Posted on: Wednesday, August 8, 2001
Maui to be bustling on day of UH game
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Hawaiian Airlines will add two Kahului-to-Honolulu flights to accommodate O'ahu fans returning from the Sept. 8 college football game between Hawai'i and Montana at Maui's War Memorial Stadium.
Hawaiian Airlines' last scheduled flight from Maui departs at 8:40 p.m. But because of the 6 p.m. kickoff, Hawaiian Airlines will add flights departing at 10:30 and 10:43 that night.
Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Keoni Wagner said each flight will have at least 123 seats.
Aloha Airlines, whose last flight departs Maui at 9 p.m., has no plans to add later flights. "If a demand arises," an Aloha spokesman said, "we'll evaluate it."
Hawaiian Airlines added the post-game flights in response to concerns over the scarcity of area hotel rooms. Wailuku's two hotels, the 145-room Maui Beach and 188-room Maui Seaside, are sold out on Sept. 8.
A Maui Beach spokeswoman said the football game, two conventions and "the usual travel groups" led to the surge in bookings.
In Kihei, a 30-minute drive from the airport, there are a few rooms available at the Maui Coast Hotel, but none at the Maui Lu Hotel.
In Wailea, the Outrigger Wailea Resort and Diamond Resort are sold out on game day.
The Renaissance Wailea Resort & Spa is "almost sold out," a spokesman said, and the Maui Prince Hotel has about 12 available rooms.
The Four Seasons Resort in Wailea has rooms available, with per-night rates ranging from $310 to $625 (for an oceanview).
The Kea Lani Hotel, in which every room is a suite, is accepting reservations starting at $305 per night.
The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa also has space for those willing to shell out between $410 and $10,000 per night.
Acknowledging the shortage of hotel rooms and the cost of travel for O'ahu residents, UH officials are using $75,000 in trade agreements to promote and market the game to Maui residents.
Stephanie Pietsch, UH interim director of marketing, said two daily newspapers have agreed to run half-page advertisements in the four Sundays leading to the game.
Two Maui radio stations, in exchange for tickets, will air 140 commercial spots each week.
UH also will distribute 2,000 posters throughout Maui and O'ahu.
