WHAT'S NEW ON O'AHU JANUARY - MARCH 2018
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WHAT’S NEW ON O‘AHU
JANUARY – MARCH 2018
O‘AHU – The Island of O‘ahu, known as the Heart of Hawai‘i, sets the rhythm of the islands with
exciting, new improvements, changes and additions on an ongoing basis. Below is a glimpse of new
and dynamic updates with O‘ahu’s hotels & resorts, activities & entertainment, restaurants and
cuisine, shopping, and festivals and events.
Hotels & Resorts
The Island of O‘ahu has a variety of hotels and resorts for travelers of all ages with varying budgets,
and a multitude of packages to make any trip unforgettable.
• The former Pacific Beach Hotel recently debuted as the all-new ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki
Beach following an extensive $115 million transformation. As O‘ahu’s sophisticated, new
resort in the heart of Waikīkī, ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach will offer a stylish new way to
stay and play in Waikīkī, which is transforming with new cultural, culinary and shopping
offerings. The resort will feature star-studded collaborations with Iron Chef Masaharu
Morimoto, acclaimed New York architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, which
designed the resort’s lobby, restaurant, pool deck, guestrooms and suites; and architectural
firms WATG and Pacific Asia Design Group. The 839-room modern resort will feature five
new culinary concepts and a destination pool deck, along with authentic design touches
inspired by O‘ahu’s lush landscape and rich cultural heritage. AlohilaniResort.com
• As one of Hawai‘i’s largest hotel management companies, Aqua-Aston Hospitality is
proud to offer guests some of the best value in the islands. For new bookings arriving Jan. 1,
2018, Aqua-Aston is pleased to announce the expansion of its guest amenity program.
Varied by hotel, the new amenity program will include valuable additions, such as exclusive
discounts for Aqua-Aston guests at select O‘ahu eateries and attractions; discounted or free
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entry for Aqua-Aston guests to Bishop Museum, Honolulu Museum of Art, and Waikīkī
Aquarium; improvements to our popular Waikīkī-to-Ala Moana shuttle service; a curated
roster of live, onsite entertainment; and newly-added Hawaiian cultural programs. Aqua-
Aston.com
• Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is re-defining the luxury spa experience with the
debut of Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre. The island’s newest spa haven combines
innovative health and wellness practices with traditional Hawaiian healing. On five floors,
Naupaka features fourteen indoor treatment rooms, indoor hot and cold plunge pools, steam
room, sauna, needle shower, two Himalayan salt chambers, relaxation areas and change
rooms, and the resort’s fifth pool – a private sanctuary featuring an outdoor lap pool and
whirlpool surrounded by foliage and swaying palms, overlooking the hotel’s porte cochère. A
barbershop (serving local craft beer) and a feng shui-inspired Billy Yamaguchi Salon
complement spa offerings. Outdoor treatments are offered in tranquil muliwai massage hales
overlooking the Pacific and the resort’s lush gardens. FourSeasons.com/Oahu
• Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach continues Hilton’s “Another Day in Paradise” into
2018. Guests can book five nights and get the fifth night free, opening the way for visitors to
experience the stylish and modern amenities of the largest Hilton Garden Inn in the world.
HGIWaikikiBeach.com
• The new Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach now features a full garden of kalo (taro) plants
that line the full length of the pool deck. Once a month, a Hawaiian cultural advisor will give
a hands-on lesson on how to harvest kalo while sharing the history and importance of this
staple to the Native Hawaiian culture. After harvesting their own kalo, participants will
prepare their own lau lau (steamed pork and/or fish wrapped in taro or lū‘au leaves) for
cooking and tasting. The kalo is a “living exhibit” at Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach allowing
guests to nurture this plant through its normal life cycle. HyattCentricWaikikiBeach.com
• In addition to the recent Hawaiian Music & Dance Hall of Fame Historical Exhibit, Hyatt
Regency Waikiki Beach will launch a special walking tour centered around the cultural
history of the area. This tour, “E hoʻāla e” (Revive, Renew, Restore), will be held once a
week to provide guests an in-depth look at the history and culture of the island, culminating
in a visit to the onsite Historical Exhibit. In the warm spirit of Hawaiian hospitality, Hyatt
Regency Waikiki Beach will be offering a special group offer for select dates in 2018. Groups
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can have easy access to entertainment, shopping, dining, spa, and cultural immersion, with
rooms starting at just $215 per night. The reservation must include a minimum of 10 paid
rooms to take advantage of this limited time offer. Waikiki.Regency.Hyatt.com
• For families visiting O‘ahu, the Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head provides an assortment
of goodies for children of all age groups. Infants receive a new Infant Amenity Package
complete with infant-safe sunscreen, fragrance-free, all-natural baby bath products, and a
squeezable baby whale. Children ages 12 and under receive a complimentary box of crayons
and cultural activity book of fun and educational activities celebrating all things Hawai‘i.
Once the book is completed, children can exchange it for a souvenir gift. The property also
offers complimentary souvenir boxes decorated with the child’s choice of anthurium flowers
or Hawaiian fish. Onsite or at the beach, kids can choose from a selection of grab-and-go
inflatable fish toys, beach balls and slippers for water play, and complimentary beach bags
with a pair of children’s sunglasses. LotusHonoluluHotel.com
• Waikiki Parc is offering an extensive Valentine’s Day package entitled LOVE at the Parc.
The limited-time offer includes one two-hour surf lesson for two, a romantic chef’s special
dinner for two at Lē’ahi Concept Kitchen, a romantic Dive-In movie, complimentary
parking and access to the Valentine’s Day Weekly Mingle, a special holiday-themed gathering
with mini red velvet cupcakes, cheese and fruit platters, champagne with strawberries, and
the hotel’s private-label Parc Chic wines. WaikikiParc.com
Activities & Entertainment
The Island of O‘ahu is brimming with fun-filled activities for everyone to enjoy. Visitors can explore
Hawai‘i’s special culture and iconic history, or choose from a wide variety of outdoor and indoor
activities to energize the spirit.
• In partnership with Honolulu’s newest transportation system Biki by Bikeshare Hawaii,
Aqua-Aston Hospitality now offers the “Discover Oahu” package to guests who book
direct. The package is inclusive of two Biki Free Spirit bike rentals (featuring multiple trips
up to 300 min.). With 100 convenient Biki bike stops from Downtown to Diamond Head,
guests staying at an Aqua-Aston-managed property will be able to use Biki to discover
O‘ahu’s varied eateries, shops and activities at their own pace and in a sustainable way. Aqua-
Aston.com
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• Guests can marvel at Hawai‘i’s amazing humpback whales aboard Atlantis Cruises’
Majestic. With its sleek, modern design, the Majestic hosts three different levels for guests’
viewing pleasure. Its top level, open air deck offers 360-degree views, ideal for spotting
exciting whale activity and other marine life. AtlantisAdventures.com
• The “Holo Moana: Generations of Voyaging” exhibition at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop
Museum celebrates the resurgence of the centuries-old, ancestral practice of long-distance
ocean voyaging. Closely following the Hawaiian sailing canoe, Hōkūleʻa, and its return to
Hawaiian waters, the exhibit is based on a collaboration between Bishop Museum and the
Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and is on display in the J. M. Long Gallery through June
24, 2018. Cultural objects from Hōkūleʻa’s voyages are on display along with a variety of
interactive stations. Visitors can step into a wind-based immersive experience that uses
digital sensors and electronics to bring to life the winds used by voyagers and told of in
Hawaiian cultural stories. Visitors can also enter a full-dome projection theater with audio
narrated by PVS president Nainoa Thompson, master of the traditional Polynesian art of
non-instrument navigation. BishopMuseum.org
• Live entertainment is featured on Saturdays at Hale‘iwa Store Lots in the Kamehamalu
Courtyard from 2-4 p.m. Visitors can enjoy performances from local artists at the plantation-
style gathering place in the heart of Hale‘iwa town. HaleiwaStoreLots.com
• Hawaiian Ocean Adventures (HOA) will begin operating a second location on the
windward side of O‘ahu beginning January 2018. Activities will include adventures onboard
a Hawaiian sailing canoe, kayak and SUP adventures. HOA is a locally-owned and operated
family eco-tour business offering true authentic ocean activities out of Aulani, A Disney
Resort & Spa. HawaiianOceanAdventures.com
• Kualoa Private Nature Preserve introduces its most eco-friendly tour, the eBike
Adventure Tour. Exploring Jurassic Valley on a guided tour on electric bikes allows guests
to see our most popular landmarks from a unique vantage point. Your guide will take you
on a leisurely 90-minute trek through Ka‘a‘awa Valley where you may enjoy the unspoiled
natural beauty while seeing the movie sites of Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Kong Skull
Island, 50 First Dates, LOST, and more throughout the valley. State-of-the-art electric bikes
are equipped with quiet engines that give a helping hand – or more of a push – whenever
guests need a little assistance. This is a beginner level tour for guests, and will easily
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accommodate those who may not have the confidence or fitness level to go on a more
strenuous mountain bike tour. Kualoa.com
• Pacific Historic Parks is happy to announce several new tours in 2018 including a 2018
USS Arizona Memorial Tours, Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Tours, Pearl Harbor Virtual
Reality Tours, Diamond Head State Monument tours, as well as a tour of the USS Bowfin
Submarine Museum & Park that includes lunch. Group, military and travel agent discounts
are available. In addition, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor has added a new F-16A
Fighting Falcon to its extensive collection of modern jet fighters. A new “B-17E Swamp
Ghost Tour” has been added and can be booked at the front desk upon arrival.
PacificHistoricParks.org or PacificAviationMuseum.org or Bowfin.org
• Paradise Helicopters, a leading Hawai‘i helicopter tour company, is launching an
adventure-packed tour of O‘ahu’s most historic WWII sites and iconic movie settings. In the
Kualoa Expedition Tour, guests depart from Kalaeloa Airport near the Ko Olina resort area.
After flying over some of O‘ahu’s most iconic locations, guests touch down at Kualoa Ranch
where they have the option of three ground adventures: A horseback tour, ATV tour, or
Ka‘a‘awa Valley zipline tour. The Kualoa Expedition Tour starts at $719 per person for an
experience of up to 6.5 hours, including luxury ground transportation back to Kalaeloa
Airport. The zipline experience is an additional $30 per person. ParadiseCopters.com
• Roberts Hawai‘i and Hawaiian Crown have joined forces to offer a convenient new
pineapple delivery service – available exclusively for domestic travelers using Roberts
Hawai‘i’s Airport Shuttle Service on O‘ahu. Guests can now preorder boxes of locally grown
Hawaiian Crown and Sweet Gold pineapple – picked to order, pre-inspected, packed, sealed
and delivered to the airport in time for departing domestic travelers to pick up and take
home. AirportShuttleHawaii.com/SweetGold
• Several new events are included in the line-up at Our Kaka‘ako for 2018. Scheduled the
third Friday and Saturday of the month, Pa‘akai Marketplace showcases unique local
products and Hawaiian culture at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako. The monthly event, held in in
collaboration with PAʻI Foundation features live music and is a free, family and pet-friendly
event starting at 5 p.m. In addition, the popular SALT Bar Crawl occurs on the third
Saturday of every month starting at 5 p.m. Village Bottle Shop and Tasting Room, Moku
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Kitchen, and Bevy Bar at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako feature different breweries each month.
SaltAtKakaako.com
• The Star of Honolulu is splashing into humpback whale season with daily whale watching
cruises. From Dec. 23, 2017-April 5, 2018, kids ages three-11 can cruise aboard the Premier
Whale Watch cruise for free with each paying adult. StarofHonolulu.com
• Twogood Kayak’s Hawai‘i has announced the launch of a new kayak tour created
specifically for those who enjoy being outdoors in O‘ahu’s exotic and tropical ocean
environment. For this excursion, guests will have the option to choose the tour area from a
list of options that offer the best of kayaking on O‘ahu. TwoGoodKayaks.com
Restaurants, Cuisine & Chefs
O‘ahu is known for its diverse culture, which is exhibited by the assortment of cuisine found
throughout the island. With wonderful choices and an array of culinary options, there’s a restaurant
fit for everyone.
• Baku, Waikīkī’s modern robatayaki restaurant, has introduced weekday lunch pairing
specials. Each special features one of Baku’s robata-inspired or signature lunch dishes paired
with a signature cocktail, craft draught beer, sake tasting flight, artisanal shochu, or wine
from the restaurant’s extensive list of imported beverages, all for less than $20. Options
include the robata-grilled Baku Burger, a sushi combination lunch, robata skewer platter, and
more. baku-waikiki.com
• After 29 years of featuring set menus, Chef Mavro has divided the restaurant into two
venues and now offers a small plates menu in the main dining room and his famous Grand
Tasting Menu in the upper tier. The iconic restaurant will celebrate its 20th anniversary in
2018. ChefMavro.com
• Located in Aqua Ohia Waikiki’s newly refreshed lobby is the local’s favorite tiki bar and
lounge, Da Big Kahuna Waikiki – an ideal venue to grab a bite in-between daytime
excursions or to sip a drink before heading out for evening adventures. In a casual restaurant
setting, sample a tasty menu of contemporary Hawaiian and American plates. Da Big
Kahuna’s menu includes juicy burgers, pub-style appetizers, and salads. Known for its iconic
Fish Bowl Cocktails, Da Big Kahuna features a full bar and now offers food and beverage
room service up to Aqua Ohia Waikiki’s 12th floor where guests can imbibe on their lanai
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(balcony) gazing out to the energizing city below. Da Big Kahuna Waikiki is open for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner. OhiaHotel.com
• Known throughout O‘ahu for his Poke Stop restaurants, Maui-born Chef Elmer Guzman
brings his specialty to the Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites with his latest concept, Fish Hook
Café. Serving breakfast and lunch, Fish Hook Café offers an assortment of locally and
sustainably-sourced grab-and-go items including salads, sandwiches, pastries, and gourmet
coffee, as well as Chef Guzman’s delicacy: poke bowls, built-to-order. With the opening of
Fish Hook Café guests have an additional dining option called Fish Bowl, the property’s
breakfast buffet, where Chef Guzman also selects the rotating Hawaiian-style staples such as
meats, cereals, pastries, and O‘ahu-grown fruits. Fish Hook Café is open daily from 7 a.m. to
2 p.m. while Fish Bowl’s buffet is served daily from 7 to 11 a.m. FishHook.Cafe
• Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is thrilled to announce a new partnership with
award-winning chef and restauranteur Michael Mina. Fish House, the resort’s signature
line-to-table restaurant will become Mina’s Fish House. Some architectural and décor
changes are planned for Four Seasons’ iconic beachside dining experience, including an
outdoor bread oven and private dining room. Guests can expect an exciting new menu
featuring locally-caught fish and locally-sourced produce for a unique dining experience.
FourSeasons.com/Oahu
• The world’s largest open-air shopping center recently unveiled a new foodie destination.
Lanai @ Ala Moana Center now features local favorites and eateries new to Hawai‘i,
including Ahi & Vegetable, BRUG, Mahaloha Burger and Sobaya. The remaining eateries,
including Agave & Vine, Da Spot, HiTEA Café, Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, Musubi Cafe
Iyasume, Teppanyaki Farmer and Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha are opening
soon. Lanai @ Ala Moana Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and
on Sunday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The contemporary food hall offers breakfast, lunch, dinner
and grab-and-go options, and features indoor and outdoor seating for up to 450 customers.
AlaMoanaCenter.com
• Locals and visitors will now be able to catch some poolside rays with a mimosa in-hand at
Mahina Brunch, the Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club’s new musically-inclined Sunday dining
experience. Centered around celebrated chef Ed Kenney’s elevated home-cooking style using
locally sourced foods, Mahina & Sun’s executive chef Erik Leong incorporates seasonal
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ingredients into the new Mahina Brunch menu available poolside or inside the restaurant,
every Sunday from 6:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Diners can also groove to rotating sets curated by
Aloha Got Soul. MahinaandSuns.com
Shopping
O‘ahu is home to hundreds of high-end designer stores, as well as local boutiques carrying locally-
made products.
• Ala Moana Center recently unveiled Hula With Aloha, an authentic Hawaiian cultural
experience where kama‘āina (locals) and visitors can network, practice and learn the art of
hula from award winning kumu hula (hula teachers). Open Monday through Saturday from 9
a.m.-3 p.m., Hula With Aloha is located on Level 3, ‘Ewa Wing in the Bloomingdale’s Court
and features beginning, intermediate and advanced hula classes, lei making and more.
AlaMoanaCenter.com
• Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort recently expanded its retail offerings
within the 22-acre resort. Among the most notable openings is the return of DFS to Hilton
Hawaiian Village. The luxury retailer, known for its duty free airport shops and destination
luxury galleries, will open an approximately 2,000-square-foot space at the resort in
December 2017. Among the expanded options is the resort’s logo shop, Ānuenue, which
sells curated items of the cherished Rainbow Mural, Hilton Hawaiian Village logo
memorabilia, and the resort’s own exclusive coconut papaya skin and hair care line.
HiltonHawaiianVillage.com
• Located in the heart of Waikīkī, International Market Place is O‘ahu’s premier shopping,
dining and entertainment destination. Guests can ring in Chinese New Year with festivities
throughout February, enjoy “O Na Lani Sunset Stories,” the center's free daily hula and
storytelling performance, and snap a selfie with legendary Hawai‘i musician Don Ho’s one-
of-a-kind bronze statue in the Banyan Court. Visitors can then finish the day at one of eight
chef-driven restaurants on the Grand Lanai. ShopInternationalMarketPlace.com
Festivals & Events
O‘ahu is home to the largest number of festivals and events throughout Hawai‘i. Visitors can
connect with the local community and experience renowned events showcasing the island’s rich arts
8|PageWHAT’S NEW ON O‘AHU: JANUARY – MARCH 2018
and culture, the world’s top amateur and professional sporting competitions, and the many ethnic
celebrations exclusive to O‘ahu.
• Jan. 8 – 14, 2018, the Sony Open in Hawai‘i kicks off the PGA Tour by bringing 144 of the
world’s best professional golfers to O‘ahu’s exclusive Wai‘alae Country Club. Past
participants include notable golfers including 2017 winner, Justin Thomas. Thomas also
became the first to open the year with back-to-back wins in Hawai‘i since Ernie Els in 2003.
The seven-day event is one of the largest charity events in the state of Hawai‘i.
SonyOpenInHawaii.com
• The Volcom Pipe Pro, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000-rated
event, returns Jan. 29 – Feb. 7, 2018 to cap Hawai‘i’s winter season of surf at one of the
most iconic waves in the world, the Banzai Pipeline. The Volcom Pipe Pro’s track record of
epic, barreling surf draws major talent year after year, making it a true mix of aspiring
professionals and the sport’s greatest names, including 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater
and Hawai‘i’s own John John Florence. The event is free and open to the public and also
produces a world-class broadcast that is available to stream via WorldSurfLeague.com and
the WSL app. WorldSurfLeague.com
• The 10th Annual ‘Ukulele Picnic in Hawai‘i will be stringing together a day of exciting
events in celebration of Hawai‘i’s most beloved instrument. The festivities are being held at
the Kaka‘ako Gateway Park on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 with performances by famous
musicians from Hawai‘i and Japan, vendor booths, or you might take the opportunity to
study professional Ukulele players’ techniques! All events and entertainment are free and
open to the public. UkulelePicnicInHawaii.org/en/
• Feb. 10 – 17, 2018, local and global artists will showcase their work in Honolulu during a
widespread beautification and education of street art during POW! WOW! Hawai‘i. The
event will include gallery shows, live panel discussions, mural projects, concerts, live art
installations and more. PowWowHawaii.com
• Taking place on Feb. 19, 2018, the Great Aloha Run is an 8.15-mile foot race that starts at
Aloha Tower in Honolulu and ends at Aloha Stadium in Hālawa. A three-day sports, health
and fitness expo occurs during the weekend of the race and includes an array of exhibition
booths offering unique products and services, entertainment, workshops and more.
GreatAlohaRun.com
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• Wanderlust, the producers of the largest yoga lifestyle events in the world, is returning to
Turtle Bay Resort on O‘ahu’s fabled North Shore in 2018 for Wanderlust O‘ahu that will
unfold over Mar. 1 – 4, 2018. This beach yoga and wellness retreat at Turtle Bay Resort will
kick off Wanderlust’s 2018 festival season and offer awe-inspiring experiences and settings
for yoga enthusiasts, music lovers, foodies, surfers and seekers. TurtleBayResort.com
• The 24th Annual Honolulu Festival is one of Hawai‘i’s premier cultural events, promoting
understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawai‘i
and the Pacific Rim region. Taking place Mar. 9 – 11, 2018 the festival draws thousands of
new and returning spectators. Through educational programs and activities, the festival
continues to successfully share the rich and vibrant blend of Asia, Pacific and Hawaiian
cultures with the rest of the world. HonoluluFestival.com
• The Prince Kūhiō Festival is a series of events, ceremonies and activities organized by The
Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs to celebrate the birthday of Prince Jonah Kūhiō
Kalaniana‘ole who founded the first Hawaiian Civic Club on Dec. 7, 1918. These
celebrations began in the early 1970s and have grown to include month-long activities
including a commemorative parade, choral concert, “Ho‘olaule‘a” or “Hō‘ike‘ike”
(celebration), and more. This year’s festival will take place on Mar. 25, 2018.
All information is subject to change without notice. For more information, please go to www.visit-
oahu.com, follow OVB’s tweets at www.twitter.com/OahuVB, become a fan of O‘ahu on Facebook
at www.Facebook.com/OahuHawaii, and follow @OahuVB on Instagram.
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Contact: Krislyn Hashimoto
Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations, Inc.
Phone: (808) 523-8802
Email: krislyn@strykerweiner.com
Website: http://media.gohawaii.com/oahu/
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