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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, February 21, 2010

HOLOHOLO
Holoholo

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” series starring Johnny Depp starts filming on Kauai this summer.

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Hawaiian Airlines will begin daily Oakland-Maui and San Diego-Maui flights this summer.

Starting June 17, flight 23 will depart Oakland daily at 12:20 p.m. and arrive on Maui at 2:20 p.m. Return flight 24 will depart Maui daily at 9:35 p.m. and arrive in Oakland the following morning at 5:30 a.m.

Also beginning June 17, flight 37 will depart San Diego daily at 10:35 a.m. and arrive on Maui at 1:05 p.m. Return flight 38 will depart Maui at 10:30 p.m. and arrive in San Diego at 6:35 a.m. the following morning.The seasonal service will run through Aug. 24. www.hawaiianairlines.com.

AHOY, KAUAI: The Black Pearl in all its badness has arrived in the Islands. Filmmakers on Kauai are preparing schedules for summer filming of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the newest sequel in Walt Disney's series. Johnny Depp returns as Captain Jack Sparrow and Geoffrey Rush as his nemesis Captain Hector Barbossa. The movie is scheduled for release in 2011. "Pirates" joins a long list of movies and television shows to use Kauais tropical beauty as a backdrop, including "South Pacific," "Blue Hawaii," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "The Thorn Birds," "Jurassic Park" and "Tropic Thunder."

GARDEN ISLE IS NO. 1: The Garden Island has been voted "Hawaii's Best Island" by readers of Travel + Leisure magazine in the latest World's Best Awards. Travel + Leisure surveyed its readers, asking them to rate the Islands on their natural attractions, activities and sights, restaurants and food, people and value. Kauai was the top choice.

TripAdvisor, a travel advice Web site, has named Waimea, Kauai, as one of its top U.S. destinations for this year, making it one of only five U.S. destinations to be so honored. TripAdvisor conducted a travel trends survey of more than 3,000 U.S. travelers in determining its five top destinations for 2010.

St. Regis Renovated: The St. Regis Princeville Resort on Kauai's north shore is open following a top-to-bottom renovation of the 252-room property in keeping with Starwood Hotels' exclusive brand. The Kauai Grill, its signature restaurant, is owned by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Rates start at $350 per room per night. stregisprinceville.com/kauai.

Royal Kona offer: The Royal Kona Resort is offering a third night free for travel through Dec. 21. Rates begin at $320 for a three-night package in garden view accommodations in either the resort's remodeled Alii Tower or Lagoon Tower. 800-222-5642, www.royalkona.com.

Flight to falls: Island Helicopters' newest tour will fly passengers to the 400-foot Mana-waiopuna Falls, a remote and spectacular site used in "Jurassic Park." The helicopter lands near the base of "Jurassic Falls," from where visitors can take photos and experience the area. The ride includes a 90-minute tour of Kauai. $324 per person, www.islandhelicopters.com, 808-245-8588.

Zip over forest: Outfitters Kauai's new zip line tour "Zip Trek Nui Loa" highlights an 1,800-foot zip line course that takes guests on a soaring ride above Kauai's forest canopy. $148 per person, $128 ages 7 to 14. www.outfitterskauai.com/zipline-trek-nui-loa.html, 808-742-9667.

New Waikíkí stores: Aqua Waikiki Pearl has opened four new stores at its 415 Nähua St. location:

• Seastar 8.4.23: A clothing boutique with New York flair. 922-8423. Veggie Star Natural Foods, 922-9568.

• Pack & Mail: A one-stop office services shop including printing, copying, lamination, passport photos and computer rental and notary services. 922-2262.

• MixMix 411 Outlet: A designer boutique carrying clothing, foot[0xad]wear and handbags, 921-2740.

The new shops join existing tenants QuickSpa and Legends Sports Pub.

Aqua Waikiki Pearl rates start at $95 per night and includes Internet access, part or full-kitchen. The hotel is nonsmoking and welcomes dogs less than 20 pounds. www.waikikipearl.com, www.aquaresorts.com, 924-6543.

— Advertiser staff