Partners Mike Takamura and Bob Marciel of the new travel firm, Hawaii on the Go, are gambling that the Islands' notoriously cost-conscious, slots-and-video poker-loving, three-days/four-nights junket-taking gamblers might be interested in trying something different.

Takamura, a veteran of the local hospitality and entertainment industry, and Marciel, who recently retired as Advertiser circulation sales manager, have teamed up with Aloha Airlines to offer midweek gambling vacations to the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif.

Morongo? It's the name of the Native American tribe on whose California reservation the $250 million casino was built in 2004. Cabazon is a small town just off California Highway 10 — 90 minutes east Los Angeles and 20 minutes west of Palm Springs.

Marciel said he and Takamura first heard of the Morongo Casino when officials came here scouting for Polynesian entertainment for their showroom. Marciel and Takamura suggested that, rather than trying to build their entertainment business, the tribe should try to attract a new gambling market: the Islands. (The tribe owns the resort and its council manages the facility. In addition to employing tribe members, casino proceeds help pay for civic services on the reservation and education from preschool to college, including a college scholarship that is available to members of any California tribe.)

Takamura and Marciel visited the resort and then formed Resort Destination Marketing Group, through which they hope eventually to organize trips to other reservation resorts in the West.

Hawaii on the Go will begin offering weekly Monday-to-Thursday packages to Morongo at $599, beginning Nov. 18, including airfare, hotel, two buffet meals a day, opening reception, transportation from John Wayne Airport (Orange County), $50 gambling credit and free use of the resort spa and fitness room. This is an introductory rate offered through December, Marciel said.

The Morongo casino has the largest casino floor on the West Coast (148,000 square feet), including 2,000 slots and 100 table games. Average rooms offer king or queen beds, state-of-the-art bathrooms, wall-mounted plasma TVs, room service, milk and cookies on arrival, Voss water and chocolates nightly, free daily newspaper; rates begin at $109 a night midweek (deluxe room) and top out at $499 a night for a private bungalow.

The resort offers frequent fight nights, an annual powwow, golf, access to outlet malls, a pool complex with slides and a man-made "river," nearby hiking areas and closeness to chic Palm Springs.

Marciel said they're working on making their packages even more Islander-friendly: flights that fly directly into Palm Springs, and local-style food.

Hawaii on the Go: 951-4800. Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa: www.morongocasinoresort.com; 888-667-6646.

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.