a trip to the winner's circle, Maui and the Mercedes-Benz Championship from Kapalua (Jan. 8-11) beckon.

Contested over the long and oft-windy Plantation Course, this limited-field event that features only winners from the 2008 tour is one of the coveted spoils of victory. Players and their families annually list Maui as their favorite trip of the year. Aside from the $5.6 million purse and 25,000 FedEx Cup points available on the course, Maui's sun, surf and blue skies offer an unbeatable way to launch the new year.

And while the Plantation Course will be busy with tournament play, Kapalua Resort also offers the Bay Course, an 18-hole fun-filled beauty that ambles past a lovely plantation-era church and down to the crashing waves of the Pacific at hole Nos. 3, 4 and 5. If exploring the island a bit is in the cards, an hour south at Wailea Resort -- where Hawaii aficionados know it's always warm and sunny -- 54 holes of ocean view play await on the Gold, Emerald and Blue courses.

Hawaii gas prices slowly drop for holidays

2008-12-27T06:23:00.001-08:00

Bizjournals.com, NC - Dec 24, 2008

Gas prices in Hawaii are slowly dropping for the holidays.

Hawaii’s statewide average for regular dropped just 3 cents to $2.37 on Wednesday, down from $2.40 on Friday, according to the AAA daily fuel gauge report.

Gas prices had been dropping each week by double digits. Prices at some gas stations are starting to rise in Honolulu.

It is down 48 cents from a month ago and $1.09 from a year ago.

In Honolulu, the average price dropped 2 cents, from $2.29 last week to $2.27 on Wednesday.

A month ago, the average price was $2.74 while a year ago it was $3.36.

Gas prices for other Hawaii metro areas were as follows:

• In Hilo on the Big Island, regular unleaded sold for an average $2.47 a gallon, down 5 cents from Friday, and down 39 cents from a month ago.

• In Wailuku, Maui, a gallon of regular averaged $2.72, down 4 cents from Friday and down 53 cents from a month ago.

Maui Dive

2008-12-19T12:38:00.000-08:00

Maui Dive Shop offers many boat and dive trips throughout Maui. Select from many of our Scuba, Snorkeling and Sailing excursions.

Maui Tropical Plantation

2008-12-19T12:35:00.000-08:00

Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Waikapu Valley, colorful tropical flowers and fruits while we stop at the Maui Tropical Plantation for lunch

Maui

2008-12-19T12:30:00.000-08:00

The second largest Hawaiian island has a smaller population than you’d expect, making Maui popular with visitors who are looking for sophisticated diversions and amenities in the small, intimate towns peppered throughout the island.