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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, October 21, 2007

Holoholo

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Coffee tasting will be among the events at the 37th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival on the Big Island next month.

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Kona coffee festival: The 37th annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival celebrates 179 years of coffee tradition Nov. 2-11 with 50 festival events, contests, tastings, parades, farm tours, art exhibits, concerts and — new this year — a barista training workshop. The barista workshop led by Andrew Hetzel of Hawai'i-based Cafemakers, is 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 8 at Hale Halawa. Participants will learn how to taste and prepare espresso and to make specialty drinks using Kona coffee. Cost: $195 and includes workshop materials, lunch, refreshments and Kona coffee. Class limited to 20. Registration: 808-328-2411.

MARRIOTT ON WATERFRONT: Seattle Marriott Waterfront's Romance by the Bay includes one-night accommodations, candlelit dinner for two, breakfast buffet for two, 2 p.m. late check-out, welcome gift and free overnight valet parking. $399 per room per night through Dec. 31. 800-834-7236 and ask for code LVU. www.marriott.com/hotels/specials.

Portland Waterfront Downtown Marriott's Breakfast Weekend Escape includes a room with one king or two double beds, and breakfast for two adults and two children ages 12 and younger. $169 per room per night through Dec. 31. 800-605-6568 and ask for code S4B. www.marriott.com/hotels/specials.

FOR ADULTS ONLY: Hula Kai, Kona's popular snorkel and dive vessel, will cater for 18 and older adults only beginning Jan. 1. The 55-foot catamaran takes guests to snorkeling and scuba locations along a 10-mile stretch of south Kona coastline for snorkels that include breakfast beverages and lunch. $155 per person. Family outings are available on sister vessel Fair wind II. www.fair-wind.com.

KAMA'AINA RATES DOWNTOWN: Resort Quest at the Executive Centre Hotel in Downtown Honolulu kama'aina room rates start at $132. All guest accommodations are suites with separate sleeping areas and bathrooms with in-room jet spas. Executive one-bedroom suites feature kitchen facilities and washer/dryer, while the business suites have a wet bar and refrigerator. www.ResortQuestHawaii.com, 800-949-3932 and ask for kama'aina rates.

TURTLE BAY ESCAPE: Kama'aina members of Turtle Bay Resort's Escape Club receive one complimentary room night and $1,200 in discounts on joining. The Escape Club posts online advance notice of special events, offers and discounts on rooms, food and beverage, golf and resort activities, accessed through a protected password. The annual fee is $199. www.TurtleBayEscapeClub.com.

HONOLULU TO MANILA, NONSTOP: Hawaiian Airlines will begin nonstop flights between Honolulu and Manila, Philippines, in March 2008. www.hawaiianairlines.com.

HOTEL REOPENING DELAY: Prince Hotels & Resorts has delayed the reopening of the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel until late 2008. The hotel closed this past July to allow restoration of areas of the hotel damaged by the October 2006 earthquakes. A representative for the hotel said that there are no plans to sell or tear down and rebuild the hotel. The remodeling of the resort's golf course remains on target for a September 2008 reopening.