Aqua's Blog

Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa Special Starts Today!

Lori Downes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:53:11 +0000

Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa is offering deluxe rooms from $89 per night for stays from Wednesday, November 18 to Thursday, December 31, 2009. That rate includes daily Continental breakfast, free in-room high-speed Internet access and weekly manager’s reception featuring Aloha Surf’s signature cocktail the “Wipeout”. And NO extra person charges for up to 4 people using existing bedding.

Hawaii’s reputation for some of the world’s best surfing is the inspiration for our affordable Waikiki hotel, located just three blocks to Waikiki’s white sand beaches. From our weekly manager’s reception to the open air lobby with on-site spa services, we provide guests with a fun and casual Waikiki stay. The hotel has an ideal location; it is near the quiet Ala Wai but also just a short stroll to the International Market Place and excitement of central Waikiki with numerous shopping and dining options.

Book your Aloha Surf and Spa Deluxe Room with NO extra person fees now!

Restaurant Week Hawaii

Lori Downes — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:56:42 +0000

The second annual Restaurant Week Hawaii starts today and goes through Sunday, November 22. From fine dining to fast food, participating restaurants will feature special menu items, promotions and discounts. Restaurant Week is a reminder that Hawaii is a culinary destination with top chefs, farm to table dining, wonderful wine and a lot more to discover and explore.

A portion of the proceeds from Restaurant Week Hawaii will support the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head.

Find participating restaurants.
(Many near our Aqua Waikiki Hotels!)

See Hawaii Now in Street View on Google Maps

Lori Downes — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:25:45 +0000

Now that Hawaii has been added, you can get street views and 360 degree views from all 50 US states. And Hawaii has some spectacular views! If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and want to get a better idea of where hotels and activities are, Street View on Google Maps can provide some wonderful information. Take a virtual vacation, see ground level panoramas of cities, neighborhoods and other notable landmarks or check out where each of our Aqua Hotels and Resorts® are located and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Google worked with the Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau to create the collections in the new Street View Gallery which features Hawaii’s best beaches and hometown favorites of President Obama.

Have you ever been to Molokai?

Lori Downes — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:37:33 +0000

Amber and I just spent the weekend at Aqua Hotel Molokai and we had a great time! If you want to relax and unwind, Molokai is the place.

The Hotel: Aqua Hotel Molokai is located on Kamiloloa Beach. The pool, restaurant and bar are right next to the water and all the tables have beautiful ocean views. The food was great, the staff was friendly and it was just a perfect spot to sit and listen to the waves, watch the ocean and just relax.

The Entertainment: You would think that on such a small, secluded island there would be no entertainment but that’s not true. Hula Shores Restaurant & Bar at the Aqua Hotel Molokai offers nightly live entertainment and music from hula to disco. We had a great time at the weekly Aloha Friday Sunset Celebration just hanging out after an excellent oceanside dinner, having drinks and dancing and laughing with the locals.

The Flight: We flew Mokulele and had a small plane. Luckily we had smooth flights but you can really feel the turbulence on these smaller planes so sometimes the flight can be quite bumpy. Because you fly so low, however, you do get amazing views of the islands flying in and out so have your cameras ready!

Find out more about Aqua Hotel Molokai!

Photographer’s Night at the Waikiki Aquarium

Lori Downes — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:36:42 +0000

Whether you live here or are just visiting this is a great opportunity to get nature photos of some of Hawaii’s marine life. This program is for amateur photographers to snap pictures without the crowds. Professional photographers will be on hand to offer tips. Attendees can then send in their favorite photos which may get posted on the Aquarium’s website.

Where
Waikiki Aquarium
2777 Kalakaua Avenue
(808) 923-9741

When
Tuesday, November 10, 6-7:30pm

Cost
$8 per person (members) or $10 per person (non-members)
Recommended for photographers 16 and up.

Continental’s 48 Hour Sale

Lori Downes — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:38:01 +0000

The deals just keep coming! Continental Surf Hotel has rates as low as $50 per night. How do you get this rate? During the month of November, book on a Monday or a Tuesday for stays between November 1 and December 31, 2009 and save big.

This is a no frills hotel but you will still enjoy a penthouse fitness center and rooms outfitted with mini-fridges, coffee makers and Kona coffee. And Continental Surf Hotel is committed to Earth-friendly practices and is a proud member of the Green Hotels Association.

You can even bring your pet if you’d like. The Continental Surf Hotel is proud to welcome dogs and cats up to 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and offers two pet-friendly floors.

Book Your Stay at the Continental!

48 Hour Sale at the Bamboo

Lori Downes — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:55:39 +0000

Another great special! Make your reservations on a Saturday or Sunday in November for any stay between November 29 and December 23, 2009 at the Aqua Bamboo and Spa and get an incredible rate of only $89 for selected room types!

Everything about the Aqua Bamboo and Spa has been designed to create an island sanctuary for your getaway to paradise. Stay in one of our recently renovated 93 contemporary, clean and sleek rooms and suites and you’ll find yourself in a sanctuary for the senses. Guests rooms include a microwave, mini-fridge, coffee maker and FREE in-room high-speed Internet access.

Book Your Stay at the Aqua Bamboo and Spa!

Halloween in Waikiki

Lori Downes — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:20:20 +0000

Halloween in Waikiki is a one of kind experience. Every year, people in the most creative costumes fill Kalakaua Avenue and it is quite a sight. Whether you dress up or not, Waikiki is a fun place to be on Halloween and this year, Halloween falls on a Saturday. That means no work the next day so why not just stay the night! Aqua has several affordable hotels on and near Kalakaua Avenue so you can come out, join in the festivities or just watch from your private balcony.

Waikiki isn’t the only place to find a Halloween celebration. The Hallowbaloo Music and Arts Open Air Street Festival takes place in the Downtown Honolulu Arts District. The festival will have five stages featuring world class music, thousands of costumed revelers and food, cocktails and beer available in the street. Aqua’s Waikiki hotels are just a few minutes by taxi from the Arts District so enjoy the festival and then just a catch a quick cab back to your hotel – no driving required.

Find the right Aqua Hotel for your Halloween!

Free Green Aloha Concert

Lori Downes — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:14:03 +0000

This weekend we celebrate National Make A Difference Day and to kick it all off, there will be a free Green Aloha Concert this Friday, October 23 at 5:30pm at Waikiki Beach. In addition to the concert, visitors can enjoy food booths and other local entertainers and musicians as well as information booths on recycling, storm water, urban forestry, water and wastewater. All this great local fun is sponsored by the City & County of Honolulu and The Wild Hawaiian, Henry Kapono. Plus, bring your Hi5 cans and bottles and help Keiki O Ka Aina raise money to develop a green space for exploration and imaginary play on its pre-school campus in Palolo Valley.

Enjoy the concert and don’t forget to be green when you travel too and stay at green hotels like
Aqua Hotels and Resorts®, a proud member of the Hawaii Ecotourism Association.

Father Damien – Hawaii’s first Saint

Lori Downes — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:14:18 +0000

Recently canonized by Pope Benedict XVI, Father Damien is now Saint Damien. Born in Tremelo, Belgium in 1840, Saint Damien lived with and ministered those with leprosy quarantined on Hawaii’s island of Molokai in the nineteenth century.

Saint Damien went to the island of Molokai where the Hawaii government’s leper colony was located in 1873. Soon, Saint Damien decided to stay permanently and dedicated himself to caring for the people in the colony. He contracted the disease in 1888, and after 16 years of selfless service, died in 1889. On October 11, 120 years after his death, Father Damien was elevated to sainthood in Rome.

If you get the chance to visit the island of Molokai, the Aqua Hotel Molokai offers affordable, oceanfront bungalows on Kamiloloa Beach, adjacent to Hawaii’s only barrier reef – a perfect location to explore all Molokai has to offer including the site of Saint Damien’s work.

If you are on Oahu, there is also a special exhibition in downtown Honolulu:

Father Damien Exhibition
(through November 3)
Cathedral Gallery
1184 Bishop Street
808-536-5507